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A Year of Living Awesomely
  • Lynne Schroeder
  • Richard Schroeder
  • Lynne Schroeder
  • Richard Schroeder

A Year of Living Awesomely

In which we take our last big trip. SE Asia and Europe Read more
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  • Trip start
    January 11, 2024
  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    First Night in Singapore

    January 10, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    Our first day was spent traveling. We arrived at Sydney Airport at 10:00 after Peter, Maryanne and Hayley dropped us off. They are making good use of the trip by going on to look at dresses for a significant upcoming event (wink, wink).

    Because we are traveling without check-in luggage our first task is to navigate what happens when you are bypassing the check-in desk. A helpful Scoot crew member in the process of setting up tells us just to go on through to security and immigration. I though we would need to print out a physical boarding card somewhere.

    After taking the obligatory photo next to the Sydney sign we enter the restricted, no-turning-back-area. There are no departure cards to fill in anymore. This is new. Immigration is quick and easy and then it's on to security. We empty our water bottles as these aren't permitted through the scanners unless empty, place our bags in the trays, then proceed to get the full body scan. It's the way of the world now if you want to travel. Richard's case is pulled aside for having scissors. We have removed every possible item that we think can be confiscated and made a call to leave the scissors which are a pair of rounded tip, baby nail scissors, the blades are about 10mm long. He's allowed to keep them.

    And we're in. I have two things I want to do and I realise that I probably should have attended to one of them on the other side. I need to amend my mobile phone data plan as I won't be needing 100Gb of Australian data per month for the next 12 months. And the other thing is getting a prescription filled for anti-malarials as a just-in-case measure.

    We find a place to sit down and have coffee while I try to figure out the data situation. We discover that there is nowhere on this side of security that sells Sims so I am going to have to work out something with my service provider. I spend the best part of the next hour in a text conversation with the online chat representative but we land on an outcome that will suit finally and get it all sorted just in time to head to the boarding gate.

    During this time we have also grabbed a bite to eat, checked out travel adaptors for my laptop, (everything else is catered for with USB attachments but not my laptop) change money and get the script filled. I am about to buy a travel kit from the Apple range but they require my passport and boarding card which I had left with Richard so I give it a miss and decide to get something in Singapore.

    At the boarding gate our names are called. That's never happened before. It turns out that because we have bypassed the check-in counter they aren't even aware we are here and need to check our documents. I am still nervous about the combined weight of our bags which we have weighed and shuffled the contents of numerous times. It turns out they aren't even weighed. All that tension was for nothing.

    Scoot is one of those no frills budget airlines where the fares have been stripped back to nothing and absolutely everything must be purchased on board. We have pre-purchased a meal each, taken pot luck with the seating, filled our water bottles, charged our phones and back-up battery and are as ready as you can be for eight hours with no snacks or entertainment.

    The meals were okay, nothing to write home about, (this doesn't count). We spend the time alternating between reading, attempting to catch some sleep and occasional moments of standing for some relief. With three hours remaining and in the knowledge that we won't actually sit down to eat anything for probably five, we order some snacks to keep us going.

    It is 37 years since we were last in Singapore. Everything you've heard about Changi airport still doesn't really prepare you for the sheer size of this place. And we must have arrived at the furthest gate because after something like eight (I wasn't counting) travelators we finally reach a cluster of shops and I quickly buy a travel adaptor before we go down some escalators to immigration. The entry card details have already been registered so it's just a case of getting your photo and thumb prints recorded and you're good to go.

    It's pretty hard to miss the indoor fountain and we spend a few minutes marvelling at it. It really is quite something. I hope we get another chance to see it on our way out in a few days time. Seeing it at night under colourful lights was pretty cool though.

    We now need to organise transport and have already downloaded the Grab app. I just need to add a payment method. I discover it will take PayPal which is perfect. Our driver arrives within a few minutes and it's about a fifteen minute ride to our hotel.

    We are staying on Joo Chiat Road which is in the heart of a traditional Peranakan area. These were the original Straits Chinese, a blend of Chinese, Malay and Western cultures. I am looking forward to discovering more about that tomorrow.

    Our room in the Hotel 81 Sakura within a traditional shop house building is basic but roomy enough. It has no windows and is a bit musty but I tell myself it is only four nights. We'll manage. We freshen up before heading back out to find somewhere for dinner. We are on a street with lots of restaurants, some are already closing while others are a bit out of our price range. We check out menus for one places that include frog, Singapore Crab, and hotpot before settling on a Vietnamese noodle soup place. It's very good but Richard adds a touch too much chilli to his.    Read more

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    Breakfast, Neighbourhood and A Shoot

    January 11, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Up at sunrise to explore the neighbourhood and find somewhere to have breakfast. This whole area is home to the most beautiful decorative traditional Malay Chinese, otherwise known as Peranakan houses. Typically two storey and featuring large French windows often with storm shutters on the upper level. These are ornately decorated with tiles, coloured glass and decorative finishes to the posts and arched lintels. Every house is a different colour but mostly tending towards pastel in tone.

