Penang to Melaka

I am now in Melaka. I leave for Singapore tomorrow. I have been so lazy over the past two weeks.

I was so happy to leave Penang, with all my bed bug bites. Arriving in Kuala Lumpur was great. The bus journey was quick and easy. I booked in to a different hostel than the one before. This one was fine, but not as nice as the previous one, but it was only 2 pounds a night. Can't complain.

I was in the girls dorm, but the dorm we walked though was the guys dorm, and every morning is smelt so bad. The guys always drunk so much every night and smelt that way too. Unfortunately I had to walk through this in order to get to the bathroom, so there was no way to avoid this.

The main reason for me returning to KL was to get my Indian Visa. So this was the first thing that I did. I went to the Malaysian Tourist board to find out where I needed to go. They gave me the address, and I knew where to go. Well so I thought. The address they gave me was incorrect. The address was now something else. They vaguely told me where to go. I had to keep asking people where I needed to go. A few hours later I finally got there, and it turns out that it has moved and is only a 2 minute walk from where I am staying. Great as I had to return to get the paperwork sorted, but not so great as it took me all day to find this place!!

I had seen most of the sights in KL already, so decided to teach myself how to crochet and knit. Thought that this may help me with some of the long bus journeys I have to do. I was also inspired by the haberdashery that was opposite the hostel. So I spent some of my time learning how to do this. It was actually a great way of chatting to people in the dorm too and picking up travel and craft tips. I know all you guys in the UK could do with scarves, gloves, hats and thermals as I hear it is so cold. Here in the tropics I guess its not needed so much. Maybe you will all have some handmade crafts as gifts when I return.

My Australian friends got in touch with me and said that they had some friends in KL, so I hung out with them for a while. It was great to chat about non-travel things. We went out for a banana leaf curry, and I know I should be eating with my hands now, but shamefully I am still asking for cutlery. Once in India I guess I will be eating with my hands all the time. For now, I will use cutlery.

I spent more time in the different parts of KL. The city is getting ready for the Chinese New Year. There are red lanterns everywhere. Where Christmas trees there are now ox's as this year is the year of the ox. There is orange blossom with red envelopes on, sadly I don't think they contained a red banknote. The shops are just filled to the brim with decorations, the same way shops in the UK fill up with Christmas decorations.

I spent sometime in Little India eating all the great food, and looking at the bright silk clothing. I admired the temples and the buildings. I also walked through the City Jungle and went to the park. The park is full of monkeys. People stop and feed them peanuts from their cars. The monkeys were actually very cute, especially as there were babies and the mother was carrying the babies under her.

I finally left KL once my India visa came through. This journey was very quick, and a little bit too bumpy for crochet.

I am now in Melaka. Its fun here. The hostel is very friendly. We go out for dinner every night together. The food here is great. There are lots of churches and temples. There is a Dutch and Portuguese influence. Big Chinese population too. The entire streets are decorated with lanterns and we get spoilt each evening with a Chinese Dragon Dance and Chinese music, though the karaoke is not great.

The art in the shops is wonderful. There are lots of local artists here. All painting and carving away. Its quite a dreamy sort of place. Again a mix of European, Chinese and Indian people and buildings.

I went to one of the Islands just off of Melaka. It was empty. The boat journey was very rough and over crowded. We walked around the island and watched hermit crabs and monitor lizards on the beach. The sea was totally calm on the other side of the island as though we were in two different places.

I leave for Singapore tomorrow afternoon. Looking forward to seeing the Chinese New year in there, then I fligh to Delhi the day before my birthday. So I will end up sleeping all day on my birthday. I arrive at 2am Indian time.

Once I am done with India I will be home! The time has gone very fast. Looking forward to seeing you all, but am enjoying being away too.