Melaka, Malaysia

Signs that you are in a new country. Molester warnings are replaced with advertisements for professional friends. Malaysia is very friendly.

Has anyone ever seen a mousedeer? Melaka was named after this tree, where someone's hunting dog was attacked and defeated by a mousedeer. Outstanding.

Almost bought something here. We rejected the goodness of great deals.

Malaysia is ahead of even Singapore when it comes to movies. Selling fast! Only 28 seats left in the 5:20 PM showing of MI3. Assigned seats and everything.

Then you leave the theatre and suddenly you're in warehouse spillover area.

Asians love dancing advertisers. We didn't see any shows at this particular mall stage, but it would not have surprised me to see bananas dancing, clad in sweatsuits that could be bought on the 3rd floor.

We couldn't find the tortoise. We even looked in the pond.

Help! We can't find the tortoise!

Mr. Stork, this bowl of rice is all I have to offer! Please! Find us our tortoise!

It is God's will! We don't mean to doubt your wisdom, lord! We're just so weary from searching and hoping!

We happily arrived in Melaka the day before a Buddhist holiday. Enjoy the parade!

Loud speaker for Buddhism cranked up to 11!

Come one, come all!

The happiest Malaysian makes a special appearance in Melaka.

People marching with candles was a nice effect.

You couldn't tell the shiny ornaments around the buddha were CDs from afar. The Malaysians showcased their resourcefulness in this parade.

See the plastic bambi? Mickey Mouse, you may not be aware, is also Buddhist. He made guest appearances on 2 floats.

a striking blue float

spectacular

understated, but spectacular

People walked along the float handing out candies and bracelets and such. Every time we were handed something someone to our right would tell us that it was good luck, giving a rough estimation of about how much good luck each particular trinket would provide.

The Portugese built a fort in Melaka once.

With the canon out of order, the site is really only good for finding plastic dinosaur salesmen.

Get them while they're hot.

St. Pauls church?

No matter. It had a great cross-breeze and was cool up on top of the hill overlooking Melaka.

He looks nice here, but approaching him the path up the hill he looks really anxious or hunched over and kind of constipated.

Aaron at the Maritime Museum. Nice exhibit. The story of Melaka is presented on signs inside the boat. It ends depressingly with Melaka's demise as a port town and floundering to find a niche in the global economy. It is doing pretty well as a tourist haunt.