A Trip to Malacca - By Kavinmullai

Malacca was once a thriving trading port. Today it is teeming with history. While it no longer enjoys the glory days of centuries gone by, it still is a melting pot of cultures that cme to establish themselves through ancient conquests and trade.

Today it is one of the top places to visit in Malaysia and the phenomenon is not fading anytime soon.

Luckily I get to visit this inherited place while I'm alive.

I get the opportunity to visit this place with my fellow friends and my lecturer of Photojournalism class, Mr. Khalil Sreedaran last year. 

We filled up our days with plenty of attractions spots. We have visited A' Famosa, Jonekr Walk, Malacca River, Dutch Square, Taming Sari, The Stadthuys Malacca and Pantai Klebang. 

My most favorite place in Malacca is the Jonker Walk. Its a famous street in Malacca where it is rich for its collection of authentic antiques, the cultural aspect and the architecture; most of the shop buildings here are from the 17th century which makes them several hundred years old. Lovers of antique items will always come to Jonker Walk as part of their Malaysian itinerary. Visitors come from far and wide, all over the world for the best bargains of items and jewellery of bygone eras. In the Dutch colonial period, it was the street in which the servants of Dutch masters had their homes. Soon the well-heeled locals started to live in the area and they opened shops as well. The street has a strong Chinese influence; there is even a Chinatown owing to Chinese immigration over the centuries. 

The second most tourist spot that I loved is the Malacca River. Its a slow-moving river that cuts across the city. Rather than taking a walk or car to tour the place, you can take a cruise to get a good overview of the city. Have a slow and entertaining view of the city while cruising down the river. You may choose to ride either in the morning, afternoon or evening. The evening cruise is the most attractive one as every shop are lit up with colourful bright lights whereas the twinkling sparkle from the reflection of water makes the city glow! The graffiti here along Jalan Kampung Hulu is colourful and intriguing and lovers of street art will find plenty to look at and enjoy. 

Apart from these places, Dutch Square also known as Red Square is one part of Malacca that inspired the awarding city as a World Heritage site. It is situated just to the south of the main part of the city near the St. John’s Fort. It is easily accessible and a lot of locals and overseas tourists come to visit Dutch Square every day. Dutch Square is clearly visible from St Paul’s Hill which is not far off. In the vicinity of the Dutch Square is the Cheng Ho Culture Museum. The history that is held in this place is immense. You will experience the history from the Malay Empire days, to the Portuguese invasion days, to the Dutch period and the current situation. 

The Stadthuys Malacca is must visit place as it is also known as a matter of priority. It holds a lot of secrets and stories from the Dutch colonial period. Here you will find a vibrant atmosphere with many tourists visiting The Stadthuys every day. They will be from locals, Asia countries and other countries in the world. It is also a good place to people-watch.

Melaka definitely touches me with its mixture of culture where you can find traces of countries from the east (China and Japan) and west (Portugal, Spain and England). When I had a chance to travel to Melaka for a period of 3 days and 2 nights, I realized if I want to experience this place to the fullest, I had to make a good travel plan.

On top of being an ideal destination filled with wonders of ancient buildings and colonial structures, Malacca is also a land of gastronomical delight. Tantalize your taste buds with all these mouthwatering selections of food; spicy, sweet, tangy and sour local specialties all over the streets of Malacca. “Malacca is a food heaven!” is what you’ll most likely hear when you enquire about the small and historical city. 

I wish I could rewind my days of spending at Malacca. Malacca is definitely the heaven that Malaysia have in it. I would gladly recommend Malacca for a good relaxation tourism spot.