This site participates in the Amazon Associates Program. If you find this article helpful and decide to purchase any of the products introduced here through the links, it would mean a lot to me.
Hi, I’m Monorith.
I recently took an overland trip from Singapore to Melaka.
This post is completely a personal travel note.
For the places I visited in Melaka, I’ve shared my Google My Map below.
Day 1: Major Bus Delays, a Walk Around Dutch Square, and Nyonya Cuisine
I took a bus from Jurong East in Singapore and arrived at the Tuas side. First came the departure procedures. That said, all I had to do was carry my passport and walk through the gate. Photography was prohibited in this area, so I couldn’t take any pictures.
After passing through, I got back on the same bus and crossed the bridge into Malaysia. After the bridge, we drove along the highway for a while before arriving at the Malaysian immigration facility.
The lines were separated by vehicle type—private cars, buses, trucks, and so on—and I ended up waiting there for just under two hours.
At the facility, everyone had to unload all their luggage and go through immigration. This process was also quite simple: passport scanning and a light scan of carry-on baggage.
Once inside Malaysia, the signs suddenly switched almost entirely to Malay, which made them pretty hard for me to read. After clearing the gate, there were restrooms and a small convenience-store-like shop where I got ready for the long-distance bus ride.
In a large area with dozens of buses parked, I had to walk around and find the one I was supposed to board. A message had been sent to the phone number I registered when booking via WhatsApp, and it included the bus number.
At 12:40 p.m., I finally set off for Melaka.
The scheduled arrival time was 2:00 p.m., but according to Google Maps, the trip should take around three and a half hours.
…Wait, what?
We made one restroom stop on the way at a place that felt a bit like a Japanese highway service area.
On a long-distance bus, proper bladder management is essential. Otherwise, the ride becomes pure suffering.
Outside the window, I could see endless plantation land filled with the same kind of trees. It was a view you would never see in Singapore, which has mostly moved away from primary industry.
I arrived in Melaka at 5:00 p.m.
That was three hours later than scheduled. For a 2-day, 1-night trip, that really hurt.
First, I headed to my accommodation.
I stayed at a guesthouse. It was a four-bed room, but this time I was the only guest. Lucky.
Accommodation: Thian Siong Inn
Price: about 2,700 yen per night
The toilet and shower were both quite clean.
Using Jonker Street as a landmark, I wandered around the town.
As I walked, I arrived at the entrance to Dutch Square.
It had exactly the kind of atmosphere you would expect from a major tourist spot.
The streets, all unified in red tones, looked very stylish.
Then there was the Melaka River and the evening light.
For dinner, I went to MELAKA RIVER NYONYA RESTAURANT.
It is located on the second floor of a building near the entrance to Jonker Street.
As the name suggests, it serves Nyonya cuisine.
The terrace seating overlooks the Melaka River and Dutch Square, which made for a really nice setting.
I ordered two dishes based on the staff’s recommendations:
- Nasi Goreng Seafood Nanas Sungai Melaka (about 650 yen)
- Ayam Kapitan Sungai Melaka (about 650 yen)
Both were really delicious.
The nasi goreng was basically seafood fried rice served with pineapple, and the fruity acidity worked surprisingly well with it.
The Ayam Kapitan had a rich sauce with a tomato-based tang that reminded me a bit of beef stew. It had some spice, but not so much that Japanese travelers who are not great with spicy food couldn’t enjoy it.
After that, I walked around Jonker Street.
It was very lively, with a vibe similar to a festival lined with street stalls.
A little farther away, I stopped at Cendol Kampung Hulu for cendol.
It was excellent.
Overall, it was not overly sweet, and the combination of different textures and gentle sweetness bursting in my mouth made me genuinely happy.
On the way back, I got stuck in the rain.
With the bus delay already wearing me down, that was the end of Day 1.
Day 2: Coffee Shop Hopping and the Melaka River Cruise
I started Day 2 with one of my favorite things: visiting coffee shops.
I went to Coffeebar125+.
They also serve single-origin coffee.
Here’s what the inside looked like.
Local people were spending time there in a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
There was also a cat.
It sniffed every customer one by one, then settled down looking completely satisfied.
I also came across a stylish little alley.
Then I walked along the Melaka River.
There was an old loading crane from the British colonial era.
Its basic mechanism is the same as modern cranes, which reminded me once again that civil engineering really does not change all that much.
Around Dutch Square, cultural heritage sites like this are scattered throughout the area.
Next, I boarded the Melaka River Cruise.
It is a boat tour that takes you gently along the Melaka River.
Duration: about 40 to 50 minutes
Price: about 1,100 yen
River cruise view 1
River cruise view 2
As I watched the scenery drift by, I found myself imagining Melaka in its days as a thriving international port.
Then I visited the Melaka Maritime Museum.
Admission: about 700 yen
It is located very close to the Melaka River Cruise.
Time for a bit of world history study.
There were many scale models of ships from that period, and they were well worth seeing.
Whenever I came across English explanation panels, I immediately asked ChatGPT to help interpret them.
What a wonderful age we live in.
For lunch, I went to The TingKat Nyonya Restaurant.
I ordered:
- something like laksa-style pasta
- coconut rice
The pasta was very tasty—it felt as though laksa flavors had been turned directly into a pasta sauce. The coconut made it especially creamy.
There was also a cat at the entrance of the restaurant.
After lunch, I took a walk to the ruins of St. Paul’s Church.
There is a statue of St. Francis Xavier there, who is also well known in Japan.
Even some parts of the path leading up to the church seemed to use the same stone materials as in the past, which gave the place a real sense of layered history.
Inside the church, rows of old tombstones were lined up, and I have to admit, it had the kind of dramatic atmosphere that really appealed to my inner teenager.
There are also ruins of a fort nearby.
Both are remnants from the Portuguese occupation period.
I considered visiting the Pink Mosque as well, but in the end I decided not to.
Before my return bus, I spent some time at WA COFFEE & ROASTERY.
They even offered single-origin cocoa, so I gave it a try.
It was not too sweet, had a pleasant acidity, and tasted quite different from ordinary cocoa. I really liked it.
My return bus departed at 4:00 p.m.
It was supposed to arrive at 8:00 p.m., but once again it was delayed by three hours, and I finally got back at 11:00 p.m.
Three hours late both ways.
It truly felt like a baptism by overseas travel.
So if you ever plan to take a long-distance bus abroad, be prepared and keep a very generous sense of time.
Related Books：Lonely Planet Pocket Kuala Lumpur & Melaka (Pocket Guide)
Amazon Link
Lonely Planet Pocket Kuala Lumpur & Melaka (Pocket Guide)
