Visit Melaka, visit Malaysia.

I wish to dedicate this post to a friend of mine and her wonderful family. My host was kind to let me stay over. Su Anne was my tour guide and makan buddy.

Malacca, the historical city. The origin of Malaysia. And this was my first time here and now I feel a little more Malaysian.

This is Melaka.


The river.

It was named after pokok melaka, a tree Parameswara was resting under when he saw his hunting dog was attacked by a kancil.


Windmills were influence of VOC.





The Brits also made their mark here.







This church is still functional since...1753





Keris Taming Sari and Eye On Malaysia.







Ruins of St Paul's church.














This is what's left of the huge Famosa Fort.




This is the Chevy the first Prime Minister of Malaya sat when Malaya got its independence.




Some random ornaments on Jonker Street aka Jalan Hang Jebat.


Jonker Street at night.

Another attraction in Malacca is FOOD! The food there was just wonderful, very unique.



These are what I ate:

Prawn mee - The prawn mee is actually dry! It was a light meal to enjoy if you don't eat much.

Roti Bakar - Kaya and butter sandwiched between soft yet crusty Hainanese bread.





Ikan Pari Bakar - Was told to be a Portuguese dish. With spices and ladies fingers, it is one food you won't wanna miss. The sotong bakar is superb too.



Oi chien - which I cannot eat as it has oysters in it (allergic to seafood...so I ate the eggs only)




Nonya laksa - the thick curry of the broth with it's special mix of spices makes you wanna go have another sinful bowl... over and over again



Paitee - Vegetables cooked and raw in small biscuit cups are just a tasty mouthful

Chicken rice balls - this is a hit in Melaka as it is unique. Chicken is served with rice shaped into balls.







Mihun Kuih/ Traditional Pan Mee - Simplicity is the key to finding the originality of what it was

Cendol - Cendol (green jelly) with kidney beans topped with shaved ice with gula melaka and santan (coconut milk) makes it a great simple dessert that no one should ever miss when visiting Melaka. One recommended shop would be Jonker 88 on Jonker street.



Portuguese egg tart - Egg custard filling in a flaky crispy crust. Yum.

Satay celup - Food on sticks dipped into boiling peanut soup. An experience not to be missed.



It was a nice experience going around Malacca, in such detail. It was fun and I think I may go there to eat... Soon.

Miri (Soon to be International) Airport

After years and years of talk, finally they have direct flights to Singapore from Miri. Yes!!!

Before this, we would either have to fly to Kuching International Airport (KIA) or Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) before being able to fly to Singapore OR fly to Senai Airport and get a cab down to Singapore.

First flights will begin operation on 9th Sept 2009. Refer to this

Hahaha.. Miri International Airport (MIA), will definitely open doors for travellers from overseas to come to see what Miri has to offer. MIA has been MIA for far too long.....

Getting better

When I first got back to my hometown, there was no recorded cases of H1N1. But days later, the unthinkable happened. H1N1 is in Miri. Soon after a family of 5 got down with the flu. And it began to spread like wild fire. Maybe my flight was H1N1 infested (there were loads of people coughing like crazy)

And being in a cautious family, I was home quarantined for the past week (or more). It was to prevent INFECTION. Just in case I'm down with H1N1, I won't go around and spreading it to everyone, which I'm not sure whether I got it because I did not go and test. I just had home quarantine and treatment. I was also ISOLATED in my own home. To prevent intra-home infection so that my school going siblings, market going mum and my working dad don't get affected.

It was a struggle for a foodie like me... to lose the sense of olfaction, to actually taste GOOD food:( Everything tasted blander than plain water. Whenever my mum asked for my opinion for the taste I would say, "I can't smell"

It was a sad sad week. But with my nature of trying to get myself better ASAP spirit, I developed a skill, that is to enjoy food not with by smell but by sensation. Cool huh? I ate a lot of food despite having nose block the whole week. And my mum thought I was lying about being not able to smell. So sad...

Yay to getting better!! Lol~ I really thought that I might be down with Ah HeeNeee virus but I got through it. Really different cause I've not been down with flu for sooo long and wound up having all the symptoms pop up after my flight. Freaky! And the coughing... It was solely triggered by laughing. Serious. And I had wear a mask in my own home:(

Still having headache... and a little running nose but much better now.

Not going Cambodia for reasons that is really obvious. H1N1 though mild, it spreads really quickly. It can get to everyone but not everyone can make it alive. Depends whether one wants to take that risk. I'm just following dad's order cause I think he is more knowledgeable about this quadruple strain virus. 1 Bird 2 Pig and 1 Human. Plus if you read about the Spanish or Hong Kong flu, you'll understand more.

Just a simple stuff.. flu pandemics come in 2 waves. The mild one and then the lethal one... So be ready.