PEN Day 3 │ Return Roadtrip: Penang • Ipoh • KL

Going Home — Southbound to Kuala Lumpur

We had an excellent breakfast at the hotel’s Sri Tanjung Café before checking out at 10:15am. Together with Raudha and Shuhaida (Shima had joined her family holidaying in Penang), we got into the car and began our drive back to Kuala Lumpur.

The Drive South

The journey along the North–South Expressway was smooth and largely uneventful — just the familiar rhythm of long roads, rolling hills, and highway scenery.

A little over two hours later, we exited at Ipoh (Utara) to drop Raudha off at her in laws’ home in Chepor. After saying our goodbyes, we continued the drive south and reached Kuala Lumpur at around 3:00pm.

We then dropped Shuhaida off at her home in Setiawangsa before finally heading back to our own home.

Wrapping Up

We hope you’ll enjoy the time lapsed footage of our drive back to Kuala Lumpur — a quiet, steady end to our Penang work trip.

More adventures soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Royale Chulan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/7FvB4VK31NfBVMxE8

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/WQvrEoWPxqEuvnNy8

PEN Day 3 │ Royale Chulan PENANG

Royale Chulan Penang — Our Home for Two Nights

Home for the past two nights, we felt it fitting to pay Royale Chulan Penang a little homage — through the footage we captured over the past two days.

We checked in two days ago and found our room to be well appointed and comfortable. Although the hotel is a little dated, it’s clear that they’ve been making an effort to modernise. What we appreciated most was its strategic location — just steps away from street art murals, Little India, and the heritage lanes of George Town.

Breakfast at Sri Tanjung Café

One of the highlights of our stay has been the buffet breakfast at Sri Tanjung Café. Billed as “offering a range of delicious flavours and dining experiences,” we thought it delivered exactly that.

A generous spread of:

• Eastern dishes
• Western favourites
• Local Penang classics

Everything was warm, tasty, and comforting — the kind of breakfast that sets the tone for a good day. We hope our footage does this café justice.

Location, Location, Location

If you’re looking for a hotel that sits very close to the Ferry Terminal, then look no further. Royale Chulan Penang is one of the most conveniently located hotels in the area, especially if you’re planning to explore George Town on foot.

More Penang adventures coming soon — stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Royale Chulan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/7FvB4VK31NfBVMxE8

PEN Day 2 │ Evening WALKABOUT: KOMTAR to Beach Street

Walkabout — Penang Night Edition

With dinner out of the way, we crossed the street from Restoran Mohamed Raffee Nasi Kandar to the Hardware Pulau Tikus bus stop. We caught a Rapid Penang #101 bus for RM1.40 each (USD/EUR0.30) back to the KOMTAR Utara stop, where our walkabout truly began.

Through the Heart of George Town

We disembarked along Jalan Penang and headed north toward the Octopus Pedestrian Bridge. After crossing Jalan Penang, we continued northeast before turning right onto Lebuh Campbell.

We walked the entire length of Lebuh Campbell, taking in the sights, sounds, and evening bustle. After about a kilometre, we turned left onto Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and stopped briefly to photograph the brightly lit Sri Mahamariamman Temple — always a beauty at night.

We continued north along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, and after half a kilometre, turned right at Bank Negara Malaysia onto Lebuh Light. From there, we crossed over and headed straight to Padang Kota Lama (Penang Esplanade).

Be sure to catch our dedicated video on this iconic spot.

Toward the Clock Tower

After spending some time at the Esplanade, we continued along Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah, eventually arriving at the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. We took a quick photo, then crossed Lebuh Light and continued east before turning right onto Beach Street.

A short walk later, we reached the hotel. After a quick stop at the lobby water closet, we headed out again — this time on a mission for Teh Tarik.

The Great Teh Tarik Hunt

We tried our luck along Bishop Street, then Lebuh Gereja, and finally Lebuh China, but couldn’t find a single coffee shop open.

Dejected but not defeated, we returned to the hotel and ordered Teh Tarik through the Grab app. Ten minutes later, the rider arrived with our drinks, and we retreated to our room to end the night on a sweet, frothy note.

