Historical Melaka

Malacca (known in the olden days) or Melaka (today) is filled with rich history and interesting legends. I still remember from history class back in high school about Parameswara, a prince from Palembang, who escaped to Temasik (today known as Singapore) for a short while but was driven out. There he started out with his group of people along the west coast of peninsular (Malaya) in search of a new home. He sat under a tree and saw a mousedeer attacked one of his hunting dogs. He found out that the tree was named Melaka so he decided to start a new land right there. This was in 1400. 

Melaka became a important port where traders from all over the world came to trade silk, spices and gold. Then the Portugese conquered Melaka in 1511 followed by the Dutch then finally British. 

And the rest is history....

We paid a visit to Melaka on the first day of the Raya festival and boy, was it a jam-packed experience. Friends warned me never to visit Melaka on any holiday season, but did I listen? Nope! I was curious and I had to see for myself. It was worth my visit but next time, no more visits during holiday time.

We brunched at an old Nyonya cafe named 1511. It is actually a homestay but it is situated right in the heart of Jonker Walk, so very convenient. We got to taste some good ole Nyonya food there.

Pie Tee

Popiah

Chicken Pongteh

Curry chicken

From inside Cafe 1511 looking out onto the street

The decor inside Cafe 1511

This is one of the many boutiques along Jonker Walk. Very attractive designs for a Kebaya. However, the clothing are overpriced. One blouse costs about RM1000! Now who in their right mind would spend 1000 Ringgit for a Kebaya blouse? 

Interesting design on all the walls. I loved it as I could see through to the end of the block from this one hole in the wall.

An old cabinet used for keeping Chinese herbs and medicine. I remember when I was young, I used to follow Mom to a Chinese medicine shop. Mom would ask for herbs to boil soup and the old shopkeeper would open up a few of these drawers and pick out a few herbs from each drawer and pack them together in brown paper. I was always amused as to how he remembers which herb to pack for which kind of soup.

This is partly a museum and partly still a home to a family. Kinda weird having a garden in the middle of the home. I was thinking of mozzies!

Bound feet shoes!!!! Goodness this is the only shop left in the whole of Malaysia that still makes these tiny shoes. Not for people to wear anymore; just for people who are interested in buying them for keepsake.

Foot binding started in the 10th century in China among the rich families. They usually start for children aged 4-6. Poor people could not afford to have their feet bound because they need to work in the fields. I have no idea why Chinese men in that era fancied girls walking like they have hooves instead of feet. More ladylike? 

This shop offers shoe repair services as well. I watched as customers came in with their old beaded shoes and asked for a new pair while keeping their old beaded design. So the shoemaker would cut out the beaded design and sew it onto the new pair of shoes. This shop uses good quality leather to make their shoes.

Sunday Market. Only in the mornings until noon. It was amusing because there are weird stuff, old junk, and magazines, jewellery and paintings being sold in this market. 

Old Chinese temple

Masjid Kampung Kling located at Harmony Street is where houses of worship from different religions harmoniously coexist.

The beautiful Frangipani

I had a good laugh when I saw this poster. The "free entry" part was most hilarious. Or is it just my over-wandering mind?!!!!

Pathway to Melaka River. Interesting street art all the way.

The ever-fragrant Orange Jasmines.

I thought tourists can be quite nutty. This queue was so long that I had to go check the source out right at the end of this pathway. I thought they were lining up to go into the red building but nooooo there was a tiny shop at the end of this street selling Hainanese Chicken Rice. I reached the entrance of the shop and even though people were crowding at the entrance waiting for their turn to get into the shop, I could smell the fragrant chicken rice from outside. Heavenly.

This should be another great place to dine in as people always say, if you want good food, follow the crowd.

Melaka river, flows right through City of Melaka.

Stadthuys @ Dutch Square @ Red Square. Built in the 1600s, this is the legacy of the Dutch.  It was an admnistrative center for about 300 years.

Another Dutch architecture, Christ Church was built in 1753. So if you are standing with this position of Christ Church directly behind you, on your left would be Stadthuys and diagonally to your right would be the start of Jonker Walk. And if you start walking straight down the street, you would reach A Famosa.

A Famosa, a Portugese fortress. Built in 1511.

A replica of the Melaka Sultanate Palace. 

Glorious biscuit shop. When we were walking along Jonker Walk, we could smell the biscuits. Popped over to see what was cooking and true enough, biscuits were cooling off on top of the ovens.There were red bean biscuits and pineapple tarts. Yummy.

I had to have my coconut shake. However why in the world did they find the need to add a scoop of vanilla ice-cream on top? Spoilt the taste of the coconut. I quickly swallowed the ice-cream before it melted so that I could enjoy my coconut shake slowly!

On my drive out of Melaka at about 5 o'clock in the evening, I was amused again seeing another long queue. Holy cow! It was for SATAY!!! You know, little bitty pieces of meat on a stick...like kebabs. I left Melaka shaking my head. This day was full of surprises. The weather was scorching hot but people were on an eating spree at all hours of the day. Will I come back again? Definitely! I would come back for the biscuits and other delicious goodies, and try some more food. There's plenty to see and experience in Melaka. Just gotta prepare to walk and be sweaty.