Top 10 must do during vacation in Malacca !

    (Clockwise from top): A Famosa, Cowboy Town in A’Famosa Resort, Jonker Street, Malacca River at night

One of the famous destinations on list for locals and tourist for a short vacation is Malacca — the historical town. The place might be small but the attractions are endless! 

Number 10

Explore Malaysia at Taman Mini Malaysia & Mini ASEAN

Explore the different types of traditional Malaysia houses representing 13 states from Sarawak’s Iban Long House to Negeri Sembilan’s Long Roofed House the only house in Malaysia to have a curved roof reminiscent of the Minangkabau roof of Sumatra. Also, you’ll be able to find other houses from other ASEAN countries.

Number 9

Take a River Cruise along Malacca River

Malacca River has the boat tour that probably take about 45 minutes or an hour to complete the sight-seeing. A tour guide will highlight the interesting places! Interested tourists have to check on the operating hours as the cruise only available during high tide.

Number 8

Explore Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum

Baby Nyonya Heritage Museum is a museum located behind Jonker Street that displays the history of the ethnic. Baba Nyonya are Chinese who adapt much of the Malay cultures since the time Admiral Cheng Ho settled down in Malacca.

Number 7

Shop for Local Products

Don’t forget to shop for local products at Sam Suk Gong or Tam Kim Hock. These are the two famous shops that tourists would love to go and carry home the MUST BUY local products like “shrimp paste” or “pineapples cookies” or “gula Melaka” or even the “durian candy”.

Number 6

Get a Bird-eye View on Malacca from Eye on Malaysia

Eye on Malaysia which has shifted from Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur is now located in Kota Laksamana, the mouth of Malacca river. It could be a pleasant experience being able to view Bandar Hilir Malacca from the top of the world!

Number 5

Have Wild Wild West Fun at A’Famosa Resorts

Not to be mistaken with the historical monument, A Famosa, A’Famosa Resort is a place worth visiting for the whole family. The offers include an international 27-hole golf course, Cowboy Town, Animal World Safari, Water World Theme Park, Equestrian Club, Resort Hotel and much more.

Number 4

Find Shopping Galore at Jonker Street

Jonker Street is the chest with the hidden gems. It is the most happening and busiest street at night with bars and hawkers stalls-mouth-watering local delicacies could be easily found here. Also, performances can be seen on every Saturday.

Number 3

Experience Authentic Portuguese Food at San Pedro

Find the oldest Portuguese restaurant in Malaysia that offers home-style Portuguese fare at San Pedro Restaurant at Portuguese Settlement Village. Try the Devil Curry and Portuguese-style Baked Fish in spice paste and squid fritters. If you enjoy spicy seafood by the beach, this is your spot!

Number 2

Check Out The Stadhuys

The Stadhuys, also known as the Red Square is a historical structure built by the Dutch occupants in 1650. Situated beside the Christ Church, supposed the oldest remaining Dutch historical building in the Orient, is now the home of a Museum of History and Ethnography

Number 1

Visit the Famous Portuguese Monument, A Famosa

A Famosa is a fortress built by the Portuguese in the 16th century which also meant”The Famous’” in the language. The only standing part of the fortress now is the small gate house, Porta De Santiago. Here, you can also find many stalls selling souvenirs for you to bring home.

Also worth checking out: -

Shop at Dataran Pahlawan Megamall
Dataran Pahlawan Megamall, a newly opened shopping mall in town, is usually packed during the weekends. The locals as well as the tourists enjoy going to the Dataran Pahlawan’s field for photo session or just merely sit down and enjoy the view there & listen to live bands.

Visit the Malacca Sultanate Palace
Malacca Sultanate Palace is the place that cannot be missed upon visiting Malacca. It’s located at the foot and St. Paul Hill. The building was constructed using only wooden pegs and with no nails.

Drop by Sam Po Kong Temple
Sam Po Kong Temple was built in the year 1975, on the foot of Bukit China. It was named after a lengendary fish, Sam Po Kong which stopped one of the admiral’s ship from sinking.

