Taman Mini Malaysia & Mini ASEAN, Melaka

The Taman Mini Malaysia cultural park is located a few kilometres outside of Melaka, near the town of Ayer Keroh. If you have an interest in traditional architecture and ways of life, this is a great place to go exploring. Each of the homes represents the architectural style of the 13 states in Malaysia and is furnished with various items, arts and crafts which depict the culture of each state. 

Other attractions in the park include weekly cultural shows and traditional games. Basically, this is an opportunity to see all Malaysian architecture and heritage in a short all-encompassing outing. And it's a nice break from the hustle and bustle of nearby urban Melaka.

Inside each house, you can find a range of genuine handicrafts originating from each state or county. The life-like figures 'inhabiting' each charming home on stilts are garbed in their respective traditional costumes. 

Historical Museums Worth While of Seeing

Museum of Literature

Nice old building but the contents are of limited interest to the casual tourist. Concentrates on the life and works of Malacca-born Munshi Abdullah who has been referred to as the father of modern Malay literature.

Democratic Government Museum

I have to admit I did not enter this museum which is housed in a modern building near St. Paul's Church. The name of the museum did not arouse much interest and I would have had to take my shoes off again. Maybe next time.

Dutch Square and the Christ Church (Near Art Gallery )

Dutch Square is the popular name for the Malacca Town Square. The name Dutch Square came about since the British administration on account of the numerous Dutch-era administrative buildings left behind by the departing colonial forces. The square is said to have been built in the middle of the 17th century, and the Dutch lined it with the main townhouse, or Stadthuys, along with the Dutch Reformed Church, now called Christ Church.

In recent years, the Dutch Square has also been called the Red Square, since many of the Dutch buildings were now painted maroon. The color scheme was started by the British in the 1920's, when they painted them salmon red. The local authorities darkened it to maroon in later years.

Christ Church is an 18th-century Anglican church in the city of Malacca, Malaysia. It is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia and is within the jurisdiction of the Lower Central Archdeaconry of the Anglican Diocese of West Malaysia.

Places near the Dutch square 

Museums in Melaka

Melaka has a duty to preserve and maintain its unique historical and cultural heritage. It is not permitted to demolish or significantly modify the appearance of its many historic buildings so the city has to find a use for these valuable buildings. Converting them into museums is a good way of ensuring the heritage buildings are occupied and looked after.

                                          Malaysia Youth Museum & Melaka Art Gallery

Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Melaka Campus

Among key global destinations for travel is Malaysia, ranked 9th in the United Nation's World Tourism Organisation report for 2012. However in terms of tourist spending Malaysia is placed 14th at about USD18 billion in 2011. International tourist arrivals are expected to reach 1.8 billion by the year 2020. While Malaysia has achieved top ranking as a global tourism destination it is now working to increase its range of products and services to encourage longer stays and larger spending. Melaka is among key tourism destination that is building its advantage in tourism industry.

Melaka River Cruise

The Malacca River is the river that cuts across Malacca town, on its way to the Straits of Malacca. It separates the civic district clustered at the foot of St Paul's Hill, from the residential and commercial district of Heeren Street and Jonker Street. A flotilla of small boats transports sightseers up and down past historic buildings, old warehouses (godowns), interesting mangrove stands, churches, and villages. The 1998 Sean Connery movie Entrapment was partially filmed here. Tours last about 45 minutes in boats ranging from 20- to 40-seaters, and normally a minimum of eight passengers is required before departure.

You can departure on Muara Jetty, next to Quayside Heritage Centre, close to the Maritime Museum easily recognisable by the replica of the Portuguese ship Flor De la Mar. From here the cruise takes you upstream as far as Taman Rempah jetty where the boat turns around and brings you back to the starting point.

More information on http://www.melakarivercruise.com/

Hatten Hotel

Presenting a new experience in Melaka where contemporary design meets comfort.

Hatten Square is a 22 tower high Business Class Hotel conveniently located right in the heart of the city and the UNESCO Historical and Heritage sites along with shopping and major businesses all within close proximity.

Ranging from 32 square meters to 98 square meters in size, the Junior Suite and Deluxe Suite feature two LCD televisions, a mini fridge, iron and ironing board, hair-dryer and a dedicated living area complete with a marble bathroom.

Tucked away at corners of each floor are the one and two-bedroom suites. Spanning from 74 square meters to 98 square meters of space, they are enhanced with kitchen facilities, living area and separate bedroom(s). 

Whether it's for work, play or simply to refresh your perspective, Hatten Hotel provides all that you need from hospitality to facilities to fulfill your wish.

