HomeAsiaSouth East AsiaMalaysiaMelaka, Malaysia Walking Tour By Marcos Detourist on November 2, 2011We arrived in Melaka, Malaysia in the dead of night. It was only around 9 in the evening but the city looked like it had already gone past its bedtime. The shady city blocks drastically turned to a new light come morning.Visiting Melaka was more of my idea. Given my liking for old cities, it was a place I’d totally prioritize if I were traveling solo.We only allotted an hour (two hours tops) for an early morning walking tour of Melaka. It was too short, I know, but we wanted to leave early so we could spend as much time as possible in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, for our first time experience in Malaysia. Early morning at the Melaka River in Melaka, MalaysiaUNESCO World Heritage SiteStarting at Discovery Cafe, we followed the Melaka River downstream. Melaka, together with Georgetown in Penang, is included in UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites under the category “Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca.” As early as 500 years ago, both cities functioned as major trading ports linking the east and the west. Melaka and Georgetown are living testimony to the multi-cultural heritage and tradition of Asia, and European colonial influences.Both cities showcase unique architectures that reflect different stages of Malaysia’s colonial past. While Georgetown embodies the British-colonial era starting from the end of the 18th century, Melaka features architectures and development originating in the 15th-century Malay sultanate and the Portuguese and Dutch periods.The city is also commonly known as Malacca in English.St Francis Xavier’s Church Facade of the St Francis Xavier’s ChurchMelaka River Starting our walking tour Old shop houses and residential blocks Must not leave without a souvenir photo. Took this photo at a foot bridge, which had a nice view of the riverside structures. Love the charming riverside promenade and the brick texture of the shop house row Melaka River Cruise Melaka Tourist Police Malaysia Youth Museum Melaka Art GalleryDutch SquareMajor structures in / surrounding the Dutch Sqaure include Christ Church Melaka, Studhuys, and the Tang Beng Swee Clock Tower. Dutch SquareChrist Church and the Tang Beng Swee Clock Tower Christ Church Melaka. Bricks were shipped from Zeeland in the Netherlands. On the floor of the church you will find Dutch tombstones. It is the oldest protestant church in Malaysia. On the altar you will see sacramental silverware, still bearing the Dutch coat of arms. Tang Beng Swee Clock Tower, it looks Dutch, but it is not. It was built in 1886. The Clock Tower and Stadhuys, the red colored building behind. The Stadhuys literally means town hall in Dutch. It was built in 1650 as the office of the Dutch Governor and Deputy Governor. Queen Victoria’s fountain Melaka Tourism Information OfficeKota Melaka (Malacca Fort)It was my first time to visit a former Dutch colony and was really ecstatic to have seen a Dutch-style windmill and a huge water wheel. Both were probably just replicas but I was unfazed. It was as close I could get to see structural icons closely associated with the Netherlands. Windmill Replica Huge Water wheel. Loading station for the Melaka River CruisePortugese Galleon in MelakaObviously also a replica. Pretty cool nonetheless. Next time, I’ll make sure to bring a Jack Sparrow costume. Colorful trishaws across the street.Jonker StreetThis is the residential heart of Old Malacca just west of the Malacca River. It supposed to have narrow winding streets, beautifully decorated houses, tiny shops, temples and mosques. I didn’t get to see them since we were running out of time :(Urban BackwaterIt was a very uncomfortable experience being led through the dark alleyway at night (en route to Discover Guest House). After seeing it in the light of day, I loved its backwater urban feel. I was drawn to the different textures … couldn’t resist the photo-op.Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Melaka to Kuala Lumpur Bus & Bukit Bintang Hotel Arrival5 Days Melaka ItineraryMalaysia Railway Adventure - Pahang Taman Negara, Kuala…Singapore to Melaka, Malaysia Bus via Johor BahruLost in Peninsular Malaysia and Southern Thailand2 Days Kuala Lumpur Itinerary — Overnight Layover at KL…Comments thepinaysolobackpacker saysNovember 3, 2011 at 7:54 amnice captures as usual Marc. at lucky you, wlaang maxadong tao. nahilo ako sa dame ng turista ko pagpunta ko dun. haha cguro maagaga ka nung pumunta dun noh. or maybe weekdays. Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:35 pmOo monday morning kami nag tour. There were a lot of tourists too, mostly Chinese, at sections of the river. We waited for them to dissipate since they were touring in big groups and were blocking the view, hehe. Journeys and Travels saysNovember 3, 2011 at 8:18 amnicely written and love the photos. U had it all wrapped up. Never been to Melaka but to KL only which made this post more useful for my future plans. Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:35 pmThanks Sir! lakwatsera de primera saysNovember 3, 2011 at 1:14 pmI knew we missed a lot when we ran out of time to visit Melaka. I’m sure, knowing you di ka masyado satisfied sa oras, kinulang ng time for more self-portraits :) Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:38 pmHaha.You know me so well :D You guys were able to personally meet flip, that good enough already ^_^ Joseph Reyes saysDecember 17, 2011 at 8:30 pmThanks for posting. I was encouraged to go to Melaka as a side trip to our choir’s Singapore Tour. I left the group for a while in Singapore and went alone to Melaka (3 days, 2 nights). Enjoyed my stay there except for some irritating experience with some people but it was overcome by good experiences with some people too. Spent the 2nd day roaming the place, taking photos, food trip, window shopping in Dataran Palawan Malls but was interrupted by the heavy downpour of rain in the afternoon. When the rain stopped roamed again and was able to ride the Menara Tamin Sari (revolving tower) for MR20 (7 minutes on top with a night view of Melaka). Spent the evening walking Jonker St and had a taste of their Durian Cendol. Marcos saysDecember 20, 2011 at 10:59 pmNice! I wished I could have stayed longer in Melaka also :) Lani saysJanuary 12, 2012 at 1:56 pmafter reading reading this, cant wait for my Melaka walking tour too….2 more weeks! :) thanks for sharing this. Marcos saysJanuary 13, 2012 at 3:01 amSafe travels Lani :) Lani saysJanuary 30, 2012 at 10:25 amnice place indeed! thanks again:) Crystal saysMarch 31, 2012 at 11:40 pmThanks so much for ur info .. Its really useful for those who planning to travel to Malacca . Marcos saysApril 13, 2012 at 11:35 pmCool :) Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
thepinaysolobackpacker saysNovember 3, 2011 at 7:54 amnice captures as usual Marc. at lucky you, wlaang maxadong tao. nahilo ako sa dame ng turista ko pagpunta ko dun. haha cguro maagaga ka nung pumunta dun noh. or maybe weekdays.
Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:35 pmOo monday morning kami nag tour. There were a lot of tourists too, mostly Chinese, at sections of the river. We waited for them to dissipate since they were touring in big groups and were blocking the view, hehe.
Journeys and Travels saysNovember 3, 2011 at 8:18 amnicely written and love the photos. U had it all wrapped up. Never been to Melaka but to KL only which made this post more useful for my future plans.
lakwatsera de primera saysNovember 3, 2011 at 1:14 pmI knew we missed a lot when we ran out of time to visit Melaka. I’m sure, knowing you di ka masyado satisfied sa oras, kinulang ng time for more self-portraits :)
Marcos saysNovember 11, 2011 at 6:38 pmHaha.You know me so well :D You guys were able to personally meet flip, that good enough already ^_^
Joseph Reyes saysDecember 17, 2011 at 8:30 pmThanks for posting. I was encouraged to go to Melaka as a side trip to our choir’s Singapore Tour. I left the group for a while in Singapore and went alone to Melaka (3 days, 2 nights). Enjoyed my stay there except for some irritating experience with some people but it was overcome by good experiences with some people too. Spent the 2nd day roaming the place, taking photos, food trip, window shopping in Dataran Palawan Malls but was interrupted by the heavy downpour of rain in the afternoon. When the rain stopped roamed again and was able to ride the Menara Tamin Sari (revolving tower) for MR20 (7 minutes on top with a night view of Melaka). Spent the evening walking Jonker St and had a taste of their Durian Cendol.
Lani saysJanuary 12, 2012 at 1:56 pmafter reading reading this, cant wait for my Melaka walking tour too….2 more weeks! :) thanks for sharing this.
Crystal saysMarch 31, 2012 at 11:40 pmThanks so much for ur info .. Its really useful for those who planning to travel to Malacca .