The most overrated thing from Melaka got to be Chicken Rice Balls. Tasted like a lump of under-cooked starchy rice. The steamed ‘white chicken’ is good, though. Order regular chicken rice and fish balls instead, if you ever ended up in one of these eateries.
Olympus OM-D, ISO 400, f8, 1/50 sec with Manfrotto ML360 Hybrid Light.
Is there a cendol shortage in Melaka? Maybe I am spoiled by the generous green jelly dished out at Klang, Seremban and Banting but I still think it is rather measly here. Nevertheless, eating shaved ice on a sidewalk that dates back to the 17th century made up for it.
Bibik House Nyonya Cendol, Jonker Street, Malacca. Olympus OM-D, f4, 1/800 sec.
For the vehicles in the competition, the going will be gruelling in the days ahead. Many of the shiny vehicles will limp from the rainforest wrecked. For now, the colourful machines with its lifted body, special suspension, knobby tyres, roll-over cage and heavy-duty winch appear as gorgeous Big Boys Toys to the public.
A special salute to the Signals Corps of the Malaysian Armed Forces for providing emergency radio communication for rescue and evacuation. Their vehicle is the trusty Land Rover Defender seen here in the flag-off ceremony.
