Monday, August 4, 2008

Melaka Trip Again - Aug 08 (Day 2)

At the Warong where we had breakfast, there was this Belimbing tree growing beside the table where we sit. Since I have nothing to do while waiting to be served, I took this picture of these Belimbing fruits.

Instead of sightseeing the common tourist spots, we walked along Sungai Melaka (Melaka River) this time.
Walking along the riverbank offered very interesting views about Melaka in a different dimension. The location is away from the fuzz and buzz of tourists and ceratinly gave us a nostalgic feel about Melaka. Also, the air was cooling and breezy after a brief shower, making the walk easy and relaxing.

Water mill - for decoration purpose only.

Can you see the Maritime museum (ship-like structure) at the far end and the new observation tower on the left?

The Heren, a guest house located along the riverbank, and within the vicinity of Jonker street.



This building with Dutch influence is under restoration.

Sungai Melaka

Rather scenic, isn't it?


The river has been cleaned up, riverbanks are paved and there is this boat service to offer tourists a glimpse of Melaka river and and its surroundings.


Nicely paved riverbank

Red painted old shophouses along the Sungai Melaka




Beautiful and sexy Baju Kebaya (Kebaya dress). Its design is so much feminine and cultural compared to the Baju Kurung, which is just straight cut all the way from shoulder downwards






Luxurious dessert - Bird's nest with herbs, only to be served for the rich. For me, I just take photograph and watch them eat! :(

Bird's nest (saliva) with 2 slices of Ginseng


Church of St. Francis Xavier, built in 1849








After the rain, the Birds of Paradise looked refreshing....
and the Jasmine flower seemed glowing with glee.


View of the river behind the ornamental fence built along the river.



No, this ain't food for Male vitality! Just pet for the brave!

I still remember that my grandma used to buy some chicks for rearing, just a few months before Chinese New Year. By the time these chicks have grown up, they will be just in time to be slaughtered and put onto our table as food during Chinese New Year reunion dinner. Nowadays, it is easier and more convenient to buy chicken from supermarket / wet market. Most importantly, we don't have to slaughter the chicken ourselves.

Adorable rabbits.
For longevity, get a tortoise as pet. If you make it into a tortoise soup, some men believe the soup will help make the men's vital organ hard as the tortoise shell, get what I mean?

Cruising along the river

A shabby house around the riverbank


A Surau with its windows wide opened. People definitely felt safer in older days. Nowadays, every house have high walled fence and iron grills on all windows and doors.


Peeping inside the surau via its windows. Do you notice those carpets? Can you picture young students sitting with their legs crossed on the carpets, with their Songkok (hats for the Malays) on, while the ulama (religious teacher) teach these kids about the teaching of Al-Quran?
[Wonder how many ulama teachs true Islamic teachings in surau and mosques these days, instead of teachings infused with racism]



Old houses along the river

A wooden chicken shelter. Obviously, chicken droppings will conveniently drops into the river.

Fortunately, people don't use the water from the river to wash. Otherwise, these clothes will be contaminated with Salmonella (germs) from the chicken droppings. Scary!


The Almighty (from left: Teck, Rick, Edwin, Faisal, Nick, Mark & Ray) looking down at us from the Jabatan Pasar (Market bridge), while Kieren and I were busy taking pictures, inclusing theirs.


literally means "The Market Bridge"

A mosque - Masjid Kampong Hulu



Pillars of these shops were still used as outdoor advertising. The one which is closer is a Chinese liquor shop whereas its neighbour is a Chinese medical hall selling chinese herbs and sundry.

Not many stores specialise in selling school related items like school bags, uniforms and other sundry left like this in town these days.
Wooden blinds were once common sightings in shops to screen out the glaring afternoon sunlight.

A shoplot bazaar selling fresh fruits and vegetables. No more such shop in city anymore.


The few handsome and the gorgeous (Ahem!)


A chinese talisman printing on the wall.


Very traditional looking Chinese shop selling biscuits in Big glass containers (on the right)

Notice how the lions' eyes staring back at you?

The color choice of this temple is very Manga (cartoonish) like!




Sama Sama Guest House. There is a Sleeping Buddha statue with wind chines at the window, so charming.

Entrance of a beautiful Tea House. Steamed Bak Chang (Glutanous rice meat dumplings wrapped in leaves) were available for those who fancy it together with drinking tea.

A bronze bell in the courtyard of the tea house.


Marky was caught touching a historical artifact. Bad boy!

The building beyond the courtyard is a museum but we were not in the mood to visit it. Next time perhaps.

Tea house



Ceiling structure of the tea house

The black wooden divider /blinds at the background is dated back to the Ming dynasty.


Orang Utan House offers very nice Malaysian made T-shirts

A cute, down to earth lounge with a slight colonial feel
Fancy some fridge magnets or colorful slippers as souvenirs? Oh Oh, some Malaysian Chinese have a superstition that couple in love should not buy any slippers for their partners or the relationship will not last long. Hand off from the slippers guys, unless you want to dump someone! Ha ha!

