The Parts of Melaka I Remember

We had decided to head interstate for a little couples’ trip quite some time ago, but, as these things often go, we didn’t actually settle on the destination until we were much closer to our departure date.

After tossing around a few ideas, we eventually settled on one place.

Melaka

It wasn’t exactly a spontaneous decision—we had been planning to go interstate for a while—but the destination itself was very much a last-minute conclusion.

Because of the rather intense weather we’d been experiencing, we initially planned to set off earlier in the day. The idea was to beat the worst of the afternoon heat and avoid spending too much time on the road under the blazing sun.

There was another factor to consider too: I wasn’t exactly a seasoned motorbike passenger.

Being the passenger on a motorbike for a longer interstate journey is a very different experience from simply hopping on for a short ride around town. My body wasn’t exactly accustomed to sitting on the back for hours at a time, so we had to factor in the possibility of making multiple stops along the way for me to stretch, rest, and generally recover from being a human backpack.

So, an early start it was.

For journeys like this, I usually have two places that I mentally consider my “halfway point,” depending on where I’m headed.

If we’re going towards Port Dickson, Seremban, or even A’Famosa, then the Southbound Seremban R&R is usually where I feel like I’ve officially made it halfway.

But if Johor Bahru is the final destination, my halfway marker shifts further south. That would be the Alor Gajah Overhead Bridge, which locals commonly refer to as the Alor Gajah Restoran Jejantas.

There’s something oddly satisfying about having these little mental checkpoints during a long journey. You know that once you reach a certain place, you’ve crossed an invisible line and can tell yourself, Okay, we’re halfway there.

For this particular trip to Melaka, reaching the Alor Gajah area meant we were getting close enough to our destination that the journey no longer felt quite so daunting.

Of course, being on the back of a motorbike meant the journey itself was already an experience. There was the heat, the wind, the traffic, the occasional need to stop and stretch, and the constant awareness that I was very much relying on the person in front of me to get us safely from Point A to Point B.

Still, there’s something rather different about travelling by motorbike.

You’re not sealed inside an air-conditioned car, watching the scenery through a window.

You feel the heat, smell the surroundings, and experience every change in weather firsthand, which, admittedly, sounds romantic until you’re sitting there wondering why the sun seems to be personally targeting you.

But despite the discomfort, we eventually made our way towards Melaka.

And, thankfully, this was only the beginning of our little interstate adventure.

We crashed for the night at Mercury Boutique Hotel, which is within walking distance of the Stadthuys—I’d say around 10 minutes or so. My boyfriend’s desire to bring me to the popular Jonker Walk Night Market was actually the main reason we settled on this hotel.

Jonker Walk Signage

 
On our way to the Stadthuys and Jonker Walk Night Market, we came across the Maritime Museum (Samudera Museum) and decided to have a peek. Mind you, there is an entrance fee for all visitors, although I can’t remember exactly how much it was. The admission fees are tiered, with different rates for citizens and non-citizens.

The museum is housed inside a carrack—a replica of the Flor de la Mar. Inside, you’ll get a glimpse into Melaka’s history as an important trading port, as well as how foreign traders and their influences helped shape the city into what it is today.

As for the night market itself, well... it just wasn’t really for me. It felt very much like a typical biweekly neighbourhood night market, albeit in a much more touristy setting. But hey, at least I managed to walk away with a souvenir—a Mandarin keychain bearing my last name—from one of the nearby shops.

So I suppose the trip wasn’t a total loss.

Christ Church Melaka, Stadhuys

In hindsight, the hotel was worth what we paid for.

The room had decent air-conditioning and a functioning chiller, which was always a plus in Melaka’s heat. There was also a water dispenser conveniently located by the elevator, along with a complimentary set of toothbrushes and toothpaste.

Parking can be a little limited, but most guests seemed to park their vehicles under the bridge opposite the hotel and inform the receptionist. Apparently, doing so allowed them to secure free parking.

