Alluring Malacca

It has been more than a decade since I last visited Malacca. Somehow Malacca was never considered under our list of places to visit during our holidays. Coincidentally, we had to create a tour package to Malacca as one of our assignments and produce a tourism video commercial on Malacca. So, Malacca it was! I bet an introduction to Malacca and its history is unnecessary as we were all forced to study history in high school. In general, getting to Malacca is quite easy. Just take the North South Expressway. There are sufficient amount of info on its signboards so it's impossible to get lost.

Perhaps the most popular tourist destination in Malacca, the Dutch Square with structures such as Stadhuys, Christ Church, Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower and Queen Victoria's fountain

Getting to the square from the city was rather confusing as there are simply too many signboards with intricate designs which made reading them difficult. Visitors to the square will be greeted by buildings, all painted in red with white louvre styled windows. Not to forget the crowd and the trishaws especially on weekends. There was a different atmosphere within the vicinity suggesting it's western influence in its surrounding's architecture, particularly Dutch. The only obvious thing that proves we're still in Malaysia is the scorching sun.


Queen Victoria's fountain, build to commemorate her majesty's diamond jubilee


Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower


Christ Church
Visitors are strictly not allowed to take any photos in the church.


The Stadhuys
Probably the building with the most difficult name to pronounce in Malaysia. It currently houses the Malacca historical, ethnographic and literature museums. There are many stalls along the buildings selling souvenirs and refreshments but it is advisable to purchase your souvenirs at other locations as they are often overpriced. In addition to that, some of the souvenirs do not even originate from Malaysia like cowboy hats.


The well maintained facade of Stadhuys.




The clock tower as seen from the Stadhuys entrance




Right beside the red square are 2 row of old shophouses facing each other, again, painted in red. I personally don't see the reason for painting it red as it lacks originality. Here are some cafes and shops but it is mostly abandoned or empty.




St Francis Xavier's Church


St Paul's hill with St Paul's Church and a British lighthouse in the foreground


Statue of St Francis Xavier


St Paul's Church now lie in ruins, with its roof missing and it walls deteriorating with time.


A weather cock on top of the church


A tombstone in the church compound




Getting up to St Paul's hill is not as challenging as its name suggests. It's a short walk up from the back of Stadhuys. Despite the fact that the church lie in ruins, it is still quite a spectacular site with many slabs and tombstones with Latin and Portuguese inscriptions.


The newly erected Taming Sari Tower and the Straits of Malacca
Furthermore, the view from the summit is breathtaking. One can enjoy a 360° view of the town of Malacca as most of its buildings are merely 2 stories tall. There are stairs behind the church leading to the renowned A Famosa fort ruins. There'll be an old man playing a harmonica by the stairs asking for donation. Feel free to drop in a penny or two as this guy is really skilled and entertaining.


Porta de Santiago or more fondly known as A Famosa.
Hopping from one attraction to another was really easy as there were pathways and walkways built to cater to tourists. In addition to that, all the attractions are situated beside one another.


Local students sketching the Portuguese fort

After spending half a day at the colonial ruins and their landmarks, it was time for something Malaccan and there's nothing better than lunching at the quaint street of Jonker Walk. To get there, just head to the famed Red Square and cross the Malacca River and you're officially at the beginning of Jonker Walk.

The Malacca river.

We were all very hungry so we decided to eat before we continued our sightseeing adventure. Whenever you're in Jonker Walk, it's a must to try the famous chicken rice balls.


Oily, fatty and high in cholestrol. bad for the heart, good for the soul.

There are plenty of restaurants serving the chicken rice balls along Jonker Walk and it's difficult to figure which one is the best. From my knowing, I believe that the first restaurant on the right as you are walking from Stadhuys should be the original one. However, being the original means it's always pack so we opted for another one.


We chose this restaurant as it looks quite decent and it had several food guide recommendations.

Plus we were exhausted from the heat and our tummies were grumbling like tribal drums

After lunch, it was time to explore the local culture and heritage at Jonker Walk and its adjacent streets. Jonker Walk is also known as Jalan Hang Jebat and it's Malacca's very own Chinatown

Wooden clogs that are synonym to Malacca.


An antique cum souvenir shop
Shops at Jonker Walk tend to overcharge as well but this is when you put the bargaining skills to good use.




It's simply amazing to see the number of old shophouses properly maintained along the street. Some of them boast ornate architecture showcasing its glorious past. Behind the intricate designs and plasterwork reflected on its exterior are opulent interiors with elaborate woodcarvings and plush courtyards to allow sunlight in. During the day, the street is generally quite as it is still open to traffic. As the sun sets, the street will be closed to traffic and pedlers will set up their stalls selling various antiques, souvenirs and collectibles. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to stay until night.






the extremely narrow street





Strolling around the streets is something rather interesting. A day will definitely be insufficient as there are so many shops with so much to see. There are a couple of shops selling message Ts as well as miniature keychains depicting historical sites and cultural products of Malacca.


Mua Chi @ Jonker Walk




Another worth visiting street is Jalan Tukang Besi. It's one of the oldest streets in Malacca and its the best way for those who wants to catch a glimpse of Malacca in its heydays.


Orang Utan House, selling arts and crafts with hefty price tags




A courtyard in an antique shop along Ironsmith Road




The street is rather empty and quiet as there are not many shops available as most of them do not cater to tourists but the locals instead. However, the number of shops are slowly depleting as the younger generations seek a better lifestyle. Still, the most unique feature of the street is the 3 different places of worship side by side representing the 3 primary religion in Malaysia namely Islam, Hindhuism and Buddhism.


Dragon figurines on the roof of a Chinese temple






Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Temple


Kampung Kling mosque



The visit to Malacca was a short one as it was only a day trip but definitely an alluring discovery. Indeed, its unique culture and diversity is a tourist attraction itself.