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Chicken rice
balls anyone? An uncommon phrase but in the beautiful and historical city of
Melaka or Malacca, it triggers sensations common to the approximate 788,000
locals. This blog would best cater to travelers of all ages, those able to ride
a bike, fond of history and on a gastronomic adventure through Asia. Malaysia's ethnic population consists of more than half, Malay, however,
the Chinese and Indians have strong influences on the nation's colourful, vibrant
history and culture. The best way to get in touch with Malaysia's culture and
historical past is to visit it's oldest city, to see, hear and eat like the
locals do and absorb all the wonder that this city has to offer. "A visit
to Melaka would appeal to those who have
a taste for history, shopping and fusion cuisine. It is also a major stop on
Southeast Asia's Silk Route"(Ruggia, 2002).
History
is everywhere in Malacca, existing in every nook and corner, hinting at and
sometimes boldly presenting itself, it epitomises the glorious past of
international trade, power and conquests. Malacca, is renowned for its history
which spans across 600 years, most of which, were as a colonised state. Founded
by a Sumatran prince in the early 1400s, proclaiming himself as ruler of
Malacca. His kingdom grew and became one of the most powerful centres of trade between
the East and the West. However, as the centuries passed, Malacca was colonised
by first, the Portuguese, lead by Afonso de Albuquerque in 1511, then by the
Dutch and the British. By the time Malaysia gained its independence in 1957,
Malacca had become a historical melting pot of post-colonisation, architecture,
food and culture.
Malaysian
local produce combined with a multicultural population and spices traded in
centuries passed, has resulted in a vast number of local dishes, commonly
called 'fusion' to others, ranging from the mildest to spiciest of chillies,
sweet and sour, hot and cold, overall, flavours that will make your tongue
dance and your tummy happy. Peranakan culture as a whole is largely defined by
its cuisine, 'Nyonya'. As a Malaysian myself, Malacca’s culture is irrevocably
defined by it. A combination of Malay and Chinese traditions, Nyonya cuisine
comprises of dishes with exceptional vegetables, curries thickened by coconut
milk and sauces that are delightfully intense. Nyonya laksa, babi pongteh, cincalok
omelette and ayam buah keluak are some of the most notable Nyonya dishes and
should be on every food adventurer's 'must try' list.
Nyonya Laksa
Babi Pongteh
Cincalok Omelette
Ayam Buah Keluak
"But whatever the origin,
there is one way to classify what people eat in this nation of immigrants:
unbelievably delicious" (Gross, 2006). Malaccan local cuisine generally is
a mixture of Portuguese, Dutch, British, Chinese, Malay and Indian. Historical
heritage and local culture play a massive role in the uniqueness of each dish.
Here, I have selected the top delicacies that must be tried when visiting
Malacca. These foods are incredibly tantalising to the palate. 1. Chicken Rice
Balls, 2. Pineapple Tarts, 3. Satay Celup, 4. Bubur Cha Cha, 5. Devil's Curry
chicken.
Pineapple Tarts
Satay Celup
Bubur Cha Cha
Devil's Chicken Curry
After
your tummy has been filled, there are many different historical sites one can
visit or join a tour. For museum enthusiasts, 'Stadthuys' is believed to be the
oldest-surviving Dutch building in the East. Built between 1641 and 1660 on the
ruins of a Portuguese fort. Today, Stadthuys is a museum, displaying typical features
of Dutch colonial architecture. Another fascinating museum would be, The Baba
Nyonya Heritage Museum containing an amazing display of 16th century artefacts,
whom merchants and entrepreneurs left behind after they were lured to Malacca’s
shores due to stories of the city’s promising success and wealth.
Stadthuys
Baba Nyonya Heritage House
For
a more picturesque part of Malacca, Portuguese colonialists' A’Famosa, built in
1511, the settlement used to spread across a whole hillside but now only an isolated
gate (Porta de Santiago) remains. A’Famosa is perhaps Malacca’s best known
sightseeing spot. Another attraction would be The Malacca River and a 45-minute
River Cruise that takes you all the way to Kampung Morten, past Malacca town
and the settlements and bridges along the riverbank with recorded commentaries.