* Kindly be informed that Hatten Hotel Melaka is located in a Smoke Free Zone as gazetted by the State Government; as such smoking is strictly prohibited in our premises.

For more information please visit : http://www.hattenhotel.com

Jalan Tokong (Harmony Street)

Jalan Tokong Besi in Chinatown is also called Harmony Street because Temples and Mosques of the three main religions of Malaysia are located peacefully in the same small street.

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple: built in 1645, the oldest chinese Temple in Malaysia
Kampung Keling Mosque: was finished in 1868
Sri Payyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple:built in the late 18th centuri, oldest Hindu temple in Malaysia

JONKER WALK (China Town)

A definite haven for antique collectors and bargain hunters. Authentic artifacts and relics, some dating as far back as 300 years, can be found among a host of interesting collectibles, each with its own history and mystery.

Jalan Hang Jebat, formerly known as Jonker Street, is known worldwide among serious antique collectors as one of the best places to hunt and bargain for antiques.

Recently, a new wave of cafes and craft shops have sprouted on this street, lending it a cultured air of old-meets-new.

Welcome to Menara Taming Sari Melaka

From a height of 80 metres, the ride offers you a spectacular and panoramic view of Melaka UNESCO World Heritage City and a far with a host of interesting sights such as St.Paul’s Hill, Independence Memorial Building,Samudra Museum and the ship, Flor De La Mar, Dataran Pahlawan, Pulau Selat Mosque, Pulau Besar and the Straits of Melaka. That apart you will also see the fast and rapid development taking place in the state.

Melaka Chinatown

The oldest Chinatown in Malaysia is Malacca Chinatown and it is one of the few Chinatowns in the world located within a UNSECO World Heritage site.

Founding of Malacca Chinatown
Malacca Chinatown was founded by Ming Chinese migrants (mainly Hokkiens) who arrived around 1400 to participate in the Malacca centred trading economy.

There were also many visitors and the most famous was Admiral Cheng Ho (郑和). The Chinese population grew larger toward the end of the Ming dynasty as many who fled the Manchu rule headed for Malacca.

As in other Chinatowns, the migrants built institutions to serve their social needs. The oldest and most well know of these is the Cheng Hoon Teng (青云亭).

Many of these Chinese migrants married Malay ladies and Malacca became one of the Peranakan Culture centres of the region.

As the Qing dynasty was disintegrating in China, many Chinese left for Nanyang in search of work and opportunities.

Some arrived in Malacca, a British colony at that time, further boosting its Chinese population. Today, most of the sites and attractions in Malacca Chinatown date to this period.
Malacca Chinatown
Today’s Malacca Chinatown centres around three streets; Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, Jalan Hang Jebat, better known as Jonkers St, and Jalan Tokong.

The entire Chinatown is very touristy but its traditional Chinese temples, clan associations and food stores remained very authentic.

For example, the Wang Kang festival (王舡遊行) is organised based on spiritual consideration and not marketed as a tourist event. Perhaps because of this, even more tourists flock to observe the event.
Melaka Chinatown does not seem to be articulated enough and there are no official signs marking it as a Chinatown. It does however have an archway although it Jonker Street.
Melaka Chinatown – the culture
Melaka Chinatown is extremely picturesque and invokes a sense of nostalgia but the bigger attraction is the culture and even the people.
Chinese festivals are celebrated in an authentic way and very creatively. To welcome the year of the dragon, a dragon was suspended in the air visible from afar. It immediately became a major attraction luring people from afar and stopping visitors in their tracks to admire the dragon.
On important religious days, families, clan associations and shops offer their prayers with a make shift altars sometimes at the entrance of homes or outside shops. Walking along the street during these events allows visitors to engage and feel the atmosphere of the celebrations.
Even during non-festive seasons, pastry shops offering traditional Chinese pastries and Peranakan goodies provide enough sensorial delight anytime of the day.
UNSECO World Heritage site
Melaka Chinatown is one of the few Chinatowns in the world that is located within a UNSECO World Heritage site. The others are Penang Chinatown and Luang Prabang Chinatown in Laos.

The Portuguese

When the Portuguese conquered Melaka in 1511 and ruled for 130 years, a few stayed behind and formed a fishing community that has lasted till today. As devout Catholics, they celebrate various festivals dedicated to their religion which can be witnessed throughout the year in their settlement the Portuguese Square.

Over the years, the Portuguese intermarried with the local population and are now collectively referred to as Portuguese-Eurasian or 'Kristang', but they still maintain their traditional surnames such as 'Sequiera' and 'Lopez'. Usually, they speak a distinct language which is a Creole (fusion of two languages) based on Portuguese and Malay.