What’s Next

We’ll be showcasing a video on the hotel in our upcoming upload — so please stay tuned!

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Restoran Mohamed Raffee Nasi Kandar

- https://goo.gl/maps/sC4NzgcpdH8hGWRM8

Hardware Pulau Tikus Bus Stop - https://goo.gl/maps/JnrnWPqbmVtX6quj9

KOMTAR Utara Bus Stop - https://goo.gl/maps/CEaZixmCLTJp68EU8

Octopus Pedestrian Bridge - https://goo.gl/maps/etcuWwCQ3SENxxqj7

Lebuh Campbell - https://goo.gl/maps/96Rn9jPPK8v4GJbFA

Masjid Kapitan Keling - https://goo.gl/maps/tkNKDpaNsDK8V6ZYA

Sri Mahamariamman Temple - https://goo.gl/maps/V4zXwUqNhkr3GaxYA

Penang City Hall - https://goo.gl/maps/XYUjnTJqEWd9utZM8

Padang Kota Lama (Esplanade) - https://goo.gl/maps/DtNsGQcH9Wez76JE7

Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower - https://goo.gl/maps/fPcuZqRMgJ9QR1pG8

Royale Chulan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/7FvB4VK31NfBVMxE8

PEN Day 2 │ Padang KOTA LAMA

Penang Esplanade — A Twilight Detour

Almost at the end of our walkabout, Cat suggested we make one last stop at the Penang Esplanade, or Padang Kota Lama — a place we’ve passed many times but rarely slowed down to appreciate properly.

From Google:

“The waterfront Esplanade features historical landmarks, such as the Cenotaph war memorial and Fort Cornwallis, scenic promenades and access to several museums of art and culture… Architectural gems include Penang City Hall, which combines Edwardian Baroque and Palladian styles.”

And that description fits perfectly.

City Hall and the Waterfront

We marvelled at the gorgeous Penang City Hall, glowing softly in the evening light — all white columns, symmetry, and old world charm. It’s one of those buildings that looks grand from afar and even more impressive up close.

We spent some time taking time lapse footage from the Esplanade Walkway, capturing the slow drift of clouds, the movement of people, and the calm waters of the channel. The whole area had that unmistakable Penang evening atmosphere — relaxed, breezy, and quietly beautiful.

Walkabout Continues

With the Esplanade explored, we resumed our walkabout.

Be sure to catch that video!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Penang City Hall - https://goo.gl/maps/XYUjnTJqEWd9utZM8

Padang Kota Lama (Esplanade) - https://goo.gl/maps/DtNsGQcH9Wez76JE7

Esplanade Walkway - https://goo.gl/maps/oj7bxB7MQY7TQAxU6

PEN Day 2 │ RAFFEE Nasi Kandar

Nasi Kandar at Pulau Tikus — A Recommended Detour

With work matters finally out of the way, we could shift our focus back to content creation. While at the Penang branch, my colleague Nazirah recommended that we try the Nasi Kandar at Pulau Tikus — and that was all the encouragement we needed.

Getting There

Evening came and we walked out of the hotel onto Beach Street, heading toward the Police Station. There, we waited for the free Rapid Penang CAT bus, which took us to the KOMTAR Bus Terminal.

From KOMTAR, we boarded a Rapid Penang #101 bus for RM1.40 each (USD/EUR0.30) to Pulau Tikus.

The driver dropped us off at the Sleeping Buddha Bus Stop and told us to walk southwest along Lorong Burma to its very end. We did just that, crossed Jalan Burma, and arrived at Restoran Mohamed Raffee Nasi Kandar.

Dinner — The Legendary Nasi Kandar

It was late evening, so the legendary queue — the one Raffee is famous for — hadn’t yet formed. Perfect timing.

We both ordered Nasi Kandar with Fried Chicken, with our own little add ons:

• Cat added the Green Chillies — RM9.90
•  added the Lady Finger — RM10.90

Together with drinks, our meal came to RM24.60 (≈ USD/EUR5).

