Malacca Journals

Weekends in Malacca

A September 2005 trip to Malacca by jabela

Picture From the Hotel Photo - Mahkota Hotel Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia

Quote: Malacca really has all of the history of Malaysia compressed into one place, as well as a really fun river tour!

15 Photos

Weekends in Malacca

Overview

Dutch Windmill Photo - Malacca, Malaysia

Quote:

I have a real soft spot for Malacca, because it was the place my wife and I first dated, so I tend to see it through it rose-coloured glasses. We enjoyed a trishaw ride in the evening and had a candle-lit dinner, and the trishaw driver met us to take us back to our hotel. It was definitely a lot better than an official tour. This is the historic centre of Malaysia. There are a lot of museums, but there's also a lighter side. The river tour is hilarious, and the locals have a good sense of humour. (It's also a UNESCO site.) If you're staying for dinner, the Portuguese settlement is the place to be, with lots of local seafood places offering fish caught tha...Read More

This is the historic centre of Malaysia. There are a lot of museums, but there's also a lighter side. The river tour is hilarious, and the locals have a good sense of humour. (It's also a UNESCO site.)

If you're staying for dinner, the Portuguese settlement is the place to be, with lots of local seafood places offering fish caught that day.

A walk up the hill to the site of A'Famosa is a must, because this is where the Portuguese first "discovered" Malaysia, although before that there was a lot of trade within Southeast Asia. I particularly enjoyed seeing the local pictures, and my friend Darren bought one. He was quite taken aback by the very high standard of English of the seller and talked with him for a good 10 minutes.

Quick Tips:

Don't go on a Friday, as the museums have reduced opening hours.

The nightlife in Malacca is pretty limited, so I'd suggest a nice early start; mornings are the best time to wander around the town on foot before the day-trippers come charging in and you feel the heat of the sun.

Best Way To Get Around:

I'd recommend parking your car and walking around the city. By Malaysian standards traffic is slow and there is pavement in most places. There are also trishaws, which are much better than taxis because many of the roads are very narrow and clog up easily.

Negotiate a rate for a trishaw tour. When my wife and I were first dating, I asked for a tour, and he took us nearly everywhere, dropped us off for dinner at a beautiful seafood restaurant by the river, and then picked us up again after we'd finished our meal. These guys really know the city and are very happy to tell you about their town. (One other hint: The older the driver, the better his English tends to be, because the older drivers will have been British-educated.) Read Less

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Mahkota Hotel Melaka

Hotel | "Century Mahkota Hotel Melaka"

Quote:

It is a 5-star hotel, and the first time I stayed there, it was wonderful, but standards have slipped, and the maintenance hasn't been the best; don't get me wrong--the facilities are okay, but not nearly as good as they used to be.

Location: Easy walking distance from all the main historical sites. Alternatively, you can take a tri-shaw around the city.

Facilities

A number of pools

Children's play area

Gym

Business centre

Restaurant--you can find the website here: http://www.malacca.ws/century/index.htm

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on November 9, 2005

Mahkota Hotel Melaka
No. 16, Jalan Syed Abdul Aziz
Melaka, Malaysia 75000
(606) 281 2828

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Festa San Pedro

Attraction

Quote:

On our last visit, we happened to come across the Festa in the Portuguese village. The festival is a semi-religious Christian event.

However, the big news this year was the change of sponsor. Oh yes, the beer company had changed. In this Festa, that was VERY important, because cheap beer is a big part of the celebration!

We saw a parade, and then there was a stage show and lots of stalls around. We had dinner in the area, where they serve a lot of fresh seafood.

I believe that the event takes place in June every year, but for exact dates, please check the Tourism Malaysia website: http://www.tourism.gov.my.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 9, 2005

Festa San Pedro
Portuguese Settlement
Malacca, Malaysia 75050
+60 6 284 7493

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River Cruise

Attraction

Quote:

This is not a tour to see beautiful sights, because there aren't any on the Malacca River; however, what the river lacks, the tour guide makes up for with an imaginative and at times hilarious ride down the river.

The tour operator knows the price of a beer in every tavern and everything else possible about the riverbank.

The tour lasts for 45 minutes and is really a nice way to relax for a while after the heavy cultural information in the museums.

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on November 9, 2005

River Cruise
Behind the Information Centre
Malacca, Malaysia

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Muzium Pemerintahan Demokrasi (Democracy Museum)

Attraction

Quote:

This museum is very interesting for those who want to know about the democratic process in Malaysia and is ideal for expats or people with an interest in this area. Malaysia's democracy is quite complex to allow all of the different races to be represented. I found it fascinating, and they're really tried to bring a complex subject to a level that most people can understand.

They've also been very clever in using visual aids to bring the subject to life.

If you are also visiting Singapore, it's interesting to note the different spins they've put on the tale of how they became separate states.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 11, 2005

Muzium Pemerintahan Demokrasi (Democracy Museum)
Central Malacca
Malacca, Malaysia

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Muzium Tuan Yang Terutama (Governor's Mansion)

Attraction

Quote:

It's really a throwback to the time when England ruled the world and how a governor would have lived. There is also some interesting artwork and historical snippets.

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 11, 2005

Muzium Tuan Yang Terutama (Governor's Mansion)
Central Malacca, near St Paul's Church
Malacca, Malaysia

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Mini Malaysia

Attraction

Quote:

It is a showcase of the different types of houses found in the 13 states of Malaysia. What I found most interesting was how effective some of the traditional houses were at keeping people cool. It's also interesting to see how much light would get in, even though there were no windows in some housesOf course, the real highlight was walking in on a film crew shooting a local soap opera, with the actress was in full traditional costume. Apparently it's a great filming location, and if you go during the working week, it's quite likely you'll see them.One word of warning, there's a lot of walking involved in this museum, so take plenty of water, and you will be required to cli...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 13, 2005

Mini Malaysia
Mini Malaysia & Mini Asean Culture Village
Malacca, Malaysia 75450
+60 6 231 6087

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Orangutan

Attraction | "The Orangutan House"

Quote:

Its a small shop that celebrates local artist Charles Cham, who is very popular in Malaysia. You can buy an array of T-Shirts, posters, and souvenirs with his designs. Of course, you can also buy some of his paintings.

Now, in terms of art, it's really your opinion that counts, and my friend Darren thought the paintings were cool, whereas I thought they were cliched and didn't like the slapstick style of painting, although I didn't disagree with his values.

He has a website at http://www.charlescham.com/, so long as he paid his Internet bills this month...

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 14, 2005

Orangutan
59 Lorong Hang Jebat
Malacca, Malaysia 75200
+60 6 282 6872

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Maritime Museum

Attraction

Quote:

The best part of this museum is exploring the museum itself, which is housed in the Portuguese warship, Flor De Lar Mar. The museum is well organised and traces the maritime history of Malacca from Portuguese rule up until the British.

For Marine buffs there will be a lot to take in, and they could probably spend hours here, but for everybody else, this is 30 minutes of fun exploring a galleon, and at only RM2, I think that's a very good value.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 14, 2005

Maritime Museum
Bandar Hilir
Malacca, Malaysia 75000