If you head towards the back of the area, you’ll find a marketplace, two shopping complexes, and plenty of food options. Just opposite the eateries is the famous Menara Taming Sari as well.

Overall, the location was pretty convenient if you’re looking to explore the main tourist spots around the Stadthuys and Jonker Walk area without having to drive everywhere.

The next day, we moved to Swiss-Garden Hotel Melaka for a longer stay, thanks to an online promotion being offered on Booking.com. Truthfully, that promotion was probably the main reason we decided to stay there in the first place.

At first glance, the hotel seemed pretty convenient. Since it is situated above a shopping mall, The Shore Shopping Gallery, we could simply head downstairs whenever we felt like doing a little shopping or needed to pick something up. No need to drive anywhere or figure out where to park—just take the lift down, and you’re there.

One of the places we checked out was Menara Taming Sari, home to the famous Gyro Tower. The viewing cabin itself slowly rotates while moving up and down, giving you a 360-degree view of Melaka from above. And let me just put this out there: if you have a fear of heights—or heights tend to make your legs go weak—you might want to think twice about this one.

View from Gyro Tower, Menara Taming Seri

The ride itself isn’t particularly long, but being suspended high above the ground while slowly rotating and looking down at the city can be quite an experience if you’re not comfortable with heights. I wouldn’t exactly call it relaxing. Still, if heights don’t bother you, it’s certainly an interesting way to take in the Melaka City from above.

We also took a river cruise along the Melaka River, which was probably one of the more relaxing activities we did during the trip.

The boat ride takes you past various historical sights and buildings along the river, allowing you to see a different side of Melaka without having to spend the entire time walking around under the heat. There’s also a voiceover during the ride introducing the various places and landmarks along the route, which I thought was a nice touch. Just don’t expect to catch every word. Depending on where you’re seated, the narration can easily get drowned out by the background noise from the boat and its surroundings.

Even so, sitting back and watching the scenery drift past was rather pleasant.

By the time we were done with everything, we ended up having a rather late dinner at Chan Mari Chan Muhibah Bistro @ Rumah Melaka.

 

Scenery of Melaka River, Chan Mari Chan

Fish & Chips / Chicken Chop

For what it’s worth, I wouldn’t say the prices were particularly cheap. In fact, they were almost on par with what we’d pay back home, which wasn’t entirely surprising given the restaurant’s close proximity to the river.

Still, when you’re hungry after a long day of walking around and sightseeing, sometimes you just eat.

Seriously, hotels with accessible balconies have a completely different aura at night.

There was one night when I simply couldn’t sleep, so instead of tossing and turning in bed, I decided to sneak out onto the balcony and admire the night view. From up there, I could see Kampung Morten in the distance, quietly nestled along the river. The whole place felt surprisingly peaceful at night.

Scenery of Kampung Morten

 
It was one of those little travel moments that wasn’t planned at all, but somehow ended up becoming one of the more memorable parts of the stay.

Although, in hindsight, there was a slightly amusing realisation: we could have just continued staying at the first hotel. It was already within walking distance of most of the places we wanted to visit, after all.

But then again, if we hadn’t moved to Swiss-Garden, I probably wouldn’t have had that balcony, that night view, or that spontaneous little midnight escape.

So perhaps the hotel switch wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Of course, no trip is complete without the journey home—and ours wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.

What was supposed to be a relatively straightforward two-hour ride home ended up taking closer to four hours after we got caught in a rather unforgiving downpour.

And let me tell you, there is absolutely nothing fun about being stuck on the road while drenched from head to toe, especially when you’re already starting to shiver from the cold.

By the time we finally made it home, I was exhausted, wet, cold, and more than ready to collapse into bed. At that point, I was half-expecting to wake up the next morning with a raging fever or a full-blown flu.

Somehow, though, my body decided to surprise me. I still find it rather amusing that I managed to drag myself back to work the very next day without the slightest sign of a fever, flu, or even so much as a sniffle.

