Petaling

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