After spending a couple of weeks in KL getting used to our environment, the traffic, and the heat, we decided to take our first trip outside of the city. The ancient city of Malacca (also known as Melaka) was our destination, a quick two-hour drive from our apartment. We hired a taxi driver for a reasonable rate, and felt very safe driving on the modern highway (quite different than our experiences in Vietnam). The ancient port city sits along the Straits of Malacca and began as a fishing village before it was founded around 1400 by the last Raja of Singapore. Due to its strategic location (midway along the straits that link China to India), Malacca thrived and became an important hub of international commerce. The city was taken over by the Portuguese in 1511 and then by the Dutch in 1641, who subsequently handed it over to the British. Independence from colonial rule finally came in 1957, and all of the influences of past ruling countries is evident in the various architectural styles. The red building above is the Stadhuys, built by the Dutch and was the old town hall.
These colorful trishaws are available for hire in the old town, and are decorated in the most elaborate ways (including Hello Kitty themes and blaring pop music for the passengers and anyone else within a close radius). For the most part, we were able to walk everywhere in the historic part of the city. Jonkers Street was a fun area to see, as it is lined with all kinds of antique shops restaurants, and stores selling souvenirs. There is also a lovely museum located on Heeren Street called the Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum which is situated in an 1860's home, and well worth the visit.
The Malacca River winds its way through the old town and is lined with lovely trees, potted plants, a stone walkway, and older buildings painted in colorful designs. We took a 30 minute boat ride on the river which was quite peaceful, but it seemed that many shops along the way were closed. I am not sure if tourism has slowed down in Malacca or whether we were just there at a slower time of the year, but it did seem oddly quiet. However, after the fast pace of KL, the peacefulness of Malacca was a nice change.
We also had the chance to visit the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia, Cheng Hoon Teng, built in 1704, as well as walking up the hill to St. Paul's Church, built by the Portuguese in 1521. The structure is mostly in ruins now, but there were some interesting ancient tombstones, and surprisingly, a man playing his guitar for money (he sounded quite good with the stone walls making for nice acoustics). In amongst all of the ancient buildings is the modern Menara Taming Sari, a ride that took us 80 metres in the air in a revolving structure that provided 360 degree views of the city and the Straits.
One thing we had wanted to try since arriving in Malaysia was durian, a large fruit that is extremely popular here. It has a very distinctive odor and taste, and there are people who love it and people who hate it (there doesn't seem to be a middle ground). We happened upon a vendor selling little baked pastries stuffed with various things including durian, so we thought it would be the perfect way to get a taste before committing to eating the fruit on its own. Well, we are definitely in the group of haters of durian, and I can't even begin to describe how vile it tastes. There are so many other great dishes to sample in Malaysia that I don't feel too bad about not enjoying durian.
One thing we had wanted to try since arriving in Malaysia was durian, a large fruit that is extremely popular here. It has a very distinctive odor and taste, and there are people who love it and people who hate it (there doesn't seem to be a middle ground). We happened upon a vendor selling little baked pastries stuffed with various things including durian, so we thought it would be the perfect way to get a taste before committing to eating the fruit on its own. Well, we are definitely in the group of haters of durian, and I can't even begin to describe how vile it tastes. There are so many other great dishes to sample in Malaysia that I don't feel too bad about not enjoying durian.
Upon returning to KL, we decided to do some more exploring of the city. One of our constant challenges is trying to find quick and efficient ways to get from our apartment to areas we want to explore, and often it takes a combination of various modes of transportation. Sometimes it seems easier to just take a taxi (and they are very cheap here) but even that can be a challenge due to the constant traffic jams. Heat is another issue, as it consistently is around 35 degrees Celsius with high humidity, so walking can get very tiresome. However, all I have to do is think about what winter feels like at home and I stop complaining about the heat!
One of our forays was to KL's Bird Park, which is claimed to be the world's largest free flight walk-in aviary. Located in the Lake Gardens, the park is huge at approximately 21 acres, but easy to walk around and explore. It is designed to resemble the natural environment of the resident birds, and in doing so, they have ensured that the birds have adapted well and continue to breed naturally. It was amazing to see so many different species of birds including brightly colored parrots, sun conures, red lories, and peacocks just flying or walking around the grounds.
Celebrating Canada Day in KL turned out to be a really fun experience. We were so pleased to be invited to attend the Malaysia Canada Business Council's party on July 1st, and their theme was the Calgary Stampede, so we felt right at home. MCBC provided cowboy hats for attendees, who were encouraged to wear any western wear they could find. Country music was played while we mingled on the rooftop garden, which had a great view of the city at night. They even managed to find a mechanical bull for guests to ride (I can't believe they found one in Malaysia).
Next stops in our Malaysian adventure will be the Cameron Highlands, George Town, and Langkawi.
Next stops in our Malaysian adventure will be the Cameron Highlands, George Town, and Langkawi.