Only in Malacca do I feel this ginormous ‘walk down the memory
lane’ feelings. It would be nice to do a Malaccan tour with friends from Mozac
(my secondary school). First I would like to go to Jaya Jusco Ayer Keroh and
take a look at the now enlarged shopping center. This is where I had my first
bite of McDonald which only cost RM5 a set. This was the time when we only have
12 outings per year. There’s this outing form that we have to fill in every
time we want to go out of the school. We had to forward the form a week earlier
to the hostel warden for approval. But when I was in form five, we could go on
outings every weekends I think. Please someone refresh my memory.
Secondly, I would visit the ‘new’ shopping mall situated opposite
JJ. I can’t recall the name, but that is where I went to during my fourth form
and fifth form. Oh yeah, the name’s Kota Mas. Me and my friend would eat lunch there
and go window shopping. We’d went into a store and if I spend my time too long
in there she’ll go somewhere else. Those days there’s no hand phone so I would have
to find her everywhere. If I couldn’t find her in time, then I would just have
to go back to the hostel before outing time ends. Then we’ll meet back at class
for night prep. It happens quite a few times but I don’t remember why we never
made a plan to meet at a certain location if we ever lost each other again. Hmmm??
I would also LOVEEE to go to Mahkota Parade located at
bandar hilir. Yesterday I saw it and it looked sad and lonely from afar. There’s
so many things going on at bandar hilir nowadays. Almost two decades ago it was
Mahkota Parade and a field where we would visit on Merdeka Day. The last time I
went there for work was in 2008 I think, the pre Independence Day celebration
or Ambang Merdeka.
When I was in school, me and my school brass band mates
would compete in the Malacca Merdeka Day Parade. Our highest achievement in the
competition was when I was in Form 4, we were number 1 meh. But after that we
never won I think. I played the drum, clarinet and saxofon. A clarinet and a
saxofon for one time. A clarinet and a saxofon has the same mouthpiece, so for
school events playing a sax isn’t a big deal.
The parade would march from Malacca town and pass by Stadhuys,
the road in between Mahkota Parade and Padang Pahlawan (which also houses
Pahlawan Mall) and enter the field.
Aaaaah. Memories gone by. Memories that make me feel fluffy
inside.
Malacca holds an important place in my heart. The first day
I was there to register for school I felt like I was going onstage, my heart
was throbbing real bad. My uncle kept saying the place is good for your future
and you should grab this opportunity to get the best education there. I had
never been to Malacca and was 60 parts scared and 40 parts excited. But
nevertheless I packed into a car and went there on my uncle’s car.
The orientation week was a horror fest for me. I was only 13
and has to mingle with 600 strangers which comprised of teenagers. I don’t know
anything about teenagers. Teenagers are hormonally charged and they are
different physically from most 13 year olds. The boys are huge and the girls
curvy. But some people helped me to make the transition from child to teen easier.
I still thank them until this today. Let me tell you a particular story
concerning this ok.
During my first week there, feeling particularly exposed and
fragile I was very shy. I don’t have the courage to talk to other people even
with my fellow new form 1 mates. I went everywhere alone, even if we were to
move in groups I felt alone. So, one night it was raining heavily. I wasn’t
afraid of the rain but one form two dorm mate named Anna asked me if I want to
bunk with her. Oh I was grateful because from that moment I knew that people
will always look out for me, instead of ignoring me. There are wonderful people
out there who touches you once but the effect is forever.
By the way back to the Malacca story. I am in Malacca
earlier this evening, Tanjung Kling to be exact. My department is holding a 3
day course at Pantai Puteri Hotel located by the seaside. But my room faced the
other way, a roof in fact. Fortunately there was no activity at night so we
went sight seeing one night and last night being hermits on bed. Enjoying the
nothingness. A mummy getting some me time ehehheee.
Some iconic places that would like to revisit includes:
-
The Ramadan market at Peringgit.
-
My bff during school whose house is in Duyong.
-
The Malacca Town old bus stop.
Talking about the old Malacca bus stop, I still remember an
ahpek trying to flash his cocktail at me on the bus to Duyong. Horror-fying!!!
But I didn’t see anything actually… only a glimpse of something which looked
pink.
I usually buy my express bus ticket on the same day of
travel. So sometimes the only bus available is a few hours later. If the time
is less than two hours, I would hang around the bus station. But if the time is
4 hours later, then I go window shopping. First of all a must is to buy a root
beer float drink at A&W and then window shop. If I have spare money then I’ll
spend two hours at the Internet café and searching for… Seriously, all the
hours on the Internet are fuzzy memories.
If I am with someone else, we’d go eat and sit still in a
place. Since I only go home every two months I will bring a huge bag of dirty
clothes too. Washing by hand is hard work and so we must use the balik kampong opportunity
to wash em. Those days I will leave the bag near the bus station at some
secluded spot and went off to eat. The bag is heavy and I don’t have the effort
to lug it everywhere. I could lug it onto the bus and walk to the bus station,
lug it into the bus and after arriving at JB, lug it to the taxi stand and into
the taxi.
During those days there are not many stories in the papers about
teenagers missing like today, so I wasn’t too scared about being in public
places alone. The only creepy men I meet are when I am with my bff SH. She has
a very cute face so even if she is dressed in a rice sack, men will still wanna
flirt with her.
Only in my study/working years that I had the chance to
visit Malacca. On December 2011, I went to Malacca and visited me and hubby’s friend
who co runs a hotel with her hubby, Sri Impian in Jasin. Nice hotel and the one
and only big hotel in Jasin. I wanted to
post about that earlier but can’t remember where I put the photos. Me, hubby
and baby parked at some new building not far from Mahkota Parade and walked to
the riverside. We hopped on the river cruise and next visited the Marine Museum.
My long langkah friend Outta Her Mind likes going to Jonker
Street although we went there purely to window shop. The last time we went
there was ages ago… So far I never went to the Malacca Zoo, nor the Mini Asean,
and the Crocodile Farm pun never. These should be my next stop if I ever visit
Malacca again, which is always a near reality as I have declared it my second
home town. Furthermore with Pyan’s cousin living and working there now we
already have a homely place to stay. The cousin said we should come and stay
with them instead of spending hundred ringgits on hotels.
Only in Malacca do I have these strong fuzzy memories. In
Kuala Lumpur or Shah Alam the memories are not that warm yet because they are
too new I guess. Only In Malacca :D
2 comments:
Finally a person that puts some real work into a blog. I do like what you have done with the blog.
Thank you. I am a wannabe writer, so this is where I hone my writing skills.
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