Long time didn't organized a gathering with friend. This time we decided to have a food hunting in Melaka for a 3days 2night trip.
We started our journey at 1.30pm from Kuala Lumpur. We drive to Melaka and it didn't take a long journey. We reached Melaka At 3.30pm and the tolls only cost us RM16.50. We go checked in to Sayang-Sayang Youth Hostel. It located at Jalan Kampung Hulu. The hostel is just beside Melaka River.
Back door of the hostel which lead to sidewalk of the river.
River view from hostel.
Out from our expectation, the hostel is more cozy and clean then we thought. Is a budgeted hostel and have a quite good ranking from the hostel list in Melaka. Very budgeted accommodation as it only cost RM55 on weekday and RM65 on weekend for a air-cond twin sharing bedroom. Add an extra bed only cost RM20 per bed per night. The hostel is very well located. Not far from the Melaka famous Jonker Street. Only 5 minutes walk to there. And the hostel has bicycle to rent out. It charged RM10/day. Some more it provide free Wi-Fi.
Corridor view
Washroom
Basin
Air-cond bed room
After putting up all our luggage, we start our food hunting journey. First stop is Calanthe Art Cafe 迦南地咖啡艺术馆. The shop has a very big sign that show Malaysia 13 States' Coffee. I think the shop owner addict to coffee already. They even stated which state is using which coffee bean and what level is it in their menu. Another that attractive is they have Fried Durian. I tried once is during Ramadhan. But that one not very nice cause the durian they using is normal durian. So when I try the Fried Durian here, it is surprisingly good. Out of my expectation, the durian fruit they using is quite a good one. I don't know what class they using, D24 or Musang King but it is very rich in taste.
Shop front
Interior Design of the shop
Brown Gentlemen - Cappuccino + Mocha blended topped with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. (RM8.55)
Selangor State Ice Coffee - is a mild coffee. A bit sweet. Is suitable for those who cannot take strong coffee. (RM4.95)
Mixed Ice Coffee - Johor + Selangor. It taste a bit bitter. If you like some strong coffee, then this will be your choice. Nice combination. (RM5.95)
Green Tea Coffee - Green tea + coffee topped with whipped cream. It only served in hot. Quite a different taste when you drink it with and without the whipped cream. It taste better if drink with the cream and is my favorite. But if you cannot accept the green tea favour then don't try. (RM5.95)
Calanthe Art Cafe 迦南地咖啡艺术馆
Address: No. 11, Jalan Hang Kasturi, 75200 Melaka (Nearby Jonker Street)
Tel: 06-292 2960
After come out from the Calanthe Art Cafe, we pay a visit to Taman Warisan Dunia Jonker Walk. It situated along the Jonker Walk. Is a small garden with few status inside, such as dragon, elephant and buffalo and some flora also. A relaxing place and a nice place to kill some film.
Just few shop beside the Taman Warisan Jonker Walk, there has a shop selling Durian Puff. The shop named Poh Keong Enterprise. Is a confectionery shop. It sell many home made cookies too, eg. Pineapple cookies, Biscuits Tambun and etc. But we not planning to buy any of these, we are attracted with the Durian Puff. And I also see something quite interesting - Durian Ice Cream. I decided to give it a try. So we bought 6 pieces of Durian Puff (in package) and 1 cup of Durian Ice Cream.
Durian Puff. Look very delicious and it really taste good. Very rich in Durian. The Durian filling is a bit cold. And my advise is please try to eat in whole 1 bite.
Poh Keong Enterprise
Address; 81, Jalan Tokong
Operating Hour: 9am to 12am
Price: Durian Puff - RM5 for 3 pieces; RM8 for 6 pieces; RM18 for 15 pieces
Durian Ice Cream: RM3/cup (S); RM5/cup (B)
Next, we heading to Geographer Cafe (地理学家 Cafe). It is a corner shop and the decoration is quite cozy. This already is our third meal since we arrived in Melaka and our stomach has full but we wanted to try for its famous Tomyam Coconut Soup. So we just ordered the Tomyam Coconut Soup and 2 drinks. The shop has a live band performance during evening. Tourist like to have a drink or two at here.
