The bus from Singapore to Melaka and a taste of Kitch

After a jet lagged? Age? less than ideal sleep we gathered our stuff and walked just around the corner from the hotel to the Queen Street Bus which is an open air station for both in city and international buses. The company we chose was 707inc. We arrived early so nobody else was waiting but soon enough people started gathering. And the bus arrived around 8:20. We loaded our luggage and sat behind the driver.

Each space was huge and the seats were very comfortable suitable for my (Argiris) colour blindness...

8:35 we left after a short explanation for the border arrangements.

35 minutes later after passing various industrial complexes we arrived at the Singapore border. Off we go, scan our passports, back to the bus in less than 2 minutes. Apparently at the other site we have to take our luggages off to be scanned too. All straight forward it seems and so it was. 3 minutes including the scanning at the Malaysian side. Makes you wonder.... why can't we manage this. I know is Sunday and quiet but...

A pit stop to a mediocre classic coach stopping 'restaurant/shop' for 30 minutes. An almond pie was good for our sleepless night and in another hour and 20 we reached our stop just outside Melaka. The Shore Hotel was a bargain at less than £50 for 2 nights (apparently is like that in quiet times). It is by far the tallest building at 43 floors and as we stay at the 36th floor we have a imposing view. The sky is a bit hazy

We walked to Melaka centre which is 15-20 mins away. We entered the famous Jonker street and then we realised how kitch the town is. At the entry the local hero and body builder

is a warning for what is mostly to follow. Little carriages with flowers carrying customers playing loud music, crowds of tourists looking at awful shopfronts and nothing inspiring. At the other end thinks improvedsince there are the remains of the Dutch governor house (Stadhuis) and the Christ church.

The we climbed to the area where the remains of the St Paul Church where St Frances Xavier remains were laid initially before being transferred to Goa.

We ended by decending to the other side where the Ports de Santiago is what is left from the Famosa fort (3d picture towards the right above). We contemplated changing tickets to leave tomorrow because there is very little else to see and the food places look uninspiring. Finally we thought this is a fuff so we ll stay and go tomorrow to the Portuguese area and wander a big to the more Chinatown type streets.

On the way back we took a different route that was a bit more pleasant than the awful Jonker Street in spite of most shops being closed since it is Sunday.

A pleasant bookshop/coffee place improved a bit our mood along with the sight of these ginormous chicken and rib buns.