No Travel Itinerary Is Always Perfect

Not all of my travels are perfect. More often, I have my own share of bloopers, getting lost, lost in translation, victim of rip-off and haggling fails. Nevertheless, it\’s all part of the adventure. Just always keep in mind to be cautious and safe. Don\’t do something that\’s mala-Locked Up Abroad. Make sure you familiarize yourself of the destination country\’s do\’s and don\’ts, laws, culture etc. so you won\’t get in trouble. Always have a Plan B ready if some of the places you want to go to is not feasible. 

Enjoy and Travel!

Malacca, Malaysia Part 1

Malacca (Malay: Melaka)  is the capital of the state of Malacca, on the west coast of peninsular Malaysia. Visiting Malacca is a unique experience with a rich historical and cultural background from previous Portuguese, Dutch and British rule. The city centre was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in July 2008, along with Georgetown, Penang.  – SOURCE

I\’ve made this day trip to Malacca because if I waited for a friend to plan a trip there it will take forever. So another solo trip for the lakwatsera in me. 
I can\’t pursue an overnight trip because I don\’t have a few days off from work. In my mind if I don\’t do it now, I won\’t be seeing Malacca in the next few years. So I booked a ticket online via easibook costs 45 SGD (2 way ticket). From Everton Park, I hailed a cab going to Golden Mile Complex in Beach Road. My bus going to Malaysia was Sri Maju. The ride was a pleasant one. A/C is working fine, reclining seats are comfortable. We\’re not allowed to use the TV and games console because I remember we just paid for coach seats. No problem with me, just as long as I have my iPod I\’ll be fine. The best part was there\’s only three passengers plus the driver. Yes!
After immigration clearance, you\’re set to Malacca. The trip is approximately 4 hours long including the mandatory stopovers. I find the duration of the trip fast. Fair enough for a big bus and no traffic along the road. But I\’m guessing if you have a private car you can reach Malacca 3 hours from SG (or less?).

Our last stop was Melaka Sentral. From there I searched for the Bus # 17 going to the Heritage Site. It\’s located in the front area of the shopping center. There are lots of people waiting for that bus when I came. Queuing is non-existent. You have to squeeze your way through the people, skin-to-skin. The bus was filled up, literally. I stayed at the back so it\’s not that crowded. I paid between 1-2 RM and you have to pay cash to the driver.

I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw this…I\’m on the right track! Yehey!
                                 
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Bus #17 will stop at the Dutch Square near the fountain and clock tower. And off you go to explore the city!

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I was able to come inside the church. Photo-taking is not allowed but the interiors are simple and the walls are mostly white. I\’m not quite sure what time the open and close from the public.

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Christ Church is an 18th-century Anglican church in the city of Malacca, Malaysia. It is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia and is within the jurisdiction of the Lower Central Archdeaconry of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia. —Source 
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Dutch Square

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Stadthuys was closed for it was undergoing renovation.

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Plaza Roundabout

The Tourist Information Center is very accessible from the Dutch Square (you just need to cross the street). If you\’re a bit lost of where to go and what to do, just head to the center. There are computers with internet connection, brochures, booklets and some guidemaps.
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For me, especially if you\’re on a budget the best thing to do: follow the Heritage Trail and walk all the way. It may look or sound far (when you ask for direction) but the TRUTH is major tourist spots are within walking distances (refer to the map above and see the yellow colored area).

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I realized that I made an expensive mistake of trying-out the flamboyant pedicabs. While trekking through the city I was like \”Ang lalapit lang pala sana nilakad ko na lang.\”

The Dutch influence has definitely made a mark in this city.

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To be continued…

XOXO

Bookish

Depressing. The only word that I can describe when bookstores closes. I grew up reading books. You can\’t blame me when I say, I love turning the pages of a book and smell of paper. So imagine my horror with the thought of selling our collection of books. @_@

Page One in Singapore. A few months prior Borders in Wheelock Place closed as well.
With the booming e-book industry, reading is now very accessible using smartphones, tablets etc. This is one reason I like e-books. I can have it all in one device minus the book weight. It\’s cheaper and at times free. I don\’t certainly see it as a replacement.
I stumbled upon this article in apartment therapy. We share the same sentiments. I can guess the writer reads more than I do, he/she has lots of sentimental memories with the printed word. 
So what do you think? Are books obsolete? I\’m keeping my fingers crossed that it won\’t

XOXO

Photo Source: Buzzfeed

Music Monday: PhilPop 2013

I\’ve only heard about this PhilPop 2013 when a friend from FB posted an LSS moment with the song
entitled \”Dati.\”

The First Philippine Popular Music Festival is a songwriting competition open to all amateur and professional composers who are Filipinos or of Filipino descent residing in the Philippines. The competition not only aims to celebrate the talent of Filipino songwriting, but to glorify the contributions of songwriters and composers to the Filipino music industry.  SOURCE

The song was beautifully done. Modern, hip and nostalgic. It\’s no wonder they won PhilPop 2013. Congatulations.

Another entry that I noticed was from Mr. Joey Ayala. Who would have thought he\’s still socially relevant into this day and age. During the 90\’s, I was able to hear his songs on FM radio and watched his MVs on MTV (if my memory serves me right). His sound is distinct because he uses Philippines indigenous musical instruments. A soothing voice that goes well with slow songs.
Trivia: I was able to see him in person when I was still a member of the Philippine Gong Orchestra. There\’s a collaboration with UP College of Music\’s Musika Asya and PGO  for a performance in Cuneta Astrodome (o diba performer ako dati LOL). He\’s a simple and cool dude.
I think music writing contests should be done more often. This started in the late 80\’s but then it was held erratically. It\’s an on-off thing. There\’s no consistency, so nothing to look forward to.Staging music festivals are very feasible in our country. Even if we do it twice to quarterly in a year its doable. Though it largely depends on the approach and concept of organizers.
I remember writing about OPM being dead. I\’m wrong. It\’s just obtunded. It severely needs a push, diversity, classification and airtime (in different mediums). At least something to make our kababayans aware what else OPM can offer.
XOXO