MELAKA HISTORICAL CITY

If you haven't driven all the way there for some decent meal, you aren't a true Malaysian! This historical state is rich in history, culture, colonial architecture, old sites, exciting amusement parks, and delectable local food. Pack your bags and prepare for a 2D1N road trip that includes some of the top things to eat, see, and do in Melaka.

They attracted by old towns all around the world and will never be bored when visiting them. This time, we picked Malacca (Melaka), a once known commercial port in Malaysia, located south of Kuala Lumpur. Without a question, this place is definitely worth our time... and yours who read our blog.

We will support you in summarizing all of the information that you need to know before your trip, particularly the list of Best Things to Do in Melaka based on our experience.

WE WILL INTYRODUCE YOU ABOUT MELAKA

Malacca (Malay: Melaka) is a Malaysian state located in the Malay Peninsula's southern section, near to the Malacca Strait. Its capital, Malacca City, is known as the Historic City and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 7, 2008.

Although it was home to one of the oldest Malay sultanates, the Malacca Sultanate, it was abolished when the Portuguese captured it in 1511. Rather than a Sultan, the head of state is the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, or Governor. Malacca is known for its distinct heritage and is a popular tourist destination in Malaysia. Malacca was previously a well-known worldwide trading centre in the East, because to its very strategic geographical position for international trade routes. Many traders anchored in Malacca, particularly traders from Arabia, China, and India, and from there arose many of the ancestors and tribes that still live in Malacca today.

The local community has historically had a wide range of races and ethnicities, which reflects its past. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Baba Nyonya, Kristang, Chitty, and Eurasians are major ethnic groupings in the state of Malacca today.

LOCATION

The state is bounded to the north and west by Negeri Sembilan, and to the south by Johor. Tanjung Tuan is also bordered to the north by Negeri Sembilan. Its capital, Malacca City, is 148 kilometres (92 miles) southeast of Malaysia's capital city, Kuala Lumpur, 235 kilometres (146 miles) northwest of Johor Bahru, and 95 kilometres (59 miles) northwest of Batu Pahat, Johor's second biggest city.

HOW TO GET TO MELAKA FROM KUALA LUMPUR

The best way to reach Melaka is to get a train from KL Sentral to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) Bus Station, then book a bus from TBS Bus Station to Melaka city. The bus journey from TBS Bus Station to Melaka is about 2 hours.

TRANSPOTATION

Except for areas that are distant from our accommodation, I believe walking is the greatest option because the points of interest are very close to each other. Our mode of transportation will be a Grab car. Melaka's public transportation is inconvenient since it is usually crowded. It is preferable to walk or take a Grab Car.

WHERE TO STAY

Melaka has a variety of low-cost hostels, motels, and Airbnb houses. I stayed in an Airbnb rental. Staying in any of Melaka's heritage hotels, on the other hand, will provide you with a more in-depth understanding of the city's ethnicity. These hotels' locations, interiors, and exteriors are ideal for travelers.

BELOW IS THE THINGS WE DO IN MELAKA

    A FAMOSA FOTRESS

A’Famosa Fortress are the most attractions in Melaka and many people and tourist will visit here to get the value moment with the history monument.

When we visit the A’Famosa Fortress in Malacca, near by the building area got many dining restaurants. This monument nearby Malacca town area.

So people no worries because you will easy and enjoy with attractive dishes when you get the chance to travel to Malacca.

Kota A Famosa is a Portuguese fortress located in Malacca (dubbed ‘The Historic State), Malaysia. It was built by the Portuguese Empire in 1511. It is among the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia. It was demolished on August 10th, 1807. The only part that remained is a small gate. It is currently demolished although there are ongoing efforts to reconstruct this fortress. It was controlled by the Portuguese from the year 1511 to 1641, Dutch from the year 1641 to 1795 and English from 1795 to the year when it was demolished.

In 1511, a Portuguese fleet arrived under the command of Afonso de Albuquerque. His forces attacked and defeated the armies of the Malacca Sultanate. Moving quickly to consolidate his gains, Albuquerque had the fortress built around a natural hill near the sea. Albuquerque believed that Malacca would become an important port linking Portugal to the Spice Route in

 

China. At this time other Portuguese were establishing outposts in such places as Macau, China and Goa, India in order to create a string of friendly ports for ships heading to China and returning home to Portugal.