Shop front and interior of the shop. Very unique design.
Tomyam Coconut Soup. It look like tomyam, sounds like tomyam but taste does not like tomyam. Cannot compare it to Tomyam Gong cause it is not spicy at all. It has the coconut sweetness plus a little bit of sour. Very fresh, very fragrant because of the lemongrass. This tomyam soup is suitable to all especially to those who cannot take spicy food and even kids. Must try!! (RM8.80 per coconut)
Geographer Cafe (地理学家 Cafe)
Address: 83, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka
Tel: 06-281 6813
www.geographer.com.my
After the Tomyam Coconut soup, according to our schedule (Yeap, we do fix a schedule and is a food hunting schedule...hahaha...), next stop should be heading to grab some seafood ~ shell type of seafood. The place we heading to is call Tong Bee Stall, located in an alley beside Jalan Bunga Raya. If you found where the Madam King Supermarket is then you will be no problem to locate the stall. It located in the lane next to Madam King Supermarket (before the traffic light). This stall is our main objective of today. It is quite special and we find seldom of the blogger wrote on this place. This stall we went is introduced by a TV program. Some more this stall is not open daily as it open depend on weather. However, before we reach Tong Bee Stall, just in front of Madam King Supermarket, there has a long queue queuing in front of a popiah stall. We have noticed it when we pass by this afternoon and it also has a long queue. We decided to buy 2 popiah to try as one of my also recommended. To our surprise, the popiah is incredibly good. Its taste and filing inside of popiah really can't get to find and taste in Kuala Lumpur. We found out that the popiah has a secret ingredient inside that I never ate in any of the other popiah before, that is.....Deep-fried lard residue （猪油渣）. This is quite common ingredient in Chinese food, especially Fried Hokkien Mee.
Deep-fried lard residue （猪油渣）inside.
Now, just a few walk left and we reach the Tong Bee Stall.
Special sauce for tipping
Snail (RM1.50 / plate)
Shell (RM1.50 / plate)
Clams (RM1.50 / plate)
The seafood is fresh and has the sweetness taste. It really tasty with or without the sauce.
This call 'wu-xiang' (五香). Ingredients include toasted bean curd, bean curd, fish ball,cucumber and pineapple topped with shrimp paste and sesame seed. Very tasty. (RM10 / plate)
Grilled squid (烧鱿鱼). Personally I don't really like to eat grilled squid because it is hard to chew. But here in this Tong Bee Stall, this dish is crunchy just like we eat cracker. Nice nice... (RM10 / plate)
Day is getting dark. We decide to take a River Cruise Ride. The jetty is located near Red House. So we walk back there. The river cruise is RM10 / person.
Some night view capture from the ferry.
The River Ride take around 35 - 40 minutes. It is worth to take a ride. You can enjoy the night view of Melaka. Even the day ride is enjoyable, many building has painted with picture that we can't capture at night.
Then is time for dinner (or supper I guess...cause after the ride already 9.30pm). We walk back to Jonker Walk to hunt for some food.
Konloo (Dried) Fish Ball Mee - RM3.00
Curry mee - RM3.50
Indian Curry Wantan Mee - RM4.00
This is end of today food hunting. We continue next day journey by cycling.
Summary of The Day 1
Accommodation:- Sayang-Sayang Youth Hostel - RM55 + RM65 + RM20 = RM140
Food:
- Calanthe Art Cafe = RM44.05
- Durian Puffs + Durian Ice Cream = RM13
- Geographer Cafe = RM19.50
- Popiah = RM6.00
- Tong Bee Stall = RM38.00
- Snack (dim sum) + Fruits = RM18.00
- Dinner = RM31.20
River Cruise Ride = RM50
Total Expenses spent for Day 1 = RM359.75;
Per person = RM359.75 / 5 = RM71.95 / person
