Melaka aka Malacca

While many people are seduced by the bright lights of Kuala Lumpur, the historic city of Melaka actually has just as much to occupy visitors. It’s a stunning UNESCO-listed city with beautiful historical architecture influenced by its periods under various European rule, lots of interesting museums and attractions, and its street food can rival that of any major Asian city. Ivy and I had the pleasure of visiting Melaka.  We opted for a day trip by bus from Kuala Lumpur and it’s wonder people flock from all over the world to this charming little city.  It was vibrant, colorful, and oh so very cute!  If you are planning a visit to Melaka, here are some tips on where to explore.

Dutch Square

Considered to be the most beautiful square in the city, Dutch Square is where you can see lots of examples of maroon-coloured buildings in the Dutch Colonial style, giving its alternative name of Red Square. The largest of these buildings is the Stadthuys, once the residence of the Governor. It’s fairly crowded with street vendors, local transport services, and of course tourist aiming to get the perfect instal-worth snapshot.  It took about 15 mins. by GRAB car to reach our first stop after departing Melaka Sentral (the local bus station).  There are a multitude of stores and local shops located just around the corner (Jonker Heritage Walk) and within walking distance of the square.  We were surprised to locate an H&M shop right across the street.  Also worthy of a visit here is Christ Church, the oldest Protestant church in Malaysia, and the Queen Victoria Fountain.

Sentosa Malay Living Museum

Located along the banks of the river within easy walking distance of the historic centre, the Sentosa Malay Living Museum is a fantastic way of seeing a piece of tradition in a city which is rapidly developing into a more modern metropolis. Villa Sentosa has been preserved to show the typical lifestyle of a rich Malaysian family in the early half of the 20th century, giving you the chance to wander through an authentic kampung house and admire some wonderful exhibits, such as Ming dynasty ceramics and a century-old Quran.

Spice Garden

One of the best things to do in Melaka is take a river cruise; taking around 45 minutes, it is the perfect way of seeing the sights of the city at a leisurely pace. While there are a few places where you can hop on one of these tours, the best place is Taman Rempah Jetty where the Spice Garden is located. Before you take your cruise, you can take a look around the Spice Garden, which is small but is in a nice spot overlooking the water, plus there are usually food and drink vendors there

Floating Mosque

Known alternatively as Melaka Straits Mosque, this stunning mosque is located on the man-made Melaka Island and is a beautiful mix of Malaysian and Middle Eastern architecture. When the water level is high, the mosque gives the impression that it is floating. While the Floating Mosque is amazing to see at any time, you should definitely try to visit at either early in the morning or at dusk when you can see its golden dome and stained glass windows in all their glory.

A Local Taste:  Putu Piring

Of course, we all know that sampling some of the local cuisine is a huge part of traveling and if there is one thing you must try when in Melaka, it is Putu Piring. A popular dessert, Putu Piring is a steamed rice flour cake filled with brown palm sugar mixed with shredded coconut.  For me, it was an acquired taste (think cream of wheat with coconut sugar) and as there are stalls serving them all around the city, you should not find it hard to sample this Melakan delicacy.