We hoped our little Lumix captured the colours, textures, and glorious gravy mix just right.

Walkabout Continues

After dinner, we crossed the street to catch another bus and begin our walkabout in earnest.

More Penang adventures coming up — stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Royale Chulan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/7FvB4VK31NfBVMxE8

Balai Polis Bus Stop - https://goo.gl/maps/MEmkx1d114hT29Uj6

KOMTAR Bus Terminal - https://goo.gl/maps/LQ8Kt1tnXe6brA8X6

Sleeping Buddha Bus Stop - https://goo.gl/maps/AfwPNrEmSovtbqBC6

Restoran Mohamed Raffee Nasi Kandar

- https://goo.gl/maps/sC4NzgcpdH8hGWRM8

PEN Day 1 │ Evening Stroll • To Lebuh Leith and Back

Walkabout — Penang Evening Edition

We checked into the hotel at 4:15pm and settled in. About an hour later, the walkabout itch struck — and since we had some laundry to do, we stepped out in search of a local murukku shop.

(Murukku: a savoury, crunchy snack whose name comes from the Tamil word for “twisted.”)

Murukku Mission

We walked southeast along Beach Street, then turned right onto Lebuh Pasar, where we found KVM Thulasiraman, the murukku shop we were looking for. We were asked to get several packets of the Dhall Pagoda variant — mission accomplished.

From there, we continued along Lebuh Pasar, turned right onto Penang Street, then left onto Lebuh China. We walked northeast until we reached the Goddess of Mercy Temple, built in 1880, still standing proud in the heart of George Town.

Laundry Hunt (and Lost Footage!)

We continued onto Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, crossed the intersection at Lebuh Chulia, and walked on before turning right onto Jalan Buckingham.

We arrived at 123 Laundry, only to find it claustrophobically small.

And then — disaster.

Due to an error downloading files from the DJI Action 3, we lost all footage from this point onwards.

Thankfully, the DJI Pocket 2 saved the day later.

Laundry, Dinner, and Recovery

We eventually found Laundry 39 along Lebuh Leith, got our laundry sorted, and then headed to Red Garden Food Paradise for dinner.

Here’s what we ordered:

• Sotong Kangkung — RM18.00
• Char Kueh Teow with Duck Egg — RM9.00
• German Sausages — RM20.00
• Small Heineken & Keat La Juice — RM20.00
• Banana Split — RM12.00
• Apam Balik — RM7.00

Total: RM86.00 (≈ USD19/EUR17)

A feast, as always.

Picking Up the Trail Again

We managed to recover footage from the DJI Pocket 2, so the video picks up at St. Xavier’s Institution. From there, we walked southwest along Lebuh Farquhar, passing the Church of the Assumption and the Francis Light Memorial, before turning right onto Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling again.

We crossed onto Lebuh Bishop and continued almost to its end, where we stopped to chat with the proprietor of Auntie Gaik Lean’s Old School Eatery. Then we walked past Ali Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang before finally making our way back to the hotel.

What’s Next

I’ll be busy tomorrow morning attending to office matters at our Penang branch, but I’m hoping for another walkabout tomorrow evening.

Stay tuned!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Royale Chulan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/7FvB4VK31NfBVMxE8

KVM Thulasiraman (M) Sdn Bhd - https://goo.gl/maps/rM5fdSrD4p211XTF7

Red Garden Food Paradise - https://goo.gl/maps/qx7xUYGBC4XQoJzx7

Auntie Gaik Lean's Old School Eatery - https://goo.gl/maps/2FKRvb17jEqsVFQb7

PEN Day 1 │ Roadtrip: KL • Ipoh • Penang

We’re on a Road trip!

Courtesy of my office, we found ourselves driving up north again — this time with a short stopover in Ipoh before continuing on to Penang.

We left home at 7:30am and drove to the office, just a short distance away. There, we waited for my colleagues Shima and Shuhaida to join us before continuing our journey.

Breakfast and the North–South Expressway

We headed toward the Jalan Duta Toll Plaza and merged onto the North–South Expressway. A quick breakfast stop at the Sungai Buloh R&R gave us a chance to stretch our legs before continuing the drive to Ipoh.

