A' Famosa, Melaka and other Malaysia Things to Do Tips

A' Famosa

by hopang , 4 more photos

A' Famosa is located at Jalan Kota (Kota Road) in the heart of historic Melaka City. Famosa fortress was constructed by the Portuguese under the command of Alfonso de Albuquerque when the Portuguese attacked and successfully captured Melaka (old name Malacca) from Malacca Sultanate in 1511. The Portuguses ruled Malacca until 1641 when the powerful Dutch captured Malacca from the Portuguese. A' Famosa of Malacca changed hands again when the British occupied Malacca in 1842.

A' Famosa is a landmark and a symbol of Melaka state. Today only a small gate known as Porta de Santiago remains. It once contained a long wall complete with four towers. Famosa literally means "the famous" in Portuguese. The Famosa fort is one of the oldest surviving remnants of European architecture in the Far East. This surviving old gate is very popular with local and foreign tourists. It is the most visited tourist attraction in Melaka which attracts approximately three millions tourists annually. Admission to A' Famosa is free. Make it a point to visit A' Famosa when you are in Melaka for your vacation!

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Phone: 606 288 3599
Address: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, Melaka
Directions: Located at the foot of St. Paul's Hill next to Melaka Sultanate Palace in Bandar Hilir in the historic area of Melaka City.
Website: http://www.melaka.gov.my

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Things To Do: Melaka Zoo, Melaka

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Updated by hopang

on Mar 18, 2009

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Melaka Zoo is located at Ayer Keroh approximately 13 kilometers from the heart of Melaka City. There are more than 1,200 animals representing more than 200 animal species in the zoo. It is the second largest zoo in Malaysia after the national zoo in Kuala Lumpur. Melaka Zoo occupies a total area of approximately 55 acres. Approximately half a million local and foreign tourists visit the zoo every year. It has become a popular tourist attraction lately.

Wide range of animals can be found in the zoo such as squirrel monkeys, zebras, tigers, Sumatra rhinoceros, lions, pythons, wolf, wild horse, giraffe, Malaysian gaur, red panda, birds and elephants.

Small admission fees of RM7.00 for adult and RM4.00 for children are charged for entering the zoo. Opening hours are between 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. daily. Make it a point to visit Melaka Zoo when you are in Melaka for your vacation!

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Phone: 606 242 4053
Address: Ayer Keroh, Melaka
Directions: Located at Ayer Keroh approximately 13 kilometers from the heart of the city of Melaka.
Website: http://zoomelaka.gov.my
Other Contact: Fax: 606 242 5059

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Things To Do: Jonker Walk, Melaka

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Updated by hopang

on Mar 19, 2009

by hopang , 2 more photos

Jonker Walk is located at Jonker Street (known as Jalan Hang Jebat) right in the heart of Melaka's Chinatown in the historic city of Melaka. It is a narrow street with some of Melaka's oldest houses dating back to 17th century when Dutch conquored Melaka. Jonker Street is formerly known as Antique Street due to the many antique stores around the area selling ancient artifacts and various antiques from the past centuries. Jonker is a Dutch word which literally means master. Jonker Street is an ideal location to hunt and bargain for antiques and ancient artifacts.

Jonker Walk was established in the year 2000 by Melaka State Government to boost the influx of foreign tourists to Melaka city. During the weekends from Friday to Sunday nights between 7.00 p.m. and 12.00 mignight, the whole street is closed to vehicular traffic and Jonker Walk turns into open-air night markets selling all kinds of items including ornamental antiques, old copper coins, souvenirs, local delicious food, arts and crafts, clothings and textiles, CDs and DVDs, household utensils and wooden clog. It is always very crowded during those nights. Some old houses at Jonker Walk also organise dancing classes and Chinese classical music instrument performances.

Open-air market at Jonker Walk is a very popular tourist attraction. Local Chinese prefer to sing karaoke at the permanent stage set up by the state government. Chairs are provided in front of the stage for interested spectators. It is an ideal spot to pass your evening! Don't miss Jonker Walk when you are in Melaka for your vacation!

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Phone: 606 284 8282
Address: Jonker Street, Melaka
Directions: Located at Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat) in the heart of Melaka's Chinatown.

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Things To Do: Clock Tower Melaka

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Updated by hopang

on Mar 19, 2009

The Clock Tower

by hopang , 1 more photos

The Clock Tower is located at Jalan Laksamana along the bank of Melaka River near the infamous Stadhuys in the heart of historic Melaka. It is a popular landmark and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the city of Melaka.

The Clock Tower is situated very close to the mouth of Melaka River. It was constructed in the late 19th century in honour of Tan Beng Swee who was a very successful and generous Chinese tycoon. The tower is also known as Tan Beng Swee Clock Tower by the locals.

The Clock Tower is very important to the inhabitants of Melaka as far as history is concerned. Among other popular attractions near the Clock Tower are the Stadhuys built by the Dutch after 1641 when the Dutch conquored Melaka from the Portuguese and Christ Church, both are painted red. Queen Victoria Fountain is located just in front of the Clock Tower. It was erected by the British in 1901 to celebrate diamond jubilee.

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Address: Jalan Laksamana, Melaka
Directions: Located along the bank of Melaka River near the infamous Stadhuys in the heart of historic Melaka.

