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.

Magical Experience at The Wizard's Brew

 We wanted to look for a place to chill with drinks and dessert and The Wizard's Brew came to my mind.

The Wizard's Brew is located at 10B Trengganu Street. It took us a while to locate the entrance to the cafe bar. Look out for a staircase with a signboard, and take the stairs up to the third level.

As we reached the third level, we could already feel the magical charm of The Wizard's Brew that resembled the Hogwarts Stairwell, with walls filled with an array of framed photographs, creating an enchanting atmosphere.

When you see this door, open it and step inside to be transported into The Wizard's Brew.

An artistic ambience surrounded the cafe bar with black wall and ceiling paired with wooden floor, tables and chairs. The atmosphere was further enriched by details of the wizarding world.

The walls were displayed with "Wanted" posters, showing witches and wizards sought by the Ministry of Magic for their crimes. 

The area looked cozy with the fireplace, a rare feature to find in a cafe or restaurant in Singapore. It added a warm touch to the magical ambience.

Hogwarts Castle against the full moon. It was fascinating how the wall was molded to create such an art piece. 

A wizard bar would not be complete without a wand, a must-have prop for photo opportunities or for casting a few spells to create a magical experience.

I had Sparkulous ($22+) with the option of alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The purple potion (butterfly pea) transformed into vibrant shades of pink when mixed with fizzing lime juice, creating enchanting bubbles that emitted sparks of magical energy. Watching the transformation was a fascinating experiment and the drink tasted like a sweetened lime juice.

Your potion master was creating a fizzy and bubbling potion for consumption. The correct way to brew a spellbinding drink was to pour the potions into a test tube and light it up with fire.

Happenings in November - Ma Maison

Saturday 2/11/24

It has been many years since I last had The Soup Spoon, so I decided to revisit for a switch to indulge in healthy eating since I was still having cough.

I had Sandwich Set ($14) which included a choice of soup, sandwich and drink. I opt for Roasted Pumpkin Soup which was thick with a puree texture. Their soups are free of preservatives and MSG.

I had Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich with fluffy bun paired with sweet and savoury flavours of marinated chicken, each bite has a balance of tastes.

Saturday 9/11/24

This November felt like a time to revisit all the food places that I have not been to for a long time. I visited Ma Maison for lunch, another place that I had not visited for years.

I had Tonkatsu Curry Omu Rice ($25++) with the silky omelette draped over the fluffy rice, while the curry had a rich depth of flavour and a pleasant kick of spice. 

I ended off with Seasonal Fruit Tart ($8.90++) with a combination of tart and sweet fruits. The crust was softer than the firm and crunchy texture I initially expected, but it was still enjoyable and complemented the fresh fruits.

Happenings in October - AVENE Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum + iVegan

Tuesday 8/10/24

I am already familiar with the AVENE Cleanance range as I am currently using Avene Cleanance Cleansing Gel and Cleanance Comedomed. Hence, adding AVENE Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum to my routine felt like the perfect complement to complete my skincare set. Thanks Daily Vanity for introducing the product.

AVENE Cleanance A.H.A Exfoliating Serum is suitable for people with sensitive, blemish-prone skin. Its lightweight, watery texture infused with Avène Thermal Spring Water, feels incredibly soothing upon application. 

The serum absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving behind a hydrated, dewy glow without any greasy feeling. The serum is free from fragrance. I noticed it effectively soothed redness and did not trigger any breakouts or discomfort. It’s the perfect addition to my skincare routine.

Saturday 12/10/24

We went to Starbucks for dessert where I had Buttery Scone. It was crispy on the outside and buttery on the inside, with the Lurpak butter adding extra fragrance.

Sunday 13/10/24

Journey to east for iVegan at i12 Katong a health-conscious restaurant offering natural, delicious plant-based whole foods free of MSG and refined sugar. Their dishes use olive oil and pansalt.

Thanks GF for inviting me along to join her and K for the lunch, good opportunity for me to pass her recent overseas souvenirs.