    We make our way to the Dunman Food Centre where at this time of day, before 8am, only a few of the food stalls are open but that’s all we need for our first breakfast in Singapore. We have chicken rice and chicken rice porridge before Richard samples a prawn vadai and we both finish with coffee on condensed milk.

    On our way back to our room I decide to call in to a small temple I had seen earlier and then feeling adventurous I seek out the Intan. This is a unique property housing an incredible private collection of mostly Peranakan ephemera. I know about this place because the owner, like me, was once a Heygo guide and I hope to be lucky enough to catch him there and free to see me. On finding the address I encounter two women waiting out front and get talking to them. It turns out that they are from the Singapore Tourism Board and they are here because they have connected Alvin with a film crew from Vietnam who are inside at this moment in the middle of a shoot. On explaining my connection they invite me to be part of the documentary they are filming. They really just want me to interact with Alvin as he describes the house and collection. What fun!

    Here is a recording of the livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/kUUOVsxGZHA?si=zL1…    Read more

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    Art & Religion, Mosque & Murals

    January 11, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    I return to the room after my wonderful encounter with Alvin and we decide to head out using the bus network and explore Kampong Glam, a colourful neighbourhood of small laneways in the shadow of the Sultan Mosque. The bus works beautifully, dropping us right alongside the Museum of Photography from where we waste no time diving right on in. We make a beeline for the Mosque and discover the correct door for non-Muslims to use to enter. This is my first visit to a mosque and I find it a very tranquil place.

    Next we spend a bit of time wandering through the laneways. There is a lot of street art and beautiful murals. One in particular replicates what these streets may have looked like when artisans and simple shopkeepers occupied this area. Another celebrates the vibrancy and vivaciousness of latin culture which feels a little out of place until we remember that Singapore really is a global city.

    We call into a tiny juice store for a cold drink before turning a corner and ordering Murtabak at a nearby Arabic eatery. We board a bus and head back to the hotel just as the rain starts.    Read more

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    Glitzy Sights & Dancing Lights

    January 11, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    We head into Marina Bay around 5:00 so we can arrive in time to see the sound and light show. First we go by the food centre planning to grab a bite to eat but we realise we are still so full from lunch time we just aren’t interested in eating.

    We hop on the 33 bus to Dakota then switch to the MRT to go the rest of the way to Bayfront by train. It took us a while to figure out how to get out of the station but we got there in the end. We ended up going through the Marina Bay Sands shopping centre with all the top brands featured. A lot of e-money passes through the ether around here I’m sure.

    There is even a short canal on the lower ground level and you can pay to be boated along it. At the very top is “the vortex” a swirling water feature that is quite mesmerising. We reach the waterfront with half an hour to spare and watch dusk descend over the bay as the city lights grow more intense.

    The show is spectacular and lasts around 15 minutes after which we make our way home via the food centre for the satay sticks we passed up earlier.

    Recording of the livestream from the Spectra Lightshow: https://www.youtube.com/live/_uX4xIS9W_k?si=MD0…    Read more

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    The Rain That Never Came

    January 12, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    Our hotel room has no window but we have the weather app on our phones of course and it’s telling us that it will very likely rain all day. So we are prepared with single use raincoats for an eventuality like this. Especially since the umbrella was one of the first casualties in the weight cull.

    We are heading to a different food centre today, this one is predominantly Malay whereas the one yesterday is more Nonya.

    Down to the street to a lovely fine morning and we head off. This food centre is much larger with lots more choices. And we are full of indecision, until I spy a man holding a plate containing something I recognise and ask him which stall he got it from.

    I have never had idli before but I’ve had egg hoppers and love them. I order one serve of idli and two egg hoppers or appom as they are known here. Really good! And washed down with teh tarik which is a tea with milk and sugar prepared using a long pour method.

    The food centre is part of a larger market with both fresh produce and clothing and household items. We explore the fish section which is extensive and the prices are so cheap.

    Today is laundry day and we have a laundromat nearby which is fairly easy to navigate and since we are travelling light it’s best done today. While waiting I notice a curious facility has been wheeled out onto the footpath in front of the shop next door: umbrella rental.

    Lunch is back at the Dunman Food Centre. I have an omelette, Richard goes for wonton noodle.    Read more

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    Chinatown and Temples

    January 12, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    Our plan for the afternoon was to head in to Chinatown, take a look around then make our way to Gardens by the Bay to see the music and light show at the Supertrees. We take the bus in which takes us past some of the older historic buildings as well as some of the newer trendier neighbourhoods.

