Change

It's strange how things change around here. One minute it's just the two of us - Daniel and I and the water-deficient plants, late nights, eating out, the next minute I am getting used to Tobi being home when I get back, cooking dinner, making us a Mojito or gin tonic. Oh yes, did I mention that the laundry is miraculously done and the floors mopped during the week? And now, Tobi's leaving us on Saturday, no more bratkartoffeln or BBQs down by the pool, no more half naked brother nagging that I don't wash the dishes properly or that my part-time helper deserves to be fired for not cleaning the German way. Oh yeah, and no more spaghetti bolognaise, best I've ever had, and I do not like spaghetti bolognaise.

Streets of Melaka

Going to Melaka (or Malacca as it was named by the Dutch/British) is a breeze if you take the highway northwards. Remember to get your arrival card at the checkpoint or better yet, fill it out before the trip cos it takes ages to fill out.

Now you will need the Touch N Go card when you go through Malaysian immigration.

Once you're past customs, get ready for 3 toll-collection stations before you get on the East-West highway proper. Head north to Kuala Lumpur and whatever you do, do not flash your third finger when a Malaysian comes bearing down on your tailgate at 140km/hr on the right lane.

Get off here....the road to the pusat bandar (city center) takes 15 to 20 minutes cos traffic is really slow.

Park here, but watch out, you need to buy the coupons for parking (same system as Singapore's) or you get the summons from the Matar Matar.

You will pass here and the Peranakan Museum of Melaka.

Turn left here

....and walk down this street

check out the architecture

as you get to the main street, often closed to traffic for the Pasar Malam (night market).

Traditional candy in a block, he is hammering pieces of it out with a chisel.

Must Eat: Melaka Chendol

we think he used to be an air steward, either that or he stole one of the life-size Malaysia Airlines cut-outs and stashed it in the back of his shop.

the secret is the Gula Melaka sugar

More street stands

Dried barbequed cuttle fish in spices ... yummy

Old Melaka

Malacca of old...the forlorn vestiges of its colonial history stand atop a city that builds its dreams on the future. A tourist city that appears disjointed at once and yet recognizable as the Melaka of the British, Dutch, Portuguese and Straits Chinese...you don't have to look too far for it, but you wonder how much longer it would remain.