We continue from Day 1 of our 2 day, 1 night trip to walk back in time in Melaka.
Day 2
10.00am – The Dutch Square, one of the oldest surviving parts of Melaka, is a good starting point for visiting the old part of the town. Also known as the Red Square, it is easily identified by the bright, terracotta-red colonial Dutch buildings belonging to the 1660 to 1700 era. A fountain marks the central area.
11.30am – We continue our heritage tour with a visit to the Melaka Sultanate Palace. A replica of the original 15th Century palace of Melaka’s sultanate, the complex structure was based entirely on sketches found in the ancients Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals). The seven enclosed porches and sloping roofs were not held together by a single nail, and the exhibition recreates many activities that happened during the prime time of Melaka sultanate. After walking through the exhibition, we found our way to the Forbidden garden of the palace, a play area constructed for the royal princesses during the Melaka sultanate. There are no clear records of the garden’s existence in the past, yet we could almost imagine the royal princesses enjoying the afternoon breeze amidst the lush greenery.
The Portuguese fortress A’Famosa, meaning “The Famous” in Portuguese, is one of the oldest surviving remnants of European architecture in Asia.
The Melaka Sultanate Palace, a replica of the original 15th century palace of Melaka’s sultanate.
2.40pm – We headed to the Art Applique (Jehan Chan Art Gallery). Considered to be one of the most prominent and successful artists in Melaka, Jehan has been painting and exhibiting for more than 30 years. Looking at his watercolour paintings of scenic landscapes, carp fishes and depictions of the Melaka river, it is no wonder his art has captivated a wide group of audience over the years. It was an eye-opener to see his perfected craft of painting on crinkled rice paper, an art form that many young artists rush to emulate.
4.10pm – Our last pit stop before dinner was a visit to Chua Soon Hup grocery shop. An old shop established more than 50 years ago, the shop’s famous specialities are the dried soya bean noodles and meesua, to name a few out of the wide variety they offer. We could not resist bagging a few packets of these dried goods to bring back home, along with packets of gula melaka (palm sugar).
The gallery of Jehan Chan, one of the most successful living painters in Malaysia.
Jonker Street offers the definitive Melakan shopping experience, with shops selling a variety of goods including the traditional sarong kebaya.
Chua Soon Hup grocery shop sells an array of dried goods.
6.10pm – We could hear the clatter from the crowd at Pak Putra Tandoori & Naan Restaurant. Famous for their naans and tandoori chicken, the place was packed both inside the restaurant and alfresco areas. We ordered the well-known dishes and found out from a fellow diner that the potato pratha was “to die for”. Indeed, the thick pancake had crispy outer layers and a soft savoury potato mash infused with herbs was our idea of the perfect comfort food. As it was our final day in Melaka, our food hunt continued as we adjourned to Hajjah Mona Asam Pedas at Taman Kota Laksamana for a sour and spicy stew.
Asam Pedas, a sour and spicy stew and one of the must-try foods in Melaka, can be found at Hajjah Mona eatery.
Pak Putra Tandoori & Naan Restaurant is famous for their naans and tandoori chicken.
Pak Putra Tandoori & Naan Restaurant is famous for their naans and tandoori chicken.
8.00pm – Feeling tired but highly accomplished, we returned to our Mediterranean-inspired boutique hotel Casa del Rio for a well-deserved rest. Located by the idyllic Melaka River near the entrance from the historic straits and a stone’s throw away from the heart of the town, the scenic night view from the hotel offers a refreshing perspective of Melaka.
Getting to Melaka from Singapore
Luxury Coach departs daily at 8am from Concorde Hotel Singapore at Orchard Road. The overland journey takes about four and half hours before arriving in Casa del Rio Melaka hotel.
H DIRECTORY
Melaka Sultanate Palace
Kota, Complex Warisan, 75000 Melaka
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm. Closed on Mondays.
Art Applique (Jehan Chan Art Gallery)
73 & 75 Lorong Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka
Opening hours: 10.30am to 5.30pm, daily
Chua Soon Hup Grocery Store
70, Jalan Tokong, 75200 Melaka
Opening hours: 7am to 5pm, Sunday to Thursday; 7am to 10.30pm, Friday & Saturday
Pak Putra Tandoori & Naan Restaurant
Jalan Laksamana 4, 75200 Melaka
Opening hours: 5.30pm to 1am. Closed on Mondays.
Hajjah Mona Masak Asam Pedas
6, Taman Kota Laksamana, 75200 Melaka
Opening hours: 12pm to 1am. Closed on Wednesdays.