After spending hours getting drenched in the rain and shivering my way home, I honestly expected my immune system to file a formal complaint.

But nope.

The next morning, there I was—back at work as if nothing had happened.

Perhaps the human body is a little more resilient than I give it credit for. Or maybe I simply got lucky.

Either way, after three days of travelling, sightseeing, walking around in the heat, getting caught in the rain, and surviving that unexpectedly long journey home, I think I had more than earned the right to complain about being tired.

A Quick Update

And so, it has been ages since I set foot in the blogosphere, especially now that I'm living the life of an office worker. Most days, I'm spending close to 10 hours in front of a desktop with an awkward posture (read: curled shrimp). This has resulted in those monthly sessions with the chiropractor to hopefully keep the situation at bay.

As for the gym sessions, yeah, that's on me. I haven't been able to drag myself out to face the treadmill and lat pulldown. The moment I'm awake, it's already the afternoon or I'm glued to the mattress.

And so, since the special someone sensed that work was making me frazzled, he suggested a couple's date at the cinemas, so here we go.

We were confused for the first part of "Thunderbolts" because we hadn't watched the prequel beforehand. My chiropractor had forewarned me about it as he went for it almost immediately after the cinema premiere. Apparently, it was a continuation of the previous arcs, leading to "Fanastic Four: First Steps".

I mean, for those who watched "Thunderbolts", the scriptwriters had made it rather obvious.

Then, I heard great reviews about the movie called "Blood Brothers". Since it was a locally-made, locally-produced movie, it was time I supported our film industry. Again, my chiropractor had already watched it, advising that while the first arc of the movie will leave questions, the finale will connect all the dots together as the answer.

We watched "Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning" only because rumors were swirling that this was the end of the franchise. Seeing that I had already watched the first two films as a child, it was only just right to watch the final one as a closure. Man, lots of the scenes really references the previous movies and how the characters are connected.

As for "How to Train Your Dragon", it was because I had heard rare reviews about it. Since we arrived late at the cinema, this was the only one available that suited our schedule. Not to mention, the cinema rewarded us with the poster. It was one of those movies that didn't leave me bored even when watching the second time. I had already watched with my college friends a day after its premiere and gave my copy of the poster to them.

The Updates - Life and Movies

And so, hiding myself indoors has its downsides - sure, the lack of sunlight has affected my brain, but it has made the isolation dangerously comfortable.

However, the most important thing is that the lack of exposure to fresh air is making me unable to focus on work. Staring at the screen leaves me sleepy, while leaving the windows open tempts my taste buds.

Though the same issue remains: I'd crave home if I'm outdoors and vice versa.

And with that, I forced myself to blend into society instead of continuing to be the hermit that my childhood friend says that I am, heh.

Instead of having my meals to go, I try to dine in at the cafes/restaurants and savor the atmosphere. Or spend a little more time at the gym, working out the stress away, slowly training your muscles, or having small conversations with acquaintances there.

Heck, an overseas-based college mate of mine even informed me months earlier to set aside the specific dates. He wanted to catch up with me while he was back in town after being away for years.

Man, the significant trajectory of my life has sent me spinning in circles. First, my career prospects have been altered due to the recent operational changes, which is a pain but understandable. So, that leaves me back to where I started, but it's okay.

Bite the bullet in persistence, hoping for the best.

Secondly, after years of being guarded and having emotional walls raised sky high, a special someone decided to sneak in through the tiny gaps and slowly knock them down with persistence, assurance, and patience. His actions, combined with one game-changer, eventually moved me.

Here's to a happier future, I guess - though I wouldn't want to say much since we're still in the early stages.

The game-changer? A particular incident at the theme park, where I panicked after being confronted by two of my fears simultaneously. It was one thing to cough nonstop, but it was another thing to be pale and trembling. No matter how I squeezed my own hand or calmed myself down with deep breaths, all I felt was one thing: exhaustion.