 

The fortress once consisted of long ramparts and four major towers. One was a four-story keep, while the others held an ammunition storage room, the residence of the captain, and an officers' quarters. Most of the village clustered in town houses inside the fortress walls. As Malacca's population expanded it outgrew the original fort and extensions were added around 1586.

The fort changed hands in 1641 when the Dutch drove the Portuguese out of Malacca. The Dutch renovated the gate in 1670, which explains the logo "ANNO 1670" inscribed on the gate's arch. Above the arch is a bas-relief logo of the Dutch East India Company.

The fortress changed hands again in the early 19th century when the Dutch handed it over to the British to prevent it from falling into the hands of Napoleon's expansionist.

It is the remainders of the European architecture which used to become a fort for Alfonso de Albuquerque who was the Portuguese who take hold the Malacca sultanate after defeated the armies. 

A’Famosa Fort is always referred to the surviving gate of the fort because it was connected with old chapel back then in history. The fort is a small remain of the long past history of Melaka. A heritage well preserved.

The monument is really old yet has many stories behind it. This place is a place we must visit because it has historical values and it is very iconic. Built in 1511, this fortress was built with long ramparts and four major towers. One of the towers was a four-storey keep while the others were the home of the captain, officer’s quarters and an ammunition storage room.  Today, most of the fortress has been destroyed with the exception of a small gatehouse, yet it remains the oldest surviving European structure in all of Asia.

Stay healthy in vacation trip and still have fun with the trip.

Do things that you’ll remember for a lifetime.

Weekend travel is perfect for creating memories. This is the time you should treat yourself. Do those things that you’ll always remember.

JONKER STREET NIGHT MARKET

Since 2010, Melaka's Jonker Street Night Market has become an icon of this historic city, offering a great night to explore culinary delights, local handicrafts and culture through 450 stalls and counting.

Melaka's Jonker Street Night Market operates on a three-day-a-week system on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. However, there are recent proposals in 2022 to also open it on weekdays to promote more tourism to the city. We will follow these developments and update this guide accordingly.

What's great about Melaka's Jonker Street Melaka market is that you'll find food stalls offering classic Malaysian food, local Nyonya cuisine, and the most important community food, Chinese and Indian, and neighboring Thailand.

The best food and drink at Jonker Street Night Market

With oodles of noodles and magnificent Malaysian morsels to taste, this must be one of the best night markets in South East Asia for food. From chicken rice-balls to creamy coconut ice-cream, you’ll find some delicious delights to suit even the most adventurous traveler's tastes. Our food favorites at Jonker Street Night Market include:

1. Coconut Shake

This stall sells the best coconut shake we've ever tasted (a mixture of coconut water, coconut filling and vanilla ice cream)! The coconut huskers is also very entertaining - throwing balls of coconut meat up and down in the air which is great fun to watch!

Coconut shake costs RM5.00 , or you can buy a ball of coconut meat and water in a plastic container for only RM2.00. You will find it at the beginning of Jonker Street near the river.

2. Flower pot ice cream

Also known as bonsai ice cream, this sweet treat can be found sold at various stalls around Jonker. It's a "pot" of your choice of ice cream, topped with finely ground Oreo pieces that look like "dirt", and Parsley stalks that signify "flowers"! As strange as it is, scooping the contents of the pot and enjoying it, it's quite tasty and interesting. Must try! The price is around RM5.00.

3. Nyonya Laksa

The specialty of Melaka, Nyonya Laksa is similar to curry laksa, but with a thicker and tastier sauce made with shrimp and chicken stock. It comes with tofu poke, fried tofu skin, and fish balls. A bowl of delicious noodle goodness. Price RM5.00.

Interesting Souvenir in Jonker Street Market:

There are all sorts of interesting things to buy and eat at the market – you'll find stalls selling everything from souvenirs, food, clothes, toys, jeweler and accessories, temporary tattoos, art prints and Studio Ghibli merchandise (we bought some Totoro ornaments).

Jonker Gallery is one of the must visit places in Jonker Street whenever you pay a visit there. There are four outlets of Jonker Gallery you can find in Jonker Walk in Melaka. Since it is a retail shop, everyone is able to get their piece of souvenirs with a lower price when compared to other shop.

