Hotel Review: River Song Residence

Date of Stay: September 15-17, 2013
Length of stay: 3days and 2 nights
Location: Lorong Hang Jebat, Melaka, Malaysia

On Location
Melaka is a relatively small province in Malaysia, that accommodations are walking distance from one another. Many of these accommodations are located at the riverside, overlooking the Melaka river.

Riversong Residence is one of these hostels, more like a homestay located at the far end of Lorong Hang Jebat. It is actually nearer to St. Francis Church than the Stadthuys Red Brick House. However, it is walking distance to all Melaka spots. It is of 5-minute walk to Jonker Street and Stadthuys.

Shot from the outside

Shot from across the river

View of the river

Our Accommodation

Riversong Residence is not our ordinary accommodation, for the past travels that we had. It is more like a homestay. Guests share a common bathroom, but they have separate sleeping rooms. It was our first time to try this kind of accommodation, good thing that Riversong is just a small one, there are only 5 rooms in our floor, with three bathrooms to share.

Since Riversong is a homestay, it was kept clean
by the guests as well. Slippers and shoes are
kept near the entrance before you go up to your
respective rooms.

Shots of (a) reception area, (b) Jayden at work, (c) mini kitchen at the ground floor,
and (d) shared bathrooms and mini-kitchen at upper floor.

Corridor leading to the terrace

Riversong that a small terrace where guests can converse, take their meals or just resting while overlooking the Melaka river. You will enjoy how the lights reflect on the river at night, or as tourist boats pass by.

Terrace overlooking the river

Our Experience

We booked Riversong residence thru Booking.com and similar to our Kuala Lumpur accommodation, we did not have to pay down payment. We settled our full payment upon arrival to the hotel.

From Kuala Lumpur, we arrived late at the homestay, because we have to wait for few hours before commuter bus come in. The owner and receptionist of the residence, Jayden, was so kind to still wait for us before making our reservation available. He also gave us some tips before hand - that we should pay about RM 15 if we would like to take the taxi to the hotel. Taxi drivers in Malaysia are notorious with fares, they charge twice than usual on tourist. :(

Jayden was also hospitable, he asked our itinerary for our stay and recommended some activities. Bicycles are available for rent, about RM 5 for a day's rent. On our last day, we confirmed that we will be leaving early the next day, and he gladly arranged our taxi service.

The Verdict

For two nights of stay, we really enjoyed the homestay. Maybe its because we were just few guests who were checked in, and we didn't have problems in our bathroom use. Coffee and tea  mugs are readily available, as well as hot and cold water. They also have 3-in-1 coffee mixes free for guests and replenished every day. We really loved the terrace, it was very relaxing and after a day of walking, it was a good place to write and reflect.

For a first timer on the homestay experience, Riversong Residence was able to create a good impression. If we will be coming back in Melaka, I won't bother to look for another accommodation, Riversong will be on the top of the list. Similarly, it created a high level of experience that would be our expectation on a homestay. 

Riversong Residence

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/River-Song-Residence/522077324486103

Prices (all Shared Bathroom)

Twin Room: RM 98

Triple Room: RM 108

Malaysia - Singapore 2013: Walking Tour of Melaka

September 16, 2014
Melaka

After a tiring transfer from KL to Melaka (we arrived late the night before), we are ready with our day. Since our hotel is more like a homestay, we grabbed our breakfast at Voyage - a quirky, small vintage restaurant that makes you feel at home.

The weather during our visit is very much like what we have in summer in the Philippines. Scorching hot and very dry. Its maybe because it's near bodies of water. Anyway, we started our walking tour in Jonker Street. Amae wasn't able to join us for the night stroll the night before, so we decided that we stop first at what we were able to cover last night.

Museum 1

The Father of Body Builders in Malaysia

Cute bakery in Jonker

Beryl's House in Jonker

Our next stop was Melaka Sari. Since Melaka is just a small town, you can just walk around. After Jonker Street, we did make a left turn and made our way to Herren Street. There was a small museum and art center along Herren called Malaqa Museum where various Malaysian stuff and vintage items.

Malaqa (Malacca) House in Herren Street

Many cravings in Malaqa House

Native art and crafts in Malaqa House

Old Barber Chair and Antique Desk in Malaqa House

After a quick visit to the art center, we went along our stroll headed to several museums along Melaka river. One of the famous spot in Melaka is the waterwheel.

The Famous Melaka Waterwheel (still working)

A Fraction of the Old Melakan Fortress

Our next stops were Customs Museum and Marine and Navy Museum (with a huge ship replica in front of it). Here are some of the shots inside the museum.

Custom Museum houses some of the prohibited items in Malaysia. 

The Custom Service

Some of the artworks - particularly those of female inspirations are covered
with fabric. Malaysia is a Muslim country, so these kind of art are strictly
prohibited.

We walked back to our hotel passing by another famous Melaka landmark - the Stadthuys or the Red Brick House. At the side of it, there is Melaka Museum for Youth and the Arts. Walking further down the road, you can see St. Francis Xavier Church.

The Stadthuys or the Red Brick House. 

The Melaka River

Church of St. Francis Xavier

We had lunch at the famous Rice Ball House near Hard Rock. Mind you, this rice ball restaurant has a long line when we get there. About 50 meters when we get there, and a lot of people in line. :(

We went back to our hotel for a little rest since the sun was very terrible that time. We decided to go back by 5 in the afternoon. Melaka doesn't dim until 8:00 in the evening.

