Malaysia Trip

I traveled to Melaka Malaysia this weekend with six Singaporeans and six Americans. It was quite an adventurous trip (albeit hectic)! Malaysia is quite different from the predominantly Chinese Singapore, even though Singapore is just off the tip of Malaysia and the countries were actually briefly merged in 1963. Malaysia has less economic development and is more traditionally muslim in most parts of the country. This made this brief foray a very interesting experience.

This picture really demonstrates the type of city Melaka is, with the old city in the foreground, and a new modern building in the background. (It also demonstrates the significant gap between the poor and rich in this country).


The entrance to Melaka's China Town, wonderfully colorful!!


There are many Chinese temples and Mosques in Melaka. This is a picture inside an absolutely gorgeous temple.


In front of the temple are incense burners for prayers and blessings. Here a Chinese woman is lighting a bundle of incense.


The local gas delivery truck! ;) I have found S. Asian's very ingenuitive and creative about what they can load on a motorcycle!


A working blacksmith's shop, see the anvil in the center. There were a number of these scattered about, and I watched one craftsman patiently work metal with obvious skill. Certainly takes one back to a time when the pace of life was slower, no running to home depot!!


I will place additional pictures in a 2nd post below.