To the typical local in Singapore, the city of Malacca in Malaysia means great eats and ‘treasure’ shopping for knick-knacks and bric-a-brac to restock our shelves.

With easing of COVID restrictions, the Hong Leong Group Sports & Recreation Club (HLGSRC) did just that and wasted no time to pack a small bag and whisk their way to glorious Malacca. HLGSRC coordinator Ms Daphne Lim reports.

The HLGSRC organised a 2D1N trip to Malacca from 18-19 June 2022.  A total of 37 passengers including staff and their family members joined the tour.

Anticipating heavy congestion at the Tuas checkpoint due to it being the school holidays, the group departed earlier on Saturday morning with the first pick-up at 5:30am at Ang Mo Kio MRT Station, followed by the 2nd pick-up at Jurong East MRT Station.  Their efforts to be early paid off, and they were able to breeze through both Singapore and Malaysia customs without the usual morning traffic.

A sumptuous 10-course Nyonya lunch (a unique blend of cuisine that mixes Chinese cooking with Indo-Malay flavours) awaited them at Atlantis Nyonya Restaurant when they arrived at 1:00pm, topped off with the restaurant's popular chendol dessert.  And of course, no trip to Malacca would be complete without a visit to the weekend night market at Jonker Street, where the group soaked in the night scene with an exciting array of local street food and stalls.

The 2nd day started off with shopping for Nyonya kueh and other local products, followed by the highlight of the tour - an "all-you-can-eat" durian feast at Tangkat!  After that it was free and easy time at Bukit Indah shopping mall, until it was time to leave for home sweet home. 

The group once again managed to avoid congestion at both Malaysia and Singapore customs, and arrived back at the original pick-up point by 8:30pm.  All-in-all an enjoyable trip for all participants!