    We're not sure exactly where we are when we alight the bus and so we just pick a street and start walking. I have a rough idea where there is a large Hindu temple I have earmarked but we may have overshot it so we keep going. We stumble on a small Hindu temple, it must be merely a few streets away from the larger one. This one is called Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple and is beautifully adorned in the typical square pyramid (for want of a better description) with deities covering its surface in all the colours of the rainbow. We note that visitors are welcome to enter so we remove our shoes and wash our feet before quietly entering a small courtyard with a structure in the centre where several people are taking incense and praying. Worshippers walk in an anti-clockwise direction around this structure. I have since learned that this is called circumambulation.

    Next we head towards the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. On the way we pass many stalls selling durian. I now understand the whole thing about the durian smell. It isn't foul, just very strong, kind os sickly and quite pervasive. I am willing to give it a try at some point. Just not today.

    The Buddha Tooth Relic Temple was built in 2007 to house the "sacred Buddha Tooth Relic for veneration by our devotees". It is a solid and imposing structure dripping in symbolism. Inside the temple is exquisite. From the Hundred Buddhas Hall to the Universal Wisdom Hall every aspect is beautiful.

    We leave the temple as the rain begins to fall and find our way into the heart of Chinatown where every store is festooned in the red and gold livery of the approaching lunar new year festivities. We find a bar and stop for a short break. We have decided to give the Supertrees a miss as the weather has turned miserable and we have already done a great deal of walking. As we leave the bar I realise that we are quite close to the first Hindu Temple so we go in search of it.

    Wow! There really is no other word to describe it. The Sri Mariamman temple is astonishingly beautiful. My battery is low and my feet are sore but I manage a few minutes of video because it is just so incredibly beautiful. We are worn out and eager to get home so head for the bus stop to get us there. On reaching our neighbourhood we have just enough energy to grab some dinner of wonton noodles and chicken hor fun

    Livestream recording: temples and Supertrees: https://www.youtube.com/live/AlBE962Bcrs?si=kCg…    Read more

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    Orchids, A Forest Walk and Cendol

    January 13, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    Breakfast this morning is back at the Dunman Food Centre. Richard goes back for chicken rice porridge and I have wonton noodle, all washed down with strong, sweet coffee. We decide to hop on a train and explore a random area near some parkland and a reservoir where there are nature walks.

    The train takes us to a stop called Upper Thompson where the houses are opulent and all have off-street parking. We walk along streets with gardens that spill out onto the footpath and through a park with red-trunked palms and encounter some lovely orchids, our first since arriving.

    A suburban street leads to a forest trail. A rustle in the undergrowth caused by a startled creature alerts my attention and I catch a glimpse of something large and rotund disappearing from view. "A pig!" I squeal. I literally squeal. Richard's response is dismissive. We stop along the trail to rest and listen to the forest and google wild animals of Singapore. Along with pigs, there are civets, small deer and saltwater crocodiles. Suddenly Richard is no longer keen to walk along a trail near the water's edge.

    We explore the food options near the station and decide the likelihood of finding value for money in this neighbourhood are probably slim so grab a train heading back towards our hotel and a food centre we have passed on the bus a number of times already.

    The Old Airport Road Food Centre is the largest we've visited so far. There are many choices of items we've not yet come across such as dishes that use various forms of pig intestines, chicken feet, and other ingredients we are unfamiliar with. Richard holds a table while I go to choose the food and I return with a pork and rice dish and a prawn omelette. We are sitting near a stall that serves cendol, a dish I've heard of but never tried before so we decide to share one.

    Cendol is a noodle and shaved ice dish. The noodles are a fine glass noodle flavoured with pandan and so are green. These are served over shaved ice with coconut milk, brown sugar and peanuts. It was a winner.    Read more

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    Supertrees and Oh No!

    January 13, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    We have settled into a routine of resting up in the afternoon so come 5:00 we head out. We are off to see the Supertrees that we called off yesterday because of the weather.

    Changing from bus to train at Dakota to join the Circle line we are firstly confused as there are no trains heading to Bayfront, then discover that at certain times this is not a direct route and we must change trains at Promenade. The trains coming through are all packed and we almost chicken out again but we adjust our demeanour and brace ourselves. At Stadium the train empties. Who's in town?

    The walk from Bayfront station to the Gardens by the Bay is well signposted and straightforward and goes via a wide tunnel with mirrored walls which amplifies the effect. Young dancers congregate to utilise the mirrors as they video their moves. At this point we decide it would be a great idea to video the walk. Just as I am attempting to mount the phone onto the gimbal it slips from my hands and lands jarringly, corner first onto the hard paved floor. And the devastating damage is immediately clear. I am able to access the camera but nothing else. Part of the screen is completely black, while some is affected by stripy lines so I am unable to see my battery level.

