Packing my bag bound for the Indian Ocean

Well, I suppose it has been a while.  It seems like years since my last adventure despite it only being a matter of a few months but here I am again, packing the reliable duffle bag and trying to decide which piece of clothing will not be going on holiday.

In 2019 I had booked an eating trip to Sri Lanka and not long before I was due to leave there was a terror attack (reportedly in retaliation to the Christchurch Mosque attack) and the trip was called off.  With a deadline for using my credit approaching of course I could not miss out, so here I am getting ready for a short jaunt to Sri Lanka.  

Marco Polo famously described Sri Lanka as one of the world's finest islands. It's a colorful country full of rich history, culture, and natural resources. While it's small, there's a lot of nature, yesteryear, and beauty to see in Sri Lanka.

Being so close I have the opportunity to visit the small sovereign state of Brunei, home to what I believe to be some of the finest mosques in the world.  That's an opportunity I could not turn down so from Sri Lanka I fly to  Bandar Seri Begawan.  I love Islamic architecture and I am looking forward to getting a glimpse of how some of the world's richest people live.

Brunei is a tiny nation on the island of Borneo, in 2 distinct sections surrounded by Malaysia and the South China Sea. It's known for its beaches and biodiverse rainforest, much of it protected within reserves. The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is home to the opulent Jame’Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque and its 29 golden domes. The capital's massive Istana Nurul Iman palace is the residence of Brunei’s ruling sultan.

The next brief stay was going to be Singapore.  I haven't set foot landside in Singapore for many years and was looking forward to spending a few days seeing all the changes I have read about.  But one cheap night's hotel in Singapore, in the sort of tourist hotel I hate, would cost me more than five nights in the city of Melacca in Malaysia.  Obviously, Melacca won and I will spend a few days there before heading home.  It is just a four hour bus ride from Singapore and a little different from the other places I will go.

Malacca City (also spelled Melaka) is the capital of the coastal state of Malacca, in southwestern Malaysia. At its center, Jonker Street, Chinatown’s main thoroughfare, is known for antique shops and its night market. That's where I am headed.

So get ready and come along with me.