Temasek Hotel Melaka: Home Away from the Crowd

I woke up to the late afternoon sun peeping through the gap between the heavy drapes. I could feel the intense heat of Melaka piercing through my skin when I tried to check out the window from our comfy room at Temasek Hotel. It was around one in the afternoon and my body still ached for rest after our midnight flight from Manila. I effortlessly went back to bed and cocooned myself inside the duvet. Our Melaka adventure will have to wait, we need to get some sleep first.

It was the first day of our Same Same Summer Trip 2017 backpacking trip and this year, me and my buddy went on with our respective moms to visit some of our favorite cities in Malaysia. We’ve been to Melaka twice before and this time around, we wanna show our moms around so we went straight to this historic city by bus when we arrived at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Temasek Hotel

From Melaka Sentral (where we hopped off from the bus), we took a cab to get to Temasek Hotel. Located at the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir, the contemporary boutique hotel is unique with its open-aired hall that serves as the reception and lounge area will be our home for two days.

Open-aired reception

We arrived at nine in the morning but were booked the day before. So after I explained that we came late because of the bus schedule, they accommodated our uber late check in request and went directly to our rooms to get some rest. I then remembered that we could have breakfast at that time, so we proceeded to the restaurant at the ground floor to get fueled for the day.

In-house restaurant

The breakfast buffet spread was a mix of local and international dishes. I immediately went to the noodle station and had a huge serving of fried noodles (mee goreng) that I was craving for (me and my buddy are crazy about Malaysian food). I also had some sausages, scrambled eggs, stir-fried veggies, fried rice and watermelons for dessert. We were dead tired but still managed to have a filling breakfast.

My breakie plate

We booked for two Superior Rooms and my mom was my roomie (check for discounted rates). The room was spacious enough for the two of us, it was neither huge nor cramped, perfect for two sharing adults. The contemporary design was echoed throughout the room while the neon green colors from one of the walls and chair actually liven up the whole space.

Superior Room (twin beds)

We had two single beds with fluffy pillows and comfy duvet, individually-powered AC, flat screen TV with local and international channels, wooden ledge that serves as entertainment rack and work table, wardrobe closet, in-room safe and coffee and tea-making amenities. The attached toilet and bathroom was spotless, toiletries were also provided for.

Complimentary WiFi was included but it can be intermittent at times, depending on the floor you’re in. But at the lobby, the internet connection was seamless.

Attached toilet and bath

We prepped up for a day of exploration at around three in the afternoon. We hopped on a cab and explored Melaka then spent the whole day going around the famous sights of the historic city. We ended our day at Jonker Walk where we enjoyed shopping and street food sampling. Getting home was fast and easy as cabs are everywhere. I slept like a baby that night.

It was our last day the next morning ‘coz we needed to go to Kuala Lumpur that afternoon. We could’ve gone back to the city center and enjoyed the early morning goings-on, but we chose to walk along the quiet neighborhood of the Portuguese community right outside Temasek Hotel.

Kids' pool

While strolling around, we noticed how Portuguese people and Filipinos are similar in terms of their customs and way of life. Our moms had fun surveying each and every flowering plant on the gardens which easily sparked up a conversation with the residents. Me and my buddy opted to have a quiet time at the port were fishermen were busy on their morning coffee before they start the day. One of them asked us of our origins, and when we said that we are from the Philippines, they smiled and said that we are of the same family. It just felt nice to be welcomed that way.

Fishing village at the Portuguese Settlement

It was lunchtime and we had to leave, our bags were packed and we’re waiting for our cabbie when the guys from the reception desk gave their sweetest Terima Kasih (Thank You) while placing their right hand over their left chest. We smiled and returned the gesture with a promise of going back to Melaka and, of course, staying again at Temasek Hotel.

The Temasek Hotel (check for discounted rates)

No. 57 Jalan D’Albuquerque, Portuguese Settlement,

75050 Melaka – Malaysia

Contact Number: (+60) 6.288.3588

Email Address: info@temasekhotel.com

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