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Malacca Images 12 images Created 23 Jul 2012

Originally Melaka was the capital of the Malacca Sultanate and was the centre of the Malay world in the 15th and the 16th century after the Malays moved here from Sumatra. Centuries of colonization by the Portuguese, Dutch and British as well as development of Straits Chinese Peranakan culture influenced the architecture of the town. The Portuguese A Famosa, the Dutch Stadthuys and the Chinese & British influenced traditional town houses. Malacca was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with George Town Penang in July 2008.
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  • Shophouse vernacular architectural buildings are commonly seen in Southeast Asia, particularly Penang, Malacca and Singapore. Shophouses are mostly two or three stories high with a shop on the ground floor for mercantile activity and a residence above the shop. This hybrid building characterises the historical centers of most towns and cities in the Southeast Asia region.
    malacca-shophouse-1.jpg
  • Cheng Hoon Teng Temple or Temple of the Green Clouds is situated close on Jalan Tukang Emas, also known as "Harmony Street" because of its proximity to the Kampung Kling Mosque and Sri Poyatha Moorthi Temple..The richly decorated Cheng Hoon Teng temple and .features a magnificent main gate and the buildings conform to the principles of feng shui. The complex is laid out to ensure a view of the river and high ground on either side.
    cheng-hoon-teng-temple-3.jpg
  • Murals are painted on the shophouses along Melaka River, adding a touch of color to both the buildings and river itself.  Cruises along the river are a good way to see the  surroundings-  which was once the main corridor of Melaka during its heyday as a trading port.
    melaka-river-4.jpg
  • Melaka Straits Mosque or Masjid Selat Melaka, combines Middle Eastern and  Malay architecture and crafttsmanship.  The mosque faces the Malacca Strait and is built on stilts over the water so that it looks like a floating structure if the water level is high. This mosque showcases modern Islamic architecture. Apart from serving as a place of worship, it has also become a Malacca tourist destination.
    malacca-floating-mosque-1.jpg
  • Ghost Bridge - The Malacca River cuts across Malacca town on its way to the Straits of Malacca.  The river played an important role in the development of Malacca as it was an important conduit for trade. In addition to being the source of fresh water it enabled access to the interior so that forest products such as rattan, cane and resin could to be brought down to market. As you cruise up the river, you will be able to see old shophouses along its banks. After the Malacca Bridge near the Dutch Square, the second bridge you will pass under is the Chan Boon Cheng Bridge.  After the Chan Boon Cheng Bridge, the next bridge across the river is a foot bridge which the locals call the Ghostbridge of Malacca. How it got the name remains a mystery. Further on, another pedestrian bridge called the Old Market Bridge can be seen. The Kampung Morten footbridge is probably the river's showpiece.
    ghost-bridge-1.jpg
  • Chinese dragons are mythical creatures in mythology and folklore. In Chinese art they are portrayed as serpentine creatures with four legs. A dragon is yang and complements a Chinese phoenix. Chinese dragons traditionally symbolize  power, particularly control over water, rain, and floods. The dragon is also a symbol of good luck.
    malacca-chinatown-3.jpg
  • The Independence Memorial was set up in 1985. It is housed in the former Melaka Club, a British colonial building built in 1912. The memorial displays memorabilia and records related to the early history of the Malay Sultanate and the development of modern Malaysia. It also symbolises the indomitable spirit and courage of local Malays and other ethnic groups of Malaysia in their struggle for independence. Among the permanent exhibits here are historical pictures, manuscripts, videotapes, films and slides of events leading to the Declaration of Independence at the nearby Warrior's Field on Aug 31, 1957.Malaysia, was formerly known as Malaya.
    malacca-independence-memorial-1.jpg
  • Pineapple tarts are small, bite-size pastries filled with or topped with pineapple jam, popular in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. The Malaysian town of Malacca is particularly famous for producing good commercial pineapple tarts.  The pastry consists of a large proportion of butter and egg yolk, besides using corn starch, giving it a rich, buttery, tender and melt-in-the-mouth texture. The pineapple jam is usually made by slowly reducing and caramelizing grated fresh pineapple that has been mixed with sugar and spices - usually cinnamon, star anise and cloves. Typical shapes include a flat, open tart topped with pineapple jam under a lattice of pastry, rolls filled with jam that are open at the ends and jam-filled spheres.  Considered a "festive cookie", pineapple tarts are usually consumed during the Chinese New Year period. However, they are sold all year round by commercial bakeries and by souvenir stores serving tourists.
    pineapple-tarts-2.jpg
  • The Famous (A Famosa in Portuguese) is a Portuguese fortress located in Malacca, Malaysia. It is among the oldest surviving European architectural remains in Asia. The Porta de Santiago, a small gate house, is the only remaining part of the fortress still standing. In 1511, a Portuguese fleet arrived under the command of Afonso de Albuquerque. His forces attacked and defeated the armies of the Malacca Sultanate. Moving quickly to consolidate his gains, Albuquerque had the fortress built around a natural hill near the sea. Albuquerque believed that Malacca would become an important port linking Portugal to the Spice Route in China. At this time other Portuguese were establishing outposts in such places as Macau, China and Goa, India in order to create a string of friendly ports for ships heading to China and returning home to Portugal.
    a-famosa-malacca-4.jpg
  • Taking a trishaw ride through Melaka seems to be the thing to do for every visitor.  There are dozens of them offering this service and the price is fixed these days at 40 Malaysian Ringgit per hour. Unlike other towns where rickshaws still ply the streets, the fixed rate ensures a reasonable fare for passengers and an equitable income for the driver. The trishaws in Melaka are colorful with lots of decorations, each with their own individual design and add flambouyant colors to the streets of Melaka..
    malacca-rickshaw-4.jpg
  • Hokkien Association Hall Huoy Kuan - Kongsi or "clan halls" are benevolent organizations of popular origin found among overseas Chinese communities.  This type of social practice arose several centuries ago in China. The Chinese word Kongsi is used in modern Chinese to mean a commercial "company"; the modern term for such associations is hui guan literally meaning "meeting hall".  The system of kongsi was utilized by Chinese throughout the diaspora to overcome economic difficulty, social ostracism, and oppression. In today's overseas Chinese communities throughout the world, this approach has been adapted to the modern environment, including political and legal factors. The kongsi is similar to modern business partnerships, but also draws on a deeper spirit of cooperation and consideration of mutual welfare.
    hokkien-huoy-kuan-1.jpg
  • Spiral stairs wind around a newel or the central pole. They typically have a handrail on the outer side only and on the inner side just the central pole. A pure spiral assumes a circular stairwell and the steps and handrail are equal and positioned symmetrically. A tight spiral stair with a central pole is very space efficient in the use of floor area but have the disadvantage of being very steep
    Spiral-Stairway.jpg