Out of Melaka

Typical Breakfast, swiped from williamnyk on Flickr.

Early next morning, we packed up and got ready to check out. Before heading to mass, Sis brought us to breakfast at Restoran Weng Soh Siew that is famous for two things-- nasi lemak and yu kaw noodles. To me, yu kaw noodles is basically fishball and fishcake noodles done in the dry style. Doesn't sound very special right? But the hor fun was very good (reminiscent of a lighter chu cheong fun) and the chili gravy that come with the food was good. To me, the nasi lemak was just average. Typical Chinese version that is sweet-ish with kangkung. But little Cyan whacked it all anyway. We were supposed to celebrate mass at St. Francis Xavier Church in town, but having passed by St. Peter's Church first, we decided to go there instead. It's the oldes church in Melaka, built in 1710. It had been renovated with a wood-paneled ceiling but I guess most of the original architecture remained. The altar was also pre-dominantly wooden. The homily was very lively. I loved how the priest told his stories and mixed in Hokkien into English. Some things he said were also very bold and perhaps a bit reckless. But the subject was about the power of God and of course with God, everything goes! Here's an excerpt:





"It was just my first year as a priest and I was called to an exorcism! Liao! Before entering the house, I asked God to give the strength. Let them see your Power. Don't make me lak seh! I went in with my holy water and crucifix. And loudly proclaimed in the name of God that all devils should be cast out. Even annointed the child with oil blessed by the bishop. But the mother told me that I annointed the wrong child."

"Someone was dying in the ICU and I was told to perform an annointing of the sick. I was in my white cassock and I was stopped on the way to the ward. The person thought I was a doctor! I'm not a doctor I said, but a specialist. A specialist in prayer."





He even complained that his mother watches too much Astro, causing her to have difficulty concentrating in prayer. :S. Just as the mass ended, tourists streamed in to admire the heritage building. On the way to Jonker Street, we stopped at Tan Kim Hock to buy some food products. Seems a bit more run down and even the cendol section had closed. At Jonker, the sun beat down relentlessly on poor tourists like us. Did the usual rounds from Sam Shu Gong to Jonker 88. Unfortunately, Jonker 88 was too crowded, so we decided on the shop beside it, Jonker 86. Kinda like fishes feeding off the scraps from a shark's feeding frenzy. They basically live off customer run-off from next door. But then again, their food is decent. I liked the nyonya laksa, but the assam laksa was lukewarm. Hate that. I like things piping hot. The cendol was OK, but if you're looking for an overdose of palm sugar, definitely go to Jonker 88. After our lunch there, we immediately drove back to KL.









Napped a bit and upon waking up, had to freshen up and go for my birthday dinner! An ad-hoc choice. Went to Umai-Ya at IOI Boulevard. Food was average and the portions were kind of disappointing. The pictures in the menu were obviously taken through a magnifying glass! Ordered the kimchi maki, gindara mushi, chirashi don and a chicken teriyaki set. Post-dinner cake was a slice of almond cake from the nearby RT Bakery. Didn't light the candle that came with it nor was sung a birthday song. Just ate half of it and little Cyan whacked the rest of it the day after. Ah. Three. One.