Archive for September, 2006
Trishaw, also known as tricycle rickshaw or pedicab, is undeniably one of the unique attractions in Melaka. From what I’ve learned and been told, most of the tourists will be amazed on the efforts of decoration put on the trishaws in Melaka.
In olden days, before the rolling of industrialization age in Malaysia, trishaw was used as one of the main public transportation modes by residents in Melaka. Due to the modernization of lifestyle and popularization of other efficient transportation alternatives, trishaw has eventually been phased out from daily life of local residents. However, fortunately, Melaka is one of the only state in Malaysia especially known for its heritage attractions; this has created another alternative of career opportunity for the trishaw drivers, to focus their service target on tourists.
Most if not all, of the trishaws in Melaka are mounted with the seat cabin side-by-side. Examples of place where you can easily find trishaw services available for hiring are The Stadthuys or Dutch Square, Porta de Santiago, and Equatorial Hotel Melaka.
The trishaws which are mainly serving tourism services are all very well and creatively decorated. In addition to artificial flowers arrangement, most of the trishaws are also equipped with an audio player to play popular songs or music at the passenger’s mother tongue. Not surprising, if you hear the Hokkien song “ai pia jia eh nya” (爱拼才会赢) playing for Taiwanese passengers. Besides, I’ve also seen some trishaws equipped with a small fan to ease the heat on scorching day. To date, the most creative and innovative decoration I’ve seen, is a boat-like trishaw – making the trishaw looks like a wooden boat except that fact that it has 3 wheels 
In Malaysia, there are only 2 states known with trishaws aimed as tourism service – Penang and Melaka. However, the trishaws in Melaka are still crowned as the best looking in the region. Sitting on Melaka trishaw for sightseeing tour is definitely a good experience.
Trishaw Hiring Rate
Due to the mushrooming tourism value of trishaw services in Melaka, some of the irresponsible drivers have abused the opportunity to charge at irregular rate on tourists. Due to a number of complaints received, the Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah (MBMB) or municipal council has taken some measures to regulate the trishaw services in Melaka.
At The Stadthuys, notices on the regulated or standard trishaw hiring rate are visibly seen. On your next visit to Melaka, take a note that the maximum trishaw service rate is fixed at RM40 per hour. Yes, it is regulated to be changed per hour, and never compensate beyond the maximum rate of RM40.
September 29th, 2006
Traveler: WMW and her mom from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Date: 20 Aug – 23 Aug, 2006
Accommodation: Paradise Malacca Village Resort, Ayer Keroh
Getting around by: driving car
Day 1
Since WMW reached Melaka in the evening, their first day activity didn’t involve any visit to places of tourist attraction, but a chicken rice ball dinner. Due to unfamiliarity of routes in Melaka, WMW has carefully studied the road map in preparation for second day itinerary.
Click here to read WMW’s travelogue for day 1.
Day 2
As planned, WMW began her second day itinerary by heading to Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street) for the well-known wantan mee. As the roads in Melaka Old Chinatown are mostly 1-way, she had a “good” time turning around till she attempted to find the right road.
In WMW’s post, she actually pointed out how distinctive this wantan mee was, comparing to those available in Kuala Lumpur or Petaling Jaya.
Of course, when one has stepped into the Melaka Old Chinatown, a visit to the nearby heritage area is practically a must, as they are all located within walking distance. She has also shared some interesting observations about the Malaysia’s only state with decorated trishaws.
Click here to read WMW’s travelogue for day 2.
Day 3
How should one appreciate the old fort of Porta de Santiago left by Portuguese colonization? If you’re visiting this fort with the mindset of remembering the glorious history behind, then you will feel great standing at the top of breezy St. Paul’s Hill.
Melaka is never known without food. WMW has certainly done her homework before the trip, that she has found one of the most well-known popiah (fresh spring roll) in Melaka.
Click here to read WMW’s travelogue for day 3.
