"MELAKA - BANDAR RAYA BERSEJARAH" Melaka by ancient_traveler

Malacca is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Straits of Malacca. This historical city centre has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 7 July 2008.

The A Famosa gate is all that remains of the old Portuguese and Dutch forts. As the Napoleonic Wars wound down the British knew Malacca would be returned to Dutch control. In order to make the city indefensible the city walls were blown down. A last minute intervention by a British officer, the young Sir Stamford Raffles (founder of British Singapore) saved the gate. Shortly after its return to Dutch rule, the Dutch and British governments swapped colonies - British Bencoolen in Sumatra for Dutch Malacca.

Malacca is a center of Peranakan culture. When Chinese settlers originally came to Malacca as miners, traders and coolies, they took local brides (of Javanese, Batak, Achenese, etc descent) and adopted many local customs. The result of this is an interesting fusion of local and Chinese cultures. The men are addressed as Babas and the women Nonyas by their servants meaning Master and Mistress.

Herren street, May 2011

http://www.melaka.net/
www.tourism-melaka.com
www.melaka.gov.my