The Crispy Veg Maki was the nicest among the dishes I tried, it does not lose out to the Japanese maki. Made with cucumber, carrot, red cabbage, nori, tomato salsa, vegan mayo and BBQ sauce, it was bursting with flavour.

With the growing demand for vegetarian dining, restaurants are getting more creative with their menus, and I would not mind eating vegetarian more often if it is this delicious.

Sunday 20/10/24

The Tater Waffle with sausage, bacon and scrambled eggs caught my interest. The taste of the tater waffle was a bit unique, it took me awhile to get used to the taste. The smoky, crispy bacon contrasted nicely with the creamy scrambled eggs and the maple syrup added a touch of sweetness.

Thursday 31/10/24

As time was still early, we walked over to The Marmalade Pantry for dessert. I had Pandan Gula Melaka Cake ($14++) with pandan chiffon sponge cake layers filled with a gula melaka mixture of coconut flakes and shavings. The cake was moist and infused with the aromatic flavors of pandan and coconut, making it a sweet dessert choice.

Seoul (South Korea) Day 5 and 6: Starbucks Seoul Wave Art Center + GOTO Mall + Ssada Gimbab

Sunday 6/10/24

We headed out again at 1.15pm to continue our itinerary. We took a cab to Jamwon Hangang Park, spending our afternoon relaxing by the Han River, away from the city. It was about 25 minutes ride from our hotel.

We came here for Starbucks Seoul Wave Art Center which was a floating coffee house. It was drizzling when we arrived, we already felt blessed for the great weather over the past four days where we cleared most of our itinerary.

Seoul Wave Art Center is a three-storey exhibition museum that floats along the South banks of the Han River. At one glance, the structure looked like lego bricks to me. It has become a popular spot among locals seeking a serene spot after exploring the park.

The food selection was very limited, their specialty was their drinks. Since we had sandwich for breakfast, we decided to skip them for lunch and opt for something else.

After collecting our order, we went up to the second level as first level was full. Fortunately, we found a seat with river view because that's what we came for.

I had Earl Grey Vanilla Tea Latte at ₩6,900 (or S$6.78) that was only available in Korea. It had a balance of the aromatic earl grey notes, followed by a sweet vanilla aftertaste that lingered.

We shared a bag of Mini Leaf Pie at ₩3,900 (or S$3.83). These treats were tasty, featuring a crispy, sugar-coated exterior and a buttery interior shaped like a leaf.

The cafe was well positioned, offering a panoramic view of the Han River through the glass windows. It was an ideal spot to unwind with a drink, rejuvenate and enjoy the visual treat of being beside the river. Fully relaxed, I watched the gentle waves on the water.

I also had White Chocolate Cowboy Cookie at ₩2,800 (or S$2.75). The cookie had a crunchy texture with sweetness from the chocolate. I had lots of cookies these few days and sugar level overdosed.

After spending a relaxing 1.5 hours over here, we left Starbucks to continue with our plans. It was still drizzling when we left.

Starbucks Seoul Wave Art Center

145-35 Jamwon-ro, Seocho District, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 8.30am to 9pm from Mon to Fri, 7.30am to 9.30pm on Sat and 7.30am to 9pm on Sun

Due to the drizzle, we took a cab down to Express Bus Terminal Station, which took less than 10 minutes drive. We reached here around 3.40pm. Since we were already in the area, we decided to visit GOTO Mall, the largest underground shopping mall in Seoul conveniently located at the station.

GOTO Mall had many stores lining both sides of two parallel corridors, offering a variety of items, including clothes, accessories, flowers, and more. However, most of the clothing available was thick and catered to winter, which was not what I was looking for. I managed to find a light jacket at this store for ₩6,900 (or S$6.78).

We finished shopping at 5.20pm and wanted to take a cab back to Myeongdong. However, there was no prominent location to pin on the map so we walked around trying to find a spot. We eventually walked until JW Marriott Hotel Seoul to take the cab.