Day 4
Who said the only tourism attraction in Melaka is the heritage area? Well, Melaka has the second largest zoo in Malaysia as well *winks*
Interestingly, WMW was surprised with the unexpectedly large scale of Melaka Zoo.
Click here to read WMW’s travelogue for day 4.
My Two Cents
In my opinion, WMW has still got some missing pieces in her previous visit to Melaka, in terms of the variety of foods she has experienced. As pointed out in her post, she couldn’t find the way to satay celup, and thus missing out this legendary good local delicacy. Besides, she has also missed out on the Baba Nyonya delicacies. In fact, Baba Nyonya (also known as Peranakan or Straits Chinese) culture is one of the distinctive features in found Melaka. What else about food? Hm… I’m not sure if she actually tried the drooling cendol, as she doesn’t mention about this dessert in her post.
September 28th, 2006
How does the Dataran Pahlawan Megamall looks like on the night before official opening set on 25 Sep 2006?
Outlets facing the main road were well-lit, mall cleaning staffs were busy washing and polishing the floor, and outlet tenants were busy with some last-minute preparations as well.
Dataran Pahlawan Megamall of Melaka is a new retail, entertainment and gourmet centre located at the core of heritage area – Bandar Hilir, directly opposite Porta de Santiago (A’ Famosa Fortress). Prior to the establishment of this modern complex, it was a green field called Padang Pahlawan, the place where Malaysia’s Father of Independence Tunku Abdul Rahman made his official historic announcement about the success of gaining independence for Malaya from British government.
The Dataran Pahlawan Megamall project is envisioned to be one of the most happening tourism attractions, and the largest shopping mall in Melaka. Currently, the first phase which primarily comprises of fashion and gourmet retailing lots is completed and ready for business commencement. From the main road, familiar names like Esprit, Padini Concept Store, MNG, Mango, Nike, Camel Active, Roxy, Quicksilver and Seed are spotted.
Besides, McDonald’s fast food is also occupying one of the most eye catching locations for 24 hours operation.
Carrefour has also signed an agreement with Dataran Pahlawan Megamall as one of the key anchor tenants. Carrefour is expected to begin its operation in Dataran Pahlawan in first quarter of 2007. This means that, Melaka will have all the 3 major hypermarket operators offering competitive prices.
When all the phases of Dataran Pahlawan project are completely developed, there will also be a Digital Domain selling trendy gadgets and digital devices, as well as a Gold Mart or Gold Trade Centre selling gold and jewelry.
Some cultural and heritage conservation advocates worry that the commercialized Dataran Pahlawan concepts will fade out the heritage colours of the core historical site in Melaka. In efforts to achieve a balanced development between heritage conservation and tourism modernization, the ambitious Dataran Pahlawan Megamall project has the following plans aligned:
- Padang Pahlawan is reborn at the at roof-top.
- Development coverage includes the existing Tun Mahathir’s Vision 2020 Time Capsule. Currently, the significance of Time Capsule is less known among tourists, but I hope the megamall will play a good role in promoting this legacy of modern time.
- Sculptures depicting the traditional life and olden days, such as bullock cart and wau (Malaysian kite), will be built and displayed.
- Sea Wall depicting the glorious Harbour Wall of Melaka Sultanate will be constructed.
For sure, all these vibrant plans which are more than a shopping mall, will take some time to be completely constructed.
Updated on 22nd Oct 2006
Click here for more pictures of Dataran Pahlawan Megamall
GPS Coordinate: N2.19028 E102.24993
September 24th, 2006
The serene view of fishing village, the docking and undocking of fishing boats, the life of fishermen, are usually the pictures that we’ve forgotten or ignored in our bustling city life surrounded by skyscrapers. In places like Kuala Lumpur federal territory, scenic beach, streams, and country sites are almost non-existent. Fortunately in Melaka, despite the recent rapid economic growth and development, occupation-based settlements like fishing villages are still preserved.