Care for some mouth watering Portugese styled egg tarts? They absolutely looked inviting and yummy!


Cheese tarts. So many flavors to choose from.

Portugese styled egg tarts on upper rack. Conventional Egg tarts and Siu Pao (Baked dumpling on the right) on the lower rack. If I can afford and have the stomach room to fill, i want to buy and eat them all!


Kuih ondeh-ondeh are for those with sweet tooth. They looked so appetising, wrapping in banana leaf! Kuih Ondeh Ondeh is a dessert made of pandan flavored glutanous rice paste, shaped like a ball with coconut sugar filling and coated with fresh shreded coconut. When you bite it, the coconut sugar filling will burst out into your mouth (you can almost hear the sound of "bursting"!) and fill your mouth cavity instantly with the sweetness and flavor of the coconut. :P

A chicken rice ball shop- Restaurant Famosa, where we had our lunch. Food was not so good
that day. Some rice balls taste sourish, reminded me of cold rice fermentation and risk of Bacillus poisoning
Mobile vendor selling steamed peanuts colored with tumeric. RM2 please, uncle! What, price already gone up to RM3? Inflation, Inflation!


Melaka Trip Again - Aug 08 (Day 1)

After 2 months since my last visit, this is my first visit to Melaka after it is inscribed as World Heritage City on 7.7.08


The gang was discussing itinerary of the day. Everyone has no objection to tend to our stomach's needs first. After all, it was lunch hour.

After our Halal Chicken Rice Ball lunch, Teck suggested us to pay a visit to an orphanage at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent Infant Jesus.


The Convent Infant Jesus school now houses the orphans from Timur Leste, who are here in Malaysia for receiving medical treatment..

The used-to-be a Sister quarter of the school is now the safe heaven for these Timur Leste orphans.

Honestly, I don't feel proud of my country these days. However, after knowing from Lala (the "Mom" of the orphanage) about the humanitarian works that The Malaysian Army Force has done for these Timur Leste orphans - who lost their parents in their very eyes during the civil war, i have to salute and feel proud of the Malaysia Army ... at least for the very first time.

Miss Lala, the courageous and passionate "MOM" of these orphans. She is an Indonesian whose family resides in Australia and she runs this orphanage by herself, with the support from the Catholic Church charity, Malaysian government, public and friends.

According to Lala, these children were very sick when they first came to Malaysia. Some come with chronic diseases like CHD (e.g. holes in heart), other were having contagious diseases like Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and these children have to be quarantined before treatment can be offered.

As you can see now, these children looks healthier after receiving treatment, although not fully recovered. Depends on the duration of the medical treatment, these orphans may need to extend their stay here and have to renew their medical visa that cost RM600 per person.

During their stay here in Malaysia, these children are not forfeited from their education. They are getting education from the vocational schools. Due to tight funding, Lala and the kids welcome donation in the form of school books, exercise books, sport shoes and stationery for their schooling needs.

Teck, who has personally donated some money to help one of these Timur Leste orphans for a heart surgery; as well as Edwin have actually brought some books and stationery for these children. The rest of the gang also did our part by pooling our money to get the orphanage a new toaster oven, since the current one they are having has broken down.


Knowing living comes with a price, during free time, these children make some souvenirs for sales to raise fund for their fellow friends and for the orphanage. These items include soaps, storage cases etc.


Little library of the orphanage.


Beside the cupboard were collages of photographs taken back in Timur Leste. These photos are now memories of life and proofs of the humanitarian works contributed by the Malaysian Army Force, as well as all other good people who has helped these orphans, regardless race and religion.


Group photo of the orphans and Lala. Lala's daughter from Australia was in Melaka. She was away to get some movie tickets for these children.


For those who wish to donate money, please see above. As Lala mentioned, given a chance, the orphanage prefer in-kinds, especially those useful for the children's education.


After the soulful visit to the orphanage, it is time to answer to our craving for Cendol. Kieren bought some Hairy Fruits - the Rambutan to complement the sweet coconut milk based desserts.

When night fell, we went for Nyonya food as dinner, before heading to Jonker Street for some street foods. Dim Sum from street vendor, non-Halal though; as these Dim Sums are made of "Lembu berkaki pendek", literally means "Short-legged cow" or Pork in actual. According to Lala, this was how the Malaysian Army described "pig" back in Timur Leste, so funny!


Ray was attracted by the smell of these fried Cempedak and he could not resist the temptation. He took a total of 6 pieces by ignoring the calories he ingested.

FYI, Cempedak fruit

Delicious looking pineapple tarts on the right and middle as Kaya (Malaysian jam made of coconut milk, egg and sugar) pastry on the left.

Close encounter of the pineapple tarts- the "more cruchy" version on the left and "fluffy & buttery"version of these tarts on the right.

Here comes the King of the fruits - DURIAN, The Queen of fruits - Mangosteen as well as Langsat - local fruit!

More Durians... guess those who like durians must be drooling by now.

Mangosteen

Fortunately, none of us bought any Durians back home or Rick's home will stink for days. Ha ha!