24 Hours in Melaka

A popular getaway for Singaporeans is a bus trip to historic Melaka. The Malaysian city is a striking contrast to the modernity (and prices!) of Singapore. Although our time was short, we enjoyed our weekend here. It was great for people watching and had some wonderful shopping! Melaka is also known for its delicious food.

Historic Melaka

We stayed at the charming Hotel Puri.

Visitors from all over come to Melaka. The gathering place is the Dutch Square or Red Square.

We arrived on the final weekend of Chinese New Year, bringing the celebration we began in Singapore full circle.

Day 15, the last day of Chinese New Year, is filled with fireworks, cultural performances, and celebrations.

Day 15 of Chinese New Year

Festivities included this blocks long trail of fireworks leading to the Temple

So LOUD!

It was quite the party!

Melaka’s culture of religious acceptance is illustrated by the multi-religious “Harmony Street.” Located along the street are Kampung Kling Mosque (Islam), Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple (Hinduism), Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism), and Xiang Lin Si Temple (Buddhism).

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple

Sri Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple

A popular tourist activity is a river boat ride. The buildings are colorfully painted and it reminded us of a Disney-themed ride.

Other areas of the old city were colorful, too. Melaka has a lot of interesting street art.

The city’s most famous sight is the Jonker Street Night Market.

Tourists enjoy the decorated tuk tuks.

They even light up at night!

Yes, we took one.

We actually took it to a neighborhood outside the tourist area to try Melaka’s famed spicy lok lok. The problem was that no one could speak English and tell us what anything was!

It’s cheap, only 80 cents per stick. You cook it in a pot filled with water and spices that sits in the center of your table. I have no idea what we ate.

Peranakan or Nyonya cuisine comes from the Peranakans, descendants of early Chinese migrants who settled in Penang, Malacca, Singapore and Indonesia inter-marrying with local Malays.

After seeing all the banana plants on our bus ride to Melaka, do you think we could find even one shop that sold bananas?

Frank finally settled on a banana smoothie at the fancy hotel where we were to meet the bus. It was here . . .

. . . we had a fun, interesting chat with the chef, who told us all about his life in Melaka!

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