On last Saturday, during a fine evening, I went to a stream mouth neighboring to the town, called Muara Sungai Duyung. It is easy to locate the place. Just heading upwards from Ujung Pasir to the direction of Padang Temu, and you will see a big sign board written Muara Sungai Duyung, pointing to a small lane on your right. That’s the place where a number of fishing boats are docked and undocked everyday, and a significant community of fishermen is making their living.
Direction to Muara Sungai Duyung
At Muara Sungai Duyung, the fishing boats caught in sight are of varying sizes. The small motor boats are apparently only suitable for fishing activities at shallow stream to catch small fishes. On the other hand, the bigger and all-weather fishing boats allow the fishermen to reach deeper sea for bigger local fishes, such as groupers, Jenahak and herrings.
The small wooden hut used by fishermen to store fishing equipments
Fishermen preparing for trip
Fishermen heading for a trip on small boat
Fishing nets
Fishing traps
Malaysia national flag flying at the dock
Fishermen preparing and fixing fishing net
A small wooden bridge at the dock
Source of Fresh Catches
Every evening, especially weekends, there will be a crowd of local residents waiting at the dock for returning fishing boats, to look for fresh catches of the day. If you’re particular about the taste and meat textures of the fish you eat, this is definitely one of the good places in Melaka where you can find fresh catches that have never been frozen.
Comparing to the fishes sold in wet market which has been frozen during transporting, fresh catches taste sweeter and finer. Of course, fresh catches come at a price much higher than those sold in wet market.
Besides Muara Sungai Duyung, there are also a few places in Tanjung Kling and Klebang where you can get fresh catches of fish.
Ikan Bakar at Night
When Malaysian thinks of seafood, ikan bakar (BBQ fish) will usually be one of the most drooling dishes. As a fishing village, when the dawn falls off, you can also find two ikan bakar restaurants at Muara Sungai Duyung - Medan Ikan Bakar Muara Sungai Duyung, Anjung Muara Ikan Bakar.
Between the 2 mentioned ikan bakar restaurants at Muara Sungai Duyung, personally I prefer the Anjung Muara Sungai Duyung.
As shown in the above direction map, you have to go through a river-side road to reach the ikan bakar restaurants, whereas the river should be on your RIGHT. The river-side road is relatively dark at night, but busy traffic during weekends.
At the end of the dark river-side road, you will see a brightly-lit ikan bakar restaurant on your right. DON’T go to this one. You should go to another ikan bakar on your LEFT, which is the not so brightly-lit Anjung Muara Sungai Duyung that I’m referring to. The seafoods are fresh catches, and reasonably priced. Personally, I find Anjung Muara Sungai Duyung to serve better foods.
September 24th, 2006
The next time you visit Melaka heritage area, such as the Dutch Square and Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat) of Melaka old Chinatown, don’t just look at the traditional crafted arts found on the old buildings; but instead, pay an attention to one of the most frequently ignored features unique to the old buildings built during Dutch occupation – wall anchor (also known as wall-tie).
Yes, I’m pretty sure that most of you have no idea on what a wall anchor is. The focus of this article is to introduce this architecture uniqueness.
A wall anchor is usually made with metal, and was used in olden day’s vernacular architecture to fix a brick wall to a solid timber frame of a building. The outer fixing of a wall anchor is often a simple shape of ‘I’ or ‘)(’, nautical boat anchor, numeric numbers or alphabetical letters. However, some comprehensively designed wall anchor can also be shaped as merchant’s sign or even the pre-Christian symbols like world trees. The wall anchor is known to be found in many of the former colonies of Netherlands.
Jonker Street, or Jalan Hang Jebat of Melaka, is a good place to look for wall anchors. As shown in the above photo, are a number of wall anchors spotted on a house owned by Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI) of Melaka. All the wall anchors are painted with black on the white color wall.
On the same building, a number of wall anchors shaped like nautical boat anchor and some numerical numbers were also spotted on the front side.
On some buildings, the wall anchors are not significantly notable, as the metal was painted with the wall color.
Do you know that the strawberry-coloured Christ Church constructed by Dutch also has a number of ‘I’ bar wall anchors? Check it out yourself on your next visit
September 16th, 2006