Check Out Taming Sari Tower
Taming Sari Tower is the signature tower in town with 110 meters tall. Passengers are able to view Bandar Hilir Malacca within radius of 5 kilometers away!

Visit Hang Li Po Well
Hang Li Po Well was named after the Chinese princess, Hang Li Po who married to the Sultan Mansur Syah, the Malacca king at that time. The locals believed that wishing upon the well will grants good fortune and luck.

Malacca River Cruise

From its role as a meeting point between the East and West in the 16th Century, the Melaka River has morphed into a tourism destination today. Both locals and foreigners come to soak in its history from the diverse architecture found along its banks. There are old churches, mosques, bridges, clan houses, warehouses, temples and villages that have withstood the test of time.

River Cruise

The Melaka River with its cruise is the biggest surprise.  

The 26 fibre-glass boats are named after historic figures such as Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Munshi Abdullah and Tun Perak. Passengers are also serenaded with traditional songs such as dondang sayang.

 There are two types of cruises. One offers recorded commentaries and the other has a tour guide on board. The approximate touring time for Melaka River Cruise is about 45 minutes. The boats are available daily at every thirty minute interval between the following times: 9.30am to 5pm and 6pm to 12 midnight. A must-see on the cruise is Kampung Morten, a living museum showcasing a village that's been around for hundreds of years. There are private museums here where one can get a deeper understanding of the local Malay culture including their costumes.

The houses are the examples of Malay architecture, with sweeping staircases in the centre and a verandah where family members can sit in the evenings to enjoy the air. You can also see the replica of a pirate ship, the Eye On Malaysia ferris wheel, the abandoned Cathay cinema as well as the old express bus terminal. There is also a replica of a royal windmill and a fort, complete with cannons around the walls.  

The views along the riverside

                  The cruise boat passes under many bridges that had important functions in the old days. The first one, Tan Boon Seng Bridge, marks the strategic place captured by the Portuguese in 1511 in their bid to occupy Melaka. The other bridges are Chan Boon Cheng Bridge, Ghostbridge of Melaka, Old Market Bridge and Jalan Hang Tuah Bridge.

source: http://www.malaysia.com/malacca-river-cruise-experience.html

Malacca Beaches and Islands

Malacca may not have rich rainforests or long stretches of warm sand, but it does have a few magical islands and beaches to discover.

Perfect for a weekend getaway, the beaches and islands of Malacca will allure you with their serenity and comfort under a tropical sun.

Pulau Besar

Pulau Besar

Located near Umbai and 10 km south of Bandar Melaka, Pulau Besar or ‘Big Island is a mysterious island that has many fables and legends behind it. Some say that the island resembles the shape of a pregnant woman, due to a story that a princess who, heart-broken because of her husband's death, jumped into the seas and consequently, her body floated and took the form of an island. As she was pregnant at that time, Pulau Besar, with a landscape resembling a belly, was born.
On the island, one can find a cave which is believed to be used by ancient warriors for practising magical arts. Yet another sight is a giant rock called ‘Batu Belah' or Split Rock. Legend has it  that a magician trapped his apprentice inside the rock by splitting it in half and then rejoining it with the apprentice inside.
Today, most people would enjoy the recreational activities on the island. There are resorts, a yacht club and a host of water-sport facilities. Visitors can also enjoy evening strolls on the sand, swimming in the calm waters or snorkelling the seabed.

Tanjung Bidara

Tanjung Bidara

Located approximately 20 km from Malacca Town, the beach of Tanjung Bidara has lush vegetation and a tranquil atmosphere. The beach is more for relaxation or recreational activities that exclude swimming, as the waters are a little murky. Many hawkers line the beach peddling food and there are amenities such as parking lots, playgrounds and showers.

