Malacca, the first of UNESCO twin cities in Malaysia

When travelling on the road from Singapore into Malaysia, one of the first stops you can make is in Malacca. ( Melaka in Malay). Several bus companies go between Singapore, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur. The bus takes about four hours, and the border crossing is relatively straightforward. After spending the weekend in Singapore, I was ready for new adventures, and now I was going to travel through Malaysia. My final stop here would be Malacca’s twin city, Georgetown, in Penang.

A little bit of history

The Straits of Malacca have developed over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West. The influences of Asia and Europe have endowed the town with a specific multicultural heritage. The Portuguese were the first to set their mark on the city. Today, there is still a tiny group of people who speak Portuguese; however, they are dying out. Later, the Dutch took over, and they left more evidence of their existence, with their government buildings, churches, and squares.

A Famosa

A Famosa was a Portuguese fortress built in Malacca circa 1512. After 1642 and the occupation of the city by the Dutch, the fortress was destroyed, but the outer walls were expanded. However, in 1811, the British destroyed all of the original fortress and most of the outer walls. The Porta de Santiago is the only part of the fortress that remains today. Next to the Duch Square, this is probably the most photographed spot in the city.

The Duch Square

This square, also known as the Red Square of Melaka, is often called the Heart of Melaka. Is it because of the stunning red buildings that Malacca is famous for, or the historical charm? However, the buildings and the church surrounding the square were not open when I was there, but there is no doubt that it has a special atmosphere, and it draws tourists. Here you also find the colourful trishaws, a form of bicycle-powered rickshaw, that cruise around town. Each driver decorates their trishaw with bright flowers, flashing lights, flags and souvenirs.

This is a nice way to get around in what is a reasonably small city centre, but in the hot weather, it would be nice to see the town from the comfort of a shaded spot. By travelling alone, I could not see myself sitting alone in one of those seats. After all, one has a reputation to uphold!

Presence of the religion

There is no doubt that Malaysia is predominantly a Muslim country. The hijab is seen everywhere, but it is a surprisingly mixed country. And in this area, there is also a considerable amount of Chinese. After being in several Muslim nations around the world, the call to prayer is not so domineering here. This may vary from city to city, of course. One evening, I went out to the sea, the actual Malacca Strait, and saw the sunset by Masjid Selat Mosque. It was a lovely evening.

Peranakan Chinese

The Peranakan Chinese are an ethnic group of Southern Chinese settlers to maritime Southeast Asia, namely the British, Portuguese, and Dutch colonial ports like Malacca, Singapore, Penang, Phuket and Tangerang. It is characterised by its unique hybridisation of ancient Chinese culture with the local cultures of the Nusantara region, the result of a centuries-long history of transculturation and interracial marriage.

Several of these Chinese were good businessmen and prosperous in several different fields. This also led to them wanting to show their wealth in building big, dominating houses. One of these houses is displayed in the Peranakan Place. The furniture is fantastic, and it is exciting to see. What amazes a Nordic person is the fact that the houses have outer walls and the bedrooms are closed with doors, but all the standard rooms, like the living room and kitchen, have a courtyard space with the sky above. So when it rains, it must splash into the surrounding rooms? Anyway, it proves that it never gets very cold here.

All in all, Malacca was a place where you could join the crowd of tourists, but you could also find some spots for peace. My hotel had a rooftop swimming pool with a nice view of the city.