Sunday, December 15, 2024

Melaka (Malaysia) Day 2: Baba Kaya One Malaysia Cuisine

It was a sleepless night for me, I tossed and turned until 3 plus. I dozed off slightly but woke up at 5am and remained awake since then.

We finished preparing ourselves and left our room around 9.45am to head out for breakfast. There was a family with us in the lift, we overheard them mentioning they were heading to the same breakfast spot as us, showing the place I had chosen was a popular choice.

We took a Grab down to Baba Kaya One Malaysia Cuisine at RM9 (or S$3) and arrived at10am. The restaurant was packed with diners and we waited 15 minutes before getting seated.

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Melaka (Malaysia) Day 1: Hatten Hotel Melaka + Alto Sky Lounge + Dataran Pahlawan Megamall

 We reached Hatten Hotel Melaka at 5.10pm after our shopping.

Hatten Hotel Melaka is a 22 storey high 5 star hotel with 704 rooms. Located in Malacca's city centre, it is within close proximity to the UNESCO Historical and Heritage sites.

Hatten Hotel Melaka
Jln Merdeka, Banda Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia

Hatten Hotel was filled with Christmas decorations, creating a festive atmosphere. Initially when I walked passed, I was wondering what is this room used for. It turned out to be luggage storage room where guests’ baggage was kept. We collected our bags from there before collecting our room card.


The bathroom was of a decent size, not the spacious kind but adequate for our needs.
We took a 20 minute rest in the room to freshen up, replenish water supply and give our feet a rest after the exploration.

We went up to Alto Sky Lounge at 22nd floor of  the hotel, a sky bar on the rooftop with a breathtaking cityscape.

It was 5.45pm and we were the first guest at that time to enjoy the stunning sunset view of Melaka’s coastal township. The ambiance of sky lounge was inviting, making it the perfect spot to unwind with refreshing drinks to ease our thirst.

I spotted Hotel Equatorial Melaka, the light yellow buildings where I stayed previously. The location was also within close proximity to many places of interest, another choice of hotel that you can consider.

The sky lounge offered an unobstructed panoramic view of Melaka, allowing us to soak in the beauty from a high vantage point. Combined with its strategic location, the hotel proved to be a wise choice for our stay.

I spotted the places we visited earlier. The big square below was Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall, a huge two level shopping mall. Further ahead of the mall, nestled within the greenery was Bukit Melaka.

The skyline of Melaka offered a blend of the heritage charm and modern architecture. I spotted the Taming Sari Tower once again. While it was on my list of places to visit, we already enjoyed the bird’s-eye view from the sky lounge, so we decided to skip the tower for tomorrow.

At the far left was the coastal area where the sky and sea blended into a horizon. A weekend is enough to explore Melaka's attractions. The city offers many restaurants, bars and cafes that provided good spots for relaxation and indulgence.

I had Calamansi Chill Juice at RM16 (or S$5.33) after tax. The citrusy drink was a thirst quencher, leaving a refreshing sour aftertaste. I slowly sipping the drink while soaking in the surrounding architectural beauty.

We stayed here for an hour till 6.45pm. Alto Sky Lounge is a good spot to unwind, with a drink in hand, while soaking in the stunning sunset. Watching the sun gradually dip towards the horizon and the sky ignite with colours was a great experience.

Alto Sky Lounge
 Hatten Hotel Melaka level 22, Jln Merdeka, Banda Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia
Operating hours: 4pm to 12am from Sun to Thu, 4pm to 1am on Fri and Sat


After browsing through a few stores, we decided to leave and make our way to the larger part of Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall which was just a short 3 minute walk apart.

It was nearly 7.50pm where we settled down at Restoran Black Canyon, a Thai restaurant, for dinner. The restaurant was spacious and well lit, offering a comforting atmosphere for a meal.

We ordered a set that included a small bowl of Tom Yam Soup that delivered a spicy and sour punch. The spice level was manageable, but as I took more sips, the heat gradually built up, adding a kick.

I had Stir Fry Basil Chicken Rice at RM16.19 (or S$5.40), I like that it was not spicy at all so that it helped to balance the spiciness from the Tom Yam Soup.

Restoran Black Canyon
Lot No. A-008 & A-009, Dataran Pahlawan Megamall, Jln Merdeka, 75000 Malacca, Malaysia
Operating hours: 10am to 10pm daily

We left 8.45pm to proceed with shopping and the first stop was Brands Outlet which was just opposite the restaurant.

After spending 25 minutes shopping in Brands Outlet, I got two t-shirts at RM29.90 (or S$9.97), one for myself and one for my father. Brands Outlet has officially become my favourite fashion store in Malaysia, I always managed to find something I want from their store.

After another half an hour of shopping, we did not find anything we wanted and with the shops preparing for closing, we decided to walk back to the hotel.

It was so convenient to have a 7-Eleven right besides our hotel at Hatten Square. We purchased mineral water and sweets before heading up to our room. Hatten Hotel was really a popular choice as the lifts were always filled with people every time we took. It was 10pm when we were back at our room. 

Ended the post with my purchase for today.