Friday, December 23, 2016

Malaysia (Melaka-UNESCO) Dec 2016


" In travelling, you see something, hear something & say something. The more you see the more you understand. Traveling broadens your horizon & mind "

" We don't meet people by accident. They are meant to cross our path for a reason "

" I don't know where I am going but I promise it won't be boring "

My 2 days Pre-Christmas visit to the historic city of Melaka, an UNESCO World Heritage site in Peninsula Malaysia - Going Dutch, Portuguese, British & Chinese, following their heritage trails in Melaka (22-23/12/2016)

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas ! Greetings from Historic Melaka !

Total expenses incurred (2 days) : Rm110 (US$25)
Hostel (1 night): Rm28 (dorm)
LRT & KTM trains: Rm6.60 (senior)
Bus (KL>Melaka>KL): Rm10 + Rm12=Rm22
City bus (Melaka): Rm4.70
Food: Rm43
Entrance fee: Rm5
Exchange rate: US$1 = Rm4.45

Travel itinerary: Subang Jaya (LRT) > KL Sentral (KTM) > Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS Bus) > Melaka Sentral > Bandar Tasik Selatan > KL Sentral > Subang Jaya (Total Mileage 154km x 2 return)

Image result for peninsular malaysia map
Map of  Peninsula Malaysia

I see something, hear something & say something in my travel blog after this short meaningful visit to the Historic City of Melaka before Christmas 2016 ... Thanks' god, I did not mess up my visit in Melaka, everything went well ! Here goes my story ....

Image result for map of melaka
Map of Melaka City

" And the rest is history "


- The Historic City of Melaka (Malacca in English) is the capital of the state of Melaka
- Both Melaka & Georgetown, Penang were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008
- The Portuguese invaded Melaka in 1511 followed by the Dutch in 1641, the British took over the administration in 1795
- Admiral Cheng Ho of China visited Melaka in mid-15th century and established a cordial relationship with the Malay Sultanate. Their mixed marriage with locals or descendants are now called Nyonya & Baba
- Melaka is approx. 154km from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia
- Over 30 tourist attractions & heritage sites to explore
- A day trip by bus from Bandar Tasik Selatan Bus Terminal, Kuala Lumpur to the Historic City of Melaka is possible

Travel Highlights ( though I had visited Melaka a number of times since my childhood days, this visit was the most focused one ) :

1) Porta De Santiago (A' Formosa Fortress) - The Old Gateway, built 1511 onwards


2) St Paul's Church (1521)


3) The Stadthuys (1650) - The Town Hall, Dutch Square


4) Christ Church (1753)


5) Clock Tower, Dutch Square (1886)


6) Middleburg Bastion (1660)


7) Dutch Shop Houses & Administrative Buildings (1650)


8) Dutch Graveyard (1592)


9) Fort of Malacca Bastion Victoria (1588)


10) St Francis Xavier Church (1856)


11) Kampung Kling Mosque (1748)


12) Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple (1781)


13) Portuguese Settlement & Portuguese Square (1985)



14) Dutch Village (Heeren Street & Jonker Street)


15) Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (1645), Jalan Tokong


16) Hang Li Poh's Well (1459), Bukit China


17) Gallery of Admiral Cheng Ho


18) Cheng Ho Cultural Museum 



19) Masjid Selat Melaka - Pulau Melaka


20) The Straits of Melaka


21) Melaka River Cruise


22) Jonker Walk


23) Xiang Li Si Temple



24) City View of Melaka


25) Taming Sari Tower Melaka


26) Mahkota Parade


27) Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall


28) Proclamation of Independence Memorial



29) Dataran Quayside


30) Tourist Information Centre, Melaka


31) Other tourist attractions I have yet to visit in Melaka are :
- St John Hill & Fort, Jalan Ujong Pasir
- Masjid Kampung Hulu, Jalan Hang Likiu
- Hang Jebat Tomb, Jalan Kampung Kuli
- Hang Tuah Tomb, Jalan Kampung Kuli
- Hang Kasturi Tomb, Jalan Hang Jebat
- St Peter's Church, 166 Lorong Bendehara, Kampung Bukit China
- Chinese War Memorial, Jalan Munshi Abdullah
- Upside Down House Gallery, Jalan Plaza Mahkota

Melaka Loves You Too ! Selamat Datang (Welcome) to Historic Melaka !

Malaysia (Melaka-UNESCO) 2016 - Day 1 ( Part 1 )

Day One - 22 Dec 2016 ( Part 1 ) - the start of my visit to Historic Melaka

Subang Jaya SS15 (LRT) > KL Sentral (06.15) - RM2.10 (senior - 50% discount)

SS15 LRT Station


KL Sentral (KTM train) > Bandar Tasik Selatan (Rm1.20 =US$0.26) - Seniors)




Bandar Tasik Selatan (TBS Bus) > Melaka Sentral (08.00 > 09.45) - one way ticket - Rm10 (US$2.20)





Metro Bus from KL > Melaka

KL > Melaka Bus Fare - Rm10 ( 154km)

Melaka Sentral (Panorama Bus No 17) > Stadthuys (Dutch Red Square) - Bus fare RM1.50



Panorama Bus Stop at Stadthuys (Dutch Red Square)


Melaka Sentral Station


Komplek Pasar Besar Melaka (Melaka Wet Market) - opposite the Melaka Sentral Station





Hostel Accommodation in Roof Top Guest House & Hostel, Melaka - 39, Jalan Kampong Pantai, at the end of Lorong Hang Jebat - Hostelworld online booking - Rm28 (US$6.30 dorm bed) but upgraded to a single bed room upon check in !







Plenty of hostels & cafes operating along the Melaka Riverside - so just relax, drink, eat & sleep well ! 




Melaka riverside top end hotels & cafés



Melaka River Cruise & Riverside - enjoy a boat ride, just relax & admire the surrounding, You can take a 45 minutes boat ride on Melaka River with audio commentary. The cruise offers new perspectives of the attractions in Melaka. You can get the boat at Muara Jetty & Taman Rempah jetty.


Murals & street art on the walls


Melaka by night - very scenic around the Dutch Square & Melaka riverside. Jonker street was crowded with tourists mainly from China, Asean & European countries. A great place for an evening stroll after a dinner meal.











Little India by night







Jonker Walk - Jonker street is known worldwide among serious antique collectors as one of the best places to hunt and bargain for antiques. This place is now sprouted with cafes, eatery outlets, craft shops leading it a cultured air of old-meets-new. 



My breakfast at a coffee shop in Bukit China

Curry Laksa noodle (Rm4.50) + coffee (Rm1.50)

My lunch at Teck Hua Heng coffee shop in Jalan Kampong Pantai, near the Roof Top Guest House


Mixed pork & pig offal herbal soup + Yam rice (Rm11.50)

My dinner at a popular Famosa Chicken Rice Ball restaurant in Jonker Street




Steamed Chicken + Rice Balls + Chendol  (Ice Dessert) - Rm17.70

Ice Dessert - Melaka style (Rm4.50)