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Malaka is normally a sleepy fishing village on the west coast of Malaysia, however Kimberley and I had managed to go during the children's school holidays there for even the buses to get there were packed full of families heading the same way as us for a little week break.To cross the boarder into Malaysia you have to cross a river and in the middle of the river is the boarder line where you disembark the bus, pass through 2 passport controls (one for each country) and board another bus - sounds simple? Well not for me as there was a problem with my passport and I ended up being marched into the inner workings of the building, with fingerprint recognition door locks and security absolutely everywhere.After 15 mins of people looking at my passport and then at me I was finally allowed to leave and enter Malaysia with everyone else.I thought that would be my only crisis of the days travel however the worst was yet to come at a bus station not too far away - me and Kimberley bought our tickets to Malaka and sat down to wait for the coach due shortly - in Malaysia there isn't really such a thing as a long distance government bus like there is in india, its all coaches (like the national express in England).The coach showed up and I threw my bag onto my back - suddenly there was a loud crack and my bag dropped to the floor, my beloved backpack strap had broken!! I doubt anyone would really understand unless they had been a backpacker themselves at one point but like a snail your backpack is your little home containing all the comforts and necessities you need to survive so to see it break was gutting.I got it onto the bus and then me and Kimberley sat for hours trying to work out a way to fix it - in the end we tied the two broken pieces together - this has held ever since lol the simple ways work the best it seems.
We arrived in Malaka at dusk with no where to stay and no knowledge of where to go to look for somewhere to stay - it didn't take us long to find somewhere by simply walking to the bus depots information desk and the first leaflet we saw was for a hostel in town that wasn't to expensive, so into a taxi we jumped and to the hostel we arrived.The hostel was alright, me and Kimberley shared a dorm with 2 other girls, communal showers and cold water but the people were friendly and the building secure so we could hardly complain.
Our first evening in Malaka was spent in China town where a quaint street market took place offering Chinese delicacies and trinkets - a wonder around the stalls and a beer at the end and it was time for bed. The following day was spent sightseeing, to get anywhere around Malaka you have to criss cross its beautiful film set like canals and find your way around the winding streets with over hanging balconies and flowers - the town reminded me of the set of and Audrey Hepburn film and if I could have seen it through black and white eyes I most definitely would have done.
We went to see various temples including the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia - I loved this temple with its roof bowing in the middle and coming to an elf shoe like point at either end, its delicate red, green and gold paintings and its colony of dragons protecting the temple from every angle it was cool to see. We followed this temple with a trip to the Buddhist temple down the road, the quietest and calmest place on the planet and a welcomed break from the tourist crowded streets. After a cold sweet drink in a little delhi with a friendly English owner that couldn't do more to assist us, we took her advice and headed for the newly built viewing platform to see the town and its country side surroundings from a real tourist perspective.I knew it would be touristy but I didn't not expect to wait 2 hours to get onto it.The idea of the construction was cool, it was like a polo shaped spaceship completely made of glass that went up a pole whilst rotating so that its customers could get a panoramic view of the town - but the wait to get onto it dampened both mine and kimberleys enthusiasm and we both agreed although cool to see it was little worth the wait.
Malaka was an adorable little town with a lot to offer a tourist, museums temples, beautiful scenery and friendly people it was picturesque in every way but a day and a half was enough for me and then I was ready to head onto our next destination Kuala Lumpur! The morning that we left we had breakfast with a girl from our dorm named keira a ballsy Australian who lived in Canada she reminded me so much of a friend from home in her outspoken and funny nature - it would have been nice to spend more time with her but it wasn't on the cards.Breakfast that morning was eaten in an arts café that contained a jungle inside - with a building comprising of 3 courtyards painted in peeling blue and up the walls climbed numerous exotic plants and lights, in amongst this was old 50's and 60's style furniture and any number of lampshade placed on trees - so random but so cool - I have never had speckles of rain drop on my cheek whilst inside and surrounded by flowers before. Just before we caught the bus, me, keira and Kimberley went to a cookie shop which let you try before you buy all 3 of us went crazy and ate enough weird flavoured biscuits to last us a life time.
I enjoyed Malaka as it was a change of scenery from anything I had done so far or since for that matter - it was interesting and friendly and my time there was spent wisely and in the company of good people.But the big city beckoned and I was excited to get there.
The big KL here we come.
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