Note: I’ve given up on uploading photos for now. Will try later.
Blessed with what looks like a nice day. I got a map from the hostel after I checked out, but it was in Malay – so a little difficult to use. Managed to find the sites I was after, though. First stop of the day was the reconstructed 15th Century Malay palace, Istana Kesultanan. I checked out the gardens first, but they weren’t all that special. As I was entering the palace a couple of school kids approached. In flawless english they told me they were doing a survey, and asked if I’d fill it out. Nothing too taxing, just where I was from, and how long I’d been in Malaysia, etc. They took a picture and seemed quite happy to be talking to someone from Canada. Pleasant kids. Shortly after, I realized my wallet was missing. Just kidding. It was refreshing having someone approach you on the street and not want money.
Climbed up to St. John’s fort next, and then descended on the other side of the mountain to the Dutch square. From there I wandered into China street, walking mostly along Jonker Street. Came across a bakery that had some Portuguese tarts, but they didn’t compare with the English variety.
After covering most of Melaka, I figured it was about time to make my way to Kuala Lumpur so I headed back to the hostel and grabbed my luggage. Took a cab to the train station, then managed to find a bus ticket pretty easily, with a departure time that was only twenty minutes away.
Bus wasn’t very crowded. Had a buddhist monk behind me, that made some odd grunting noises on occasion, but otherwise it was a fine ride. Passed some nice terraced hills, and generally nice terrain.
As a lesson in contrasts, the scene in KL was chaotic. The driver had opened the door to the bus, so people were simply grabbing their bags and getting off. I figured I’d do the same, and followed the line of foot traffic towards a bridge that came across the street. I had no map, and no idea where I was in the city, but wonder of wonder, my hostel was across the street. I ignored the tauts asking if I needed a cab, and took the bridge over the street and checked in.
The hostel was rated quite well in the Lonely Planet guidebook Adam had, but things have apparently gone downhill since. A little dirty, and very smoky in the main room, but it’ll do for a couple of nights. I hope.
In the evening I headed over to Chinatown and Petaling Street. A huge market, and jam packed with people, which was kind of fun. Headed back to the hostel and did some reading. As I was about to go to bed, a new roommate arrived, Eveline from Switzerland. Ended up chatting with her, and two hours later finally managed to get to bed. She is leaving in the morning, but we’re both heading to Thailand next, so we’ll try and keep in touch and meet up at some point.