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The Charming City of Melaka in Malaysia

I first heard of Melaka (Malacca in english) when I was in grade school. It was mentioned in history books as the oldest trading port in Malaysia. Did I speak of before that I am a history buff? If not, yes, I am. That is why I still remember Melaka, but I never really have a clear idea of its significance. 

I was researching on top tourists attractions in Malaysia, and Melaka was mentioned as a must see place. So I suggested it to my friends, and we decided to include it on our itinerary. I spent some days researching about Melaka’s history. It is quite long so I will try my best to provide a brief overview.

 
The century old Queen Victoria Fountain
Melaka served as a link between China and India as well as the far east. It became a center for trade of silk and porcelain from China; spices from Moluccas; textiles from India to name a few. Its perfect position as a center for maritime trade attracted foreign conquerors like the Portuguese, Dutch and British. Today, Melaka has been visited by millions of tourists around the world. In 2008, UNESCO acknowledged it as a World Heritage site resulting in a fast growth in tourism.

Colorful trishaw
We arrived on a hot Saturday morning in Melaka, just two hours south of Kuala Lumpur and about four hours northwest of Singapore. Our first stop was the dutch square, where you can also find the Christ Church, Stadhuys and the century old Queen Victoria fountain. There were a handful of tourists posing in front of the Christ Church, and to my dismay, there was a little ‘Tiangge’ in front of it. I wasn’t able to take a good picture of the church, darn it.

 

Dutch Windmill Replica
Good thing about Melaka is that you can walk to get to your next destination. Getting around is a piece of cake. Another thing that I like is that, you can take nice photos wherever you point your camera.

 

Melaka Tourism Information Office
I just love Melaka’s  vibrant multiculturalism! It has a nostalgic feel that can take you back to the past. It is very similar to our very own Intramuros and Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
The Historic Melaka River
Aside from visiting Melaka’s historic structures, tourists can also experience the Melaka River Cruise. We weren’t able to try this, but I am fine with taking photos of the river. 🙂 
 
 
Huge Melaka Water Wheel
We walked towards the other side of Dutch square. We followed the melaka river. We saw the Portuguese Galleon replica and this huge Melaka Water Wheel. This is actually a replica that’s why it is not moving. 
Dutch Square
River Cruise
After the historic walk, we immediately went to Jonker Street. Some buildings are still occupied by generations-old family businesses. We saw some antique shops and chinese medicine shops. I am glad there are still remaining old shops here because according to my research, many historic buildings were transformed into a conventional souvenirs shops and hostels. Unfortunately, local stores do not allow picture taking inside, so we just bought some souvenirs and pasalubong. 
The famous Chicken Rice balls
After shopping in Jonker Street, we found a local restaurant that serves the famous chicken rice balls. Of course, we cannot leave Melaka without trying it out. It’s nothing fancy, but I certainly like the taste. We also ordered roasted duck, which tastes perfect. 
with Jett and Maki
If we have extra time to spare, we could have stayed overnight in Melaka. But because we need to be back in KL in the afternoon, we only stayed for about three hours. I know that sucks. But good thing, we still managed to see a little bit of everything. If you are traveling to Malaysia, make sure to include Melaka on your itinerary. I am sure you will love its charm 🙂

By Project Gora

Hey there! My name is Milet Miranda, and I'm a full-time corporate employee during weekdays and a traveler during weekends (and holidays...you get the picture). I'm a foodie at heart and I love joining food tours. When I'm not traveling, you'll find me walking my dogs or biking around my neighborhood.