My two cents worth..

In the following week, my missus and I will be going off on our honeymoon. We have decided on a few destinations before the wedding and finally when MATTA fair was here recently, we went and got our flight tickets. Yup, you got it right - it’s a Free and Easy! Both of us prefer the F&E method of getting around a destination instead of the pre-canned tour (where you’ll be sitting in buses whole day long and you’ve got to pack / unpack your bags every morning due to hotel change).

Once the flight tickets were purchased and done with; next comes the planning stage. What do we do, how to move about, what to see and when, clothing, forex, bookings and etc. We started by getting two things - i.e. Google Earth (for me - i like to see where I’m going to) and Lonely Planet guide (RM111.80).

For the next several days, it is book reading time for me. Read, take notes, identify places of interest (check out the place via the Internet), and spot / mark it in Google Earth. And the Lonely Planet guide does help a LOT.

After the reading is done comes the planning phase, where to go, how to get there, how long travel time, how much activity time, and where to stay. This helps to determine the needed car and accommodation bookings. Email and internet booking do make life easier. He he.

And finally all tasks completed (took us about two weeks), just sit back and wait for the flight date. Tak sabar saban hari menunggu.

Oh ya, we’ll be heading to the end of the world.

Happy Deepavali and Selamat Hari Raya (Maaf Zahir Batin)… Petronas has produced a couple of nice TV commercials for this year’s celebration. Beautifully done and best is the message that Petronas tries to deliver year after year. Go have a look here.

On the week of the 16th September, we made an overnight trip to Malacca for fun. It was an impromptu decision that we had decided on the night before (at Lona’s surprise birthday party - which NO surprise came out of  it).

Anyway, Ken, Lona, Mun and myself packed ourselves into my little car and putt putt away we go down south to the historical town of Malacca (Melaka in Malay lingual). A state known for its Malay Sultanate, Portuguese occupation and Baba / Nyonya cultural ties (that’s all I remember from school).

We took a night in Baba’s House - a quaint pre-war lot that was converted to a motel. The rooms were clean with attached bathroom + heater. Not bad la since we were not there for a lavish holiday.

After checking into the motel, we took a walk at the adjoining street call Jonker’s Walk. This is where to get all the touristy stuff like antiques, wood carvings, clothes, souvenirs and etc. Well, the ladies bought themselves something and the men return home with their tummies filled.

Food was the reason why we decided to go to Malacca. Well, to cut things short, we had the following:
1. Jonker Dessert 88 @ Jonker’s Walk - fantastic laksa, chicken wings and cendol desserts. Yummy yummy.
2. Muara Sungai Duyung Seafood @ after Padang Temu - great Malay seafood restaurant. We had like Otak Otak, Nasi Lemak, Prawns, Kupang, and Stingray.
3. Jonker Walk Night market @ Jonker Walk - for the night market. All the finger food and sweeties.
4. Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball @ corner of Jonker Walk - for the ever famous chicken rice balls.
5. Nya Nya Restaurant @ next to Malacca Parade - for some nyonya delicacy.

For photos, click here.