This trip came as one the best things I bought on groupon. Bought a coupon months ago and had it planned for 3rd and 4th of August. Offlate, my work contributed enough to my stress which made me to looks for this trip quite eagerly. Ofcourse, with a guilty feeling going alone as she is stuck in India.
As per the plan, I was suppose to catch the bus friday morning and reach there by noon and the return coach to pick us by next day post 2:30pm. Seemed bit short, precisely 2 half days. I had a slight doubt about enough or not. Its just enough!.
This is one of the trips I didnt care about pre home work; for a change, I liked the idea of going with the flow. It worked too. 😉
Malacca (Melaka)
Malacca is one of the smallest of Malysian states has a rich history. Initially King Parameswara (last king of Singapura) who was defeated found himself in the lands of Malacca. In one of the hunting trip, his dog was pushed in to water by a stag in self defense. It motivated him and later conquered the lost lands with the help of others. The place where this incident happened was below a Malaacca tree and he named this kingdom after that.
Later in 1511, Portugese occupied this land who came from Goa (India) and ruled this place for long. Also built Afamosa fort – its ruins still out there. In 1641, dutch defeated them and made their colony. However, they kept Jakarta as their administrative capital leaving Malacca to lose its fame. During their time they built Stadthuys (Red building).
My bus journey didnt take much time to reach Malacca say ~3.5 hours it took. Loved the journey with a nap. If I consider clearing immigrations aint a boring stuff, I would say bus is the way to go!
My groupon voucher got my reservation at Hatten Hotel, a hotel which I tried to locate in the map for long. Its a brand new hotel at Hatten square got me completely when I saw that first. Its of 5 star standards, new, slick ,beautiful and located in the prime location of Malacca. The group that owns the biggest mall out there (right infront of the hotel) owns this as well. Dataran Pahlawan is the name of the mall.
I got a lovely room with the view of swimming pool at 13th floor. Room is quite large for today’s hotel standards, infact a bedroom is separated from the entrance which has another TV and a couch. Couldnt believe I got them for a very cheaper price.
Little later, I was out looking for lunch. My efforts to find a Indian restaurant was lost when I saw a mcdonald’s inspired restaurant which served root beer instead of Coke. Pathetic service – or best for their standards. We, here, would expect things delivered quite fast and always prefer the service at their best. I swallowed my burger and washed down with the root beer which I felt like a diluted version of a mouth rinse.
Right next next to the hotel, another mall – named Mahkota Parade another big one here. Little further walk gives us the sight of revolving tower “Menara Tamin Sari“. Height of this tower is 110 metres built with 24 million ringgits. I had doubt whether I should take or not, but ended up buying the ticket. This offers a spectacular views of Malacca. All you need to see in Malacca can be seen just with this. Am sure, it would be a prettier sight in the night. The size of the mall and the hotel dominates the view from this tower.
As per my plan, my next stop which is hardly 5 mins walk from the tower – River Cruise.
Couldnt believe the length of the river in that narrow path. Nicely covered by the concrete, it makes one of the best places for restaurants, bars and hotels for a stretch of more than 10 kilometeres.
This boat cruise offers a slow but refreshing ride in the river which has nice views on both sides. I was able to feel the old lifestyle of theirs somehow.
Right infront of the boat cruise center, Malacca Navy Museum is located. I gave it a skip considering my time.
After the river cruise, a little walk got me to the most happening place (or circle) of Malacca.
All the below are the circle itself. A casual 1 hour walk can cover everything.
Christ Church
A small church constructed in 1753 with the dutch architecutre.
St.Pauls Chruch
This church was originally a small chapel built by a Portuguese captail called Duarto coelho in 1521 and called Nosa Senhora – Our lady of the hill. The chapel was handed over to the society of jesus in 1548 and enlarged in 1556 with the addition of a second storey and renamed Annunciation. A tower was added in 1950.
When the Dutch took over Melaka from the portuguese, they changed its name to St. Paul’s church and used it for 112 years until they own church, the Christ church was completed in 1753.
St. Paul’s church lost its tower when the british took over the but ahd one new feature added to it. The lighthouse at the front of it. The british however didn not use the church for worshop, but used it instead for the storage of gunpowder. They also erected a tall flagpole and renamed the hill on which the church is sited to flagstaff hill (Bukit Bendera). The name however didnt last. The flag pole was later taken down and the church abandoned.
Old tomstones found inside the ruins bear silent to the final resting place of several dutch and portuguese nations.
