Melaka, Malaysia

Tanoori chicken and naan My funky hotel in Melaka

Tricked out trishaws available for city tours

I have never been in a place with so many spellings. Melaka, Melucca, Molaka are but a few variations. This city dates from the 14th century when an Indonesian prince/buccaneer established a city here to commemorate a mythological battle between a white mouse-deer (whatever that is) and one of the prince's hunting dogs. The city flourished as Chinese traders settled in this port on the lucrative China-India trade route. In 1509 the Portuguese arrived with guns and missionaries and soon established economic, but not theological, control. The people remained Muslim. From their colonies in nearby Indonesia the Dutch began attacking the Portuguese and eventually took control in1807. A treaty between Holland and Britain in 1824 ceded Melaka (and the rest of Malaysia) to the British who were around until post WWII. I still do not understand the arrogance of those European countries trading, battling and bargaining countries around the globe like a game of Monopoly. Of course it seems the rulers of the smaller countries were often well rewarded for their cooperation, so no one was blameless in all these dealings.
Enough history for a bit! Melaka is famous for food and that's okay with me. Last night I had tandoori chicken and today laksa, a soup with coconut milk and lemongrass, and popiah, a fat spring roll stuffed with dried shrimp, carrots, chili, garlic and who knows what else. If reading that doesn't make you salivate, you must have just finished eating.
I am staying a a funky little hotel next to the Melaka river. There is a nice bar downstairs, the staff is very friendly, the room cool and clean. Unfortunately I think I will change tomorrow because of the bathroom, however. Instead of our familiar throne toilet this is Arab style with two footrests and a hole in the floor. It just ain't as easy to get up from that squatting position as it was a few years back. Hope that is not tmi.