Being on the verge of tears as well, I wished that there was someone who could take care of me, allowing me the chance to be gentle and meek again. Being independent and strong all the time was draining the life out of me - and yes, it didn't help that I'm more aloof now than when I was younger.

That aside, since the special someone sensed that work was making me frazzled and snappy, he suggested heading to the cinema for a break.

The Official End

Issuance of the Death Certificate 

A funeral home would be able to assist with this as they would lodge an application at the nearest National Registration Department on your behalf. However, if you are in a rush, it's advisable to apply yourself as the next of kin. The department's more likely to issue the certificate earlier when the applicant is the deceased's next of kin—or that was what I heard. 

So, if you intend to apply personally, visit the NRD's website for the specific checklist before you head over with the documents. You could save the extra time of going back and forth repeatedly. 

For me, since I was paying the funeral home, I figured it would be better to let them handle everything as they are the experienced folks. It took quite a while, but it didn't matter as I was able to wait. (I honestly didn't want to run around, nor did I have the patience to do so.) 

That said, before you proceed to get the death certificate, ensure that you have copies of the deceased's IC. The NRD would destroy the original IC once the death certificate is issued (to prevent fraud, I'm sure.). 

And yes, it's always better to have extra copies lying around. 

Once you have the original death certificate, the first port of call is to have copies of this document before storing it in a safe place. You'd need it virtually for everything bearing the deceased's name—cancellation of accounts, cancellation of prepayments, and the grant of probate/letter of administration for properties, among others. (As for the grant of probate/letter of administration, you're better off dealing with the lawyer on this. Even better, do it when the deceased is still alive and has legal capacity to make uninfluenced decisions.) 

Any supplementary documents bearing the deceased's name shouldn't be destroyed as long as they used to own properties while alive. It'd be safer to prove their identity and ownership that way, too. 

Final Thoughts 

It'd be much better to deal with matters of death while the deceased is still alive. Trust me, a lot of unnecessary headaches can be avoided.

The Hospital Dream

I dreamt that I worked in an environment similar to a hospital, but my colleagues and I were in different departments. Then, as we were heading in from the entrance, we saw that there was a crowd surrounding a certain area of the hospital. Someone shared that when they walked past one of the rooms, they overheard a man and a woman arguing at the top of their lungs due to personal matters.

Photo by Freguesia de Estrela on Unsplash
That was why we weren't exactly surprised when we heard that the deceased committed suicide, as we connected the dots. Though we were sad, we were not close to the deceased.

The camera then panned to the next scene.

I thought I had lost my keys in the locker when I was clocking out. Someone—I don't know who—clad in a bath towel and hair towel reminded me that I might have misplaced it when I had a shower and a change of clothes. She even offered to help me locate the keys.

Photo by Ray Sison on Unsplash

At the end of the workday, I was dragged by someone—let's call him Guy A—as we ran toward the train station. It felt very much like the NYC subway, but we ended up detouring to the bus station for reasons unknown to me. We found another passenger—let's call him Guy B—in his trenchcoat, seated below a board indicating the station name hammered into the brick wall.

Then, the scene panned to someone's home where we were seated around a round table, deep in a discussion as we planned a hangout after work or during our mutual off-days. However, I had to collect parcels on the day that they had in mind.

Guy A even suggested to lose the contact lenses and wear my glasses more often.

So, here we go for the dream interpretation.

For the scene where I was entering the hospital grounds, it's possible that I'm assisting others to recover from whatever hell they are going through at this point in time. The dream website proceeded to elaborate that "each scenario holds a mirror to your inner world, challenging you to reflect on whether you're in need of healing or offering it to others".

This actually is in line with what I have read about astrology and dates of birth. 

Oh, about the scene where I lost my keys, I wouldn't be surprised if this is the main theme of the dream. The dream website indicated that "losing your keys in a dream can symbolize feelings of frustration and anxiety. You may feel like you are losing control or that you are not able to find your way. This dream may also be a warning from your subconscious to pay attention to your surroundings and be more careful with your belongings".

