Melaka Favorites

Favorite thing: Melaka has a beautiful riverside and there are many cruises you can take to Kampung Morten, 45 minutes away. It is very picturesque especially at nighttime, just to take a walk past the twinkling lights of the city.

Favorite thing: There is much to do and see and enjoy in Malacca, so I second the other posters. Make an early start going to Malacca. If you are going by car, you save a little time, but buses are good, comfortable and cheap. Also when you get to Malacca Central Bus Station make sure you have tickets to come back. Sometimes, the buses to Malacca are full. During the weekends, Malacca gets crowded by the hundreds of Singapore visitors.
Try to have lunch at a Nyonya Restaurant which is Malacca cuisine. Many good restos: Ole Sayang, the Nyonya Resto at Hotel Equatorial among others. At least peek into the Hotel Puri reception area. Churches, Museums, graveyards, portugese, Dutch and British History, also Chinese monuments. an Old Chetty Tamoul Temple.. so much to see that you better allow a good long day there.

Malacca is the birthplace of Malaysia even though the Hindu Kingdom of Parameswara which converted into Islam was independent only for a short period of time before the portugese came and conquered in 1511 and until 1962 or so Malaysia was governed by Foreigners.

Favorite thing: The office could not have been more appropriately located -- it is in the center of the historic center, so whether one is walking around the Dutch square, or going to the river cruise, or crossing over to the other side of the river to the Jonker street area, it is impossible to miss this building just next to the bridge. The office itself is on the basement, smallish, and have the usual brochures on hand. I cannot attest to the helpfulness of the staff though, as i didn't go in, just peeked through the glass walls (and saw them both busy with facebook!), as i was in the building for another reason. I can attest though that there is a clean public toilet in the premises, and a great relief as the floors were not wet as they seem to perpetually be in all the other public toilets i've been to in this country, and there was toilet paper, and best of all, no queue!

Oddly, it does seem that there is little that visitors don't know about in Melaka in terms of places to visit (never saw a single person go in or out of that building in the 3 days that we were passing and lingering in the area).

Favorite thing: Melaka is one of my favorite destinations in Peninsula Malaysia as it is Malaysia World Heritage Sites. I like this town way back before it is declared UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Melaka consist of many beautiful historical old building from Portuguese to British colony.

If it is your first visit to Melaka, I would like to introduce you for a walking tour around central Melaka starting from Stadhuys. Then walk up the little hill to visit an ancient ruin St Paul church. Follow by a main attraction of Melaka's A Famosa at the downhill of St Paul church.

Then walk back to Stadhuys, and cross the bridge to Jonker street to visit some peranakan mansion that are converted to Shops and Hotels. I would recommend having a chicken rice balls at one of the restaurant along the street. Then you can follow by cold drinks at geographer café. The most iconic attraction I like most is the cheng hoon teng temple which are still a active temples during Chinese festivals. It is really an amazing scene during festivals.

You may visit or stay at one of the hotels like Puri Hotel or Baba Nyonya Hotels which features the Peranakan mansion of the old days of Melaka.

Fondest memory: When I am back to Kuala Lumpur and the most I miss about Melaka is the food of melaka and also the night market on weekend along Jonker street especially during festivals like Mid Autumn Festivals or Chinese New Year.

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Favorite thing: Probably the best way to see Malacca is with a driver/guide in a multi-decorated trishaw.

The trishaws that ply for hire in Malacca are works of art, adorned with bells and baubles and chrome-framed pictures of footballers like David Beckham, Michael Owen, Ronaldo and Ronaldino and film-stars like Arnold Swartzenegger and Bruce Lee

Most trishaw drivers are very good guides and can give you a wonderful histry lesson as you wander around the town.

Fondest memory: The people, the places, the weary feet which took to to a trishaw!

Fondest memory: i remember the very first time hearing my parents talking about "masakan peranakan" or strait born chinese meals when i was a kid. their topic was about "can we go out with our children to try peranakan food?"

then later, my mum pick a women magazine and show me about "nonya [or nyonya] food". there's several food recipes from peranakan kitchen. with teaser or opening words as follows, "kalau memasak masakan nonya bumbunya mesti pas, tidak boleh kurang. karena ini menjamin keasliannya." it's indonesian that can be translated in english as 'if you about cooking with nonya recipe, you should follow the ingredients precisely as the original cooking made.'

well, later i want to know about what is exactly the peranakan eateries look-like in malacca. a place which is famous for its strait born chinese food.

so, this 2004 malacca trip became one of my memorable gastronomic trips ;)

Favorite thing: Here's my reply to Question: Singapore to Melaka travel (posted by sdipta

Hey there...

I wld recommend Delima coach... at S$16.OO per pax. ... I took it last month and found it quite comfortable. You can purchase the tics fr. the Lavendar St. bus interchange (it's at the open grounds opp. the S'pore Caskets building).

As for hotel to stay... if u wanna have good food and shopping... i wld recommend u to stay near Jonkers St. ... Hotel Puri just behind Jonkers St. ... nice environment too... u'll probably need 2 rms at ~RM126 per night. It's withing walking distance to Jonkers St (abt. 3mins away only), Red House (Christ Church Melaka) and The Stadthuys (8-10mins) and Mahkota and Dataran Pahlawan malls (~15-20mins)... all by foot tht is...

fr the Sentral Melaka station walk to its domestic section and take the town bus (take the one going to Banda Hilir, n tell the driver to let u get off at the Red Hse(Christ Church Melaka... say "merah" (red))... abt RM1 per passenger then fr the red hse walk to ur hotel (b careful of speeding cars along the narrow lanes i must say... hold to on to ur kids!!)... if not u can take a cab at ~RM20 to ur hotel (hope they take all 5 of u... tho)...

alright then enjoy ur trip!!

Regards
shoestringbudget

Favorite thing: If you are planing a trip to Melaka, check out Package Trip Specials.
Ramesh Travel Service is the one we used. For SGD 120 we had the bus ride and a night at a five star hotel (Renaissance)! What a good deal!

Fondest memory: Ramesh Travel Service
http://www.rameshtravel.com