Well! Malacca it was! After 2 weeks of interminable brainstorming sessions, it was decided that we would be travelling to Malacca (Melaka) after my exams. Observing how my parents and their friends were discussing holiday options, I was a little uncertain but finally the destination was sealed.
However, as the day drew closer I was a little apprehensive due to several reasons. Firstly, Malacca is known for its history and honestly history is not a very fascinating subject for me. Secondly, I WAS a tween. Why was that a problem? You see, my parents and their friends would be one age group, Em, and her friends another. So, I was the odd specimen in the bunch. Besides, since the younger 6-year-olds were, as my mum quoted, “Incapable of handling themselves and needed someone to supervise them”, simply put, the job of babysitting now rested on my shoulders. Still, I looked forward to the trip as a respite from my hectic school life, a breather after my exams and was eager to explore something new.
According to our plan, we set off early with our friends in anticipation of avoiding the famous traffic jams. While my travelling companions were a mix of overenthusiastic individuals, I decided to focus on the landscape that greeted me with breathtaking sceneries and lush green vegetation. A vast stretch of our drive consisted of palm plantations. Chaos resided in the van with Em and her friends screaming, undecipherable music literally tearing off my ears and the intermittent jingle of people munching on snacks driving me crazy…I LONGED FOR PEACE AND QUIET. It took us 6 hours to reach the destination as we sort of got lost in the process of hunting the address of our residence☹.
The holiday home we would be staying in was a villa. Sporting enormous white pillars, decorated windows, a GIGANTONORMOUS LIVING ROOM, 4 HUGE BEDROOMS (One looked like something out of a castle, which is exactly the room at least 6 of us slept in). I loved it the moment I stepped inside the holiday home. After some brief chatter we hit the road to visit Jonker Street, nestled in the heart of this historical place.
I could barely locate the “Street”. It was an intricate network of shophouses, restaurants, attractions, museums, and cobblestoned paths. There was a gigantic figure of a regal tiger rising above the crowd. There were heritage museums with murals, paintings and colourful stalls brimming with delicious food. The street was decorated with vibrant colors, the trees lit up with hues and shades of red, blue, green, and more, creating the sparkling conceptualization of a rainbow. The sheer number of tourists bustled from one place to another, a cheery chocolate house seated proudly on one end and a river flowing between the street and another walkway on the other side, adorned with quaint and cozy cafes. Rickshaws were lumbering throughout the sprawling complex, blaring music pertaining to the different characters that they presented, taking on excited and ecstatic children who eagerly clambered on to the worn seats. The overall atmosphere of the area reminded me of India during the festivals, and I was actually enjoying the experience immensely.
The entire area was festooned with streamers and lights, bestowing the pathways with a magical feeling. A myriad of smells wafted in my direction, and I could not perceive where each one came from. Different compartments of sound reached my ears, a multitude of noises and enthusiastic chatter. IT WAS FILLED WITH PEOPLE! We were packed in like peas in a pod, and I couldn’t even take a step forward without stumbling into someone. My parents kept a tight grip on me and Em as we staggered along, pointing out innumerable sights and simultaneously chattering with our friends. We jostled through the crowd, approaching the tail-end of it. It thinned out slightly and yet, it was still uncountable.
We toured the street for the entire evening, buying 3 packets full of candy(courtesy of me😉), chocolates, apparels, enjoying the new and unique sights, sounds and catching whiffs of the local Malaysian cuisine. We ended the day with a plan to return the next day and a taste of Nyonya food for dinner. It was a scrumptious meal, and the taste was accentuated as we were extremely ravenous.
As we retired to the villa to recharge and rejuvenate, I fell asleep as soon as my head touched the fluffy pillow, in keen anticipation, dreaming about what I would encounter on the following day.
Signing off…