    We make our way to the Supertrees Grove all the same and for as long as I can take photos and video I will do so. I manage to film the entire sound and light show but I have no idea if I will be able to retrieve it or not.

    It's a long trip home moving along with the crowds which gradually disperse in different directions. We decide to stop at the Old Railway Food Centre once again and this time we queue for the Fried Kway Teow, an egg noodle dish with prawns that I am familiar with, followed by coral weed mango dessert, one I am definitely not familiar with.    Read more

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    Arriving In Kuala Lumpur. What a View!

    January 14, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    Our stay in Singapore has come to an end. We call a Grab at 5:30 and are at the airport by 6:00. Immigration is quick and easy and then we head for the food court to find something for breakfast. I find a place that does chicken rice and chicken hor fun, then change our remaining Singapore dollars to Malaysian Ringgit.

    The flight is really short and by 10:00am we are in Kuala Lumpur. Due to the fact I broke my phone we have set Richard up with all the apps we will need to get into Malaysia and to our accomodation. Our first challenge is the entry card that is needed to get into the country. I can't use my phone and am struggling with the airport wifi while queuing for immigration. Fortunately it is attached electronically to my passport in the system so that's one issue sorted. the second potential issue is onward travel. We are aware we could be asked for proof of onward travel but haven't booked anything as we wanted to remain flexible. It is possible to buy a confirmed reservation for $US16 each but we have decided to take a chance with the intention of booking on the spot if required. Fortunately we didn't need to as we both failed to successfully connect to wifi so that could have been interesting.

    Before we find our way into the city we want to ask about buses to Malacca so we head downstairs to the "Transportation Hub". We learn that the same counter that will sell us tickets into the city today will also be where we come back to on Wednesday. The bus is fantastic with huge plush recliner seats. The trip into the city is about an hour. It turns out that the bus station is a short walk from our accommodation, if we can follow simple directions on Google maps. It turns out we can't and we take a really, really long way around.

    We can't check in until 3:00 but we can drop off our bags and then go grab some lunch. Once we have checked in freshened up we head up to the 37th floor to check out the infinity pool. Wow! Wow! The pool faces north and the view is dominated by the Menara KL Tower with the Petronas Towers a little further away.

    Dinner tonight was just a sandwich in the room.    Read more

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    Attending to Repairs

    January 15, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 32 °C

    We are up fairly early and out the door for breakfast. Just around the corner from us (once you know, rather than walking around the world...) is an eatery we saw on our way here yesterday. It is located next door to a small Hindu temple, the Court Hill Sri Ganesar Temple. Today is the first day of Pongal, a multi-day Hindu harvest festival celebrated by Tamils held after the winter solstice. There is also a rice dish that is served made from rice boiled in milk with jaggery. We watch some of the proceedings in the temple then head to the cafe for a buffet breakfast. With tea, breakfast comes to about $4 each.

    After breakfast we order a Grab to get the phone repaired. I have located a number of phone repair shops in a plaza in Bukit Bintang called Plaza Low Yat, a multi story centre dedicated to tech. The first place we go to is an authorised Apple repairer. The screen is out of stock and will take at least a week to come in. We ask if they have a store in Malacca and the cost of the repair and almost fall on the floor when told it will be 1550RM or roughly $500! I leave the shop prepared to go in search of a store that sells refurbished phones when we are approached by a guy from another store who beckons us to follow him. 250 RM to repair. I am certain this will not be an authorised Apple part but if we can get the phone working I'm fine, if a little nervous, with that.

    We go off to have coffee while we wait and end up in a place in the lower ground of the plaza called Kopi Klub. The iced coffee here is great and I'm starting to feel confident about the direction the day will take. We collect the phone, order a Grab and return to the apartment. Time to pay that glorious pool another visit.

    We have the remaining sandwich and tub of yogurt for lunch then spend the afternoon resting our feet before we head out again this evening.

    The lead photo is of a tree that was near the temple. I have no idea what it was.    Read more

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    Petronas Towers

    January 15, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 32 °C

    We order a Grab to head into the city centre where our plan is to have an early dinner and then go to the towers. We are dropped off at a place I have seen on YouTube and Facebook called NZ Curry House. It literally sits in the shadow of the Petronas Towers. Our plan was to have the Dosa tower but on learning it is more of a dessert we opt for a masala dosa for me, a biryani with curry for Richard and two juices. They are delicious and the whole meal is under $AU13.

