I Spent a Day Inside Melaka’s History – AND Got Distracted by a Ferry Fueling Heist

Melaka, Malaysia – my first full day exploring this historic coastal city. And honestly? It didn't go exactly as planned. I set out with a simple goal: visit the History and Ethnography Museum to understand Melaka's legendary past – the 1400s sultanate, the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and the fall of the great fort. But on the way… I got completely sidetracked by the Indomal Express 8 ferry getting refueled right on the river. 2,730 liters. A fuel truck. A crew figuring it out in real time. And suddenly I was standing there asking questions about gas prices, spare boats, and daily crossings to Sumatra. From there, I finally made it to the Stadthuys (the big red Dutch building), wandered through the museum’s history and ethnography sections, saw laterite bricks up close, learned about Cheng Ho’s 25,000-person fleet, and stood where the British blew up the old fortress. Then – a walk through Melaka's busy streets, past trishaws blasting music, the mysterious Mamee Monster, and ended the day with a Zeus cafe latte by the river, sitting under a painting of a mouse deer kicking a hunting dog into the water. If you make it all the way to the end, you know what to do – CC in the comments for the Planet Doug Crunch Club. 🚲 Support Planet Doug: Join me on Patreon – your support keeps these long, unscripted adventures rolling. 🌏 New here? I'm Doug. I often travel by bicycle, one slow day at a time. This is Planet Doug. #Melaka #Malaysia #PlanetDoug #BicycleTravel #HistoryMuseum #IndomalFerry #Stadthuys ************************************************************ Would you like to support me and keep Planet Doug spinning in orbit? Thank you very much! You can use the links and information below. Support Planet Doug on PATREON: ❇️https://patreon.com/PlanetDoug?utm_me... Support Planet Doug via Touch 'n Go by scanning my TNG QR code. Click here: ❇️ https://planetdoug.life/wp-content/up... Or use my TNG e-wallet DuitNow number: ❇️ TNG e-wallet (DuitNow): 150104393177 Maintain Planet Doug's Orbit with Paypal: ❇️ PayPal Donate Link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?busine... ❇️ PayPal Email: Contribute@PlanetDoug.life Contribute with Buy Me a Coffee: ❇️ https://buymeacoffee.com/planetdoug FOLLOW ME: ❇️ Website - https://planetdoug.life/ ❇️ Instagram -   / planetdoug   ❇️ Facebook -   / planet-doug-104257208596429   ❇️ Substack - https://substack.com/@planetdoug? To subscribe to Planet Doug on YouTube, click here: https://www.youtube.com/c/PlanetDoug?... To subscribe to Planet Doug Behind the Scenes, click here:    / @planetdougbehindthescenes   ************************************************************ 📸 GEAR LIST 📸 🎥 Action Cam: GoPro Hero 12 Black 🎥 Action Cam: GoPro Hero 9 Black 🎥 360 Cam: Insta360 X3 🎤Microphone #1: Rode Wireless Go 🎤Microphone #2: Rode Wireless Go II 📱Smartphone 1: Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 📱Smartphone 2: Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus Laptop: Asus TUF A16 Gaming Edition Editing Program: DaVinci Resolve Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e Editing App: Kinemaster for Android (Version 6) Music Source: YouTube Audio Library ************************************************************ Heartfelt THANK YOU to Planet Doug Patreon members! Your support through Patreon means more than you know! OCEAN PLANET Habibullah K. Dominik S. Gilles D. Armando B. CITY PLANET Daniel B. THTan Kwan K. STL FOREST PLANET Khairulyadi M. Koo Keng K. Robert M. Siv Paul S. LK Ting Special thanks to KY for all his essential help with my day-to-day struggles, to Habibullah K. for his amazing generosity, to Andy T. for great meals and much-appreciated donations, and to Mohd Zin bin A. for his awesome regular support. CHAPTERS 00:00 - Catching You Up 08:32 - Fueling an Indomal Ferry 22:51 - Attractions of Melaka 33:59 - Bastion Middleburg 44:36 - History Museum 01:16:39 - Dutch Square & Jonker St. 01:27:15 - Conclusion 01:30:34 - 3D Map Flyover 01:32:28 - End Credits