Passport...Check! Bus Ticket...Check! Empty Stomach...Check! Hello Malaysia!

I made it to Melaka.

I originally thought I would head out tommorrow, Saturday. But I figured, why not, and went today instead. It was a bit of a journey to get here.

This morning, after sleeping in a bit and grabbing breakfast, I checked out of the hostel. I amde my way a few blocks over to the bus terminal from the CW bus (Causeway bus). I hopped on and took about a 20 minute ride to the border control at the Singapore end of the Causeway. For those who don't know, Singapore is separated from Malaysia by the Johor Strait, and is connected by the Causeway over the strait. We (the other passengers and I) hopped on the bus, while it continued one, to go through customs. We went through customs, got on another bus to go across the causeway itself. We got off again to go through Malaysian customs to enter. We got on yet another bus to go to Larkin, the Johor Bahru bus station. Johor Bahru is the city on the Malaysian side of the Strait. It pretty much seems that the buses just keep going, and pick up a new set of passengers for each leg. Passengers ride all three legs on the same ticket.

When I arrived at the bus station, I got my first glimpse of Malaysia. While its definitely not an underdeveloped country by any means, its not quite as developed as the West or Singapore either. I arrived at the station around 12:30. There were probably 15-18 coach bus companies selling tickets to various parts of Malaysia. I found one with the earliest departure heading for Melaka, at 2:30. Best of all it only cost 15 Malaysian Ringgits, or 5 Bucks US! I walked around the bus station, which doubles as a small market. It was interesting, I saw differences immediately. The most obvious was how the women were dressed, most were wearing head scarves. I had seen no shortage of it in Singapore, but not it was the majority (not all however, its not required, nor is everyone Muslim).

The bus to Melaka was pretty plush, very roomy. The view of the Malaysian countryside really fulfilled my expectations. Beautiful green forest, farmland, foggy mountains.

We arrived around 6. At this point, I could have taken a taxi, another 15 Ringgits, but I opted for the local bus, which cost 1 Ringgit, about 32 cents US! It was a bit of a pain finding the right one, and where to get off, but I managed. Malay is the only official language here, and while some people do speak a little English, you can't count on it. I better get used to it!

I made it to the guest house, and fortunately they had a room tonight, or else I would have had to find one elsewhere, and come back for the nights I did reserve.

(Call to prayer is echoing in the background)

This guest house is really cool. The owner is very relaxed, and he runs a really relaxed place. No shoes inside, though I'm not totally sure where outside ends and inside begins. Its all very open, there's an awesome garden, good for chilling out. The rooms themselves (I'm in a single) aren't even separated by full walls that go up to the ceiling. Rather, they just go most of the way. You see critters around like little frogs/toads and little lizards, though the flies/mosquitoes stay away thanks to the citronella. The critters really stay to the outer perimeter though. The place is decorated with all sorts of odds bits from around the world, included an old Singer pedal-operated sewing machine.

I don't know If I'm gonna go out tonight, I still feel a bit sick, though I'm much better than the other day. I did see some of the town from the bus, it seems pretty cool, can't wait to see it.

Well, I best be wrapping things up.

Goodnight,
Mike