Malacca is a city with a storied past. Once a major trading center, it lost influence as first the Portuguese, then Dutch and later British took control and choked off other traders. Today the old city retains the flavor of these influences, as well as the Chinese and Arab settlers. It was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its long history.
We rode in one of the highly decorated bicycle carriages to take the river cruise, where we could see some of the fine old buildings. Many were in disrepair, but some had been well restored and had colorful murals painted on them.
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| The carriages all have different themes to go with different types of customers and are all very cute. |
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| The river cruise boats are lined up for departure, flying the Malaysian flag. |
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| Many of the buildings are in need of a face lift, but a murals dress them up a bit. |
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| A view of the newer Malacca is behind this pretty bridge. |
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| This big ship in the center of the city is a replica of the Flor de la Mar, a 16th century Portuguese galleon. It houses the city’s Maritime Museum. |
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| The remains of the Fort of Malacca looks at over the riverbank. It was built up by the Portuguese and Dutch and largely destroyed by the British. |
Jonker Walk is the backbone of the city’s large Chinatown. It’s colorful and lively, with lots of restaurants, shops, food markets, antique and curio stores.
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| As you look down a side street, the area quickly becomes plainer. |
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J and J Travel 