    We negotiate the four or five pedestrian crossings to get to the towers beneath which is a huge shopping mall then pop out the other side just as the heavens open and so begins a tropical downpour. It is an hour until the light show begins and we debate waiting it out before deciding to call it a day.

    We are at a loss if we order a Grab as to where it will come to meet us so we ask the concierge who directs us to a pick up point. We are watching the driver in the app go to completely the wrong place before canceling the trip. We notice that the rain has stopped so we head back to where the light show will be arriving just as it starts.

    Night at the Petronas Towers: https://www.youtube.com/live/Miq2qFQpmGY?si=1Z6…    Read more

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    Court Hill Sri Ganesa Temple

    January 16, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    We had big plans for today but after yesterday and the cumulative effect of five days on our feet we decide to take it easy.

    We head across to the food centre at Menara Maybank for breakfast then over to the temple to see the inside. There is a worship in progress so after removing my shoes and washing my feet I ask permission to photograph and video.

    On my return to the room I read up on this lovely temple and discover it is very important in Malaysian history and also “this is the only temple in the world that conducts ‘sankha puja’ (conch shell puja) twice daily throughout the year. This propitious puja was initiated in the year 1939 at this temple. The twisting formation of a ‘sankhu’ enables tirtham (holy scented water) to flow spirally before bathing Lord Ganesha. As the ‘tirtham’ is infused with the chanting of Hindu mantras, together with the hydraulic push through the ‘sankhu’, this facilitates the potency of this ceremony. The conch-shell is said to be the abode of ‘devas’ (celestial beings). Therefore ‘sankha puja’ is considered most auspicious in Hindu rituals, and will promote the health, wealth and happiness of its participants. The glory of this temple is further enhanced by the gold 'garba graham' (entrance)at the main sanctum. Gold has the highest spiritual vibration according to Hindu scriptures, therefore this metal is used to channel 'shakti' (divine energy).”

    The remainder of the day is spent resting and visiting the pool. We have sandwiches in the room for dinner ahead of a big day of travel tomorrow.    Read more

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    Taking the bus to Malacca

    January 17, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Today is probably the first time we really appreciate the fact that we are traveling light. After breakfast we make our way on foot to the bus station. It's about a 10 minute walk up and downhill then over an overpass to a four storey building where we meet our first challenge; locating where to buy tickets. We arrived here so we know what the bus platforms look like and are convinced that ticket sales will be anywhere but there. After visiting every floor in the building we end up on the lower ground floor to the platform for the airport where the is a small table with two men seated on fold up chairs writing out the bus tickets. So much for assumptions.

    We board the bus which is upholstered in a lovely shade of purple. The buses are very plush with reclining seats and leg rests. Our first leg to the airport takes about an hour. At the airport we want to find if the bus to Malacca makes a comfort stop as it is a two and a half hour journey. The first lady we spoke to was unable to understand what we were asking but luckily there was another lady who spoke great English and we established that we could buy a ticket to Seramban, then buy another ticket from there to Malacca.

    Our plan on reaching Seramban was to have lunch (Seramban is known for its beef noodles) but once there we discovered there was a bus leaving in 15 minutes, or three hours. We took option A and after attending to a quick visit boarded a bus with a bright orange interior.

    The overall journey was unremarkable as much of the landscape was concealed by the row of trees that lined the highway. We reach Malacca with about 90 minutes to kill before check-in and we attend to our growling bellies first up. Checking in involves a rather convoluted process much akin to being in some kind of puzzle solving challenge. Receive a WhatsApp message, wait until a designated time, receive a code for a letterbox where you will find a key and further instructions. It was even a bit of a challenge finding the entrance to the building which is one of four in a complex that includes the Hilton Hotel.

    We have the key. We are on the 34th floor of what turns out to be the tallest building in Malacca complete with a Skydeck on the topmost or 45th floor.

    After settling in, a bit of a rest and freshening up, we head to the pool level to check it out then head out to explore the nearby Portuguese Settlement where I have seen that there is a picturesque bar at the end of a jetty. It's about a 20 minute walk and involves walking along a narrow track and crossing a rickety bridge across a small canal then through a neighbourhood where every house proudly wears a crucifix on its front wall. Obviously these are the descendants of the Portuguese settlers and a little further on we reach the waterfront eateries and bars part of town where every second establishment is Portuguese seafood. We are in no rush and will come back at some point in our stay. We are set upon by stall holders all touting for our custom. It is early in the evening and there is no-one else around to hassle; we are the only prey right now.

    The Jetty bar is in a lovely spot and we treat ourselves to a drink looking out over the mud flats in the shadow of our building. A big late lunch sees us through the evening lightly supplemented with a snack in front of a movie.    Read more

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    Day 8, Melaka & The River Walk

    January 18, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    We head across the road for breakfast of roti canai and teh tarik. We have grown to like this tea which is strong, sweet and made using the long pour method which aerates and cools it slightly. Roti canai is a roti made fluffy and crispy and served with dahl.

