Kembara PLUS - 2014 Jan Feb

TRAVEL
Legacy of the Portuguese : A Famosa
The sun sets over Pantai Puteri
Traditional carvings at the mosque in Kampung Morten
Convenient walkways along the Malacca River
MALACCA:
WHERE IT
ALL BEGAN
By: Norshazmira Fazlyna Mohamad Murat
Strolling along the alleys of Malacca city one will definitely be
amazed at the distinctive legacy of its past. At various points
over several decades, this historic state has been ruled
by Sultans, the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Japanese.
Being ruled by different autocratic powers, Malacca can be
described as a melting pot of cultures which began in 1400
with a prince from Palembang. Parameswara was resting
with his small band of followers at the mouth of the Bertam
River when he saw a white mouse-deer kicking one of his
hunting dogs. Impressed with the deer’s bold movement, he
took the incident as an auspicious sign for a city to be built
at the very spot. The origin of the name Malacca came from
the tree under which Parameswara was resting.
oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia. The
name of Alfonso de Albuquerque is synonymous to the
fortress, as he originally constructed it as a form of massive
fortification of the Portuguese Empire from Dutch invasion.
A Famosa faced severe damages from the Dutch attack
and but has survived over the years, although now only the
lone whitewashed gatehouse of Porta de Santiago remains,
located downhill from St Paul’s Church.
Rich with historical monuments, Malacca offers tourists an
informative engagement with the past, as there are many
museums around the state, including the famous Samudera
Ship Museum. The city itself is filled with buildings that
embrace varied architectural styles. One of the most defining
structures is the Christ Church or better known as Stadthuys,
the Brick-Red Building. The unique feature of this building is
further emphasized by the colourful groups of trishaws in the
compound, all ready to peddle foreigners and locals alike. The
trishaws are heavily decorated with ornaments and lights, not
to mention blaring speakers.
Another novel way of experiencing the city’s attractions is
by taking a River Boat Cruise along the Malacca River. Once
dubbed the ‘Venice of the East’, the river boat will cruise up
the shallow Malacca River to Kampung Morten, a distance of
about 10 km and takes 45 minutes to 1 hour. As you cruise
further up the river, you will be able to see old shop houses on
the left and right banks, a testimony of its heydays as a bustling
trading port.
One can easily find mosques, temples and churches within
a stone’s throw of each other. Malacca is also home to the
Baba Nyonya Peranakan, descendants of Chinese Immigrants
from the 15th century who married locals and brought forth
a unique culture and way of life which is essentially a mixture
of both Malay and Chinese heritage. In the south of Malacca,
there is also a Portuguese settlement where the community
speaks Kristang, a mix of old Portuguese and Malay.
Also not be missed is the Jonker Street Night Market. Located
along Jalan Hang Jebat, it is the weekly night market, where
you would find Malays, Indians, Chinese and foreigners filling
the streets, in search of unique crafts, local wares and antiques.
Boat cruises ply the waterways
Located midway along the straits linking China to India and
the Near East, Malacca was perfectly established as a center
for maritime trade, where it grew rapidly and became a
bustling cosmopolitan port. The strategic point of Malacca
to the Spice Islands attracted many maritime powers.
Numerous battles have taken place in this small state, and
one of its most famous ruins is the A Famosa. Built during
the Portuguese Era in 1511, the A Famosa is one of the
A not-to-be-missed night market
Against such a colorful background of cultures, one would be
right to expect an equally interesting array of food choices.
Indeed, Malacca is famous for its Assam Pedas and Baba-
Nyonya cuisine, in particular the traditional chendol dessert
– made with Coconut milk, jelly noodles, shaved ice and palm
sugar.
Clockwise from above :
Famous Malacca tiles adorn
these steps; handwoven
beaded Nyonya Slippers; city
sightseeing by trishaw
10 KEMBARA PLUS ONLINE JANUARI/FEBRUARI 2014 11 KEMBARA PLUS ONLINE JANUARI/FEBRUARI 2014