The Portuguese community in Melaka are a merry bunch, often celebrating with loud dances, music and song. Their most famous tune is the 'Jinggling Nyonya', a happy dance-song routine. They've also brought their food; 'Curry Debel¡' is among the most famous of their dishes.

In June, the Portuguese Suare becomes abuzz with activity as the villagers celebrate a feast in honour of their patron saint. It is truly a sight for visitors to behold and a great chance to get to know this special 3,000-odd group of people in Malaysia.

Santa Cruz

The quaint 19th-century Chapel of Santa Cruz (Holy Cross) on top of Malim Hill along the old Malacca-Alor Gajah trunk road has been shrouded in a mix of mystery and legend for over a hundred years.
The chapel's origins has been laced in uncertainty since the discovery of a wooden cross on the spot where the present chapel stands.
A small wooden chapel was built on the site between 1870 and 1880 after the discovery of the cross. This chapel was replaced by the present brick building.

Over the years, the cross has attracted thousands of pilgrims to mark the Feast of Santa Cruz on September 14 (or the Sunday closest to the date).
More than 12,000 people from Malaysia and Singapore thronged the hill over three nights before spending the morning observing the feast this year.
For many, making the trip to Malim Hill is an annual pilgrimage borne out of favours granted through the intercession of the old cross or the Almighty in their lives.
In their own way, Catholics and non-Christians offered prayers, gave donations and lit candles for prayers answered and grace received.
The original cross is said to have been chipped away by eager pilgrims seeking a piece of the religious relic.

Located between a rubber estate and a Chinese cemetery, the chapel under the jurisdiction of Malacca's St. Peter's Church is only open during the feast, which was initiated over 150 years ago.
The story of the origins of the Feast of Santa Cruz is interesting, and there are different versions depending on the source.
Some accounts tell of a devout Catholic lady from Kubu who fell ill. All possible medical aid was given to her to no avail.
One night in her dream, an old man appeared and told her that a cross would be found on top of Malim Hill.
A couple of days later, with the assistance of neighbours, the woman's family found a 46cm cross on the hill partially covered by a termite nest.
Another version attributes the finding of the cross to a child of Joanna Sta Maria from the Portuguese community in Kubu.

The child supposedly dreamt on three consecutive nights about a cross to be found on Malim Hill.
Other stories are more prosaic about the feast's origins.
According to the book Survival Through Human Values by the late Father M.J. Pintado, a former parish priest of St. Peter's, Malacca was a Catholic town during Portuguese rule from 1511 to 1641 and there was a church or chapel on every street and hill.
The cross may well have been a grave marker or affixed to a place of worship which went into ruin during the 154-year Dutch occupation of Malacca, noted Father Pintado.
There is another account noted in J.V. Mills translation of Eredias 1613 description of Malacca.
It stated that Malays in the vicinity were curious about lights emanating from the hill and located the wooden cross upon inspection. They then informed St. Peter's Church of the discovery.
Mystery was added when lights or an apparition of the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared when the chapel was rebuilt and consecrated by the church.
Whatever the origins, the Feast of Santa Cruz will continue to draw pilgrims to Malacca.
The feast has become well known like the Good Friday celebrations at St. Peter's Church in late March or early April and the Feast of St. Francis Xavier at St. Paul's Hill in early December.

Intrudu Water Festival

For Melaka, we have a special watering festival, but not exactly mean for river or the sea, it is on land itself. The Intrudu. It’s the Melaka Portuguese community water festival or they call it Pesta Intrudu. A bit similar to the water festival at Southern of Thailand were the call it Songkran Festival. This year Intrudu was held at 14th February.

Intrudu is celebrate by Melaka Portuguese community as a symbol of cleansing the sin. The ceremony will be held every year with the initiative from the Melaka Portuguese community Regedor. At early in the morning, water drums will be prepared along the road of the Portuguese Settlement at Ujong Pasir . Then they will wait for everyone that will walk along the road.

In Melaka Portuguese Kristang language they called it ‘Pincha Agu. When everybody walk along the road they will be splash with the water. The ceremony then continued until afternoon and all the villagers will take part. At the evening, the village will be served with a parade called ‘Branyo Rudia’ that decorated with song and dance ‘Jingling Nona’. This Intrudu Festival is celebrate according to their Catholic Calendar.

