tedTRAVELjournal (INTERNATIONAL) #1: Selamat Datang di Melaka
tedTRAVELjournal (INTERNATIONAL)
tedTRAVELjournal (INTERNATIONAL) #1: Selamat Datang di Melaka
Melaka, a UNESCO World Heritage City, is the capital city of the state of Melaka in West Malaysia.
Brief History
Melaka is formerly known as Malacca. It is alongside the Strait of Malacca at the mouth of the sluggish Melaka River. According to the history, the city was founded by Paramesvara about 1400. Paramesvara was the ruler of Tumasik (now Singapore) who fled from the forces of the Javanese kingdom of Majapahit. He took a refuge which was then a small fishing village. There he founded a Malay kingdom aided by the Chinese.
Alfonso d’Albuquerque, viceroy of the Portuguese Indies, conquered Melaka which ended the Malay rule in 1511. The Portuguese, during 16th century, realized enormous profits from the especially lucrative spice trade that passed through the port. In 1641, Dutch took over the ruling of the place, yet was interrupted by the British in 1795.
My Experience
I was bored in Singapore during a three-day break (September 1-3, 2017) from school. So, I decided to travel alone to Johor Bahru, Malaysia (the adjacent state of Malaysia from Singapore). After the immigration processes from both checkpoints of the two countries (Singapore and Malaysia), I decided to travel to another place since I’m always visiting Johor. For several checks in the web and being a cultural educator, I decided to check Melaka, Malaysia being a UNESCO World Heritage City.
I hopped into the bus of Johor Bahru Larkin Station around 10 AM heading to Melaka. While in the bus, I posted in my Couchsurfing app that I’m travelling to Melaka. Fortunately, a local, Jerry See Toh, from Couchsurfing app replied and was willing to host me in his apartment.
I arrived in Melaka Sentral Bus Station and I managed to find a public bus transport going to the place where my host can pick me. While waiting, I walked to the nearby buildings and without knowing, I am already in the Dutch Square. Yet, in a short while, my host arrived.
We went for a short jogging in a park nearby his apartment. We shared common interest in having a walk or a jog around nearby parks. First tourist spot he brought me was St. John’s Fort. It was a fort up in the hill which will allow you to have an overlooking view of the city . And we then went to his apartment for me to settle my things.
In the evening, my feet were eager to explore the night life of the downtown. So, I asked my host where the best spot is. He mentioned the Jonker Walk. Without delays, I grabbed a taxi and went to the Jonker Walk. Indeed, the night was alive in the Jonker Walk – full of highly spirited individuals, foods, drinks, local products and the like. I was very amazed how the government supported such movement of making a long stretch of street not only as a tourist area but a place for friends and family bonding. While walking, I saw the Melaka River with some boats accessorizing its slow river flow. Then I wasn’t able to control my kiddo self and boarded the almost an hour river cruise. My eyes then were full of delights as I saw the shining and glittering buildings and shop houses along both riversides, the fully decorated bridges and the historically graffiti-painted house walls.
St. John’s Fort
Jonker Walk
Melaka River Cruise
In my second day, my target was to culturally-map the Dutch Square. It is a spot where most of the historical and heritage sites are closely beside each other. I spent my whole morning in the area without minding the scorching heat of the sun. I enjoyed every step I took, every sight I viewed, every click I captured, every small talk I made and every moment I cherished.
Dutch Square
Church of St. Francis Xavier
Queen Victoria’s Fountain and Christ Church of Melaka
![IMG_5075.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmedS1qzsimE7WTzgGx4QGg28sRBnBENWGeNyjq79EuCx8/IMG_5075.jpg)
![IMG_5373.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZERe1iBQAW2i717i6Aan6Jd7oPB4ynFtQpteuVnR5KKR/IMG_5373.jpg)
Stadthuys in Dutch Square
St. Paul’s Church
A Famosa
Later in the afternoon, I remembered my river cruise I had and I thought of having a walk checking its morning view. From one end to the other end and going back to the starting point traversing both riversides, I found myself mesmerized with its other flavor to offer. I had captured beautiful pavilions, flower gardens, architectures, village houses with different historical significances, and wall graffiti paintings with rich Melaka stories.
Melaka River Walk
![IMG_5354.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmUD68JcsFgA3GH2Rr5apedcmbUnaVLmpAFEDXhZpRsXZf/IMG_5354.jpg)
![IMG_5348.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmZQSkUgAR8kmXCNrkayHot6J1pDcXtTQu9MBDUZytvXrX/IMG_5348.jpg)
![IMG_5351.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://steemitimages.com/DQmcjLp5aP1Ku9onSNm8jcCiN7Ntt7UqAswUtqxVYzWbbxV/IMG_5351.jpg)
When I was about to end my walk, a pint of beer quenched my thirst in one of the hotels alongside the riverside. I rested for a while trying to catch the setting sun. While relaxing and refreshing, another Couchsurfing friend, Izzat Yussof, dropped a message that he is willing to show me around. Quite overwhelmed, I met up with him and he showed me the other beauty of the Jonker Walk, treated me for a fruit drink and he drove me to the underdeveloped beach side tourist attraction of Melaka. We laughed out loud sharing some stories of each other’s silliness. We also found out that both of us are interested in adventurous activities.
![IMG_5359.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVRwTG1VWAbfpThsEDLMpHptQjypztiVUHjZee3w2LBmQ/IMG_5359.jpg)
How to get there?
The town has an airport and road links to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. It takes 6 hours bus ride to reach Melaka from Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. There are grab, uber or metered taxis in the area to drive you around.
@originalworks
shots nimo ni tanan ya? ayos kaayo do
Yes, @xyza! Trying to explore phone photography. Ahahahah. Thanks, anyway!
I wish ma discover ka ya heheheh
Hahahaha... hopefully! Galibog ko sa contest ni @juliank about tags and hashtags. Hahahah... I will learn it within this week. Pero naa sa akong rewards na iya ko gitagaan ug some SBD.
Gusto ko pumunta jan.
It’s really a nice place! Sakaling pupunta ka...message me para makasuggest ako kung paano mga pasikot sikot doon.
Bai maypa apil ka atong kang @timsaid nga #myphotoday nga contest. Every week man guro to, nabasa to nimo? Kay murag gi resteem man to nimo gud.
Oh yes! I resteemed it. Nalimot lang jud ko ug follow sa rules sa #myphotoday ni @timsaid. Thanks for reminding me... I’ll do it next time.
Melaka looks awesome and colorful! I have only been to another historical town in Malaysia, and that was in Georgetown, Penang. But Melaka looks a lot better.
As a cultural educator, it was great for me to visit Melaka. I’ve always been to KL and Johor Bahru...I’ll write about them soon. My other interests to visit in Malaysia are Kota Kinabalu for its Mountain plus I could also check Brunei from there, Penang since it’s another historical place and Langkawi for its tourist delights. Soon....
I've been to Kota Kinabalu but I didn't climb the mountain. I wasn't prepared for the highest peak in Southeast Asia plus it was really expensive.
Oh I see! You should have tried there one-day hike. But it is not the peak though.
I was able to see just the national park of Mt. Kinabalu with Malaysians I met. And most of my time there was spent at the tip of Borneo at Tampat Do Aman. It was a cool jungle like place. But this was years ago.
I’ll check the places you’ve mentioned. I also have a classmate who’s a local there...I was hoping we will have the same holidays.
I love Malaysia !
Yeah!!! I love it too...