It is recorded in local history that the historical city of Melaka was established in 1400 with Parameswara as its leader.

Together with help of the sea-faring Orang Laut, he and his descendants built Melaka from a nondescript village to a port-of-call of choice to the-then center of Malay civilization and Islamic learning in this part of the world.

 

The Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum
The Melaka Sultanate Palace Museum (@all rights reserved)

 

The A Famosa
Remnants of A Famosa, the fort built by the Portuguese after the downfall of Melaka in 1511. It is stated that the fort was built from the materials gained from the destruction of the homes of Melaka noblemen as well as Muslim places of worship and learning eg mosques etc.(@ all rights reserved)

 

Being strategically located in the Straits of Melaka, it is therefore of no wonder that it is a much sought after prize.

Since then, it has been colonised, at different times, by the Portuguese (1511), followed by the Dutch (1641), the British (1826), the Japanese (1942) and the British (again) in 1946, before finally achieving Independence as part of the Federation of Malaya (or Persekutuan Tanah Melayu) in 1957.

 

Old Quarter of Melaka
The ‘Old Quarter of Melaka’ (@ all rights reserved)

 

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Jonker Walk
Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, Jonker Walk (@ all rights reserved)

 

The Kampung Kling Mosque, Jonker Walk
The Kampung Kling Mosque at Jonker Walk, Melaka CIty (@ all rights reserved)

 

The Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple (Jonker Walk)
The Sri Poyatha Moorthy Temple, one of the few Chitty temples in existence in Malaysia. It was built in 1781 and is part of the triumvirate of houses of worship (the Kampung Kling Mosque and the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple being the other two) in the Jonker Walk area. (@ all rights reserved)

 

Today, Melaka is a city, full of bustling confidence, combining the old and the new, with industrial parks to house its many manufacturing industries, new and tall buildings sculpting a new skyline for the city, shopping malls for avid shoppers as well as places, for the young and not-so-young, to hang out.

 

Kopitiam
Food at one of the more well known local kopitiams (or coffee shops). (@ all rights reserved)

 

Bamboo Trees
Decorative bamboo trees – an added attraction to a souvenir shop at Jonker Walk. (@ all rights reserved)

 

Dining Place in Alley
One of the more recent watering holes in Melaka at Jonker Walk (or Jalan Hang Jebat). (@ all rights reserved)

 

Springing up also are hotels and lodging houses, offering a comfortable night’s sleep and wonderful stay in the city for those venturing the streets of Melaka, not to mention new watering holes for the avid tourist, sampling a bit of the life that is Melaka city.

 

View from the Bridge
A view of the Melaka River, taken from a bridge leading to Jonker Walk (or Jalan Hang Jebat). (@all rights reserved)

 

Windmill of Melaka
The WIndmill of Melaka. Remnants of the Dutch? (@ all rights reserved)

 

The remnants of history are still evidently there, everywhere in the historical city of Melaka, for all to see.

 

The Waterwheel of Melaka
The Waterwheel of Melaka River (@all rights reserved)

 

Family At Waterwheel
The Family (@ all rights reserved)

 

It can be said that history lives on in this city, for there is always something old to see or long forgotten places to visit. And not forgetting the smells and tastes of Melaka!

Worth the trip, I’d say and definitely worth another trip or two, to say the least.

 

Date : 8 May 2016