We found many stalls selling very unique gifts that we have never seen before at any other night market in Southeast Asia and we would say Jonker Street is definitely one of our favorites.

 

MUSEUM PRISON MELAKA

Traditional Malacca City tourism activities include a visit to the A Famosa, a stroll around the Jonker Street night market, and a tour of the Significantly better. Have you ever considered visiting an odd area after all of that? What about spending a quick visit to a jail?

The subject of Malaysian prisons has never been too foreign to us, thanks to the government's frequent exhibitions hosted around the nation. A museum created within an 8-hundred-year-old jail, on the other hand, is an entirely different tale. Penjara Banda Hilir, Malaysia's second oldest jail after Penang Prison, was built in 1860. We set out on our adventure to this hidden treasure with this in mind and no idea what to anticipate.

Penjara Banda Hilir (also known as 'Museum Penjara Malaysia') is just around 1.8 kilometers from Dataran Pahlawan in Malacca's city center. The towering structure, identifiable by its tall barbed walls, is located in Kampung Bandar Hilir, just near the traffic signal junction of Jalan Melati and Jalan Parameswara.

We had to go around the perimeter wall to access the front entrance after arriving and parking our car in the allocated location on the far back side of the building. Even before entering the facility, the shadows cast by the stone buildings and sentry towers conveyed a feeling of size to the jail and what life would have been like within.

Before starting the tour, the ticket keeper informed me that there is no ban on taking pictures in the Malaysian Prison Museum except in the FISHING and HANGING SENTENCE sections.

Location:	Malaysian Prison Museum
Address:	Parameswara Road, Lower Town Village, 75000 Malacca.
Operation Hour:	9.00 am - 5.00 pm (Tuesday - Sunday) Closed (Monday)
Ticket Price:	Citizens RM 3 (Adult) RM 1 (Children) Not a citizen RM 6 (Adult) RM 3 (Children) Free (Disabled & Children Under 6)

We were welcomed with a dimly lighted hallway with little steps leading to rooms on both the left and right sides. These narrow chambers with exceptionally high ceilings, strong metal doors, and a single window each used as jail cells while the prison was still operational. We were immediately cramped and anxious, and it took us a bit to realize that these were the quarters where some convicts had spent decades of their lives.

Special Clothes for Prisoners Who Have Escaped

Each Color Gives a Different Meaning (Penalty Period)

For the caning punishment, the punishment will be carried out in an open area and the back will be spanked based on the number of lashes applied. After the sentence is over. The wound on the back will be treated. Until the skin on his back was torn.

For the death penalty. Hanging to death is the main option. There are procedures to be followed. The prisoner will be transferred to a prison cell located close to the punishment room after the date of punishment is determined. Prisoners will be notified within 3 days from the date of sentencing. 1 day before the end of the sentence, the prisoner will be given the opportunity to meet family members for the last time. Prisoners are also given 1 last request. On the day of the incident, the prisoner will be taken to the punishment room with his head covered all the time until the gallows.

After the hanging procedure, the body will be handed over to the family members for the funeral ceremony. All belongings belonging to prisoners are handed over to family members. Goods will be disposed of if no claim is made. In this section as well, visitors are exposed to killing techniques practiced throughout the ages by various civilizations.

One of Malaysia's most interesting museums, in our view. Fortunately, most of us never have to visit a jail. This museum, built in an actual old jail, allows us to imagine how life may have been for the convicts and prison employees.

Some of the old cells have been preserved, complete with discolored walls and graffiti by convicts. They are relatively small rooms with only a grill window high up to let some light in.

Food at Melaka that you should try

1. BARAKAH CORNER

When we go for travel, the food is the best part of the travel journey. Melaka are one of the country that have a variety of foods. For this trip, we choose to go to the special Roti Canai Merecik at 8272 Barakah Corner for our breakfast. These stall in Kampung Lapan, Melaka provides Roti Canai Merecik Special or also known as ‘Roti Canai Burrito’

What is interesting about this Roti Canai Merecik Special is that the roti canai was stuffed with an omelette and spiced fried chicken. We can also add cheese to make it more delicious. This roti canai is also kneaded until thin to ensure that the outside is crispy and flaky like a pastry. The skin of this crispy roti canai is really suitable to be matched with the filling and dhal. It’s a treat! The prices are affordable, and the variety of food can be found in one place. 