Our next stops were Fort de Santiago which was the center of the British government when Melaka was under them. The Independence Park is now the center of the Malaysian government in Melaka.

Old Church in Melaka

The Fortress

Independence Park

Some of the other museums in Independence Park. 

We decided to call the day early since we have to take the first bus to Johor Bahru the next day.

Malaysia-Singapore 2013: A night walk at Jonker Street

Part 4 of 10
September 15, 2014
Jonker Street, Melaka


We settled in our nice, cozy hotel that night but my feet are itching to see what is in store in Melaka. We passed by the crazy street bazaar on route to our hotel, so the two of us (we left our Atei at the hotel since the day has been so heavy for her) went back and explored the area.

JONKER STREET

Known as the famous night market in Melaka, Jonker Street was an array of bright lights, cute and artsy souvenirs, food and tourists. The famous bike ride - the uber-colorful and eye-striking trishaws captured our attention (and cameras as well). We opted not to ride them (ahem, 40 RM for a ride) so we decided to just walk around Jonker Street.

Below are the ones we found along the way.

Welcome to Jonker Walk!

Paper Arts - pop-up greeting cards

Metal Art - wired robots 

Chopsticks

Ceramic dogs (nakaw na kuha 1)

Painted tin cans coin bank (nakaw na kuha 2)

Creepy voodoo doll (nakaw na kuha 3)

Ceramic earrings

Decorative owls  (nakaw na kuha 4)

Glow in the dark keychains

Kuih Lobak - I still do not understand this food. Texture is like a hard tofu.
Stir-fried in very hot oil and pan. Add spices and sauce.
Its reminds me of tofu sisig but with less flavor on the tofu. 

After the nightly stroll, we decided to go back and relax for the night. Tomorrow is another day, and the three of us will explore what Melaka has to offer.

Malaysia - Singapore 2013: Day 3 in Central Market and Melaka

Part 3 of 10
September 15, 2013
Central Market and On Route to Melaka


Day 2 was a tiring day. We missed our bus in Putrajaya back to the train station, got lost, wandered for an hour in Putrajaya and got soaked in the rain. It was Day 3 and our last day in Kuala Lumpur before heading to Melaka.

Despite the late night arrival to our hotel, we got up early for our Central Market itinerary. We again took the train from Bukit Bintang station to Maharajelela, got off and walked towards Petaling Street. You won't miss it, it has this large arks with Chinese lanterns all over (though I am not sure if the lanterns are there all year round).

CENTRAL MARKET

Central Market is the famous market in Kuala Lumpur, where you can buy tourist-y stuff. Our travel souvenirs (for the last few travels we had) would always be keychains, t-shirts for the family and scarves for ourselves, aside from little knick knacks that our eyes laid on.

There are unique stores inside the Central Market - from wooden bookmarks and Malaysian made scarves.

Petaling Street aka Chinatown

One of the street foods along Petaling. It resembles what we got back in
the Philippines - puto bumbong. 

magnets and keychains along Petaling Street. 

The Famous Central Market (Yes, it was that old!)

Many decors outside Central Market.
If I am not mistaken, they have art contest during our visit. 

Shoes and slippers of various designs. 

Very cute Pens! 

Reminds us of Biblioarch back at home.
Products sold here are mostly made out of wood. 

Wooden bookmarks (which we got) and IPhone cases made of wood as well. 

OFF TO MELAKA

After a quick shopping trip to Central Market, we went back to our hotel, packed our bags and we were off to Melaka.

From Bukit Bintang, we took the train to Hang Tuah, change trains on Sri Petaling line to Bandar Tasik Selatan (South Bus Terminal).

Terminal Bersepadu Selatan at Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS BTS) is the main terminal for buses bound for the cities on South of Malaysia - like Melaka, Penang and Johor Bahru. They also cater to tourists directly bound for Singapore. BTS is one of the best bus terminal we have been to. Very convenient, comfortable and resembles much like the airport. Honestly, I find this way better than NAIA Terminal 1.

We got our tickets for Melaka, and waited for our boarding time and before the sun sets, we were bound for Melaka.

TBS greeting the tourists!

Bus schedules. See? This is just a bus terminal. It exceeded my expectations. 

Bus ticket counters. 

Information Counter at the lobby. 

Bus schedule per bus line. 

The departure lobby. 

Our doors leading to the bus. 

ARRIVAL IN MELAKA

After three hours (and more, we got stuck in traffic in the Melaka Sentral Terminal), we were in Melaka. From the terminal, we took the bus no.17 - you need to be patient while waiting off to the Melaka Sentral Park or Red Brick House.

From the Red Brick House, we walked towards Jonker Walk, and checked in our hotel for the next 2 nights - Riverside Residence.

Greetings from Melaka! :) 

Lane 17 - where to wait for bus no. 17.

Melaka bus station waiting area. 

Tips:
1. HAGGLE! Just like many of the flea markets, haggle on the prices. Unless the shop has tag prices on their items already. But it never hurts to ask for lower price.

2. If you can, depart early for Melaka, so you will get the chance to see how on route to Melaka looks like. We love to look outside our window, and see the nature.

3. If you arrive in late in the evening in Melaka, expect that you'll wait for a long time for you bus bound for Jonker. But do not take the taxis as much as possible. We tried to ask them, but they asked for 25 RM to Jonker, the bus costs only 1.50 RM.