The Pearl of the Indian Ocean

Planning on seeing a bit of the city I set off walking. The idea was to walk as far as a hotel I had thought of staying at. The Hatten. Maybe I will have lunch there.   It wasn’t far from home but it was hot and I darted into a shopping mall to keep cool and find a coffee. An hour later and without stepping foot outside I was in the Hatten Hotel having come all this way in Malls which join themselves onto the next one.  Hatten Hotel I have arrived. Glad I am not staying here. Huge, shiny, impersonal and home to coach tours. Neither of the restaurants serve A la Carte and neither has proper coffee. Well that was a waste so I venture outside and over the road.  That’s where I am now. Enjoying a Thai Chicken and Prawn dish that was bought to me by a robot with a very annoying voice. The food is delicious but the chicken seems to have flown away or morphed onto the shape and taste of mushrooms. The lemon grass drink is just so cooling and refreshing. Interesting ...

Waking early is not something I do but today I’m up early, coffee’d, showered, dressed and now sitting at Melaka Kentral Bus Station waiting for my bus to Kuala Lumpur for the day.   What a massive, organised, clean terminal. Electronic gates, great information, easy to find your way around. Perfect. There are literally dozens of busses here mainly parked up waiting for their turn at one of the gates. They are in and out of the gates in 15 minutes. Super organised.  My bus today is orange hues. Same swanky style as the other day. Its a short trip and I should be at the KL terminal in about 90 minutes.  Everywhere I look there is green. Green Green Green Palm trees. The I had a nap.  We approach KL where there are modern sky scrapers right next to shacks. The roads are amazing, it’s spotless.  I grab a GRAB (Malasias version of Uber) and head into the city. I am surrounded by tall buildings including the famous Petronas Towers that up until 2004 ...

It felt weird waking this morning knowing I had three more nights in this same place. I am a bit over moving around.   Thinking I was miles away from anything at the hotel I asked the best way you get to the centre. Walk was the response. Her indication of 10-15 minutes as by the 7 minute mark I had moved out of the Little India area and into the Heritage listed part of the city.  Little India was, well, Indian; lots of shops selling Sari’s and over the top jewellery.  I walk along the river side. On the opposite bank are dozens of colourful buildings housing mainly bars and cafes. It’s colourful, fun and full of life.  On my side of the river I passed by the St.  Francis Xaviers Church,  the beautiful Christ Church and then arrived at The Stadthuys.  STADTHUYS is a city hall built by the Dutch when they had Malacca as a trading colony. It is the administrative centre in the Malaccan city and is popularly termed as the RED SQUARE. ST...

My day starts to the sound of Russell Watson singing Va Pensiero to wake me from a deep sleep in my ‘Cabin’ at YoHotel, Landside at Changi Airport.   My flight from Bandar Seri Begawan last night was uneventful and going through customs here a breeze.  Then, bag in tow I make the short walk to Jewel, Jewel in Changi’s crown.  YoHotel was easy to find and check in a breeze. The Hotel is built in a circle around the massive waterfall in the centre of Jewel. My Cabin 428 was a good way round the circle and I was pleasantly surprised when I let myself in. I was expecting just a pod!  Here was a queen bed, full but tiny bathroom, baggage storage space, aircon and a giant tv. The only thing missing was a jug!   By now I was hungry and disappointed that at 9:30 the place was closing for the night. Sometimes things happen for a reason tho. The one place that was open had a truffle burger on special. Sold!  I don’t know what heaven tastes like but I exp...

I came to Brunei to see the 2 main Mosques which are said to be of the most beautiful in the world.   Day 1 I saw the first one. Today I headed to the second. The Jame'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque.  I could see the minarets from the hotel so knew it wasn’t far. In fact very close and walking in the shade was easy. Until the shade ran out.  I could see the mosque getting closer and closer. It was magnificent!  I go to grab my phone to take pics. I panic. No phone!  Not only could I not take pics but I could not get a ride home. Oh well.  Resigned to the fact I kept going. It was too hot to go home again and get back before it closes for the day.  I arrived and checked in dripping in perspiration. The lovely men there got me a chair and water and made sure I was ok. As we were chatting a guy came along to check in.  Wouldn’t you know it was- another kiwi. We went through the check in book and there hasn’t been a kiwi here in months ...