The Historical City of Melaka

Merchants from all over the world come and trade silks, spices, gold and porcelain. The town of Melaka was occupied by the Portuguese, Dutch, and the British successively over the last 500 years until it gained Independence in 1957.

The Portuguese first conquered Melaka in 1511 led by Alfonso d’ Albuquerque and stayed for 130 years leaving behind influences of their rich Latin traditions which are still being celebrated until today by the residents of the Portuguese Settlement.

Porta de Santiago or otherwise known as A’ Famosa, was once a fortress built by Alfonso until it was destroyed during the invasion of the next colonizers --- the Dutch. The ruins of St. Paul’s Church sits on a hill and was initially built in 1511 although it was given its present name by the Dutch, St. Francis Xavier was said to be buried here in an open grave in 1553 before his body was moved to Goa, India (I was able to visit his burial place in a basilica at Old Goa).
Then came the Dutch who ruled for 154 years. You can really feel the ghosts of Melaka’s glorious past by walking around the Dutch Square. Built in 1650, the Stadthuys is one of the major landmarks in Melaka. It was once a home to the Dutch colonial governors and officers. Just behind it is the similarly salmon-red Christ Church.
The British arrived in 1824 and ruled until the country’s independence in 1957. Their major contributions to the landscape at the Dutch Square are the weathercock and the Bell Tower. Another addition to the Catholic presence in the area during the British reign was St. Francis Xavier's Church built in 1849.Influences from the cultures of their European colonizers are now deeply entrenched into the Melakan traditions although their Asian heritage is still very much alive. Descendants of the Chinese immigrants are called Baba-Nyonya, they are “Chinese in spirit and Malay in form”. I visited the very private Baba-Nyonya Heritage Musuem of the Chan family (no picture taking allowed inside). The house is amazingly well-preserved.
The Chinese immigrants have clearly built a huge community here in Melaka. The entrance to Chinatown is marked by a sign "Jonker Walk", the site of the popular Night Market. I find it so-so, not really that spectacular. I've been to the much better Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai, Thailand and Laos.
Following the small alleyways, I found the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia. It was built in 1646 in honor of the visit of Admiral Cheng, the emissary of the Chinese emperor.


The Melakan Sultanate Palace embodies the old grandeur of the Malay Sultanate and traditional Malay heritage. Within the palace grounds is a nicely arranged garden with fountains and arbors. Inside the Palace, elaborate displays depicting the story of Parameswara is laid out nicely.

Some other notable must-see sights around the city are the People's Museum and Kampung Kling Mosque. The best and novel way to navigate through the foot traffic around the Dutch Square and the other historical sites around the main cultural enclave is by trishaw --- with its blaring stereos and colorful decorations --- feeling mo eh reyna ka ng Santacruzan sa probinsya!!

A more scenic way of going around is by touring the Melaka River through the numerous river cruises starting from the dockside near the Dutch Square.

Okay, the ending of my quick trip here in Melaka did not end that well coz I couldn't get a bus seat direct to Singapore from Melaka Sentral so I went instead to Johor Bahru. From JB, I have to take another bus to Queens Street station.