Archive for January, 2008
One of the uniqueness of Melaka, is the presence of Baba Nyonya heritage and cultures. From spoken language, to living lifestyle and food, there are distinctive attributes that make Baba Nyonya a special community. Though the population of Baba Nyonya descendents is relatively small, but their authentic recipes are especially known in the food heaven.
Cooked dishes aside, Nyonya kuih is another well sort-after Nyonya food in Melaka. Many people, both visitors and Malaccans, just couldn’t stop loving the savory Nyonya kuih.
Though there are plenty of places selling Nyonya kuih in Melaka, but there are very few decent-scale producers. If you’re planning to indulge yourself with Melaka Nyonya kuih during your next visit, you may try visiting a Nyonya kuih production house located at Tengkera (a suburb in between of Old Melaka section and Klebang), during day time.
Address:
72, Lorong Pantai Tengkera 2C, Tengkera, Melaka.
GPS Coordinate: N2.20325 E102.23149
Click here for location map (popup) of this Tengkera Nyonya kuih.
As shown in the location map, you may get to Tengkera from Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street). If you’re coming from Old Melaka town, it will only take you about 5 to 10 minutes.
Coming from Old Melaka, the first notable landmark that you will notice at Tengkera, is the Balai Polis Tengkera (police station; GPS: N2.20040 E102.23980) on your left. Then, keep going straight for about 1km, and you will come to Masjid Tengkera (mosque; GPS: N2.20405 E102.23201) on your right. Once you’ve spotted this mosque, you need to decelerate.
Just about 45m from Masjid Tengkera, you will come to a small lane on your left, called Lorong Pantai Tengkera 2C. Turn left into this small lane, and go towards the end to find the last house on your left. This is the place houses freshly cooked Nyonya kuih, at non-marked-up prices.
Please be reminded, that Loring Pantai Tengkera 2C is a narrow lane. If you’re driving 4-wheel or SUV, it would be a bit hard to make turning in the lane for your way out.
The owners of this Nyonya kuih business are not just simply surviving with their house as the main premise. They are mobilizing at some pasar malam (night markets) in Melaka at dusk selling their signature Nyonya kuih. If you’re a frequent visitor of Bukit Beruang pasar malam (Monday and Wednesday), you will most probably know who’s the Nyonya kuih uncle aunty I’m writing here 
January 28th, 2008
GPS, which stands for Global Positioning System, is getting more common and popular in our region, thanks to the affordable pricing of GPS-enabled mobile phones and GPS units, as well the comprehensive GPS maps of Malaysia and Singapore contributed by Malsingmaps community.
Just taking my workplace into consideration, about 20% of my colleagues own a GPS device. I’ve also recently joined the troop, by getting the QStarz BT-Q818 GPS receiver to pair with my Sony Ericsson P1i.
I’ve already revised most (not all yet) of the previous posts with relevant GPS coordinate at the last sentence of each post. If you have a GPS device as well, hopefully the GPS coordinate given could ease your routing on the road. However, to those who don’t possess this gadget, I’ll still carry on providing a conventional map.
I’ve been convoying with my colleagues for a few road trips, which were heavily dependent on GPS for our direction. The most challenging one was done in Krabi, a place of total geographic unfamiliarity to us, with a total of 4 cars driving out of the city. Though common sense and some good guesses are needed at times, especially at places with under-developed map features, but still, GPS works great and help a lot in our leisure.
January 25th, 2008
If you’ve been to Melaka during Chinese New Year, or 3 weeks before this auspicious celebration, you have surely witnessed the appealing Chinese New Year street decoration at the Melaka Chinatown area, such as places like Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street), Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street), Jalan Hang Lekiu and Jalan Bunga Raya.
Never missed, this Chinese New Year street decoration initiative has been successfully carried out from the past 7 years (correct me if I’m wrong with the year). This year, the Melaka Chinese New Year Street Decoration 2008 was officiated by Dato Seri Ong Ka Ting on last Saturday.
Marking the first official day of the light-up, lion dance troops were invited to further condense the Chinese New Year atmosphere.
Take a look at some of the pictures I took at Jonker Walk, don’t you feel like wanted to be physically there as well?
Kudos to the Jonker Street Committee in successfully initiating another year of Chinese New Year Carnival.
Come visit Melaka this Chinese New Year to witness the condensed atmosphere.
GPS Coordinate: N2.19815 E102.24472
January 21st, 2008
From my childhood till adolescence, the Sungai Melaka (Melaka River) I grown up with was dirty, smelly, and poorly maintained. However, in recent years, thanks to continuous state government and city council initiative, Sungai Melaka is now given a fresh new picturesque appearance. This is an applauding change for the benefit of Melaka tourism.
5 years back, I wouldn’t agree to take a river cruise at Sungai Melaka, or spend an evening strolling along the riverside. However, now that Sungai Melaka surrounding environment is upgraded, and I’m glad that it’s worth spending some relaxing free time at Sungai Melaka riverwalk without hesitation.
Sungai Melaka conversation exercise is not just confined to the area around Dutch Square and Old Melaka Town historical site, but the whole route of river cruise. One fine Friday evening, I went to the riverwalk at Jalan Bunga Raya opposite Kampung Morten for a stroll. A boardwalk is built along the riverside, by the muddy riverbank. This 380m boardwalk has its entry point situated behind Southern Hospital.
Sungai Melaka is known as one of the very few natural habitats for mudskippers. So, at the boardwalk, it’s pretty easy to spot mudskippers skipping on the muddy ground.
Old Chinese houses and Taoism temple along the boardwalk, opposite Kampung Morten and parted by Sungai Melaka.
Quacking ducks, monitor lizards and birds have also found Sungai Melaka as their home.
Kampung Morten is an award winning traditional Malay village and classified national Malaysian heritage site situated by Sungai Melaka. It is named after an Englishman who donated the land on which the kampung (village) was built, during the late 19th century when Melaka was ruled by the British. It is connected to Jalan Bunga Raya by a bridge called Jambatan Kampung Morten.
Villa Sentosa is one of the biggest houses in Kampung Morten, and as old as Kampong Morten itself. It was built by Tuan Haji Hashim bin Dato’ Demang Haji Abdul Ghani in 1920. Villa Sentosa has now been converted into a private Malay living museum. Guided tours are also conducted for the visitors to view its intriguing collection of costumes, Malay embroidery, furniture, muskets and array of interesting relics.
A Malay house in Kampung Morten which has its roof painted for Malaysia’s 50th anniversary.
The entrance to Kampung Morten from Jalan Tun Ali.
If you bring a kid grown up in today’s urban life to an hour of relaxing riverwalk along Sungai Melaka, I’m sure he/she will learn a lot of valuable lessons which are not found in academic textbook.
GPS Coordinate: N2.20200 E102.25174
January 7th, 2008