We met up with Raudha in Ipoh, regrouped, and then continued our drive toward Penang.

Purpose of the Trip

The goal of this road trip was twofold:

• To re acquaint ourselves with the branch personnel

• To promote a new project that our department has been working on

A little work, a little travel, and a lot of highway scenery in between.

Enjoy the Ride

Hope you’ll enjoy our time lapsed footage of the drive — the long roads, the changing skies, and the familiar northbound rhythm!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

R&R Jejantas Sungai Buloh Arah Utara - https://goo.gl/maps/dgaBxxNTPUDz2DY67

Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) Kuala Lumpur

- https://goo.gl/maps/bS8d5wN7KmLRRs2t5

Agensi Kaunseling dan Pengurusan Kredit (AKPK) Ipoh

- https://goo.gl/maps/HHq15oyypaeCvxLz7

Royale Chulan Penang - https://goo.gl/maps/7FvB4VK31NfBVMxE8

DJI POCKET 2 │ Time Lapse Once More!

Timelapse Once More — KL Skyline at Sunset

It’s been a while since we last tried our hands at time lapse photography, so we decided to do it again — this time capturing the Kuala Lumpur skyline, with KLCC glowing in the distance as the sun slowly set.

There’s something calming about watching the city shift from day to night, and we wanted to bottle that feeling in a single sequence.

The Setup

We set the DJI Pocket 2 to capture one frame every three seconds, over a duration of five hours. That gave us:

• Two and a half hours before sunset

• Two and a half hours after sunset

A full transition from warm daylight to blue hour to the sparkling night skyline.

We Hope You’ll Enjoy It

It felt good to revisit timelapse photography — patient, steady, and quietly rewarding. We hope you’ll like the final result as much as we enjoyed shooting it.

More experiments coming soon!

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/pN3u1fwBWrsV5nfb9 

AJIE Car Wash

Puteh Needs a Shower!

My office organised a treasure hunt yesterday — an all day adventure that took contestants from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Selangor. By the time we finally got home, Puteh was absolutely filthy.

I promised her a day out at the “spa,” so early this morning I headed to the car wash I’ve been frequenting for the past twenty years. It’s run by a group of hardworking and enterprising Indonesians who have been taking excellent care of my cars for as long as I can remember.

A Well Deserved Clean Up

Puteh got the full treatment — wash, rinse, shine — and we captured the whole process in hyperlapse and timelapse.

We hope you’ll find the footage entertaining. More little adventures coming soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Ajie Car Wash - https://goo.gl/maps/3QBgRVDMpwxsARmG8

MKZ Day 3 │ Baba Low • The Drive Home

Going Home!

The bad bout of diarrhoea from yesterday had thankfully eased, though the nasty cough still kept me up most of the night.

We had originally planned to visit my parents in Bentong today, but given my condition, we had to cancel those plans.

Breakfast at Baba Low

We checked out of Backyard Rio at 10:00am and drove a short distance to Baba Low for breakfast. Since it was midweek, we had the whole place to ourselves for a change.

• Cat had the Mee Siam
• I had the Nasi Lemak
• Brendan had Toast & Eggs

Together with a round of drinks, our Peranakan breakfast came to RM24.50 (≈ USD/EUR5).

We also picked up a bagful of local sweet cakes —

• Six Apam Balik (which looked and tasted remarkably like Sarawak Kuih Penyaram)
• Four Pulut Inti (steamed glutinous rice with gula Melaka coconut topping)

All for RM17.50 (≈ USD/EUR4).

One Last Stop

Breakfast out of the way, we headed — off camera — to Lao Gan Bang Kopitiam to take away ten packets of their Nasi Lemak, along with several more local sweet cakes.

The Drive Back

With everything packed and sorted, we began our drive back to Kuala Lumpur.

Three days and three nights absolutely flew by, and despite everything — the food, the river, the walks, the mishaps — Melaka once again left its mark on us.

We’ll most definitely be back soon for another stay at Backyard Rio. Or maybe not?