Pantai Kundur


sources: http://www.geographia.com/malaysia/malisle.html

Pantai Kundur

On this peaceful beach lies a small fishing village, approximately 17 km from Malacca Town. Locals often frequent this beach which is popular for swimming and picnicking. Rows of casuarina trees provide shade as visitors frolic in the water and play on the sand. At night, fishermen
head out in boats to ‘Kelongs' (Platforms built on stilts on the sea) and fish for squid and other marine creatures.

Malacca Culture & Heritage

In Malacca,there are a few descendants communities that are still practicing their enchanters' traditions which are Peranakan and Portuguese culture that become one of the attraction towards tourist and visitors. The Peranakan and Portuguese descendants in Malacca today are the result of the state's long history with trading and colonisation by Oriental and Western powers.

The Baba Nyonyas 

Peranakans is basiccaly came from Chinese migrants who first came to Malacca many centuries ago. They have unique heritage unlike any other culture. Peranakans are also referred to a 'Straits Chinese'.

'Babas' refer to male Peranakans while 'Nyonya' refer to females. Often Nyonya is used to substitute the term 'Peranakan' as well. In terms of dressing, the women wear traditional Malay costumes, which is 'Baju Kebaya', a form of blouse woven with silk. Foot-binding, a practice carried over from China, used to be common among the affluent folk but over the centuries, but it is no longer practised and for some reasons. Perhaps the Peranakan's most famous legacy is Nyonya food, a fusion of Malay ingredients with Chinese cooking styles. Some of the most popular dishes include 'Belacan', 'Assam Laksa', 'Cendol' and 'Kuih Talam'. Usually Peranakans speak their own dialect called 'Baba Malay' with some elements of the Hokkien language. They also have their traditional musical entertainment form which is the 'Dondang Sayang'; or 'Love Song' where Babas and Nyonyas exchanged poems in a humorous style, accompanied by a violin, accordion and traditional instruments; the Rebana and Gong. 

The Portuguese

Based on history,Portuguese has conquered Malacca in 1511 and ruled for 130 years. As Catholics, they celebrate festivals dedicated to their religion which can be witnessed throughout the year in their settlement the Portuguese Square. Usually, they speak a distinct language which is a Creole (fusion of two languages) based on Portuguese and Malay.The Portuguese community in Malacca are a merry bunch, often celebrating with loud dances, music and song. Their most famous tune is the 'Jinggling Nyonya', a happy dance-song routine. They've also brought their food; 'Curry Debel¡', which is their most famous food..
In June, the Portuguese Suare becomes abuzz with activity as the villagers celebrate a feast in honour of their patron saint. It is truly a sight for visitors to behold and a great chance to get to know this special 3,000-odd group of people in Malaysia.

source: http://lailengistravelling.blogspot.com/2009/09/melaka-peranakan-culture.html

Malacca, Precious City

If you are eager to know more about Malaysia's history, Malacca is compulsory to be visited. Located on the West Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Malacca has a strategic locations and it has been a port in the region for the traders all over the world since the beginning of Malacca's glory past.                                                                                                                            

St. John Fort of Malacca

                                    
Name of a Tree

Behind the name of 'Melaka', there is a very interesting story for us to know. The story started when Parameswara, the founder of Melaka, went for hunting on a one day. After hunting, he rest under a tree, and suddenly he saw a bright deer kicking a dog. Thinking that as a good omen, Parameswara immediately named the place after the tree he rested on. Guess what? That's right, it is the “Melaka Tree” and the place is in the state of Malacca.

How to get to Malacca?

To get to Malacca, the best way is by self drive.It is well connect to other states of Peninsular Malaysia by the North – South Highway . It takes at least 2 hours if you're traveling from Kuala Lumpur and around 2 or 3 hours from Johor Bahru. It is okay to drive there as the highway to Malacca is straightforward and smooth. Other than that,you may also enjoy the pleasant scenery of palm tree plantation long the highway. Stop-over, public rest areas and petrol kiosk also are provided along this highway for travelers facilities.

One of Malacca's attraction; Kota A Famosa



source: http://www.geographia.com/malaysia/malacca.html