We booked two beds and then headed to the Bus stop, which was just a short walk down in Little India. A place, that by now we know pretty well already. The Bus companies office was inside a little shopping center and we could leave our big bags there while we got some food around the area. It was Indian again, as you would imagine if you are around little India. We also had a quick chat with a German couple that has been living in Singapore for the last 20 years.
One of their suggestions was to visit Lake Toba in Indonesia if we make it over there. Tip Noted!
Back at the bus office we only waited a few minutes until the diver came in and led is to the bus. It was one of the coach liners I have seen before in Korea. There are only three seats per row, two on the right and one on the left.So you have quite a bit more space. This one even had massage seats.
On the way out of Singapore we picked up a couple of other people and broke for the border. Getting out of Singapore was not a problem. Estimated 30 stalls (not all open) lined up were handling the 15 - 20 people on the bus. I gave back my entry form, got a stamp and we were sent on our way.
Passing over the bridge that makes one of the two ways out of Singapore (aside from ship and plane obviously!) we then arrived in Malaysia and already the palm tree farms started. In the passport control in Malaysia it all went fairly quick as well, although it was only 6 booths here. A quick scan of our bags and back to the bus. Now we are officially in Malaysia and another 3 hours to Melaka (previously I called it Malacca which is the English version of the name, so now we stick to the Malay version "Melaka"). This time was perfectly used to catch up on writing the blog entries and catching a glimpse of some of the jungle that lay behind the Palm tree farms.
Arriving in Melaka Sentral (main Bus station) we look around to find the way to the hostel we planned to stay at. We found a card that had directions, so we took bus number 17 to the center of town.The Hostel was located really nice alongside the little Melaka river that winds through the colonial dutch settlement. Also it had great atmosphere around it with old collectible radios and Cameras and so on.Alan a Londoner who was working at the hostel and who has been travelling for the last 26 years (don't worry end up like this) brought us to our room.
At this time no one else stayed a the Hostel. It was just about dinner time anyway and Alan suggested is favorite place right around the corner. From there we strolled along the river and through the old china town. This was proper china town compared to Singapore. Lot's of little shops and a western bar once in a while.I really like the whole place. Maybe Singapore was a bit to big for me and to western, for the fact of it being in south east Asia. Also Malay, is written in Latin letters but at least it's not straight in your face English as it is in Singapore. Even the fact that there is big Hard Rock Cafe in the middle of Melaka does not break the charm. Just don't look at it if you don't like it.
However after a little stroll and a couple of beers/Sour Plum Juices at a bar we headed back and formatted and uploaded the last couple of entries that I have been writing so far.We were sure that we wanted to stay another night here as there is plenty more to see.
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