Updates from Malacca

I’m writing this from my room at the Twenty Guesthouse in Malacca. Marvin highly recommends this place, so when I was making my reservations for this trip, I didn’t bother checking other places. It costs much more than other guesthouses I’ve stayed in, but it’s right smack in the middle of Jonker Walk, and the place is gorgeous. Its nondescript facade gives no clue to the homey guesthouse inside. They even have a resident cat.

I’m in Melaka again for the next couple of days. My previous post about missing Malacca was actually a prelude to this trip. Similar to my second trip to Penang, I’ve come back to see what I missed the first time and savor my time exploring this Unesco World Heritage town.

I arrived this morning on the 8am bus from Singapore. The trip took four hours and thirty minutes, including the immigration and rest stops. I was only able to sleep for two hours out of four, and I was already tired when I got off the bus. I was revived when I saw the historic city again, specially when I found out just how central Twenty’s location was. I passed the time in my room, waiting for the sun to go down. The weather was gorgeous — it was bright and sunny, with gentle breeze wafting from the sea.

It was a joy walking around Malacca. Since it’s a weekday, the streets aren’t as congested with tourists. In between walks, I rediscovered a skill I acquired in Luang Prabang: watching the world go by. However, Malacca has a much faster pace than Laos, and soon I was back on my feet, walking away lest the man with a huge snake draped around his shoulders get too close.

Our four hours in Malacca before was too little a time to be spent in this charming town. You can actually see most of the important tourist spots between the time the first bus from Singapore arrives until the last one leaves. I’ve gone up and down St. Paul’s Hill, got lost and found Capitol Satay Celup and cruised through the Malacca River. I’ve no clue what else to do tomorrow, but I’m not bothered. I’m quite happy just sitting down and watching the world go by.

** Pictures to follow. I’m too pooped to edit and upload.