    After a fair bit of research into using the local buses that got us basically nowhere, we decide the best and easiest way to get around will be by using Grab. Our driver lets us out at Stadthuys, a historical structure built by the Dutch in 1650 that now houses a museum complex.    Read more

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    Day 9, Working Out the Kinks

    January 19, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    We are searching for fruit. And I am having a massage at 11:00. So far in our neighbourhood we have come across quite a few mini marts. They are great if you are looking for snacks, soft drinks and a limited selection of personal care items but very little else.

    It is incredibly cheap to eat here but occasionally I want something lighter and we definitely want some fruit so we widen the search net. After breakfast we head out further afield and stop for cool drinks at a cafe where a bunch of food delivery drivers are pulled up. I really like the iced coffee but today I choose a lemon water.

    The massage is amazing. First of all your feet are washed and then an hour of absolute bliss. And only 68 RM which is about $22.

    We return to the same cafe for lunch and choose the buffet. One rice, one meat, one veg, one egg, 12 RM or $4.

    We strike out for the apartment by a different route, stopping firstly at an ATM, and are about to call it quits when we spot a small shop with bananas and pineapples out front. Enough to keep us going until we find something a bit bigger. We also buy a knife because there isn’t one in the apartment.

    We spend the afternoon resting and by the pool then order a Grab to head into Jonker Walk in time for dinner. This whole area is closed to traffic from 4:00pm on Fridays through Sundays. And the stalls are incredible. First up we try squid on skewers. Next up chicken pieces, then we come to a seafood stand and order the garlic ki g prawns. We finish off with a dessert called 8 treasures ice with an interesting mix of ingredients including corn kernels. It is strangely delicious. All up we spent $21    Read more

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    A Cheap Day Chilling

    January 20, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Today was a rest day. We tried a different place for roti canai for breakfast, across the street for buffet lunch, then tried a Chinese place for dinner.

    It was raining lightly when we went down to the pool and it was rather lovely.

    I spent the time getting on top of my video editing    Read more

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    Another Quiet Day, Great to Slow Down

    January 21, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    We discovered today we need to be clearer when ordering. After I waited for my breakfast to come we twigged that they thought we meant just one breakfast total, whereas we thought we meant just one roti each. Never mind, I got my breakfast in the end.

    We spent the day relaxing, doing video editing, Duolingo, migrating footage from my GoPro and by the pool.

    We had lunch in a slightly more upmarket cafe and realised it was the first air conditioned place apart from the airport we had eaten at since landing in Singapore. Lunch was Char Kway Teow with a fried egg for me, and Nasi Lemak with chicken rending for Richard plus two nice icy fresh juices. All of this was 55 RM, a little more than we are typically spending but still great value by Australian standards at about $AU17

    We bought some items at the local minimart and had a simple dinner.    Read more

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    Sunset at the Mosque

    January 22, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    We went up to the pool for sunrise, with a little smoky haze it was quite dramatic. Had our usual breakfast then took it easy until 11:00 when Richard went for a massage while I continued doing some video editing.

    Lunch a bit on the pricey side today as Richard couldn’t resist the goat curry. I opted for fish with tempeh on the side. A bit of pool time in the afternoon and the we headed out to see the beautiful Melaka Straits Mosque at sunset.

    It’s like getting two shows in one, firstly the beautiful sunset. Richard is certain he saw one, maybe two sea otters. Then the call to prayer while the lights on the mosque slowly brighten as the light fades from the sky

    Watch sunset at the mosque: https://www.youtube.com/live/5-xLzV_s2k4?si=P7o…    Read more

  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Off to the Markets

    January 23, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Today we are heading to the markets so it's up early and a Grab ride in to the Little India district where there is a small fresh produce market.

    Things are done differently here and I recall it was at about roughly this point in our travels in India many years ago that we chose to give up meat while there. Our constitutions are a little stronger now. Perhaps it comes with age. There is no refrigeration here and I don't see any ice either.

    The fish section is at least under cover. There are a couple of stalls where chickens are being butchered without such luxury. The remainder of the market is fruit and veg with one or two stalls selling packaged items.

    We stop by a stall selling fried dough balls and sticks. I recall seeing these in Chinatown in Sydney. I have no idea what they're called but I think they are sometimes eaten with congee.

    I do some videoing and then we head across the road in search of breakfast. I spot a place doing chicken and rice balls so we head on in. Absolutely delicious. We return to the market to buy some fruit, and I buy some thongs, before heading across to the river walk and back up towards Dutch Square where we order a Grab back to the apartment.