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Backyard Rio Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/KEQjMGcqoA6tTgEt8

Warong Baba Low @ Tranquerah - https://goo.gl/maps/SRzBoQVBcZ2vriYE8

MKZ Day 3 │ CHENG HO Hawker Centre

Diarrhea!

For the third time in as many days, we found ourselves back at Cheng Ho Hawker Centre for lunch. My perut was still quite sore from the “disturbances” earlier in the morning, so we both decided to have rice porridge — something light, warm, and easy on the stomach.

This time around, we actually filmed our little excursion here. Interestingly, the Chicken Rice Ball stall we tried to visit yesterday (and the day before) was still not open for business.

A Simple, Comforting Meal

I was especially thankful for the rice porridge since I didn’t have an appetite for much else. Cat had the normal rice porridge, while I opted for the plain variant, just to be safe.

Each bowl cost RM7.00 (≈ USD1.50/EUR1.40), and together with drinks, our very simple meal came to only RM20.00 (≈ USD/EUR4).

Back to the Airbnb

With lunch out of the way, we drove back to the Airbnb, where I spent the rest of the day under the covers, trying to rest and recover.

Heading Home Tomorrow

It wasn’t the most exciting day, but sometimes travel days turn into quiet recovery days — and that’s perfectly fine.

Tomorrow, we head back to Kuala Lumpur 😔

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Cheng Ho Hawker Centre - https://goo.gl/maps/XxN8T2DwoDaGfWog8

MKZ Day 3 │ A Recap: Bronchitis?

Day 3 — A Slow, Quiet Day

A bad bout of diarrhea and a nasty cough kept me up most of the night, so we decided to sleep in today. We woke up late, and by the time we left the Airbnb, it was already 11:30am. Brendan was still asleep, so we let him rest.

Back to Cheng Ho (Again!)

First things first — lunch. We headed back to Cheng Ho Hawker Centre for the third time in as many days. My perut was still quite sore from the “disturbances” earlier in the morning, so we both settled for rice porridge, something gentle and comforting.

Laundry Run

After lunch, we walked over to Super Dry nearby for a quick round of laundry. With that done, we turned our attention to something more pressing — my cough.

A Visit to the Clinic

Since the cough refused to go away, we drove a short distance to Klinik Melaka Jaya. After a thorough check up, the doctor suspected that I might be suffering from bronchitis. He would have preferred to get an X ray done, but since we were heading back to Kuala Lumpur the next morning, he decided against it.

I was prescribed a whole range of medication — including antibiotics and cough syrup — which effectively ended any hopes of roaming around Melaka today.

We drove back to the Airbnb, and I spent the rest of the afternoon under the covers, trying to rest and recover.

Heading Home Tomorrow

It wasn’t the most exciting day, but sometimes travel days turn out this way — slow, quiet, and focused on getting better.

Tomorrow, we head back to Kuala Lumpur.

P/S — The Final Diagnosis

Once we were back home, I eventually went for a full check up: blood and urine tests, a chest X ray, a CT scan, and even an Influenza A swab.

In the end, it turned out to be just a bad case of the common flu 😌

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Backyard Rio Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/KEQjMGcqoA6tTgEt8

Cheng Ho Hawker Centre - https://goo.gl/maps/XxN8T2DwoDaGfWog8

Super Dry Laundromat - https://goo.gl/maps/HDuyJuUUKgH99os48

Klinik Melaka Jaya - https://goo.gl/maps/HRaYASfFSKbQheGRA

MKZ Day 2 │ Puteh Rooftop Bar • 25th Wedding Anniversary

It’s Our Anniversary!

We were married on this day twenty five years ago at the Kuala Terengganu Catholic Mission — can you imagine that? The 8th of August 1998 remains the best day of my life.

Apart from welcoming Brendan into the world a year later, of course.

A quarter of a century later, and we’re still madly in love — still as crazy about each other as the day we first met.

The day I laid eyes on her, this poem echoed in my head:

“I wrote your name in the sky, but the wind blew it away.

I wrote your name in the sand, but the waves washed it away.

