Melaka and Kuala Lumpur

Malacca or Melaka, I’m still not sure which is the right spelling, is a small but scenic city situated on the Malay Peninsula’s west coast around four hours by bus from Singapore.

After being founded in the 14th century by a Hindu prince it was subsequently conquered by the Portugese in 1511, the Dutch in 1641 and then finally the British (booyah!) in 1795.

Taking a ride in a Trishaw.

I met a giant of a man called Peter from Hampshire on the bus journey north and we ended up staying in the same hostel. I forget the hostel's name but it was basically one huge dorm, similar in looks to that of an old hospital ward, complete with mosquitoes and bed bugs all for the bargain price of just fifteen ringgits (approx £3) per night.

I spent the next few days exploring historic Melaka, eating amazing hawker food like Chicken Rice Balls, drinking delicious Mango Julius (a kind of milkshake) in the Voyage Travellers Lounge and listening to the legend that is ‘Burns’, a local acoustic muscician.

The legend that is 'Burns', oh and that's Peter and Martine.

From Melaka Peter and I headed north by bus to Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur (KL) approx four hours away. It was here that I met up with my friend Stephie from Melbourne in Australia with whom I will travel with for the next couple of months around South East Asia.

Our hostel in KL was called the Reggae Guest House and was smack bang in the heart of Chinatown. We enjoyed exploring Chinatown’s markets and eating delicious hawker food such as Claypot chicken rice and Singapore Noodles. We explored Little India and feasted on Naan bread and curry for seventeen ringgits! Unbelievably good value.

Claypot chicken rice being cooked in Chinatown. Delicious!

We stood in awe as we looked up at the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest twin buildings in the world and got a spectacular 360 degree view of KL from the nearby Menara KL aka Kuala Lumpur tower.

The mighty Petronas Twin Towers.

We spent the next day exploring the Batu Caves, a forty minute bus ride from KL CBD. 272 steps led us past the highest Murga statue in the world. Standing at 43 metres high and painted gold is was a truly remarkable sight. At the top we entered the Temple Cave which is home to several Hindu shrines and offered spectacular views of the countryside and KL in the distance.

The 272 steps leading up to the Batu Caves and the Murga statue.

A resident of the Batu Caves showing off his wares.