Historical Melaka May 2011

Melaka has been one of our favourite place to visit. Melaka being the nicknamed the Historic City in Malaysia is bestowed the World Heritage City by UNESCO in  July 2008. Here's a bit about the history of Melaka that I was able to pick up from the world wide web....

 

"Melaka was founded by Parameswara (or Raja Iskandar) the last Malay ruler of Temasik (ancient Singapore) in 1396 when he and his followers retreated up the straits to Muar, then to Sungai Ujung before settling at Bertam near the estuary of Melaka River.

Finding the place of strategic location, he decided to make a permanent settlement there, naming it "Melaka" after the name of the tree he leaned against.

The Melaka Sultanate occupies a special position in the history of Malaysia. Its inauguration marked the beginning of the emergence of a new Malay empire. The birthplace of the Malay Sultanates and Malaysia's historic city, Melaka provided the stage on which the Portuguese, Dutch and English played out their roles in shaping the history.

Melaka emerged as a strong maritime trading state under the industrious Parameswara and his chiefs. Melaka also began to be noticed by Muslim traders from West Asia and India, who until that period, had been concentrating their activities in Aru, Pedir and Pasai en-route to the East, especially China. Because of its strategic location straddling the Straits of Melaka, it thrived as a port-of-call and a centre of entrepot trade with ships and merchants from China, Japan, India, Arab and South Africa.

In 1511, it fell to the hands of the Portuguese, followed by the Dutch in 1641 after a fierce battle. In 1795, Melaka was given to the British to prevent it falling to the French when the Netherlands was captured during the Napoleonic Wars. It was returned to the Dutch in 1818 under the treaty of Vienna but was later exchanged by the British for Bangkahulu, Sumatra. From 1826 onwards, the British East India Company along with Singapore and Penang governed it, under the Straits Settlement administration in Calcutta.

The Dutch, who held Melaka for over a century, left many fine buildings marking their heritage. The most imposing relic of the Dutch period is the Stadthuys, a strikingly pink town hall which is today the oldest Dutch building in the Far East. Right next to it stands the bright red Christ Church, constructed with pink bricks imported from Holland and covered with local red lacerite. Today, these buildings together with the ruins of the Portuguese built A Famosa and St. Paul's Church are the most prominent reminders of the Europeans' presence in Melaka.

After World War II, anti-colonial sentiment bred in the country among the nationalists, the result of which was the proclamation of Independence by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, Malaysia's first Prime Minister, at the Padang Pahlawan (Warrior's Field) at Bandar Hilir, Melaka on 20 February 1956."

(Credit to squidoo.com)

Gateway to Melaka Via the North South Expressway.
The Ayer Keroh Toll Plaza (middle) and the Arch welcoming
Visitors to Melaka Historical City (below)

As you head to  Melaka town from Ayer keroh, you'll be greeted
by this cooling man-made waterfall commemorating the 1st anniversary of
Majlis Bandaraya melaka Bersejarah (MBMB)

The rear entrance to IPPM where I would
usually drop off my wife when she was
studying here. A nostalgic spot....

For whatever reasons you visit Melaka, it would be well worth it. For us, Melaka was a memorable place as my wife had spent 3 years studying at the Institut Perguruan Perempuan Melayu (previously known as Maktab Perguruan Perempuan Melayu ) in Durian Daun, Melaka. For that 3 years I had lost count how many times I had commuted to Melaka to meet with my main lady then who eventually became my wife.


Nevertheless, our visit to Melaka this time was a bit different. We had opted not to visit places that we have visited too many times. As we arrived in Ayer Keroh (Ayer Keroh is one of the more famous gateway into Melaka), we stopped by for lunch at the Melaka Mall. This shopping complex was previously called Plaza Kota Mas. Now their main anchor tenant is the Parkson, a well known chain of departmental stores. The food court aptly named "Sedap Makan" (literally translated as "Delicious to Eat") is quite pleasant, not congested and the food is commendable. Our next stop after lunch is the Dataran Pahlawan and Muzium Kemerdekaan Melaka (Melaka Independence Museum) and finally a bit of souvenir shopping at the Heritage Walk.

We checked in at the Grand Continental Hotel at about 3.45pm. The weather in Melaka has been the same ever since I can remember - HOT ! We could only rest in our room to wait for the sun to set a bit. Only in the late evening could we venture out more comfortably. 

The cool atmosphere of our hotel room.
A perfect retreat from the heat outside...

We headed out to Banda Hilir and boarded the Melaka River Cruise. We had been on this ride 3 time now but still enjoy the breathtaking scenery along the Melaka river. I would recommend that you take this ride at night to really splendour the lights and view along the banks especially as you pass Morten Village, which is a traditional village highlighted by lights which caused the houses to transform into a fairy land. 

Views taken along the Melaka River Cruise...

My son had a taste for grilled fish that night and so we headed out to the food court at Pantai Klebang where the restaurants there are specialist in preparing grilled fish. After dinner and a drive at the beach, we headed back to retire for the night.

The next day after breakfast (though the hotel starts with the word "Grand", don't expect anything "grand" at breakfast which served the same menu for the 2 days we were there) at the hotel, we headed out to Makam Hang Jebat. 12 noon might not be a good time to visit though as the mausoleum is open and between shops and the heat was getting to us. We only stayed for a few minutes for photos before the heat got to us. 

Hang Jebat was supposed to have been laid here..

The small alley leading to Hang Jebat Mausoleum

As for the previous day, we retreated to an air conditioned surrounding for lunch at Melaka Mall. Around 3pm, we proceeded to the Portuguese Settlement, a Kristang community at Ujong Pasir. Kristang are a Malaysian ethnic group of a mix between Portuguese, Malay and possibly Chinese and Indian ancestry. Further on we visited Perigi Hang Li Poh (Hang Li Poh's Well) at the foot hill of Bukit China and Perigi Hang Tuah (Hang Tuah's Well) in Kampung Duyong. Though Perigi Hang Li Poh looks very normal with ferns filling up the well cavity, Perigi Hang Tuah is a sight to behold. To me, the well looks very much like a subterranean cavern filled with water rather than a well ! Do visit this well for you to see what I mean. 

Various photos around the Portuguese Settlement

"Perigi Hang Li Poh" is overgrown with ferns...

Hang Tuah's Well is more like a subterranean well rather than
a well dug out by man..

 After a tiring and hot evening, the tempation of retreating to our hotel room lead us back to Grand Continental. The night was a better time to once again venture into Banda Hilir where a hive of activities in front of the Stadthuys and old church buildings. People flock for a photo session and trishaws are everywhere looking for those who would fancy a ride in the beautifully decorated trishaws ; a sight you may not see elsewhere in the world ! My son had never been on one of this trishaws and as such, we rented one out and had a great experience on the ride.

A replica of the ship "Flor De La Mar"

Taming Sari Tower is a revolving platform from
which you'd be able to view the whole of Melaka town

Hang Jebat Station of the Melaka River Cruise

Jonker Streets offers everything from food to jewellerys

Night scenes around Banda Hilir and Jonker Street.. 

We walked through Jonker Street or known as Jonker Walk where peddlars sells everything from clothings to antiquity items. This is a place not to be missed if you like the air or night markets and festivities. Muzium Samudra was our last stop for the night. This is actually a replica of the famous Portuguese ship "Flor De La Mar". This ship was actually a Portuguese vessel built in Lisbon in 1502 and was one of the finest vessel at the time. In 1511 however, it sank in November 1511.


We left for home on the 3rd day and no matter how often we have visited Melaka, our mind would always be thinking about when would be the next trip here...

Interesting architecture & historical  sites