I wrote your name in my heart, and forever will it stay.”

Hannah Gould’s A Name in the Sand has stayed with me ever since — and so has my better half.

Celebrating at Puteh Rooftop Bar

To celebrate our silver anniversary, we decided to treat everyone to a rooftop dinner. We browsed Puteh Rooftop Bar’s comprehensive menu and eventually settled on:

• French Fries — RM15.00
• Spaghetti Carbonara — RM28.00
• Buttered Lemon Spaghetti — RM27.00
• Classic Beef Burger — RM31.00
• Smoked Salmon Sandwich — RM34.00
• Puteh Chicken Wings — RM30.00
• Virgin Pina Colada Mocktail — RM20.00
• Mojito — RM30.00
• Margarita Watermelon — RM30.00
• Flavoured Mojito — RM30.00

Together with a 10% service charge of RM27.50, our anniversary dinner came to RM302.50 (≈ USD66/EUR60) — reasonable, we thought, given the ambiance and the occasion.

Here’s to 25 More

Happy Anniversary, Baby.

Thank you for 25 beautiful years — and here’s to 25 more!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Backyard Rio Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/KEQjMGcqoA6tTgEt8

Puteh Rooftop Bar - https://goo.gl/maps/qs2fkaPrP19wQDNj7

MKZ Day 2 │ Airbnb: Backyard Rio

Victor — Our Super Host

What more can we say about this absolutely fabulous Airbnb Super Host that hasn’t already been said?

Due to the short notice of our trip, Victor arranged for us to stay in the loft unit of Backyard Rio upon our arrival in Melaka. Situated at a bend of the Melaka River, this unit offered a commanding 180 degree view — a beautiful welcome to the city.

We settled in quickly, and as always, had nothing but good things to say about Victor’s well appointed space.

Moving Into the Main Unit

The following day, and just as promised, Victor moved us into the intended first floor unit, which was more spacious and even more comfortable. Again, we were blown away.

We hope our footage of both units does them justice — and as a bonus, we included a timelapse of the sunset over the Melaka River, captured right from the Airbnb.

We’ll let the videos speak for themselves. If you’re planning a trip to Melaka, we highly recommend browsing Victor’s portfolio of immaculately maintained apartments and homes on Airbnb. His profile lists all the units he manages.

If the previous video carried a bit of negativity, we hope this one brings back some positivity.

Enjoy!

P/S — A Note From the Heart

We spoke too soon. This visit turned out to be the last time we stayed at one of Victor’s units.

Over time, he changed — becoming distant, aloof, and no longer the warm host we once knew. We had been regular guests since the pandemic, supporting his units during the difficult years when he was struggling and taking on part time gigs to stay afloat.

But once things improved for him, it felt as though we became… surplus to requirements.

It happens. Success affects people differently. We wish him well, but it was time for us to move on.

More Melaka stories coming soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Backyard Rio Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/KEQjMGcqoA6tTgEt8

MKZ Day 2 │ Attacked in Melaka 😳 [The Full Story]

Attacked!

Truth be told, we debated whether to post this video at all — but in the end, we decided it was important to share as a cautionary tale for anyone parking their car in and around the Kampung Jawa area.

The day began innocently enough. We were heading out of the Airbnb for lunch. As we stepped outside, it began to rain, and since our car was parked some distance away, I made haste toward Backyard Rio’s private car park.

As I approached, someone suddenly demanded, in a confrontational tone, “Where are you going!” — as though I was entering a place I had no right to be.

I ignored the remark, and that was when things escalated. The person became offended that I didn’t respond and launched into a tirade. I walked back and asked what the problem was, only to be met with more verbal abuse.

When Cat and Brendan received the same treatment, I realised we couldn’t simply brush it off — especially since we were worried this parking tout might take revenge on the car.

Calling for Help

We got into the car, and I immediately called Victor. I explained the attempted extortion, and he promised to come to the car park as soon as he could.

A few minutes later, Victor arrived. Together, we approached the car park proprietor to ask why we were being stopped from entering Backyard Rio’s private parking area. The proprietor was completely unaware of any such rule — and at that moment, the same individual confronted us again.

