Melaka (Malaysia) Day 1: Malacca River + GravyBaby Melaka + Jonker Street

Scoot recently launched flights to Melaka (formerly known as Malacca) starting in October 2024, I used this opportunity to revisit this city. Although I had been to Melaka before, my previous trip was just a short one day trip, leaving some places unexplored. This time, I want to cover them and also to revisit old places.

I reached Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 8.53am for my 10.15am flight. Clearing custom was fast and only took less than 10 minutes.

We spotted I Love Taimei and stopped by there for a quick 15 minute breakfast, sharing a pack of Mini Hashbrown (S$4.80).

After completing the bag check, we proceeded to a waiting area one level below, as we needed to take a bus to the remote bay and board the plane via the stairs. However, the plane was delayed for an hour due to technical issue and Scoot had to arrange for another plane. We finally boarded the plane at 10.45am.

It was 2.40pm by the time we finished our an hour long lunch. We were ready to explore the highlight of the area, Jonker Street. The bustling street known for its rich heritage, was lined with many local shops selling identical items. I was only here for the night bazaar previously and did not explore the shops in the day.

I stopped by at Lulala and got two pack of snacks at RM9.80 (or S$3.27).

The things sold here were on a expensive side as it is a popular tourist destination. The streets were filled with Singaporeans who like to come here for a weekend retreat. I heard that the street was very quiet on weekdays.

After completing the stretch, we made our way back to the starting point to explore another picturesque part of the city. It took us about an hour to finish the vibrant street lined with 17th-century shophouses to and fro.

We crossed the river to discover more of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the primary attraction of Melaka. These historical landmarks showcased the city's rich heritage, preserving its history under Dutch and Portuguese colonial rule. 

Here at Dutch Square, also known as Red Square due to the surrounding buildings were painted red. We stood at one of the red buildings to seek shelter from the scorching sun.

Christ Church is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia built in the 18th century. I missed this historical site during my last visit, so I made it a point to explore it this time to appreciate the prominent and distinct red architectural design.

It was nearly 4pm when we stopped at Scoops & Smiles for a rest, the dessert shop we saw across the river during lunch.

I had a scoop of Biscoff Gelato topped with Corn Flakes at RM8.90 (or S$2.97). The gelato was creamy and smooth, but melted fast, making it a satisfying treat on such a hot day.

Now we were at the opposite side of GravyBaby, seated under the shade of an umbrella. We just chilled for 20 minutes while having the gelato, relaxing and soaking in the picturesque scenery. 

After the break, we embarked on a 6 minute climb up to St. Paul's Hill (or Bukit Melaka) via the sloped pavement and stairs. Among today's activities, this was a revisit for me, yet the place was still captivating. Taming Sari Tower stood prominently from the hilltop.

The ruins of the Church of St Paul looked the same as I remembered. Built in 1521, it has a rich history tracing back the eras of Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonization, adding a touch of culture to our visit.

We came down to the foot of the hill and arrived at A Famosa, the only remaining structure of the Portuguese fortress and a historical landmark in Melaka. All these attractions are well positioned and easily accessible to explore by foot. Every few minutes walk will lead us to another site.

We walked over to Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall for a quick 20 minute shopping before going back to hotel since it was along the way. The mall is large, offering a wide variety of retail options, from international brands to local boutiques.

I stopped by at Mix Store and got some snacks at at RM19.90 (or S$6.63) for my family. By the time I was done with my purchase, it was already 5pm. We decided to head back to the hotel and check into our room.

Penang (Malaysia) Day 2 and 3: Armenian Street + Chew Jetty

Sunday 8/9/24

We took a Grab to Chulia Street which was about 25 minutes ride at RM15 (or S$5) and reached at 4.05pm. We wanted to explore the different streets in George Town.

It turned out there was nothing much to see at Chulia Street besides food and drinks. So we wandered around, soaking in the culture and history of George Town.

We stumbled upon the Central Fire Station 1908, a beautifully well preserved structure dating back to 1908, the year it was first constructed.

George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with the streets overflow with rich history and culture, transporting us back 40 or 50 years ago where the past meets the present.

Most of the attractions in George Town are free to explore except for entering museums. The side of the fire station is an interesting street lined with Malaysia flags hanging overhead, creating a festive atmosphere as we walked by. 

The street was enhanced by the mural art on the walls, showcasing George Town's street art scene. These works, created by both local and international artists, are scattered throughout the town, drawing tourists from around the globe to witness the city's heritage.

10 minutes walk away was Armenian Street which was a more lively walking street lined with array of cafes, local craft shops and souvenirs, and popular street arts where people queued to take photos.

I got my mum a small cloth bag here at RM10 (or S$3.33) as she loves carrying these small bags when heading out to market or gathering.

I went over to this cute shop selling all kinds of souvenirs, I picked up a few items for my friends and myself, something to remember from this trip.

We found a picturesque alley with nicer street art, every corner of Armenian Street has something different to see. The vibrant murals and shops kept us occupied as we explored.

I bought a packet of sesame biscuits and peanut sesame biscuits for my grandma at RM15 (or S$5). I only picked two because my baggage was already full.

By the time we reached Chew Jetty, it was already 5pm and the sky looked gloomy. We hurried our way through the wooden stilt houses along the village walkway, which looked like the 19th century, a piece of history slowly fading away in the modern world.

The wooden stilt houses were built over water, giving insights into the kelong past. It was a fascinating place to visit, steeped in history. Several clans still reside there, preserving this unique way of life.

Chew Jetty offers a glimpse of the fishermen’s way of life. The simplicity and charm of this place awakened my senses, brought me back to a time when life was slower and more connected to nature.

