"Melaka oh Malacca" a Melaka Travel Page by black_mimi99

Melaka (Malacca) had a lot of conquerors in the past century's: Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and English. In the past the city was strategic place at the border of the Strait of Malacca. It’s a historic town has emerged as an unique melting pot of races, providing a wonderful insight into cultural diversity of its people.

The intriguing historical city is just 2 ½ hours by bus from Kuala Lumpur.

When my 1st step in this town, i don't know which one i see 1st, cos so many thing I would like to see, and I decided to start from Red Buildings around St. Paul’s Hill. The highlights are: the Stadthuys, Bell Tower, Christ Church. The color of these buildings are deeply red. That's characteristic for the Dutch architecture in this period.
The Stadthuys is a fine example of Dutch architecture as it was built in 1650 as the official residence of Dutch Governors of Malacca and their officers. It now houses the Historic Museum and Ethnography Museum as it is being preserved in its original structure and form.
At the roundabout (with the windmill!) you can also find the Bell Tower and Christ's Church. The church and the Bell Tower are a testimony to Dutch's architectural ingenuity as it stands exactly as it has always been since 1753.
At the top of the hill is St. Paul's Church situated. A Portuguese Captain, by the name of Duarte Coelho built this chapel. The Dutch turned it into a burial ground for their noble dead and renamed it "St. Paul's Church" from the Portuguese's "Our Lady Of The Hill". So it's built by the Portuguese, Dutch are buried in it, and named by the English!
At the feet of the hill is "Porta de Santiago". That was the gate for the fort.
Across the Malacca river are some shopping streets who had Dutch name, like: Heerenstraat (Jalan Tun Cheng Lok) and Jonkerstraat (Jalan Hang Jebat). Jonkerstraat is known worldwide among famous antique.
Cheng Hoon Temple is one of the interesting places to visit. It is the oldest Taoist temple in Southeast Asia.

There are so many shops in Melacca, where we can buy everything.
And here I am, between Stadthuys and Christ Church, where the shops selling craft and post cards.... mmm which one I choose? too many I want... can't stop this feeling to buy something in Malacca....