Culture of Melaka

The historic centre of Melaka was inscribed on the World Heritage List on 7 July 2008 together with George Town, the capital of Penang.
Two of the most important museums in Malacca are the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum and the Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum.
Belacan, a Malay variety of shrimp paste, is prepared from fresh shrimp of a species known as keragu in Malay. .
Heavily decorated bicycle rickshaw in Melaka. A population of Portuguese descent, who speak a Portuguese creole, are the descendants of colonists from the 16th and 17th centuries.[15] Even to this day, many of the traditions originating with the Portuguese occupation are still practised, i.e. "Intrudu" from Portuguese word "Entrudo" (a water festival that marks the beginning of Lent, the Catholic fasting period), "branyu" (traditional dance), "Santa Cruz" (a yearly Festival of street celebrations). The Portuguese colonists contributed dishes like Devil's Curry and Portuguese egg tarts to the town's cuisine. Ikan Bakar (roasted fish) restaurants in Umbai, Serkam and Alai are also popular.[citation needed]
There is also a sizeable number of Sikhs residing in Melaka, and Sikhs from Malacca and abroad congregate in the gurdwara (Sikh temple) situated in Jalan Temenggong during the last weekend of May, to commemorate the death of its former priest, Sant Baba Sohan Singh Ji, who was elevated to a saint upon passing away.[citation needed] Visitors are welcome but are advised to follow rules and common practices within the premises.

History of Melaka

The history of Melaka is largely the story of the city for which it is named, and the story of the city of Melaka begins with the fascinating and partly legendary tale of the Hindu prince Parameswara.

The Malay Annals relate that Parameswara was a fourteenth-century Palembang prince who, fleeing from a Javanese enemy, escaped to the island of Temasik (present-day Singapore) and quickly established himself as its king. Shortly afterward, however, Parameswara was driven out of Temasik by an invasion by the Siamese, and with a small band of followers set out along the west coast of the Malay peninsula in search of a new refuge. The refugees settled first at Muar, Johor, but they were quickly driven away by a vast and implacable horde of monitor lizards; the second spot chosen seemed equally unfavorable, as the fortress that the refugees began to build fell to ruins immediately. Parameswara moved on. Soon afterward, during a hunt near the mouth of a river called Bertam, he saw a white mouse-deer or pelanduk kick one of his hunting dogs. So impressed was he by the mouse-deer's brave gesture that he decided immediately to build a city on the spot. He asked one of his servants the name of the tree under which he was resting and, being informed that the tree was called a Malaka, gave that name to the city. The year was 1400.

Although its origin is as much romance as history, the fact is that Parameswara's new city was situated at a point of tremendous strategic importance. Midway along the straits that linked China to India and the Near East, Malacca was perfectly positioned as a center for maritime trade. The city grew rapidly, and within fifty years it had become a wealthy and powerful hub of international commerce, with a population of over 50,000. It was during this period of Malacca's history that Islam was introduced to the Malay world, arriving along with Gujarati traders from western India. By the first decade of the sixteenth century Malacca was a bustling, cosmopolitan port, attracting hundreds of ships each year. The city was known worldwide as a center for the trade of silk and porcelain from China; textiles from Gujarat and Coromandel in India; camphor from Borneo; sandalwood from Timor; nutmeg, mace, and cloves from the Moluccas, gold and pepper from Sumatra; and tin from western Malaya.

Unfortunately, this fame arrived at just the moment when Europe began to extend its power into the East, and Malacca was one of the very first cities to attract its covetous eye. The Portuguese under the command of Afonso de Albuquerque arrived first, taking the city after a sustained bombardment in 1511. The Sultan Mahmud fled to Johor, from whence the Malays counterattacked the Portuguese repeatedly though without success. One reason for the strength of the Portuguese defence was the construction of the massive fortification of A Famosa or Porta De Santiago, only a small portion of which survives today.

A Famosa ensured Portuguese control of the city for the next one hundred and fifty years, until, in 1641, the Dutch after an eight-month siege and a fierce battle. Malacca was captured, but it lay in almost complete ruin. Over the next century and a half, the Dutch rebuilt the city and occupied it largely as a military base, using its strategic location to control the Straits of Malacca. In 1795, when the Netherlands was captured by French Revolutionary armies, Malacca was handed over to the British by the Dutch to avoid capture by the French. Although they returned the city to the Dutch in 1808, it was soon given over to the British once again in a trade for Bencoleen, Sumatra. From 1826, the English East India Company in Calcutta ruled the city, although it experienced Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945. Independence did not arrive until 1957, when anti-colonial sentiment culminated in a proclamation of independence by His Highness Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Malaysia's first Prime Minister.

About Melaka ..

Melaka is the third smallest Malaysian state after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Straits of Malacca. It borders Negeri Sembilan to the north and Johor to the south. Although it was the location of one of the earliest Malay sultanates, the monarchy was abolished when the Portuguese conquered it in 1511. The head of state is the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or Governor, rather than a Sultan.