Jonker Street Dragon

It was a pleasant surprise for me in my recent visit to Malacca's Jonker Walk as the dragon replica which was erected for this year Chinese New Year is still there.

This 121m dragon replica, guarding the entrance to the bustling Jonker Street is said to be the longest dragon replica in the country.

 

I reckon this dragon will be hanging around until the next Chinese New Year to bring prosperity to the traders in this area.

 

So, what we will be having next year? A snake?

Melaka Art Gallery

The Melaka Art Gallery is located just next to the Christ Church at the Dutch Square in Malacca.

 

 

 

 

 

The gallery displays various artworks of local and foreign artists. Entrance fee is RM 1 for adult.

I would definitely would like this painting on my wall. The gallery offers some really interesting drawings as well as sculptures. Its probably worth a visit if you got some time to kill while in the vicinity after finish visiting all the museum Malacca has to offer.

Visitors will also have a fine view of the Dutch Square from one of the window here.

Malacca Museum of History and Ethnography

The Museum of History and Ethnography is located at the Stadhuys. Entrance fee is RM 5 for adult which also entitle the ticket holder entry to other museums within the St. Paul's Hill area.

 

 The historical section of the museum is devoted to the history of Malacca from its establishment until it gained independence. The Ethnography section showcase the lifestyle and culture of the various communities and sub communities that make up the multi racial society of Malacca.

 

The space in this room is a real location of the Dutch Governor administration office in Malacca.

This dining table was made in Malacca according to Dutch designs. It can be extended whenever required.

The ceiling manual fan was adopted in Asia including in the Dutch Governor's office. A cord attached to the pulley of the rectangular fan enabled it to move sideways creating air movements. A man would be stationed in the next room to pull the cord.

The early Dutch ceramics were not really high quality and were produced only for domestic consumption. The arrival of the Dutch in Southeast Asia and their relations with China enabled them to improve their ceramic industry and eventually produce porcelain of high quality. Dutch porcelain carried the letters VOC, which was the insignia of the Dutch East India Company. These porcelains were brought to Malacca via Batavia (now Jakarta). The colourful Dutch porcelain wares found in Holland had mostly been meant for the Southeast Asian market.

 

 

Other ceramics and porcelains on display at the museum.

The Dutch Pipe which was donated by His Excellency Ambassador during their visit here in 2004.

 

Emblem of Dutch Company V.O.C, made of coral stone.

Since the beginning of Malay civilization, a stall like this has already existed around Malay villages around Malacca. Normally, the farmers and fishermen were among the regular customers who always stopped by to take a rest while enjoying eating and drinking after a tiring day at work.

Kopitiam was once a medium for the early Chinese immigrant workers to meet for a good cup of coffee, to relax after a tiring day at work.

It is said that Indian immigrant from Ramnadis in Tamilnadu, South India started the Indian used book store during the depression years of the late 20s and early 30s. They had a good supply of used school textbooks as in those days school textbooks do not change as often. Their target customers were the students who could not afford to buy new school books.

There is a Dutch bakery within the Stadhuys building itself. In the bakery, workers toast the bread to serve the Governor, officer and other staffs who worked in the building.

 

 

 

 

This miniature depicts the change in landscape of the St. Paul's Hill during the Portuguese, Dutch and British administration. Almost all the Portuguese/Dutch fortress that surrounded the hill was blasted by the British.

Portuguese Settlement

Abut 5km to the west of downtown Malacca in Ujong Pasir, the Portuguese descendants in Malacca, Kristang found their own settlement in 1933.

The Kristang are a Malaysian ethnic group with mixed Portuguese and Malay and for some possibly Indian and Chinese ancestry. which arose during the Portuguese colonial period.

 

 

The Portuguese Settlement is located directly at the coast, overlooking the Strait of Malacca. There is a stretch of waterfront for those who enjoy an evening stroll.

The Kristang here is famed for their seafood and judging from the fishing boats at the shoreline, the freshness of their seafood is almost guaranteed.

Most people come here to feast in the various Portuguese seafood restaurants. Parking fee of RM2 is charged for every vehicle per entry.

This nice looking colonial structure with spacious square is where all the famous Portuguese seafood restaurants can be found. It is definitely a mice place to dine while enjoying the sea breeze at the sea side.

Ayer Keroh Arch

The Ayer Keroh Arch is situated at the main entrance to the Historical City of Malacca, just after passing through the Ayer Keroh toll plaza when entering from the North South Highway. The Arch has been around since May 2004.

 

The concept of the design of this arch was based on on the old palaces during the glorious era of the Malacca Sultanate. There are six towers signifying the six fundamental of Islam while the arch itself reflects the three main ethnic groups in Malacca, namely the Malays, Chinese and Indians.

The arch is 47.8m in length with a height of 22.1m, while each tower has an average height of 24m. There are spiral stairs within each tower which leads to the top of the tower but the access point had been securely locked by the authority concern. It would have been a breathtaking view from the top of the tower.

The Ayer Keroh Arch with its traditional Malacca architecture design has become another principal landmark for tourists visiting the Historical City of Malacca.

Hang Jebat Mausoleum

Hang Jebat mausoleum is an old Malay grave at Jalan Kampung Kuli, Malacca.

The grave itself is Achinese in style and is of the type normally used to mark the burial places of high ministers and Sultans of the period 

Here lies Hang Jebat, a warrior labelled a traitor, all for the love of a friend.

During the rule of Sultan Mansor Shah (1456-1477 A.D.), there lived 5 young men who grew up together. Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu were inseparable and became known as the "Five Companions" in the epic "Hikayat Hang Tuah". The lives of the five "blood brothers" who were expert exponents of martial arts, took a turn when they saved the live of Bendahara of Melaka, Tun Perak.

Sultan Mansor Shah was so impressed with the skills of the five that he immediately gave them positions at his court and Hang Tuah became his favourite. Sultan Mansor presented Hang Tuah with a beautiful keris, the Taming Sari, said to possess magical and mythical powers.

However, the sultan's undisguised appreciation and favouritism of Hang Tuah did not augur well with other court officials, namely Patih Karma Wijaya. They plotted his downfall and accused him of seducing the Sultan's favourite consort. The Sultan, upon hearing the rumour immediately ordered Hang Tuah\s execution. Tun Perak, who believed in Hang Tuah's innocence spirited him away to a secret hideaway.

Hang Jebat could not understand why the Sultan ordered his brother's execution without first giving him a chance to prove his innocence. Disillusioned and broken hearted, Hang Jebat ran amok and sought revenge, killing everyone that tried to protect the Sultan. Fearing for his life, the Sultan approached Tun Perak and expressed his regret over Hang Tuah's hasty execution.

When the Sultan agreed to pardon Hang Tuah, Tun Perak told him the truth. Hang Tuah's joy at being pardoned turned to dismay when told his new mission and after an extended soul searching, went in search of Hang Jebat. In the ensuing fight, which was said to lasted 3 days and 3 nights, Hang Jebat enlightened his childhood friend on why he turned against the Sultan, but being a man ingrained with the convention that the Sultan deserved absolute loyalty, Hang Tuah refused to accept Hang Jebat reasoning. finally he drew his keris, the "Taming Sari" and fatally stabbed Hang Jebat and the later died in his arms.

Hang Tuah went down in history as a hero who made a worthy sacrifice while Hang Jebat was labelled a traitor, all for the love of a friend