December 25 Jonker Street Market

 So Christmas Eve night out worked for us - so we thought we would try it again.  This time at the Jonker Street Market.  Actually this was our last chance at it as it is only held on the weekend and we are leaving here on Friday.  Michael wanted to get there just when it opened at 6pm.  So around 5:15pm we ordered our Grab ride to get there.  And then we waited to see if any driver would answer our call - finally someone did.  It would be about 25 minutes before he got here to pick us up.  Abut 40 minutes later, he picked us up.  We got pretty close to Dutch Square quickly - but then the traffic mess started.  We did not get there until almost 7pm.  

Everyone is at the Jonker Street Market on Sunday night!

So many food options - this hotdogs and sausages.

I keep seeing these "dream catchers".  I looked it up and it is not native to Malaysia - but an artform adopted from our Native Americans.  I saw some that were embroidered in the middle instead of using the usual string.  

Lots of food is sold "on a stick".  That's good as no one gives you a napkin.

Michael loved the grilled oysters.

There is a "love/hate" relationship with the Durian fruit where ever it is grown.  As we got close to this stand - Michael kept asking what the smell was.  Some hotels have signs saying the Durian is not allowed on the premises - that is how bad they smell.

These are fried potato sticks.  We got fried potato chips at another stand - they were thicker and, unfortunately very greasy.

There were a lot of other things for sale as well.   These are wallets.

He is making Dragon Beard Candy.

Satay corn - I am imagining Grandma at home carefully putting each kernel of corn on the stick one by one.  You get about 15 sticks with corn.  You can add one of 6 flavorings.  We got garlic and cheese which reminded me of the flavored corn on the cob we got in Mexico.

We bought some pineapple tarts to take home for later.  This is a "must taste" item in Malaysia

Choose 4 different dumplings to sample for 5 Ringgit a little over $1.

The back of a "food truck".

We are at the other end of the Jonker walk.  There was nothing going on at the stage except loud music and kids dancing.

I got the best mango juice from this stand.  It had little bubbles that gave off a burst of flavor.  So much better than the tapioca that I usually end up with in bubble teas.

Squid, Octopus and Cuttlefish on a stick.

I thought this might be the media.  But Michael thought it was just a game you could play to win prizes.

A random Methodist Church - there are not many churches in Melaka so it was a surprise.

They are very proud of their World Heritage status.  Then we headed back - ready to walk back to the other end of the street.

I watched this guy for a while.  He was so careful and precise trying to get each ball centered exactly on the skewer.

We took a side street to get away from the crowds;

With the low light I couldn't get my shutter fast enough to capture the Trishaws in action. 

There were two temples pretty much across the street from each other.

This Mexican restaurant seemed pretty popular.

And back into the market.

Flavored popcorn.  I couldn't get close enough to see the flavors.

We are back at the start of the Jonker Street Market.  Just need to walk across the bridge over the Melaka River and head for Dutch Square.

We got back to Dutch Square and sat in our usual spot - on the wall in front of this sign.  It took me a long time to get this photo - As every person/family group had to take multiple photos in front of it.  But I had plenty of time - because when Michael put in the request to Grab for pickup - the location marker on his phone would just spin and spin - until it timed out.  He kept retrying over and over with the same result.  Finally he looked up directions to walk back to the apartment - it was less than 2 miles.  Maybe if we walked out of the main square, away from the crowds, we would have better luck.  Nope!  As we walked we just saw more people about.  We passed a huge McDonalds - and right next to it a very large mall.  And lots of people waiting around - most likely waiting for a ride.  

In the end we walked the entire way back.  It was almost all sidewalk except for the one busy main road just in front of the Hilton hotel right by our building.  It is so weird that there is no crosswalk anywhere for people to cross this road.  It isolates the hotel and the apartment building from so many grocers, and restaurants.  I think Monday will be a rest day!