The same website also clarified that "losing a key means that an informal dispute with someone will upset you. This will hurt deeply and you will not be able to find understanding among your loved ones. The same dream can portend the loss of an important opportunity..."

Bull's eye, I must say.

Not only do I feel like I am lost in life, but I am starting to misplace the very exact thing - keys. Yes, keys. It also never helped that, thanks to a misunderstanding/dispute, I have severed ties with one side of the family's relatives, too.

As for the kind soul—the one clad in a bath towel and hair towel—who asked what happened, ChatGPT mentioned that this could symbolize vulnerability, cleansing, or transition when read together with the loss of keys, yet it might also mean that my unknown side has been projected in terms of matters of the heart.

For the scene with the subway passenger sitting against the brick wall beneath the signboard, I think what ChatGPT meant is that this figure represents a passive observer—or a part of me that feels helpless—trying to reach out, but held back by obstacles and limitations.

From Where Do We Move Forward

Issuance of the Death Certificate

Let's say that you decide to engage the services of the funeral home for the burial or cremation. There would be a chance that the funeral director would ask whether you'd like them to handle the paperwork or if you'd want to liaise with the National Registration Department.

I guess it depends on how soon you need the death certificate. It's advisable to do it yourself if you are in a rush to get the document, although be prepared with the list of required documents (head to the NRD's website for the updated checklist) and the time needed to travel to the department. Getting the mortician to do it works just as fine, but it would take some time to file the application instead.

Regardless of which option you select, ensure that you have copies of the deceased's IC, especially since the NRD would require you to hand in the original IC with the application for the death certificate.

I can't fully remember how long it would take for the certificate to be issued, but I'm sure you'd be notified once it's ready for collection.

Use of the Death Certificate

With the original death certificate in hand, ensure that you have copies of this, as it is evidence that the person's already… well, deceased. As long as you are dealing with anything that is under the deceased's name (yes, even if there is a will), this is the required proof.

It also enables the wills & probate lawyer to proceed with the application for the issuance of the grant of probate (if a will has been drafted and registered when the deceased was still a fit and proper person) or letter of administration (when a will is absent). I won't delve much into these two, as a lawyer would be in a better position to advise you.

On another note, if the deceased has a living spouse (or ex-spouse), ensure that the death certificate has been safely kept along with the marriage/divorce certificate. Should you need to deal with the government department, it would come in handy to ascertain your connection to the deceased.

Dreams of Emotions

Here we go.

Photo by Ajin K S on Unsplash
I dreamt that I was seated on the balcony attached to a room, enjoying the silence provided by the day. Yet, instead of being able to see my environment, I ended up staring at a concrete slab (a brick wall) painted white.

At the end was a deep, murky floodwater as high as the wall itself. Just a bit more, and the water would gush forth into the room and ruin everything in its wake.

Yet, I was indifferent, choosing to calmly return to the room, shutting the sliding door close behind me. The room was also in white and lacked furniture, looking more like a living room rather than a bedroom.

Since I can only remember this segment of the dream, it will be difficult to pen my thoughts on this, as there's only so much to work with..

If I must venture a guess, the murky waters are a representation of my feelings. I won't deny it; my feelings are all over the place right now-between the work stress and the negative news that have been piling up, there's only so much I can stomach at one go.

Maybe it's also an indication that I'm close to my limit, and just a tad bit more will send me into a nervous/emotional breakdown. In an attempt to prevent the collapse, my subconscious is nudging me to address those issues while there's still time.

The indifference? It might also be a representation of my current emotions. There's a good amount of detachment and apathy towards certain matters, to the point where I'm questioning if I'm emotionally blunted or en route to depression. Heh, I should listen to my subconscious and express those emotions through exercise instead of swimming with it.

Better yet, take a well-earned vacation interstate or abroad.