I hardly buy souvenirs. When I found myself missing these clogs, I told myself I have to get a pair when I visit Melaka again.
While walking along Jln Parameswara, we had this conversation:
Parameswara sounds familiar.
He's the fella who came to Singapore and beat the lion, remember?
Isn't that Sang Nila Utama?
Subsequently, I realised my confusion between the two names was valid. In lower secondary school we were taught that Sang Nila Utama saw a lion on an island and decided to name the place Singapura which means lion city. I remember this story clearly because I used to feel a little uneasy pronouncing the last word of the prince's name as it sounded rude in Chinese. When I went on to university, I wrote an essay on heritage tourism in Singapore using Fort Canning Hill as a case study. In Fort Canning Hill, I learnt of the keramat (or sacred resting place) of Iskandar Shah, the 14th century ruler of Singapore who was also known as Parameswara. That was my last contact with Singapore history which explains why in my memory, it was Parameswara who founded Singapura.
According to this article, Sang Nila Utama was also known as Parameswara who was also known as Iskandar Shah. Whether Sang Nila Utama, Parameswara and Iskandar Shah refer to the same person, no one really knows. The different sources were rather consistent with two points though (i) Parameswara went to Singapura first then to Melaka and (ii) the founder of Melaka was Parameswara. I'm amazed that it took just a walk along an ordinary street in another country to piece together my own country's beginnings. Sang Nila Utama is a legendary figure. Parameswara and Iskandar Shah may be fictitious characters. The truth is, no one really knows who discovered Singapura.
Parameswara sounds familiar.
He's the fella who came to Singapore and beat the lion, remember?
Isn't that Sang Nila Utama?
Subsequently, I realised my confusion between the two names was valid. In lower secondary school we were taught that Sang Nila Utama saw a lion on an island and decided to name the place Singapura which means lion city. I remember this story clearly because I used to feel a little uneasy pronouncing the last word of the prince's name as it sounded rude in Chinese. When I went on to university, I wrote an essay on heritage tourism in Singapore using Fort Canning Hill as a case study. In Fort Canning Hill, I learnt of the keramat (or sacred resting place) of Iskandar Shah, the 14th century ruler of Singapore who was also known as Parameswara. That was my last contact with Singapore history which explains why in my memory, it was Parameswara who founded Singapura.
According to this article, Sang Nila Utama was also known as Parameswara who was also known as Iskandar Shah. Whether Sang Nila Utama, Parameswara and Iskandar Shah refer to the same person, no one really knows. The different sources were rather consistent with two points though (i) Parameswara went to Singapura first then to Melaka and (ii) the founder of Melaka was Parameswara. I'm amazed that it took just a walk along an ordinary street in another country to piece together my own country's beginnings. Sang Nila Utama is a legendary figure. Parameswara and Iskandar Shah may be fictitious characters. The truth is, no one really knows who discovered Singapura.
We were people watching in Town Square and I spotted this family at the fountain. I recognized them right away. I had just seen them about two weeks ago in my country on the train. What a surreal and beautiful coincidence.
Super touristy, but these over the top trishaws have certainly become an identity of Melaka.
When I reached Apa Kaba on Friday night, I started asking Kenny about buses back to Singapore on Sunday. I had checked every counter at Melaka Sentral and all of them told me the same thing, no more bus to Johor Bahru or Singapore on Sunday afternoon. Kenny noticed I was still carrying my bag and he told me to relax and settle down first. He assured me that he will do his best to get us home on Sunday. While washing up, I could hear a guest asking Kenny "Why is she so worried?" I was instantly struck by his tone of bewilderment. I realised that I wasn't in a 'travel' state of mind that I'm supposed to be in. I had come to Melaka without leaving fast-paced Singapore society behind. I began to understand why he couldn't comprehend my anxiety because the last thing on a traveller's mind is to worry about not being able to go home. I was ashamed with myself and hid in the room for awhile after my shower. While waiting for my donkey friend to come, I surfed net in the living room and watched the cat leapt up and licked water from the big bonsai pot.
The second half of the tour was shopping at Johor Premium Outlet. I hate shopping so I left the group at 3pm. I had planned to sneak off and meet my donkey friend in Melaka. To my annoyance, tour guide announced my departure to everyone on the bus. He dropped me off at Yong Peng, a popular stopover point for inter-state coaches. I started trying every bus at Lucky Garden and Ming An, even those with signs that read Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Singapore, hoping they may stop at Melaka en route. None was going to Melaka. When I saw a Malacca Singapore Express bus turned into Lucky Garden, I chased after it but alas it was going the other direction to Singapore. My only hope dashed. I was stressing out, sweaty and tired from walking back and forth the two restaurants. A while later, another Malacca Singapore Express bus turned into Lucky Garden. I asked the driver in Chinese: Uncle, this bus got go Melaka? Go up quietly they check tickets here. 10 ringgit ok? Ok la. What time go? Eat finish go la. I scrambled up the bus quickly and grabbed a seat. The first thing I saw on the bus was the bus number MBH247 and the time was 4.35pm. I've waited at least 1.5 hours at Lucky Garden. Thankfully, luck was with me. It's been years since I travelled on my own. Freedom tastes so good. The 1.5 hours bus ride from Yong Peng to Melaka was particularly memorable to me as it was my first unofficial (unofficial cos it wasn't exactly a free ride) hitchhike attempt. Phew!
We were brought around the farm like sheep to see goats, ostriches, plants, souvenir shops and a dubious Orang Asli pop a balloon hanging on a tree with a blowpipe. Best part of the tour? Playing on the swing.
