Farewell to Malaysia

So, my trip to Malaysia ended on a couple high notes which made the trip one to remember. First, I got to hang out with my friend Mun’s dad, who gave me an excellent tour of Melaka and introduced me to the famed and fabled Strait of Malacca – the pivotal crossroad to Asia in the Indian Ocean trade routes. Mun, when I told her that I was in her city, Kuala Lumpur, set me up to meet her father, and, being the awesome friend that she is, didn’t disappoint me at all. Uncle Daniel picked me up and drove me two hours to Melaka to check out the once epic city, now etched in the side margins of the books of history. Being a history buff, when I found out that I was coming to Southeast Asia, there were two places that I absolutely felt like I had to visit before I left: the Straits of Malacca and Angkor Wat. Thanks to the benevolence of Mun, and particularly her father (who is so cool, that he popped his collar as we endured the blazing sun on our tour around the city), I was able to accomplish one of my goals (although, in hindsight, I had already seen part of it in Penang). The strait itself is not particularly impressive – it’s just another body of water, and a slight letdown – but the history behind it, and that of Melaka, is fascinating.



Rich in a history that has included Portuguese, Dutch, British, Chinese, and Indian influences, along with the indigenous Malay flavor, the little city is a real treat for lovers of history and tourists alike. Some of Melaka’s attractions include: the narrow streets of the Jonker Walk, lined with boutiques and restaurants installed in centuries-old buildings which offer a throwback to the colonial era; the bright yellow, flower adorned, rickshaw/tricycles that pick up tourists and bump obnoxiously loud Lady Gaga and such around the city; the subtle charm of A’Famosa fort; the unique story of the Portuguese Malaysians; and the melting pot of tasty foods (chicken rice and cendol-a great dessert-in particular) which surprise and delight you. It is quite a special place. I even got to see a group of Malay policewomen performing choreographed dance routines on the sidewalk. Excellent!






The next day, Uncle Daniel picked me up to check out his restaurant, Monte’s, in KL, where a consultant chef was preparing some new cuisine for the revamped menu. I got treated to some good (I guess…I’m not the biggest wine connoisseur) Chilean wine, beef with pumpkin sauce (fantastic), and a Hershey’s chocolate cake. Uncle Daniel knows what’s UP!!

The second significant event that really made my trip special was getting to see Akon live in concert. And, boy, was it live! The man pumped up an initially lackluster and timid crowd (definitely by my standards) to the point that people would've given him the shirts of their backs...actually that's what he did, and many others reciprocated. The coolest part of the night, other than my near-50 year old uncle Cliff jammin’ hard to "I Wanna Make Love..." was when Akon, after diving into the audience 4 times already, decided as his finale to crawl (yes, on his hands and knees) above the audience from the stage to the very back of the venue. CRAZY!!! I've never seen an artist that passionate about his fan base. As the Malaysian security guards were trying to keep him from his act, Akon balked "Securrrity, why are you holding me back?! I'm trying to get to my people!" Epic! After he finished, he serenaded the crowd with a brilliant performance of "Mama Africa," which made me so happy to be African.



Although I prefer traveling and sharing experiences with others, for a trip undertaken by myself, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.



"So much love to share..."