 

They also have a variety of roti canai, roti bakar, lontong, and nasi lemak. Lontong was very nice too. Their price is affordable, and the service was great. This stall is always full, so you have to wait a little bit to get a seat. But no worries; the service was so fast. You want to try "Roti Canai Buritto"? Here is the address.

Address: Jalan Pandan, Taman Kesidang Seksyen 1 (Bersebelahan Klinik Kesihatan Tengkera), Kampung Lapan, 75250 Melaka. 

Operation hour: 7.30am – 1.00pm (Every day except Tuesday)

2. COCONUT SHAKE BATU BERENDAM

We were eager to try the coconut shake as soon as we arrived in Melaka. We'll be at Coconut Shake Batu Berendam. There is always a long line, but no worries, the service is really fast. Look at the blander line-up!

This is the best coconut shake I've ever had. The combination of rich coconut flavor and vanilla ice cream is delicious. I will definitely do this again the next time I visit Melaka. There is another coconut shake at Klebang, but personally, I love this one at Batu Berendam. But you can try both based on your preference.

3. KERIA GULA MELAKA

We can also get Keria Gula Melaka, which is popular in Melaka, at the Batu Berendam food court. The keria are soft, sweet, and delicious. There are a lot of stalls along the road selling keria gula melaka, but for me, this is the best one and also the easiest to buy because it is at the same place as the coconut shake. By the way, they also have Pisang Goreng, Sukun, Cempedak, and others.

Address: Ruang Niaga Terbuka, Taman Cergas, 75350 Batu Berendam, Melaka

Operation hours: 10am – 7pm (Monday – Friday), 9.30 – 7pm (Saturday & Sunday)

4. RUMAH ASAM PEDAS MELAKA

The environment was really calm and cold. Parking and a seat are also easily accessible. We ordered asam pedas telur mayong, asam pedas ikan jenahak, daging masak lemak cili api, and other side dishes. Telur Mayong is the main menu at this restaurant.

As a person who really loves asam pedas, I think the soup was good, but the fish is quite hard and sticky. Same goes to daing masak lemak; the beef was sticky. But the other food was good, and the price was also not too expensive. Our total food bill for 5 people was RM87. If you want to try this restaurant, here is the address for your reference

Address: 19, 78000 Alor Gajah, Malacca

Operation Hours: 7.00am – 6pm (Every day except Friday)

5. GERAI MESRA RIA, PANTAI PUTERI

It’s a time for dinner! We decided to go to Pantai Puteri. Along the way here, we could see a very beautiful beach scenery.   The skies are really beautiful and calm.

So, we arrived at the Pantai Puteri food court. We are having dinner at Gerai Mesra Ria Yong Tau Foo. The table is always full. I'm glad we arrived early so we could easily find parking and a table. There are so many choices, and the best part is that you can choose them yourself.

Choose and give it to the counter, and they will cook for you so fast. They will serve it together with the sambal. At night and with hot soup, it was really good and delicious. Usually, for 5–8 people, we will take 2 big bowls based on your choices. You can also choose a meggi, beehoon, or kuey tiaw.

This is just RM37.

Definitely will come again next time. I will highly recommend to go to this yong tau foo. After having a dinner, you can walk around Pantai Puteri. There will be stall along the road. Here I put the address so all of you can try.

Address: Gerai No.1 Medan Selera Pantai Rombang, 76400 Tanjung Kling, Malacca

Operation Hour: 4.30pm – 10pm (open every day except Monday)

CONCLUSION

People travel for a number of purposes, including passing the time, engaging in leisure activities, working, conducting business, adventure, migration, and discovery. Traveling is good since it allows you to learn, engage with other cultures, acquire new languages, enhance communication skills, obtain fresh perspectives on life and the world, and meet new and intriguing people. Globalization and technological advancements have made travel more convenient in modern culture. Traveling, despite its benefits, has certain drawbacks. It is costly, time consuming, exhausting, and exposes people to illness risk. It is important for travellers to establish the objective of their journey in order to select the best travel plan or plan. It is also critical to make the essential enquiries and plans before to going in order to prevent becoming stuck or lost in a new location. For example, travellers may need to understand and study the fundamental locations that encourage destinations to visit. This is required to better understand and know the place to be visited. The next trip  we will go to Penang because Penang have many choices of places to visit.