In the midst of the shouting, the person removed her cap and struck me on the arm. That was the final straw. I asked Victor to call the police.

Waiting for the Police

We retreated into Backyard Rio’s private car park. Even then, the individual continued approaching us and hurling abuse. At one point, even Victor was struck on the arm.

Cat suggested we leave the matter to the authorities, so we stepped away from the scene, apologising profusely to Victor for the ordeal he had to endure alongside us.

Later, Victor informed us that the individual had been “dealt with.” We didn’t ask for details — we simply wanted to put the incident behind us.

A Note to the Trolls

Since our initial post, we’ve received a handful of negative comments that essentially victim blamed us.

To the trolls and detractors: shame on you.

We shared this experience not to stir drama, but to warn others and to highlight the importance of staying safe and vigilant.

More Melaka content coming soon!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Backyard Rio Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/KEQjMGcqoA6tTgEt8

Kampung Jawa Parking - https://goo.gl/maps/CGzXR4pFq7eK7wik7

MKZ Day 2 │ A Recap

Day 2 — A Rollercoaster of a Day

We woke up and, off camera, took a walk to Happy Laundromat nearby to get our laundry done. While waiting, we headed over to our favourite breakfast spot, Mei Sin Café, for a simple, comforting start to the morning.

Moving Into the Main Unit

We walked back to the Airbnb, and at around 11:00am, Victor informed us that our intended unit was finally ready. Because of the short notice the day before, he had placed us in the loft of Backyard Rio. Today, we moved into the more spacious first floor unit — and we’ll be sharing a video on both units soon.

Rain… and an Attack

After moving our things, we got ready for lunch. Just as we stepped out of the Airbnb, it started to rain, so we hurried toward the carpark.

It was here that we were attacked.

We’ll let the upcoming video explain what happened — but it was unpleasant, sudden, and left us shaken.

Still rattled, we abandoned all thoughts of exploring new lunch spots and found ourselves back at Cheng Ho Hawker Centre. We didn’t film anything — we simply needed a quiet, familiar place to settle our nerves.

A Quiet Afternoon

After lunch, we drove back to the Airbnb and spent the afternoon indoors, resting and recovering from the morning’s ordeal.

Anniversary Dinner at Puteh Rooftop Bar

In the evening, we hailed a 6 seater Grabcar for RM13.00 (≈ USD/EUR3) to Eco Tree Hotel. I had made reservations for us to have dinner at Puteh Rooftop Bar to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.

It was a lovely way to end the day — and yes, there’s a video coming for that too.

After dinner, we took another 6 seater Grabcar back to the Airbnb for RM10.00 (≈ USD/EUR2).

A Rough Night

Later that night, I developed a bad case of diarrhea and started coughing incessantly. If things don’t improve tomorrow, I may need to visit a clinic.

Fingers crossed things get better!

Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Backyard Rio Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/KEQjMGcqoA6tTgEt8

Mei Sin Cafe - https://goo.gl/maps/oBr73EU6WciXLJ1p7

Happy Laundromat - https://goo.gl/maps/pmAzykzS9zKRE8Yy5

Cheng Ho Hawker Centre - https://goo.gl/maps/XxN8T2DwoDaGfWog8

Eco Tree Hotel - https://goo.gl/maps/Rvs29enTrbg8CuLw8

Puteh Rooftop Bar - https://goo.gl/maps/qs2fkaPrP19wQDNj7

MKZ Day 1 │ River Cruise

River Cruise!

After dinner, we went on an impromptu walkabout and eventually found ourselves at the Melaka River Cruise ticket counter. Since it was Brendan’s birthday, we decided to treat him to a boat ride.

Truth be told, we’ve been on this river cruise several times before — but hardly ever at night.

Tickets and Boarding

We purchased our tickets from the counter for RM25.00 each (≈ USD/EUR5).

We waited our turn, and about fifteen minutes later, we boarded our boat.

We hope the footage wasn’t too shaky — night cruises can be a little bumpy, but always beautiful.