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Things To Do: Heritage Trail, Melaka

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Updated by hopang

on Mar 20, 2009

Signboard of Heritage Trail

The Heritage Trail (Jejak Warisan in Malaysia's national language) is a "must-visit" trail for foreign tourists. Its signboard is located just across A' Famosa at Jalan Kota at Bandar Hilir in the heart of historic city of Melaka.

Melaka is a historical city (oldest city in Malaysia) with lots of historical buildings and well preserved cultural heritage. That is why Melaka has been listed as World Heritage Site by UNESCO several years ago. The best way to explore this historical city is on foot. Melaka city has lots of historical buildings and many of them are within walking distance. You may begin walking from the signboard at Jalan Kota as depicted in our photo.

Places of interests are A' Famosa, St. Paul's Historical Complex, Chinatown, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (formerly known as Heeren Street), Dutch Square (Stadhuys, Christ Church and Clock Tower), Jonker Walk (Jalan Hang Jebat), Baba Nyonya Heritage and many others.

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Address: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, Melaka
Website: http://www.melaka.gov.my

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Things To Do: Bastion House, Melaka

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Updated by hopang

on Mar 20, 2009

Bastion House

Bastion House is located at Jalan Kota, within a stone's throw from A' Famosa in the historical city of Melaka. It is a popular tourist attraction in Melaka for local as well as foreign tourists.

Bastion House was constructed in 1910 by British owned Dunlop Rubber Company. It was used as a business house until 1986 when it was rented to a bank. It is now home to the Malay and Islamic World Museum. The building was constructed of bricks and has a sloping roof, a fine example of English architecture seen in this historical city. Opening hours are between 9.00 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. daily.

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Address: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, Melaka
Directions: Located a stone's throw from A Famosa at Jalan Kota at Bandar Hilir in the heart of the historical city of Melaka.

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Things To Do: Melaka River, Melaka

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Updated by hopang

on Mar 20, 2009

Melaka River

Melaka River (Sungai Melaka) was the location where the historic city of Melaka began. A prince from Sumatra known as Parameswara founded Melaka (formerly known as Malacca) in 1402 and established his sultanate near the mouth of Melaka River at the foot of St. Paul's Hill. Due to its strategic location, Melaka was later occupied by the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British and the Japanese. It was known as "Venice of the East" by seafarers where the traders from the East and the West met and became a very busy port for several centuries.

Today Melaka River boat tour is a popular tourist attraction. It is an hour round trip boat tour covering approximately 10 kilometers from the Dutch Square to Kampung Morten. The boat will pass several bridges such as Tan Boon Seng Bridge, Chan Boon Cheng Bridge and Old Market Bridge, old shophouses, churches, warehouses, new high rise hotels and apartments and Malay villages.

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Address: Dutch Square, Melaka
Directions: For cruise passengers, the cruise begins at Dutch Square near the Clock Tower.
Website: http://melakamalayisatravel.com

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Things To Do: Museum of Enduring Beauty, Melaka

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Updated by hopang

on Mar 21, 2009

Museum of Enduring Beauty

Museum of Enduring Beauty is located at Jalan Kota at Bandar Hilir in the heart of historic Melaka City. The Museum itself is located on the third floor of the People's Musuem which has its facade painted red. It is a very unique museum. There not many such museums around the world! The museum officially opened to the public in 1996.

Museum of Enduring Beauty has exhibitions (both photos and other exhibits) depicting how different cultures define beauty. It simply creates awareness of the pain people would go through in order to change their physical appearance. Exhibits such as tongue piercing, insertion of plates into lips or ear lobes, skin tattooing, head deformation, foot binding etc. can be seen at the museum, some of them are quite awesome it has to be said!

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Phone: 606 282 6526
Address: Jalan Kota, Melaka
Directions: Located within a stone's throw from A' Famosa at Bandar Hilir in the heart of historic Melaka.
Other Contact: Fax: 606 282 6745

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Things To Do: Melaka Stamp Museum

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Updated by hopang

on Mar 21, 2009

Melaka Stamp Museum

Melaka Stamp Museum is located at Jalan Kota, next to the Museum of Enduring Beauty within a stone's throw from A' Famosa in the heart of the historic city of Melaka. It is the oldest museum in Melaka after 1957 when Malaysia gained independence from the British. The building was once occupied by the Westerhut family for almost 300 years from the middle of 17th century until 1930. The building has typical English style of architecture.

Melaka Stamp Museum is the only stamp museum in Malaysia. It exhibits large collections of stamps not only from Malaysia and the region but also those from around the world. It is a "must-visit" for stamp collectors and stamp enthusiasts. Most of the stamps exhibited in the museum were donated by the Postal Services of Malaysia.

Opening hours are between 9.00 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. daily. Admission fees are only RM1.00 for adults and RM0.50 for children. Don't miss Melaka Stamp Museum when you are in Melaka for your vacation!

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Address: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, Melaka
Directions: Located next to Museum of Enduring Beauty at Jalan Kota within a stone's throw from A' Famosa in the heart of historic Melaka.
Website: http://www.melaka.gov.my

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Things To Do: Museum UMNO Melaka

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Updated by hopang

on Mar 21, 2009

Museum UMNO Melaka