#WhenYouLookLikeRoadKill

A random man just asked to take a photo with me, I think it’s because I look like English road kill. I’m here in Malaka, it’s my last evening and I’m sat enjoying a far too spicy red curry and iced tea. The sky above is a dusky blue with the slight glow where the moon is attempting to protrude. My arm itches and my leg and hip still sting as my wounds attempt to heal. Since being here I’ve played half interested tourist, half medical clinic, back and forth to the pharmacy to buy ointments and dressings- it’s kind of fun actually!
The downside is if I don’t cover them they stick to my clothing and hurt but both covered an uncovered I’m a spectacle for the public. Children stare at me and strangers ask what happen to me as I limp past them, the story is now becoming boring so I may invent a new one.
“I was chased by tigers in the jungle and fell into a leopard's lair!”
“I was kidnapped and leapt from a moving car to freedom!”
My friend Beth sometimes tells people the hole in her neck from her tracheostomy is a gun shot wound from when she was in a gang, if people can believe that they’ll believe anything! She’s not really gangsta material!

Yesterday after I checked in to my hostel, I wasted no time in exploring my surroundings. Nicknamed the Venice of the East, Meleka houses a picturesque river that runs through the historical buildings. Cafes and bars are dotted along beside it playing lively music.

This is where I spent most of my time partly due to my injuries and partly the intense heat that never let up. I was in a constant state of drowsiness that forced me to sit lazily by the river and read my book and eat the local food. I did force myself to move a couple of times however, once to the river boat which trailed along to the rivers mouth and back again. Then I explored the museums and took photographs of the historical buildings. Meleka or Melacca has heavy influences of Dutch, Portuguese, English and now Chinese heritage. It gives it a very European feel and the past time of relaxing by the river reflects those cultures well!

Today again, I ventured further than the 20 yards from my hostel. I went to china town. It was interesting to see the mix of new and old antiques on display. I stumbled across an art gallery that sold Chinese paintbrushes so of course I had to buy one for my teacher’s collection and for Paige and Ivy.
In the book I’m reading one of the characters talks of clutching a Chinese abacus wherever she goes so when I found one I was curious to know how it works. The lady kindly showed me and I pretended to understand. I thought how great this would be to show children at school and wished for a smaller version. She led me to a red box painted intricately with dragons, inside the box was etched with Chinese calligraphy and a smaller abacus stood displayed in the middle.
“I have to have that!” I thought to myself. It was bulky but so beautiful and perfect for the china topic I’ve taught at school that I had to buy it. Then I saw the price, 80 ringgit. That’s £18!
“I’m buying it!” I said.
Aside from magnets and some clothing there’s not much I’ve bought for myself so I didn’t feel too guilty about my purchase just slightly concerned about the size of it.

After dinner a man from New Zealand, now living in Thailand joined me to escape the drizzle. He told me about his adventure travelling by bicycle back to Thailand. It was nice to have some human contact as I’d been alone for a couple of days now with no one to talk to other than the guest house owner. I grew tired quickly though due to the day’s heat and headed off to bed. I would be going back to KL the next day and was looking forward to seeing the city.