Firstly, we went to our bus with a big smile on our faces and before reaching our first stop, we went to a cafe restaurant and have our late breakfast. I ordered one chocolate waffle and it was good. Then we went back to our bus.
As we were traveling to our first stop, we passed through spectacular countryside, jungles, green hills and distant mountains. Our first stop was the Rubber plantation. Our tour guide took a knife that is shaped differently from the normal kitchen knife. We all asked her what it is used for and then she explained that the knife she took is a special knife to incise the bark so as to wound the resin canals without damaging the cambium.
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The special knife used..
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Then, we went to the pineapple farm. Our tour guide told us that the pineapples were grown by putting a layer of soil and then putting the seed sapping on it. She also told us that the name of the three varieties of pineapples are Morris, Josapine and Saraklak, which is a bit of strange to me as it was my first time hearing those kind of names. We moved on and as i was walking, I felt that the soil became soggy. Our tour guide told us that this soggy or spongy soil is called "Peat soil."
After touring the farm, the locals we met along the way are very cheerful and they provided us some pineapples to eat. The pineapples are sweet and I wanted to take some more but Im too shy so I just walked away from it. After all of us ate it, we went back to our bus again.
The next destination we went was the Oil Palm Estate which was just a few minutes away from the pineapple farm. When we reached there, our tour guide showed us an oil palm fruit bunch and I was a bit surprise as I was expecting it just looks like a small fruit but instead I saw a huge fruit. Then, our tour guide told us that it is harvested by using a sharp knife and the texture of it is reddish brown and it is a bit oily. She also told us that it weighs from 10 to 40 kilograms. Then a thought came out of my mind that I suddenly asked myself "how can a person carry this if it is very heavy?"
Our tour guide also told us it is used to make shampoo, soap, lipstick and etc.
As we were traveling to our next stop, our tour guide shared us the history of Malacca which was once spelled as Melaka. She told us that Parameswara was the one who founded Malacca, the last Malay ruler of Temasek in 1396 and how Malacca was improved. After she told us the history of Malacca, I realized that Malacca has such an interesting history. When we reached our next stop, the Coffee Farm, the locals greeted us with a heart warming welcome and gave us some of their black coffee to taste. After I tasted it I quickly sneaked away as I don't like the taste of the black coffee they gave us.
Then, our tour guide showed us some unripe and ripe coffee berries and told us that a coffee berry is processed into coffee powder by drying it under the sun, roast it with butter and margarine then grind it into powder.
After that we went back to our bus. "Finally" I said to myself as I can rest in the bus because Im very tired. After some minutes passed, we reached the Gula Melaka Cottage Industry. Our tour guide said It is where Brown sugar are made and that Gula Melaka is derived from the flower of the coconut tree. Then, she got one and gave some of it to us so we can taste it and decide if we want to buy some. When I was about to buy one, It started raining so we all run and went back to our bus as quickly as possible. I felt a bit sad as I haven't got the chance to buy it but I think that tasting it is worth it.
When we reached Malacca, I realized that it is a lively little city. We went to Nyonya restaurant. The food they served us was delicious and tasty. After we ate, we got on the bus and moved on to the boat ride in the Melaka River Cruise.
 We boarded the boat with excitement. We waved and said "Hello" whenever we see any passer-bys and they waved at us back and started laughing. Then, on the return trip, it was dark and the view was amazing as there were colorful lights on the buildings. Our tour guide said that one side of the river, the old colonial architecture reflects some of the city’s Portuguese and British past influences but mostly Dutch, with lovely narrow houses and old renovated Dutch wharves dominating the riverside and harbour estuary.
After we got off the boat, we went back to the bus and proceed to the hotel. I was excited to see and rest in my room but we had to go to the ballroom first to go through the answers for the learning journey to Malacca booklet. After they issued us the key, we went to the 5th floor and went to our rooms.
The next day..
We woke up at 6:40 am and got ready for another amazing learning journey in Malacca. Then we went down for breakfast. I took fried rice, omelet, and a glass of milk. The food was nice especially the omelet. After taking and eating some fruits, we went to the lobby. Then at about 9:00 am, all of us went to our respective busses and started our journey.
The first stop we went was The stadhuy. When we arrived there, we saw a lot of market stalls where you can buy things such as souvenirs and t-shirts and etc. so our tour guide allowed us to shop and buy things there for about 15 minutes. The one I bought is a souvenir where it has a magnet behind it.
As we were walking to our next stop, we suddenly saw a vehicle full of decorations and shaped like a bike. Then, our tour guide said it is called a trishaw and that you can see them almost anywhere in Malaysia. As we moved on, I suddenly heard a trishaw peddler saying “How about a ride on my BMW?” to a small girl and I realized that even though he looked so scary and serious, he has a sense of humour!
The second place we went was the St. Paul's Church where we went up the summit of St. Paul's Hill to see it. When we reached there, we saw the statue of St. Francis Xavier and our tour guide said that it was added there in 1954.Our tour guide also said that when the British took over Malacca in 1824, the St. Paul's Church has lost its tower. However, the British added a lighthouse in front of it. And instead of being used it as a place of worship, the Church became a convenient storehouse for British gun powder.
Then, we walked to our next destination, the ''A Famosa''. When we reached there, I was really sweaty as the sun shines so brightly and the weather is very hot so i just wished that we would be going to our bus right now or find an air conditioned place. But going there was worth it as I learned a lot of things like it is a Portuguese fortress and it is among the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia. Our tour guide also said that The Porta de Santiago, a small gate house, is the only remaining part of the fortress that is still standing. After she explains everything about it, we went to our bus. Finally!
The next place we visited was the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. When we reached there, our tour guide let us go inside to the temple and she told us that it is Malaysia's oldest traditional Chinese temple (dating from 1646) remains a central place of worship for the buddhist community in Malacca and it is a Chinese temple practicing the Three Doctrinal Systems of Taoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. The fun part is that when she gave us some candies blessed by the temple and it was delicious. After we all ate it, we went back to our bus for the next attraction we were going.
After the Cheng Hoon Teng temple, the next place we went was the Jonker Street. When we reached there, our tour guide lead us into a restaurant with a shop beside it. We all seated and she told us that Jonker Street is also known as Jalan Hang Jebat and that the street is popular with antique hunters and collectors. After that, she allowed us to buy foods and drinks for about 20 minutes. I bought some snacks from the shop beside the restaurant and ordered a cold chocolate drink in the restaurant and it was refreshing. Then we went to our bus and seated there for about 10 minutes to our next destination.
The last place we visited was the Stadthuys Museum. Before we went in, we took our shoes off as it is what our tour guide said. Then, she told us that it is the biggest, most prominent building in the Malacca Town Square, and it is also the oldest and biggest Dutch colonial building in Southeast Asia. After she is done talking, she started touring us and we saw these...
The traditional wedding
At about 12:40 pm, we went to a local restaurant and had our lunch. The food was nice and delicious except for the vegetables. Then, we took our bus back to Singapore.
Malacca is a good place to visit. Visiting Malacca is a unique experience with a rich historical and cultural background from previous Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. I loved and enjoyed every moment I was there. So all in all, its been fun in Malacca..
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