More Running, Dancing Plus A Day Trip To Malacca!

The whole of last week has been super awesome.  Did so much, met so many, covered more KMs.  Though a little tiring, it was all worth it.  I believe once I get used to the routine, it will all be alright.  

Other than the cakes that I've baked, the few special people that I've met up with, the kilometers that I've conquered with my run buddies Evie and Florence, the new Walkman from Sony, I have also gone to Malacca for a day trip with my bunch of crazy  friends for some makan-makan (eating spree), made a decision to accept an offer to start training for a dance team audition (not sure if I made the cut yet), completed my first 5km on a threadmill and collected our run pack for the Nike 10.10.10 marathon!  How much more awesome can it get?

That's the official event tshirt that we will be running in.  No separate bib.  The number has been pre-printed on the t-shirt.  Nike dri-fit tshirt... don't play play. Other than that, there were also a 'race day guide' and a dunno what (that red thingy) that we are supposed to latch onto our trainers to monitor our run.  My first reaction when I saw the colour of the shirt was... "Wah... blind also can see wor...".... lols... Florence was even funnier, when she got into the car, she went... "Very nice colour.  When the race is over can wear to direct traffic.".  Hahahaha....

Our trip to Malacca was originally planned for Penang.  As the date got nearer, we decided to just head down to Malacca for a day trip.  The main itinerary was for this mouth watering Cendol dessert. (shaved ice drizzled with generous portion of 'gula melaka' and coconut milk).  The rest of the day is just to go with the flow... lols...

Of course it has to be our first stop.  :)  We even did our meal backwards because of that.  Started with dessert, only then followed by the main course.   Lols...  It does taste heavenly even to a non-santan (coconut milk) lover like me.  Or perhaps it was because after talking & laughing non-stop throughout our 1 hour journey, it just tasted extra refreshing.  Lols...

We ordered ourselves some Nyonya dishes for lunch - Asam Fish (good), Ayam Ponte (so-so), Otak-Otak (good), Paku Vege (good) & Fried Cincaluk Eggs (normal).  The lunch was absolutely hearty.

With stomachs filled, it was time to explore the city.  As it was extreme hot, the thoughts of walking under the hot sun were not really inviting.  We decided to head for Pahlawan mall.  At least, aircond please!  Enroute, passing by the 257 years old Christ Church Melaka.  Landmark of Melaka, our historical city.

At the mall, we went a little mad trying out all those funky sunnies.  Was so tempted to buy one of those with diamond studded frame for Halloween.  But not sure who I wanna go dress up as yet...lols... better not waste $$$.  Am currently on my personal 'OPERATION CODE RED' a.k.a. 'OPERATION DO NOT SIMPLY SPEND MONEY'...lols... But somehow, dunno how it happened, I accidentally bought a pair of Nike shorts last night which sent the husband o.O ... "......... and you BOUGHT it?".  Then I pretended to be ladened with guilt and he bought me Haadgen Daz.  Lols....

Anyway, back to our day trip, our next stop was coffee at this little cafe above the mall that served delicious layered cake.  It was really good.  Slightly different from the standard layered cake we usually have.  Instead of 100% of sponge cake in layers, they filled their's with some cream/egg thingy every alternate layer.  Tasted  somewhat like beaten egg whites with icing sugar.  Yup, that's right.  Beaten egg whites + icing sugar.  Nice. 

Jonker Street (a.k.a. Jalan Hang Jebat) was next after chilling out at the mall for 2 hours.  We parked our car quite a distance away and took the opportunity to explore down some historical corridors.  Well, since it is known as the historical city, I bet every dust that sticks on our skin are historical as well and that includes the corridors too. :p

 Spotted an old fashion set up of a boutique selling these lovely kebayas.  Nice...! :)

We made Harrison take from a high angle so that we look slim & nice. :p  It works!  I think I've slim thighs, slim arms, slim face here!  Praise the man!  The only thing is, I thought we also look like 3 cartoons....lols...

A little research revealed that The Stadhuys was built by the Dutch in 1650 to house the Dutch Governors in Malaya.  It was a reproduction of the Frisian town of Hoorn in the Netherlands between 1420 until 1796.  It was not originally red.  Only painted in 'salmon red' by the British in 1911, 85 years after they took over from the Dutch in 1826.  Why 'Salmon Red'?  Reason not known though.  I think maybe they have consulted some local bomoh who advised them that RED is good to ward off evil kua... lols :p (don't believe me on the last sentence, I just gone mad a little.).  Hehehe....

Pretty flowers dotting the landscape of The Stadhuys.  Lovely... wonder why my garden never bloom like that... Ahhh.... I know, because I am the gardener.  That's why... :p

The cleaned up Malacca river.  What a pretty sight.  Wish that all our rivers in Malaysia look this.  No floating plastic bags... floating bottles... floating carcasses... floating babies, oppstt, did I just said that.

Cartoons in action in front of 'Sam Shu Gong' (a stall selling local goodies).

Sampling all the cool refreshing drink offered in 'Sam Shu Gong' to quench our thirst.  But, didn't buy any... lols....

Jonker's Street.  Apparently it used to be where the rich people live during the era of the Dutch colonization.  Today, it housed the not-to-be-missed weekend night markets for tourists and local alike.  You can find plenty of knicks knacks, keepsakes or even antiques too (but not sure how authentic are they). ;)

Spotted some big white birds (seagull I think) flying in V-formation.  They are so pretty.  Our life are surrounded by lots of beautiful things.  We just have to open our eyes to see. :)

A huge giraffe hidden at the back of some alleyways on way down a narrow path to Cheng Ho's Tea House.  Don't ask me.  Not sure why they built such huge giraffe in the middle of no where.

Our final stop at Jonker was this place - The Geographer's Cafe.  I've passed this place so many times but never once did I stopover for a drink until now.  Quite a nice place.  Very cosy.  Love the colours there - green, orangy yellow, brown....

A bucketful of icy cool Carlsberg beers to the rescue.  It was freaking hot that day.  But then again, Malacca is always stuffy and hot.  Nothing beats a cold beer after a hot day. :)

Can't remember what was the conversation about.  Lols...

Bollywood actors and actresses trying to act natural.  But I like.... :)  Very nice.

Our dinner destination.  Another alleyway.

Eat squatting down on miniature stools.  Check out the red pails in the middle of the table.  They actually make a hole in the middle of the table to fit the pails.

The pails are for discarded shells :)  The shells/clams were really fresh and yummy.  It has been years  since I last had any of those.  Just couldn't open up the shells.  The girls were so kind taking turn opening them for me.  Lols.... So sweet.  No, extra sweet actually.  Hehehe 

We called it a day after dinner and headed straight back to KL.  We had such a free & easy 'go with the flow' day in Malacca.  Everybody enjoyed so much and that include me & the husband.  Never like fixed itinerary.  Fixed itineraries are boring.  Spontaneous is fun.  No expectation, more surprises. :)  That should also be how we live our life!