The renowned spanish-born jesuit missionary, st. Francis Savier was a regular visitor to this chruch from 1545 to 1552 and when he died his body was interred here for 9 months before being exhumed and taken to his final resting place in Goa (India). A statue of St. Francis was built in 1952 to commemorate his passing and interment here. ( as its said – out there).
Fort A Famosa
Built by Portugese in 1511 which took all the dutch demolition and stands as ruins.
Stadthuys
A red building constructed in the 1650s by the dutches. It also serves as museums these days. It means Town hall. This four story building, covering an area of 49,200 square feet, was built on the terrace of St.Paul’s Hill. It functioned as the Dutch administrative centre until 1824, but served as the Governor’s residence until the early 18th century. The British too, continued to use the building as their administrative centre. The Stadhuy thus, became the administrative centre of Melaka until the end of 1979. The original white building was repainted red in the 1820s and has since been commonly referred as Red Building.
Although many changes had taken place since the british took over, features of Dutch architecture, such as thick stone walls, large windows and doors, remained intact. Below the floor, a drainage system channelled into the Melaka River. Wood carvings with floral designs adorned the Governor’s office. The governor’s bedroom, decorated with paintings of Chinese mythology, occupied the topmost level of the building, while the jail occupied lower, front section of the building.
Conservation works to the Stadhuys was carried out by the Melaka public works department over a period of four years from 1985 and during this time unexpected artefacts were unearthed. Two wells were discovered: a well lined with corals in the interior of the building and another one, sealed and hidden under the wall when the building was constructed. Both wells presumable dug by the Portuguese. A Dutch well together with a building site alongside the Stadhuys were found at the back while a water tank and a passageway in the interior section of the building were also discovered when the demolition was done to later addition to the area. These discoveries have been preserved for posterity. However, the Stadhuys is believed to hold many uncovered secrets.
Jonker Street. (Jalan Hang Jabat)
This is the most famous and not to be missed in Malacca. During holidays and the eve of public holidays, night market comes live between 6pm to mid night. I reached there around 5 and was desparetly looking for a good tea. I didnt win. Anyhow, got something in the name of it. This market is known for its culinery specialities and the antiques we can buy. Food I havent tasted much but whatever I tasted (a stick with potato chips and tea) were really worth trying again. If you are one of those like to explore food varieties, am sure this is one of the place. Quite unique and tempting food.
Antique shops are many and most affordable (provided we are good at bargaining). I was sure many of them had just the touched of “time”. A nice place to hangout for few hours. After 6, it gets businer and buiser, road gets narrower with the shop-carts.
The day gave me sour foot and I really wished a good spa. I recollected that the Scents & Senses spa which was highly recommended by tripadvisor.com. Got a taxi and requested the driver to take me, however, he had all the intentions to get to me to other spas which I decline politely. Finally he got me to the spa, which is hardly 3 mins walk from the Hatten hotel itself. It was a complete circle and exactly the only way to see malacca. :-p
Spa is one of the best and cheapest comparing to Singapore’s. I love those soothing, relaxing sounds and aroma. Not to be missed for sure!.
Only when I reached hotel by 10, I realized I forgot my dinner. In the same Hotel building, by the side, Movida bar is there. It had surprisingly best music and ambience I could ask for. For the bar practice, I got a carlsburg and ordered my pasta. The music, place, food and the beer, what can I ask more? 🙂
Had a long sleep and got up just in the time for breakfast. Just as majesty the hotel is, the varities of the breakfast. I had hard time to choose first what to have and what not to. It had western, asian and chinese (considering its not asian in my standards)..
It was cloudy and drizzled a bit and I worried lesser as I didnt get anything for the day other than catching the coach in the afternoon. However, the tag, biggest mall in Malacca being at the doorstep of the hotel made me curious. A huge but typical mall where one can spend few hours easily.
Coral Wonderland, an aquarium with notable collection of fishes and other species were the lucky find for me here. I went inside hoping to see some nice fishes but ended up spending more than 1.5 hours out there.
Nicely built, informed place makes you to read and show interest. The let us to touch few of the marine species here. It slighly kindled my diving thoughts.
Later, checked out the hotel and got into my scheduled coach. It was long where I wished I get some sleep but spent looking passing trees.
In simple, being alone is not that bad. Gives little room to enjoy some small things. 🙂
1 Comment
Gatis · March 27, 2014 at 8:42 pm
Your blog brings back tons of memories. Despite my only 1 night in Malacca, apparently you have captured whole story about this fantastic half Portuguese Half Malaysian town. Thx.