Melaka
Malaysia

24 April 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

At 9:30 am on the dot, Joowee picked me up at my hotel in KL.  Together with her friend Michelle, we drove south to Melaka, the ancient city-state and historic port city strategically located on the Selat Melaka – the Strait of Malacca.

I missed Melaka on my first trip to Malaysia four years ago and I was anxious to see it.

Melaka is a great place for a daytime stroll.  Portuguese, Dutch, Chinese, Indian, Arabic and native Malay architecture all stand together and line the narrow streets:  forts, churches, mosques, temples, tombs, fountains, along with plenty of clothing, antique, porcelain and chachka shops. 

Melaka
Malaysia

26 April 2010

The Jonker Boutique Hotel is very new.  No breakfast is served.  I wander about looking for an open shop.  I never found any breakfast….

I spotted a small group of gold-clad Indians walking up the street in front of the hotel.  Then another small group, a family, carrying pots on their head.  Is there a festival today?  I ran back to my room, grabbed my camera, ran back down to the street and followed along.

And I followed along and followed along and followed along.  The streets became filled with devotees.  The sidewalks were crowded with observers: Chinese residents, Malay residents, other Indian residents. And me, snapping away.

Malacca

Malaysia

January 11, 2013 

Dear Friends,  

“You are invited to a wedding in Malacca?”  

Leonie, a young traveler from the Netherlands, asked me that question last night at the Formosa restaurant.

The answer to her question is a story that begins in Turkey! 

Malacca

Malaysia

Friday

January 11, 2013 

Dear Family and Friends,

The Wedding Buffet!  What a spread! 

At about 6pm, the caterers arrived. Much of the food had already been prepared.  But they set up a stove with a wok and cooked up some dumplings.  They also set up a small barbeque and grilled lovely sticks of chicken satay.  The peanut sauce was thick and just a bit spicy.  Outstanding!   

Malacca

Malaysia

January 12, 2013 

Hello, 

I’ve never seen a happier group of people than I saw at the Wedding Celebration at the home of the Bride. 

My friend Jeannie, the Mother of the Bride was constantly smiling. 

Teen age girls were giggly as they prepared their “games.” 

The Groom had a huge toothy smile when he arrived at the “locked” gates with his buddies.