    We head out again for lunch and this time head for the clothing markets. Richard wants to buy a shirt to work out in. Our Grab lets us out in front of McDonalds and inspired by my colleague Matt in Hong Kong who did an entire virtual tour of a McDonalds, we go in to check out what's on offer. The first thing we notice is that we can eat far more cheaply in the kinds of places we have been than at Macca's but they do have some interesting menu items.

    Richard gets his shirt then we go in search of lunch. We find a place doing various versions of nasi goreng which will do just fine. We are also keen to find somewhere that sells plain, unsweetened yogurt and so we go in search of a supermarket since the mini markets so far haven't had anything like that. We find ourselves inside a big mall with lots of shiny well-known western stores such as MAC and Timberland and Bata but no supermarket. We'll try again tomorrow.    Read more

  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Awesome Seafood Dinner

    January 24, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    Another day of taking it easy. Doing some laundry, getting some supplies. Getting computer work done and our usual pool time.

    We decided to hit a place we’d seen reviewed by a YouTuber by the name of Mark Wiens. I’d love to be able to fund my travelling the way he does; millions of people watch him eat his way around the world. Actually, come to think of it, I prefer the other side of the camera.

    We are early evening diners. It turns out the rest of Malaysia isn’t. Our Grab driver seems as hesitant as we are when we arrive at the designated address. He gets out of the car with us to make sure the place is open before driving off.

    We have no idea what is on the menu board. I stand phone in hand attempting to figure out what “jehanuk” and “udung” are, among a dozen other choices. “Sotong” I know, squid. But everything else is a complete mystery. A young couple join us at the counter and help us figure out a few things. We grab a bowl and proceed to add the items we want I to it. A largish whole fish and two very large prawns. We don’t know if the prices are per item or by weight and fear we are in for a very large bill.

    We take a table then I go and get us a couple of drinks, apple asam boi, which Google advises is apple juice with a dried salty plum that is apparently refreshing and thirst quenching.

    A young guy comes to ask if we want plain rice or nasi lemak. We opt for plain and he plonks two bowls of chilli in front of us.

    The food arrives and it looks sensational. The fish has been butterflied, cooked with a mild chilli paste and covered with a banana leaf to keep it warm. The prawns are served whole in the shell with a skewer through the length. Everything has been cooked over flame. A fantastic meal, the whole lot came to less than $30. I was still trying to figure out what the fish was (because I’m hopeless and don’t know one from another) and again with google’s assistance found out it was sea bass or barramundi.

    Chatting with Matt about travel: https://www.youtube.com/live/_9-JluRd9SE?si=EPA…    Read more

  • A Year of Living Awesomely
    2

    Two Beautiful Temples in Harmony Street

    January 25, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    I had big plans for today. Today marks the beginning of a four day Hindu festival called Thaipusam. It is a huge event in Kuala Lumpur and Penang and still significant in Malacca. The problem I encountered was establishing where and when exactly events were to be held. Especially since the only temple I could find anything for is a half hour Grab ride away.

    So we headed in to Jonker Street to the Chinese Temple instead. The first temple we visited is the Cheng Hoon Teng temple. The temple site dates back to 1645 during the Dutch Malacca era. It is a Chinese temple practising the Three Doctrinal Systems of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. It is a beautiful temple with a gorgeous main gate that opens into an open courtyard in front of the main prayer hall dedicated to the goddess of mercy, Guan Yin. This hall is ornately decked out in rich dark timber and lavish gold.

    Encircling the main building is a series of shrines and smaller prayer spaces. Some were filled with memorial plaques with a small image of the person to whom they were dedicated. Others contained large images of a deity with offerings left on tables, incense burning alongside.

    Along the street a little from this temple was a second less ornate but equally lovely temple, the Xiang Lin Si Temple. This temple follows a different branch of buddhism, Mahāyāna Buddhism which apparently originates in ancient India. From the upstairs window is a great view of Harmony Street, so-called because there are the two Buddhist temples, a mosque and a Hindu temple all co-existing harmoniously within close proximity to one another.

    We were ready to leave the area as the crowds began to build and the day began to get hotter but first we stopped for an iced coffee and a pastry.

    See the recording of the livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/live/411ALgS4HdQ?si=LK8…    Read more

  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Lion Dancers and Portuguese Dinner

    January 26, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    The first thing I saw on waking this morning was a lovely full moon.

    We have settled into a routine which generally involves doing some Duolingo (Richard is doing German, I’m doing Spanish), exercise in the gym and pool, writing up this journal and editing video.

