Sacchin cycling in Melaka

I have not posted any entry for a very long time.
Yes, I have been busy (and procastenating). But I make it a point that I post now since I have some new pictures.

I went to Melaka, Malaysia with my cycling friends for an overnight trip of cycling and eating, and I brought Sacchin with me together with her mountain bike. Too bad I don't have a folding bicycle model, suitable for pinky:st.

We were waiting for bus near Golden Mile Complex, so I took this photo after I gobbled some breakfast and a glass of Kopi.
Looking bright and shiny ready to go!

From Pinky

After some drama trying to load the bus with small luggage compartment with 20+ folding bicycles, we were ready! We even managed to persuade customs to let us keep the bicycles in the bus.

Then comes the 4+ hour ride to Melaka. The Kopi keeps me awake during the journey.

This is the front view when looking out from the hotel compound entrance, taken not long after we arrived at the hotel, and about to have a very late lunch (2:30 pm lunch)

From Pinky

And this is the hotel we are staying at, Aldy Hotel, near the old town center.

From Pinky

Below there is a bar cum restaurant. A fellow cyclist become the background (that green liquid in a jar was a drink ordered by another cyclist).

From Pinky

At night me and some cyclist went to eat pizza at a restaurant named Coconut House, in Melaka. It is behind Jonker street, opposite boutique hotel Baba House.

She is enjoying the various sizes of popular drink Coca Cola.

From Pinky

From Pinky

After dinner I went sight seeing at Jonker Street Pasar Malam (Night Market) but did not buy anything. I saw some really interesting umbrella that comes with metal cover and made to look like bottle of perfume or shampoo or wine etc, but the umbrella is rather small so I decide it was not a good buy. Small umbrella does not give much protection in monsoon season rain or torrential rain which happen frequently in Singapore.

Back to the hotel and sleep because we have to wake up and gather at 7 am the next day.

The next day we went for a long cycling trip along the beach to the direction of the cemetary of a Malay legend, Hang Tuah. However the cycling was furious and we did not stop long enough for me to take out Sacchin, and took her photo.

However on the way back we stop for chendol and the wait took long enough for me to take Sacchin out for a picture. At the background is the chendol shop, crowded with my cyclist friend busily eating chendol.

From Pinky

After than we went back to the hotel and those who are tired have a chance to recuperate. Of course, high on palm sugar (gula melaka) I hardly feel tired and I took Sacchin out for photoshoot. Here she is posing in front of the ruin of portugese fort.

From Pinky

From Pinky

From Pinky

From Pinky

From Pinky

Next to the hotel there is a small park that play host to an old properller aeroplane ...

From Pinky

and old diesel train locomotive and cabin...

From Pinky

From Pinky

There are fire engine and bullock cart too but there is no good place to place Sacchin for a good photo.

The sun was way up when I make it to the old town center, but undeterred I took her photo anyway.

Here she is by the fountain.

From Pinky

From Pinky

There were a lot of tourist, local and overseas, and it was Sunday, sunny and bright. The colourful tricycles are there for the tourist to hire.

From Pinky

This is the old church but I am not sure if it is still in service. May be it is already converted to be a museum.

From Pinky

This is the photo from higher elevation, up the stair case on top of souvernier shops.

From Pinky

From Pinky

Here is the photo of clock tower from ground floor.

From Pinky

And this is from higher elevation.

From Pinky

Up the stair case (from the front) or the hill from behind you will have high elevation view to one end of jonker street.

From Pinky

After that I walk along the river bank behind the rows of shophouses and took this photo.

From Pinky

From Pinky

There is river cruise available too, but I did not take it. I like the comfort of being on land best.

From Pinky

At the end of the row there is a parking lot and opposite that there is an old church. There was a mass held at the time.

From Pinky

That was it, I went back and meet my friends before we are set for lunch, and after lunch we took the bus back to Singapore.

Cycling in Singapore Central Business District

I woke up really early this morning, before sunrise, to go cycling with a friend in Singapore's Central Business District (CBD). Needless to say, two pinkies came with me and having their adventure story told.

Today Lui and Sakura came with me.
First stop, you need to refuel before a long journey so we have porridge at Tanjong Pagar Hawker Center, near Tanjong Pagar MRT. It was a yummy simple taste breakfast.
My friend become the blur background.


We then cycle around Shenton Way, and goes into the narrow lane towards Lau Pa Sat. Looking back, we see Temasek Tower as background and Lui & Sakura posed for a picture.


They took a short turn to the right and took another photo at the corner of Singapore Exchange (SGX) building.


At the corner of Marina Boulevard, Raffles Quay, and Collyer Quay, they took a few shots. First is the new statue near Raffles MRT.

Lui was a bit upset because she wanted a yellow bicycle like the one in the background, but that is actually my bicycle, which is too big for her.

They posed in front of Asia Life Insurance building, one of the surviving art deco building in CBD which undergoing a renovation to become a service apartment.

And this is Republic Plaza. The building is too tall to fit into the picture.


We then tried cycling from there going via Marina Boulevard to reach Suntec City but the road is closed due to construction. So we had to turn back and go via Esplanade Bridge.

While cycling there we stop to take a picture of Lui & Sakura in front of Fullerton Hotel. This hotel was previously an old post office building.


After cycling around Suntec City area, going up and down Benjamin Sheares Bridge, they finally settle and take a picture at Raffles Hotel, an old historical hotel near City Hall.


What is that yummy smell? After cycling for 2 hours, we are tired and decide to have a second breakfast. Coffee, and toasted bun with peanut butter. Yum.


Thats all folks.