Mon 28th May
We set our alarm so as to not miss our free breakfast. And very nice it was too. Traditional Malay style. Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk), fried noodles, an assortment of dried fried onions, sambal (anchovies) spiced greens and different sauces. Also boiled eggs, toast, butter, jelly (jam jelly) and a sweet caramel smelling paste. It was in the cafe next door to the hostel, same rustic bare brick walls with instrumental background music. Also, residents get 20% off for lunch.
Then back to sleep. I know, I know but we were up late and tired from a long day and it was only for an hour and a half.
Up and to business. We put in our laundry, walked up and down our busy street, topped up our water, extended our stay at the hostel, then researched/booked our next stop - Malacca (Melaka) including the bus ticket.
Earlier in the day staff had told us about food tasting that evening in a local restaurant. Our names were on the list.
Showered - best shower in Asia so far! Fairly productive day really.
Food tasting - very nice restaurant Sarang Cookery. Due to the rain we were driven there by staff Stephen (and Leong in another car) there were 8 of us in total (9 with Stephen hosting). Most of the gang from last night were there so more chatter and travel/food stories. I accidently spilt Frank's beer over. Sorry! The food was amazing. Fresh fragrant and brimming with colour and flavours. Stephen ordered for us it was served on the Lazy Susan table and we each took a share. Some of the dishes ordered were...
Nasi Ulam, Telor Cincalok, Ayam Kapitan, Kerabu Mangga, Lobak, Cendol, Gula Melaka crepe and Coconut steamed buns.
On the way back to Mingle Stephen gave us an inpromptu tour. Pointing out 'Coruption Tower' (former Prime Minister's project), the Petronas Towers, a motorbike meet, the soon to be third tallest building in the world, the 4am-til-9am flea market selling stolen goods, a historical Chinese resturant, a Chinese Temple previously run by gangsters, a Hindu Temple, the oldest cafe, speakeasy bars, pimps and brothels (you wouldn't know it though), the price for time with a lady of the night (how does he know?!?) and the old dubious custom of birds in cages representing each lady for you to 'pick'.
Nattered to girls in the bar for a while afterwards. Then chatted to new peeps Steve (Dartford, small world) and Rachel ( U.S.A), who had met in Veitnam.

Tue 29th May
Breakfast and back to bed again - it's a bad habit we know but hey we had fun last night. A walk to Bandar Tasik Selatan (Plaza Rakyat) to work out where we catch the train, to catch the bus, to swallow the fl- sorry I meant get to Malacca. It took us two goes but once found we we're happy.
To Central Market (a market in a mall) - a brief thunderstorm. Stumbled upon City Gallery in a heritage area of the city. Walked round some more, up Petaling Street Market/ Chinatown, where we ate a chicken floss sandwich/bun.
Back at the hostel Leong told us of a buddist festival, Wesak, happening in Little India, we should check it out. Dinner at Arabesque Express. Falafel wraps, mmm, good. While there Madie and Leia sat for dinner. (They'd returned from the Petronas Towers). We said about the festival and they joined us. A walk to Brickfields (along a dual carriage way at one stage) soon enough we were following the locals carrying 'offerings' to the festival. Little India is a colourful, decorative area and smells terrific if you like your Indian food! Up a side road, over and along a rammed packed road to Buddist Maha Vihara Temple. Food stalls, beggars, balloons, floats, flowers, a stage with Buddhists giving blessings. So many many colours.
We must have missed the parade. Oh well good to see though. On the way back we stopped for a beer. And then the road began to get quieter and was lined with people... Is the parade happening now??! Yes it was!!! Wow, what a treat. What an atmosphere. There was music, bells, singing, clapping. A real sense of joy and peace. You couldn't help but be swept away with it all.
The four of us finished our drinks and followed the parade - it going in the same direction we were anyway. The floats were pieces of moving artwork on the road with Monks, adult and child, throwing blessed water onto the crowd with palm tree branches. What a wonderful place to be. Here we were, in a thriving metropolis of cool, getting blessed by Monks and taken in by the people. The true feeling of wonder, that was written on Leia's young face, swelled inside me and moved Madi to tears. Frank too was feeling awed by the occasion. None of us stopped smiling throughout. In time the parade brought us right up parallel to Mingle, along Petaling Street where we watched for a little longer then turned home.

We came back, toasted the occasion and played Bonkers (card game). During which, we met Poppy and Anchal from London/ Oxford.

Wed 30th
Up early breakfasted with Madi, Leia, Lyn - (met the day before) and Nadine who was leaving for home today.
Off to the City Gallery for a free walking tour (hence the early!) - which had finished running over a month ago! Oh well. Via the infomation map boards and plaques in the pavement, we went on our own walking tour. Taking in the Heritage walk, a bit of Little India - got an iced tea - and Chinatown. Visited two Chinese temples and an Hindu temple.
A lot of construction, pavement and building works were going on so dashing between roadworks was called for. There are a lot of dinged cars! Every one has a dink, scratch or dent in it. Studying the traffic for all of 5 minutes gives you a good idea why. And the motorbikes don't have bafflers/ mufflers on, like they do in the U.K. So so loud!

More laundry! Photo's backed up. Off back to Sarang Cookery again, just before a downpour.
Fab-u-lous food! Nasi Goreng Paprik, Dalcha (lentil curry) and Kerabu Mangga. Delightful.
Back just before the thunderstorm really kicked in. Spent the afternoon perched on the roof bar of our hostel, all on our own, watching the traffic and lightining.