While waiting for cab, there was an Ajumma that approached me and asking something in Korean language, probably asking for direction. So I just replied Anniyo (No) and she immediately said oh tourist.

We reached Myeongdong at 6.30pm and began our final round of shopping. I purchased two packs of plasters from Wellness Pharm at ₩25,000 (or S$24.58) and multiple packs of HBAF snacks from HBAF Almond Store at ₩47,700 (or S$46.90).

We were feeling hungry since we did not had a proper lunch. We chanced upon Ssada Gimbab along the stretch we were exploring. The menu appealed to us so we decided to dine there. We came at 7pm and most of the tables were already occupied, luckily we managed to secure one of the last few available.

I had Shrimp Omelette Rice at ₩12,000 (or S$11.80). The dish was simple yet packed with flavour. It was drizzled with curry sauce that added a hint of spice, complementing the fried rice hidden beneath.

We also ordered Fried Dumpling at ₩3,500 (or S$3.44). It was my first time seeing such a long dumpling, it was nicely fried to a golden brown with crispy crust.

Ssada Gimbab Myeongdong Station

26 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Operating hours: 24 hours daily

I chanced upon a 1-for-1 sale on got aloe vera gel at Missha and could not resist picking it up. I also bought a makeup remover, the total cost was ₩10,800 (or S$10.62).

My hands were full of shopping bags, so we decided to go back hotel to offload before continuing our night. We reached hotel at 8.30pm and took a short 20 minutes rest to recharge. With our hotel's central location, getting to Myeongdong was convenient.

We went to LINE Friends Flagship Store and spotted BTS handprints on display. The BT21 collaboration between BTS and LINE Friends Corporation featured cute characters created by the BTS members themselves.

We passed by Myeongdong Police Substation that attracted my attention with its 3 storey red brick house structure. The unique architecture stood out from the bustling surroundings.

We chanced upon this roadside stall and I got a t-shirt for ₩10,000 (or S$9.83). With this final purchase, we felt ready to wrap up the day. 

We reached hotel at 10pm and spent some time packing our belongings, preparing to head home the next day. Here were my purchases from Dongdaemun and GOTO Mall.

Here were my purchases from Myeongdong. It took me a while to arrange them in my luggage, which was already full. I regretted bring my thick jacket along which I never wore.

Monday 7/10/24

I slept at 12.30am but woke up at 3.30am and took a while to sleep back. The next time I woke up was 6.15am, just nice to start getting ready for the day.

I ate the Chocolate Chips Cookie at ₩2,900 (or S$2.85) from Dunkin' Donut, which we bought during the second day of our trip. It was quite a large and I could not finish it at such an early hour. We were ready to check out by 7.30am and head to the airport.

Instead of dragging our luggage to the bus stop for the airport limousine bus, we took a cab to Incheon International Airport. The ride took about an hour and cost ₩66,000 (or S$64.90). We arrived at 8.45am.

After clearance, it was 9.30am. We had Burger King for breakfast. We ordered Chicken King Burger (one ala carte and one meal) at ₩14,800 (or S$14.55), something not available in Singapore.

Our flight was on schedule, and the plane began to taxi at11.10am.

After half an hour into the flight, I was served with a cup of apple tea and a small snack, just perfect as I watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Lunch was served at 1.45pm. I had Jja Jang Bap, braised pork and onion in black bean sauce, served with fried egg and steam rice. The meal also included marinated prawns with salad as an appetizer, along with the usual bread roll and spread.

The dessert was a fish sandwich vanilla ice cream with a layer of red bean paste. The exterior waffle had a firm texture to hold the ice cream inside, a sweet and pleasant end to the meal.

We landed in Singapore at 4.30pm after 6 hours flight. This trip to Seoul was amazing and the duration was just right. It was filled with delicious food, beautiful scenery and fulfilling shopping, the kind of vacation that I like. I can't wait to explore more of this country in the future.