Malacca

My son Jon and I took off for a two day trip to the town of Malacca (Malay spelling – Melaka). The town has an interesting history, situated at the narrowest point of the Malacca Straits between Malaya and Sumatra, Indonesia. It had the benefit of a sheltered harbor and a prime position relative to trade routes and monsoon winds. Founded by an Indian exile, it was taken over by the Chinese (1405), the Portuguese (1509 and again in 1511 after being expelled), the Dutch (1641), the British (1824), the Japanese (1942), and then back to the British in 1946.  Malayan independence was declared in Malacca in 1957.

Because of its historical significance and cultural diversity, Malacca has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site. While enjoying ‘treasures’ such as the hotel we stayed in, the Baboon Cafe, and the Geographer Cafe, I was a little disappointed that the streets and many buildings were not well looked after and there was a constant battle with traffic in the town center. The invasion of many neon signs, e.g. for foot massage parlors, did not help. We missed the famous Jonker Street Night Market which is only held on weekends. However the ‘Dad and Lad’ experience was fun.

Malacca Town Center

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We took a cruise up the Malacca River, enjoyed looking at the murals and brightly colored buildings

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