20WOC

Yesterday an uneventful journey to Melaka. Vacated Smile hotel (well named) at 8am. At KL Sentral steysen the maps indicated three train lines to my interim destination, Bandar Tasik Selatan station, one of them havig no stops. It was the airport ekspres so I wondered if it was akin to taking the airport bus, not the #10 via Bishopdale? Indeed so, the fare would be 4.20. Back to line up for one of the other train lines and my ticket cost only 1.00. Hooray for the "Ladies Only carriage"", not so crowded. I had intended only to drop my backpack, and return to visit another station then walk 20 minutes to the Lake Gardens. However the BTS station being about 25 minutes journey I canned the gardens and kept moving towards Melaka. The huge BTS bus terminal was a breeze. Just over a walkway from the train stop, and obvious where to line up to buy a coach ticket. There are many, maybe 15-20? bus companies doing various routes. This bit was brilliant - when I said 'Melaka Sentral' at the counter, the touch screen beside me brought up all the ensuing bus services in time order. I picked the next one and the screen showed all remaining seats so I picked the one behind the driver. The journey, almost two hours, cost only MYR9.00, about $3.60. The bus boarding system was equally idiot-proof and soon we were off. Now at Melaka Sentral bus station I did my forward recce and discovered there is no direct bus to my next destination, Pontian. I will take one of the many services to Johor Bahru and flick back to Pontian. It gets more bazaar - I'd avoided all the stalls and vendors in KL by staying in the burbs, but here they are to greet the tourists. Needing only lunch, I used the skills from queing with my accountant lunchmate yesterday to choose rice plus two vege plus one meat and a cold drink. The lady asked if I'd like a fish. Only because I'd seen my lunchmate yesterday picking meat of the fish to feed the toddler, I was confident to agree. It was delicious. I asked a boy to write the name - ikan keli. It stained my fingers yellow. The meat was two bite size pieces of sausage (I think) and the whole meal was delicious I demolished it. Taking a taxi to my hotel was the only serious option - I paid at the counter, they started saying 20 MYR but I said it should be 15 - two other people had previously told me this. The other touts are right outside the bus arrivals. I'd been told on the coach to avoid them. Had told this kind man, 'my husband tells me to take an official taxi' and he replied that I have a good husband. The hotel room is simple but has everything and its very clean and quiet, Only drawback was yesterday the freeinternet in the lobby not working. Spent the afternoon on my feet. Wandered thru some shopping malls and to the tourist area nearby - see the lines of tour coaches, and the stalls selling tat. Still, not a postcard to be seen. I took early dinner, çhicken rice at a small food court, indoors. A boy about 12 made my drink - carrot milk. I thought I was buying carrot juice like the other day. He juiced the carrots and poured in some coconut milk. Not a highlight in the drinks experience. I asked how old he is and the lady translated. '20 years!" he shot back with a big grin. The chicken rice was nice and I sat watching about 7 feral cats of all colours scavenging in the rubbish bags just outside and doing all that cats do. I thought the cats were like teenage girls - one makes a move and all the others observe, all the time. They were all tiny as usual. xxM