As an added bonus, we included footage from an earlier daytime boat ride, which offers an even better perspective of the Melaka River.

A Leisurely Walk Home

After the river cruise, we took a slow, relaxing stroll along the riverbanks, enjoying the lights and reflections until we eventually reached our Airbnb.

More Melaka videos coming up!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Melaka River Park and Cruise - https://goo.gl/maps/hyMjNY1UXZrdj7P3A

MKZ Day 1 │ Wild Coriander

It’s Brendan’s Birthday!

To celebrate, we decided to take him to an upmarket eatery just a short walk from our Airbnb. Described as “an incredible little local eatery with food that will tantalise your taste buds and leave you feeling more than satisfied in a very stylish and homely space,” we knew we couldn’t go wrong with Wild Coriander.

First Impressions

We walked in and were immediately ushered to our seats. As our ensemble browsed the menu, I took a quick walk around to admire the space — a diminutive restaurant housed in a shoplot hundreds of years old, full of charm and character.

The service was excellent, and the waiters were impressively well versed in every dish on the menu.

What We Ordered

After some deliberation, we eventually settled on:

• Pai Tee — RM12.90
• Fruit Rojak — RM9.90
• Lamb Shank — RM69.90
• Chicken Devil Curry — RM29.90
• Plain Omelette — RM8.90 × 2
• Wild Coriander Special Beef Rendang — RM26.90
• Plain Rice — RM1.50
• Lemongrass — RM6.90
• Soursop — RM6.90
• Iced Tea — RM4.90
• Iced Water — RM0.50
• Tiger Beer — RM13.80 × 2

Despite being a birthday celebration, the bill did not attract a service charge, and the total came to RM215.60 (≈ USD47/EUR43).

A Memorable Birthday Dinner

It was a cosy, flavourful, and meaningful meal — the perfect way to celebrate Brendan’s special day.

Up next, a river cruise!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Backyard Rio Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/KEQjMGcqoA6tTgEt8

Wild Coriander Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/H99CWzeU7qsT3UuF7

MKZ Day 1 │ A Recap

Melaka Again!

Barely a month after our last visit, we found ourselves making plans to return to Melaka — but for an entirely different reason this time.

We had been planning a surprise for Brendan’s birthday since April, and early this morning, we finally sprang the surprise on him. Be sure to catch our video on that moment.

The Drive South

Since it was an early start to the day, we slept in a little and only left our condo at around 11am. After a leisurely two hour drive, we arrived in Melaka. With time to spare before check in, we stopped for lunch at Cheng Ho Hawker Centre.

Checking In — Backyard Rio

We then drove over to another one of Victor’s fabulous Airbnb units, Backyard Rio, located right along the Melaka River. Still knackered from the early morning run to KLIA2, we took a much needed nap and only emerged in the evening.

Birthday Dinner at Wild Coriander

As the sun dipped, we walked over to Wild Coriander to celebrate Brendan’s birthday. It was a cosy, meaningful dinner — and yes, there’s a video coming for that too.

Impromptu River Cruise

After dinner, we went on an impromptu walkabout and eventually found ourselves at the Melaka River Cruise ticket counter. Since it was Brendan’s birthday, we treated him to a boat ride — a colourful, breezy highlight of the night.

A Slow Walk Home

After the cruise, we took a leisurely stroll along the riverbanks, enjoying the calm night atmosphere until we eventually reached our Airbnb.

What’s Coming Up

Stay tuned for our upcoming videos on:

• Brendan’s birthday surprise
• Dinner at Wild Coriander
• Our awesome Melaka River Cruise

Plenty more to share from this special trip!

(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)

📍 Location:

Havironia Music - https://goo.gl/maps/swtNfVmjFK4FgRsf8

Cheng Ho Hawker Centre - https://goo.gl/maps/XxN8T2DwoDaGfWog8

Backyard Rio Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/KEQjMGcqoA6tTgEt8

Wild Coriander Melaka - https://goo.gl/maps/H99CWzeU7qsT3UuF7

Melaka River Park and Cruise - https://goo.gl/maps/hyMjNY1UXZrdj7P3A