Time Out in Melaka

We started the hunt in USJ 1 and were surprised because Leg 1 had to be done on foot. Once we had finished all 5 questions of Leg 1 the Marshal then gave us the Tulips and the Questions for Leg 2. We then drive from one sector to the other using The Tulips. Some sectors are about 300 meters and can be as far as 20km. But sectors with answers are usually shorter then 2km. We are given 7.5 hours to finish the treasurehunt. So since we started at 8am, we need to check in at the Legacy hotel by 3.30pm. Since this was only a beginners/novice treasurehunt only 26 teams/cars took part.

We left Leg 1 second from last, so it was imperative that we get to the start of Leg 2 at Sg Besi Toll really fast. The only way I know how to get there is through the Seremban exit from Federal Highway. Elisa (one of our team mates) gave me a really quick way to get to the Federal Highway from USJ1. I was impressed. And as we were making our way towards KL, Elisa then says there is a way to get there through the Ipoh turnoff from the road towards Subang… So I make a dive for the exit… with Rose gritting her teeth hoping I don’t crash her car into a signpost…After turning of into the highway I said, hey! how do we get to Sg Besi Toll from here… that’s when Elisa says, Oh Shit! Sg Besi Toll ? I thought Sg Buloh Toll…!!!!! Shitttt!!!!... we then turned off at Kota Damansara and made our way to the LDP through Mutiara Damansara. Headed to the Kerichi link near Mont Kiara and got into the Federal Highway…. Then when I got to the Seremban turnoff I suddenly thought to myself Hey! Is the Toll ahead called Sg Besi Toll?... ahhh!!.. Why cant I remember suddenly….??? after confirming with a friend over the phone that we were on the right path, we reached the Sg Besi Toll after 45 minutes. We were definitely in last place…

Our first question was along the Kajang SILK highway from there we made our way to Semenyih… We then drove through most of the back roads of Seremban, Rempai, Gemas, Ayer Keroh and many other small towns which lead us towards Melaka City…

Elisa and Donovan went through almost all the question with ease, Rose and I also spotted a few answers too. But there were 3 questions which we were totally baffled and just could not find the answers. We had to turn back and give it another ‘drive by’. We knew for sure that we got one answer wrong but anyhow we were making good time.

Apart from the 35 questions which were 3 points each, we also had to solve 5 puzzle questions, each describes an item or ‘treasures’ which we need to submit with our answer sheet. Donovan and Elisa were quick to solve these puzzles but the problem was we could not find all 5 items in one place. We where down to 2 more treasures towards the last hour of the race which were, 100plus Active and a 250ml carton of Magnolia Apple Jus… we cldnt stop anywhere at that time cos we where slowly running out of time. We found the 100plus Active somewhere close to Melaka town but we still had no luck with the Magnolia… We did however find a 1 liter carton but we needed to find the 250ml one… Arrrrggghhh!!!... Our last resort was Tesco on the way to Melaka Town…Elisa and Donovan went into in as Rose and I waited outside with the engine running … and to our horror Tesco didn’t even have Magnolia Fruit Jus of any kind… Arrrrggghhhh!!.... it was about 5 minutes to 3pm and traffic was shit…. Then just as we were getting out of Tesco we saw a signboard saying ‘Giant’ 2 km to the right…. We turned into that roads but found that the jam was really bad …not to mention that the traffic lights take so long to change…… so we decided to turn back to get to a 7eleven we saw just after the junction… Our hopes weren’t high because we had checked in a few 7 elevens along the way and never found it…. There was also a sundry shop nearby, so the girls went there as Donovan ran to the 7eleven. The girls came out empty handed but as we drove towards the 7eleven, Donovan came out waving the 250ml Magnolia Apple Jus in his hand…. Success!!!

Now we were just worried of the terrible traffic jam towards Melaka Town …and we had to stop at so many traffic lights too... But with all that we still managed to clock in at the Lobby of Legacy Hotel with 5 minutes to spare…… what a relief…..

We didn’t want to go to far from the hotel so we drove around nearby to find a place to eat. We couldn’t find anything open… we even went to Hang Tuah Mall which was like a ghost ship… nothing was open… we found a mamak shop and a kopitiam near the hotel but both were very dirty… So we just ate at Legacy Hotel… Lunch was not bad but not good either… and it took forever … I think Donovan got his food almost an hour later…

the food didn’t fare any better at dinner…. But the ice kacang and the kuih kuih was nice… After the results and answers where announced we found that we only had one question wrong… We were so delighted!!!... Did we win!!???.. nope!! There was a tie between 4th, 5th and 6th place with only one wrong answer…. So it was down to time differences… and we were announced at 6th place!!! Noooooo!!!!!... The 1st, 2nd and 3rd places were also tied with full points!!... FULL POINTS!!! So they where also judged on time difference …... oh well!!!...

6th place isn’t that bad I guess…. We received RM 120 worth of Jusco vouchers and 2 coupons for a night stay at the Pulai Desaru Beach Resort. I’ve never heard of this place… will have to google it later…

We were all tired after dinner but we thought we will go check out the nightlife in Melaka City. Went to Bandar Hilir but the jam was terrible and we only found alot of Chinese Pubs and Bars.... with techno music ...so we tried to head back....the signboards around Melaka didn’t help lah. ... ... We even found signboards and traffic signs pointing the wrong way as we found out later that many roads have only recently been turned into one way streets… so as expected we got lost… we were going in circles. … We circled Makotar Parade 3 times and had gone around Bandar Hilir twice. In the end we landed up along Jonker Street ….then some how we landed up in Jalan Laksamana Cheng Hoe… that’s when we stopped and asked for directions back to our hotel… by the time we got back it was already 11.30pm… so we just hanged out in our room watching tv and had beers… and then went to bed…

The next morning I ‘kinda’ forced Rose and Donovan to follow me to the Heritage row after breakfast …. They both silently followed me even though they really wanted to strangle my neck for making them walk in the hot sun instead of heading back home….... but I wanted to take pictures of the A’Famosa ...… hehehe sorry guys… …

I didn’t have time to take any pictures during the hunt … but here are some pictures taken along the Heritage Row the next day.

I got nothing to say about the hotel except that the chandeliers were interesting........

I cant believe they have river tours on Melaka River... its so dirty... but then again its not as dirty as Klang River....



A really old chevy... apparently used at the Merdeka Celebrations

I didnt know that the tourist police operates the Bamboo Hut Bistro.... just kindding...

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