    And of course, we’re still exploring. Today we discover there’s a bit of an event happening right across the road from our apartment. Marquees have been erected with tables, chairs and a small stage, occupying a slip road on a corner outside an office building. On the stage are four lion dancer costumes. Ooh! There are people setting up a sound system and I go over to ask what it’s all about. I find out the time the lion dancers are performing and we head off for our usual breakfast.

    At 10:00 I return to see what’s happening and now the marquees are filled with people, all wearing lanyards, some wearing t-shirts bearing the branding of the insurance company whose shopfront we are out in front of. Generali. I doubt I am allowed to enter the barricaded of area so I make my way along the median strip separating the slip road from the main road camera in hand ready for action. Several minutes later, as the dancers make their way towards the building entrance with me keeping pace, I am confronted by a number of staff inviting me to enter the sacred space and get a better vantage point. It was explained to me that this was the official re-opening of the office following a complete refit and the ceremony was to bring good fortune to the business.

    For dinner we make our way to the Portuguese Settlement, an area of Malacca recognised as being an enclave of residents descended from the Portuguese who lived here in the 16th century. There is a small area of mostly seafood eateries here. We negotiate the touters all vying for our custom and circle back around to a small place sitting a little away from the rest. We like his prices and his non-touting methods. His menu is simple, a choice of fish cake, stingray, chicken wings or squid. All baked in peri-peri style sauce and served with cucumber, onion, tiny limes, and bread. We both reckon this was the best meal we’ve had so far. And far cheaper than we were expecting at $25 including 2x beers each

    Dinner in the Portuguese Settlement: https://youtu.be/02Pslfs_0ks?si=KdlYOeXo4vFK7Wh5    Read more

  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Getting Organised for Onward Travel

    January 27, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    We suddenly realised today that we really need to get our act together and organise our transport from Malacca to Ipoh on February 12. We are aware that Lunar New Year begins around this time, it was part of the reason we extended our stay in Malacca. Not because we were aware of any particular event but because we were strongly advised against travelling in the lead up to the first weekend of the holiday period.

    We spend the morning poring over transport websites, checking routes, fares and seat availability until we land on a workable plan for the day. It will involve one Grab, two buses and a train, and most likely another Grab once we reach Ipoh. The more we looked the more realised it was a good thing we did this today as the seat availability wasn’t huge.

    The rest of the day was spent doing our usual routine stuff followed by a cheap dinner across the road to counter the many outlaid on fares.

    Random pics of things seen today, and a. video of some random fireworks this evening.    Read more

  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Being Flexible

    January 28, 2024 in Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    We could have stuck to the plan today. We set out this morning with intention of getting breakfast, wandering around the market, then heading across town to a megamall to check it out. We ticked of the first two returning to the small eatery that did chicken and rice balls that we enjoyed the other day. Then we turned right. Instead of heading in the direction we had planned, we too a stroll further along the street, poking our noses into small shops along the way. We paused to investigate what I'm fairly certain was a Sikh temple but unsure and also unsure if we would be permitted to enter so we kept going.

    We reached an intersection and noticed a small crowd gathered across the road. A little further scrutiny and an element of deduction and we realised we had reached the Poh San Teng Temple. The small crowd was of course a tour group. This temple is dedicated to Tua Pek Kong (a Taoist deity of Peranakan folk religion practiced by ethnic Chinese in Malaysia, Singapore, and parts of Indonesia) and was founded in 1795 during the era of Dutch Malacca. A beautiful temple with lovely ornate ceramic decorative finishes.

    Also on the site is a cenotaph erected in 1948 and dedicated to the memory of the Chinese slaughtered by the Japanese.

    We continue to circuit the block passing a street vendor cooking noodles with bean sprouts and egg, earmarking it for breakfast another day. There is a row of lovely Peranakan shophouses, the end one of which houses a lovely cafe. We stop for coffee and tea.

    We pass a large hall with people inside having their hair cut. It is customary to do so before Lunar New Year and apparently here today only, it is free. Richard isn’t tempted.

    Back at the fruit market we buy a few pieces and also a “spectacular oversized muffin”. I later discover from a Malaysia Facebook group that it is called “huet kueh” and is a steamed rice flour cake . We tasted it and weren’t impressed and it seems this cake be meant to be used only as offerings.

    Heading out for dinner, we first stop by an atm and since we are in this neighbourhood we decide to check out a porridge place we walk past often. It only opens for dinner and serves a variety of dishes all based on rice porridge. One of these is frog. We decide to share one with two pieces, meaning two whole frogs. Although the sauce is delicious the frog is incredibly fiddly, tiny as they are. I can see why the French just went for the legs. We discuss the whole question of eating on way back to the apartment and once there we look it up. I didn’t realise the endangered status of frogs as a whole. I mean, I’ve watched Luke Nguyen catch them in paddy fields. We won’t be eating frog again.    Read more

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