Being so close to the sea, it was quite winding here so we had to be careful over here as there was no barrier along the edge. While taking photos, I felt droplets of rain starting to fall, so we hurried back to the main street. It was a pity that I only had about 10 minutes there and did not have enough time to fully explore the other Clan Jetties.

As the rain got heavier, it took us awhile to cross the road due to the heavy traffic and lack of traffic light nearby. We had to embrace the downpour and crossed over to the coffeeshop before hailing a Grab ride back to our hotel, which cost RM10 (or S$3.33).

We reached hotel at 5.45pm and took a 45 minutes rest before heading out again. Here's a glimpse of my shopping haul from the afternoon.

We went back to 1st Avenue Mall since it was still raining. After 50 minutes of walking around, we settled for Daseo Mini at 7.20pm, a Korean restaurant with variety of pork-free menu. I had Ice Honey Citron at RM8.37 (or S$2.79) and Buldak Chicken Rice Bowl, featuring boneless chicken leg with teriyaki sauce at RM21.09 (or S$7.03) after tax.

Daseo Mini

LG-06, 1st Avenue Mall, 182, Jalan Magazine, 10300 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Operating hours: 11.30am to 10pm daily

We just chilled in the restaurant until 8.30pm, taking our time before a final round of shopping around the mall. By 9.20pm, we were back at the hotel, wrapping up the day.

Monday 9/9/24

It was another restless night but slightly better than the first night. I went to bed after midnight, woke up around 2 plus and stayed awake until after 3 plus. Then I woke again at 5.45am and remained up until 7am, when I started getting ready for the day.

Our 3D2N short trip to Penang was coming to an end. It was a fulfilling one as I managed to tick off most of the places I wanted to see and even shopped more than I did in Kuala Lumpur. My ideal vacation need to have both sightseeing and shopping.

After checking out of the hotel at 8.40am, we hailed a Grab ride back to Penang International Airport, which cost RM55 (or S$18.33) for 25 minutes drive.

After collecting our air tickets, we headed to McDonald for breakfast. I tried something that was not available in Singapore, Omelette Wrap with Hash Browns and Crispy Chicken and Hot Chocolate at RM16.41 (or S$5.47). I enjoyed the simple yet delicious breakfast.

This was no delay and we were seated in the plane by 11am on schedule and took off at 11.25am.

I got my favourite window seat. With no in-flight entertainment, I just immersed myself in the view outside the window. We touched down at Changi Airport at 12.33pm. Though our vacation felt like we had been a world away, we were just an hour's flight from home.

We landed at Terminal 3 and decided to head to the nearest restaurant for lunch, which happened to be Swensens. A familiar choice to end our trip.

Penang (Malaysia) Day 2: Penang Hill + Sky Terrace

We took a Grab to Penang Hill Lower Station which was about 20 minutes drive from our hotel for RM14 (or $4.67) and reached at 12.15pm.

We purchased the round trip tickets online at RM30 (or $10) per pax but needed to exchange them for physical tickets at the counter. The station was very crowded on a Sunday that even after getting our tickets, there was a 35 minutes wait before calling our batch to join the queue, followed by another 40 minutes queue before it was finally our turn to board the funicular train.

The funicular train ride was about 5 minutes and run on a steep track that reminded me of the Peak Tram in Hong Kong.

I was filled with excitement as I stepped off the train and was greeted by the breathtaking view of Penang from a height of 833m above sea level. This stunning view of Penang Hill was definitely the highlight of my Penang trip.

Penang Hill is a hill resort made up of several peaks on the island. It is the oldest British hill station in Southeast Asia, dated to the late 1700s and known by the Malay name Bukit Bendera, which actually refers to Flagstaff Hill, the most developed peak.

It was hard not to fall in love with this spectacular view which looked like it was straight out of a dream. The bird's-eye view of the city and the sea surrounding Penang was so serene that I did not feel like moving at all.

The view was worth the one hour wait to come up, but if we knew of such situation, we would have purchased the express pass ticket. Time is an opportunity cost, especially since we were only here for the weekend.

There were various viewpoints scattered across Penang Hill, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Penang, alongside with the multiple peaks and Straits of Malacca.

As it was already past 2pm, we decided to settle down for lunch. The nearest option was Sky Terrace under David Brown's Hilltop Garden Restaurant. We decided to go for this to experience the highest garden restaurant.

The interior of the restaurant was simple yet inviting, a perfect spot to unwind with food and drinks while soaking in the top of the world view.

We chose a seat by the edge to enjoy the breathtaking, unmatched view of Penang. It felt wonderful to bask in the surroundings. I loved the relaxing vibe. Penang has many activities and food options to keep us occupied.

I had Orange Juice which came up to RM30.32 (or $10.11) after tax and service charge. Price was not cheap as we paid for the ambience. It was refreshing and paired perfectly with the laid-back view as we waited for our food. The ambience made the simple drink even more enjoyable.

The Chicken Karaage Donburi priced at RM41.98 (or $13.99) after tax and service charge was delicious. The crispy karaage was nestled in a curry sauce, while a soft and creamy omelette topped the rice, creating a mix of flavours and textures.

Sky Terrace was the perfect spot for a meal in Penang Hill, creating a memorable experience with its casual vibe, charm, and picturesque view. I was so glad we came here as Penang Hill is slightly out of the way, and our time in Penang was short. 

The queue was shorter when going down the hill, we queued for about 20 minutes before it was our turn to board the funicular train. We reached the lower station at 3.30pm.