Jason and I made the three hour trek from Singapore into Malacca, Malaysia for the Chinese New Year holiday. (Since leasing a vehicle in January, we have been able to take in many of the sites and areas surrounding Singapore.)
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| Jason standing next to our "station wagon". In Singapore one drives on the right side of the vehicle. |
Before we could pack up and head out on our first road trip though, we were awoken on Chinese New Year morning to an obnoxious drum pounding. Jason went down to see what the commotion was all about and then raced back to our unit to grab the camera. Turns out, the drums were part of a lion dance performance in the lobby of our complex. Lion dances are believed to bring good luck--imagine that!! Jason captured these videos of the performance.
Our first impression of Malaysia: miles and miles of palm plantations. Palm trees were everywhere, but we both appreciated the rural scenery--a welcome change of pace from the bustle of city life. After speaking with some of the locals, we were told that palm oil is a commodity with vast industrial and commercial uses.
Perception is not always reality. And boy is that the truth. Arriving in Malacca, Jason and I looked at each other and began to chuckle. We both wondered and thought a loud, "Should we turn back around? Are we safe here?" Driving to our hotel, the streets were congested with overzealous motorcyclists and littered with trash. Many of the shophouses appeared dingy and abandoned to put it nicely. Malacca is a far cry from Singapore, so I guess it was only natural for us to feel a bit skeptical and uneasy about the place.
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| We have noticed three different spellings for this Malay state: Melaka, Melacca, and Malacca. I prefer to use the latter. |
Thankfully our first impression was not lasting. Our accommodations were cozy and made us feel right at home. Once we set out in the heart of Malacca, we embraced the charm of the locals and the colorful history behind this sheepish little Malay state. While Malacca's culture, heritage, and architecture are richly diverse, some areas remain very much in "development". Once a burgeoning trading mecca for Portuguese and Dutch settlers, today Malacca seems to have settled back into its humble and unassuming beginnings. Sometimes the simple and laid back lifestyle is a welcome change of pace for two city dwellers!
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We stayed at the historic Majestic Malacca Hotel, a refurbished Peranakan (immigrants of Chinese decent) mansion.
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| Jonker Street- home of great antique shops and local food stalls |
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Loved, loved the tile mosaic! Many of floors in the shophouses were adorned with these beautiful tiles. I told Jason we may need to make a trip back for some tiles (of course he just rolled his eyes). |
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| Chinese New Year decor was sprinkled throughout the shophouses. |
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| Malacca River a.k.a" Venice of the East" |
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| This fountain was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1904 |
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The front facade of Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. Built in the 17th century, this temple is one of the oldest known Chinese temples in Malaysia. |
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| Jason standing next to the burning joss sticks in the middle of the street |
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| Windmill in Dutch Square |
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| This statue was erected in honor of a local who was crowned "Mr. Universe" a few years ago. |
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| Chee Family Ancestrial Home |
I think it is pretty safe to assume that Malacca is deeply rooted in Christianity!
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| St. Peter's Church is the oldest Catholic church in Malaysia. |
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| Another gem, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, just down the street from St. Peter's. If you notice, the church leans slightly to the left. |
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| An old Methodist church |
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| St. Paul's Church is the granddaddy of all the churches in Malacca. It was built in the 1500's by the Portuguese. |
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| Tan Beng Seng Clock Tower and Christ Church |
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| Christ Church was built in 1753 by the Dutch. |
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| The Stadhuys building served as the residence of a former Dutch governor. Today, it is a history museum. |
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| Jason admiring the primitive guns at a local museum |
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| An exhibit depicting the multi-racial lifestyles in Malacca |
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Taking in the antiques and silver...this girl was one happy camper!
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| Malay house |
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| Another traditional Malay house in a small village inside the town limits |
After three days in Malacca, we had our fill of culture and history. Aside from the bug Jason contracted our last day in Malacca (more about that in a minute), our stay was very enlightening. Malacca isn't a place you will probably read about as a "must see" destination; but, as Jason and I are discovering, sometimes the days spent in the byways are the trips we remember most.
Side note: After two trips to the 24-hour medical clinic in Singapore, Jason is just about finished with his prescribed antibiotics and is feeling fine again. We received Jason's tests results in the mail today and all came back negative (thank you sweet Jesus!). I am so very grateful to a dear friend who persistently stayed on our case about getting vaccinated with the shots recommended by the CDC for the Orient. Otherwise, I would have been in a panic about Jason getting sick. Thanks Wendi!
