MELAKA

Melaka

            Melaka is a hotchpotch of Malay, Chinese, Indian, European and sundry influences. Malaysians laud Malacca’s laidback atmosphere and lost-in-time feel ; stores close early here, traffic goes by at leisurely pace and city life is a languid affair. Between the scattered historic spots are  atmospheric Chinese shop fronts and traditional Malay kampongs. Though the state may not boast a white-sand shoreline reminiscent of its East Coast cousins, Malacca is noteworthy for its heritage hotpots.

        When the sun goes down, one of the city’s most popular destinations is the Friday and Saturday Jonker Walk Night Market which plays host to a collection of stalls that sell everything but the kitchen sink. Here you can purchase a variety of trinkets and even sample some of the state’s best-known local fare including fried egg ice-cream and fried radish cake. At night the handful of bars along the boulevard become a mini street party with tables oozing beyond the sidewalks and a mix of live music beating throughout the area.

There are places you should check out when you visit Malacca

1.BabaNyonya Heritage Museum

          Victorian and Dutch-style Chinese hardwood furniture, this Peranakan townhouse is arranged to look like a typical 19^th century Baba-Nyonya residence.

2. Cheng HoonTeng Temple

          Significant due to its engraved woodwork, this temple is Malaysia’s oldest traditional Chinese temple. Dedicated to the goddess Kwan Yin, the highlight of this shrine is the robed effigy od the Goddess of Mercy herself within the main hall.

3. Christ Church

          Sporting a huge white cross, this coral-red building is the oldest Protestant church in Malaysia. Built in 1753 to commemorate a century of Dutch rule in Malacca, it is one of the most notable heritage sites in the city.

4. Jonker Walk/Street    

          Malacca’s Chinatown centre street was once renowned for its collection of antique stores; these days it is most noteworthy due to the Friday and Saturday Jonker Walk Night Market where tasty treats and delicious knick knacks are sold at dirt cheap prices.

5. Maritime Museum & Naval Museum

          This massive re-creation of the Flora de la Mar is one of Malacca’s most tourist-worthy attractions. Built in 1990 the Maritime Museum is home to dated props including old maps, scale model ships, weaponry and nautical-related accessories and relics that chronicle Malacca’s history.

6. Melaka River Cruise

          A 40 minutes riverboat ride that takes you on a journey down the ‘Venice of the East’. This waterway, which was once used as a trade and commerce centre for the Melaka Malay Sultanate, is now a simple reminder of its bountiful past where you pass by kampungs and old godowns-river warehouses.

7. Melaka River Park

          This popular theme park houses the Eye on Malacca- a giant gondola-style Ferris wheel- which takes you on a gentle 20 minutes spin with great views of the Straits of Malacca.

8. Melaka Sultanate Palace

          A wooden replica of an original 15^th –century palace, this cultural museum is a unique structure with ornate wood carvings and features numerous dioramas portraying the palace atmosphere of the area.

9. Porta de’ Santiago (A’Famosa)

          A quick photo stop opportunity, it’s best to visit these Portuguese ruins in the late evening when the sun isn’t so high in the sky. Climbing to the top may not be a gruelling task, yet, given the fact that there are hardly any trees along the way, the short trip can be scorching due to the sun’s fiery rays.

10. Stadhuys

 NUR AIN AYUNI BT MOHAMMED RAMIZ