Malacca River Cruise
Jonker
Street, once renowned for its antique shops, in recent years has become a hub
for clothing and crafts outlets as well as restaurants. The best part of Jonker
Street is the night market on Fridays and weekends from 6pm till midnight. Local
culture is extremely vibrant religiously diverse Malacca, and has a unique
neighbourhood whereby all 3 out of 4 major religions are located just meters
apart from eachother, accesible via Jonker Street, The Cheng Hoon Teng Buddhist
Temple, built in 1646, also known as the ‘Merciful Cloud Temple’ and is the
oldest in Malaysia, The Kampung Kling Mosque and The Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar
Moorthi Hindu Temple.
Jonker Walk
To get to Malacca, your best form of
transportation would be by bus. Melaka Sentral, the huge, well-designed modern
long-distance bus station, located in Malacca's city centre. Buses to Malacca
can be taken from any state in Malaysia or directly from Singapore. If you're
thinking of going on a road trip around Malaysia, driving to Malacca would
become your transit point. Unfortunately, there is no direct train or flight to
Malacca city. Rent a bike to get around the city or hire a colourful trishaw.
Bus from Singapore
Colourful Trishaw
Accommodations in Malacca are mostly
hostels including bed and breakfasts'. A handful of 3 to 5 star hotels are
located within the city area, most, are a walking distance to the Malacca's
main attractions. Hostels are designed for backpackers, where as bed and
breakfasts' would be best suited for those wanting to have a more authentic
Malaccan experience, staying in a gorgeous shop house dated at least a century ago,
owned and managed by friendly local Malaccans.
Bed and Breakfast
Let
me leave you with these fond comments about Malacca, "Its foundation of
vibrant multiculturalism, which dates back centuries, is very much alive and
increasingly accessible, as it welcomes a handful of hotels and millions of
international visitors a year "(Lindt, 2012). "The country as a whole
weaves a complex tapestry of one-of-a-kind experiences for incentive programs"(Batirin,
2005). The historical
city of Melaka also has its place in UNESCO's World Heritage list since 2008, "as a unique preservation of history reflecting the coming
together of cultural elements from the Malay Archipelago, India and China with
those of Europe" (UNESCO World Heritage Centre, 2008). Hope that gives you
even more reason to visit the historically and gastronomically vibrant city of Malacca.
Hope to see you there!
Selamat Datang ke Melaka (Welcome to Malacca)
Fiona Boon,
Global Cities student.
References
- As We Travel (2012), 'Melaka -why it's worth a visit', viewed 21 March, 2012 <http://www.aswetravel.com/melaka-why-its-worth-a-visit/>
- Batirin, Shaifol (2005),"Malaysia: This Gorgeous South Pacific Locale", Incentive, vol. 179, no. 9, p. 17, Nielsen Business Media: New York.
- Central Intelligence Agency (2013) <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/my.html>
- Gross, Matt (2006), "Take Many Peoples and Ingredients, Mix, Enjoy." New York Times 5.
- Lindt, Naomi (2012),"History as lure in a Malaysian City." New York Times, 11.
- Lonely Planet (2009), 'Introducing Melaka', viewed 21 March, 2013 <http://www.lonelyplanet.com/malaysia/peninsular-malaysia-west-coast/melaka>
- Ruggia, James (2002), 'Melaka: A Spice Trade Mecca' , Travel Agent, 307, 11, p. 68, Business Source Complete.
- World 66 (2010), 'Melaka Travel Guide', viewed 24 March, 2013 <http://www.world66.com/asia/southeastasia/malaysia/melaka>
- World Heritage Centre (2008), 'Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca', UNESCO, viewed 21 March, 2013 <http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1223>.
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