Melaka again
Melaka always carries a special charm, no matter how many times we return. This time, the city greeted us with blue skies, cheerful weather, and surprisingly, no traffic jam. On a long weekend, that’s almost a miracle. Usually, Melaka’s narrow streets test your patience with standstill jams, but this trip felt different, it was calm, smooth, almost as if the city had reserved itself just for us.
We began our walk along the famous Jonker Street, a place where tourists from all over the world mingle with locals in search of food, souvenirs, and history wrapped in every corner. Stalls were buzzing with life, the air filled with the smell of grilled satay, durian puffs, and the endless chatter of happy wanderers.
And then, as always, we made our ritual stop at our regular buah melaka shop. Not the fancy modern kind, but a humble, old shop run by an elderly couple who have been making these traditional delights for decades. Their style is unique, no mass production, no flashy signboard. They prepare only a few buah melaka at a time, by hand, with the kind of patience and love you rarely see today. Watching them carefully roll the dough, fill it with gula melaka, and steam it to perfection is part of the magic. Each bite is soft, sweet, and nostalgic. The taste of authenticity.
From there, curiosity pulled us into an antique shop nearby. Walking inside felt like stepping into a time capsule. Old clocks ticking faintly, porcelain plates with faded motifs, typewriters waiting for one more story to be written and every corner whispered about lives once lived. Some items looked like they belonged in a museum, yet here they were, within arm’s reach.
By late afternoon, we were ready for the perfect closing to our little journey: a steaming bowl of asam pedas. No visit to Melaka feels complete without it. Sour, spicy, and comforting, it was exactly the kind of dish that makes you pause mid-bite just to appreciate how perfectly it represents the soul of this city.
Looking back, this trip was short but meaningful. Melaka never fails to surprise us. Sometimes with its history, sometimes with its food, and this time with its unexpected calmness. No endless traffic jams, no crowds pushing through, just enough people, just enough moments.
We left feeling light, grateful, and blessed. Melaka, you’ve given us memories once again and we’ll surely be back.
