[MALAYSIA] Malacca Day 1: Jonker Street and Dutch Square

08:00 Travel Bunny 0 Comments

Malacca is a UNESCO World Heritage city bursting with colorful history, unique architecture, and an incredible food scene. Our first day is a deep dive into the essence of Malacca, getting lost in the cultural kaleidoscope that is Jonker Street, before exploring the iconic Dutch Square with its famous red colonial buildings.

We wandered through the art house vibe of The Baboon House. The café is housed in a beautifully preserved Peranakan shophouse, and the interior is filled with lush greenery, natural light from a central airwell/skylight, rustic wooden furniture, and captivating art pieces, creating a tranquil contrast to the busy street outside.

Malaqa House Museum serves as a "living museum" that provides an intimate glimpse into the daily life, decor, and history of a local mid-wealthy Malaccan Chinese-originating Nyonya family. Visitors can explore the ground and first floors, viewing a collection of traditional Chinese furniture, antiques, and artifacts. 

Then we stopped at Colour Beads NyoNya shoes shop to admire the intricate Peranakan craftsmanship. A pair of handmade colour beaded Nyonya shoes cost from RM 379. 

Next, we saw the Kampung Kling Mosque, and Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, all within a stone's throw.

Tan Kim Hock @ Jonker Walk is a shop selling authentic local delicacies and souvenirs. It's also great for photo spot.

To learn about Malacca’s maritime past, we visited the Cheng Ho Cultural Museum. The museum is dedicated to the legacy of the famous Ming Dynasty Chinese Admiral, Cheng Ho. It is housed in a beautifully restored complex of eight historic shophouses, believed to be the original site of the huge warehouse complex he built along the Malacca River. 

Models of the Treasure Ships (Junks): Displays of the massive size and advanced technology of Zheng He's fleet.

Artifacts and Dioramas showcasing the life of the Admiral, his voyages, the maritime trade of the era, and cultural exchanges between China and the regions he visited.

Cheng Ho Cultural Museum
Opening hours: 9:30 AM - 5:15 PM (Mon - Thu) , 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM (Fri - Sun) 
Admission fee: RM10 per Malaysian adult, RM 5 per Malaysian child, RM 15 per non-Malaysian adult & RM 8 per non-Malaysian child.

A photo stop at "My Kiehl's Heritage" colourful walls is a must-do.

And of course, we didn't miss taking photo with the famous Fan Bingbing mural, depicting her as Empress Wu Zetian. 

Next we moved to the iconic Dutch Square, featuring the fiery red The Stadthuys. It served as the official residence of the Dutch Governor and the administrative center for the Dutch colony for over 150 years. Today, the Stadthuys houses the History and Ethnography Museum. Right next to it is the Christ Church, Queen Victoria's Fountain and clock tower.

We wrapped up the day with a pleasant dinner at Dutch Harbour Cafe, watching the river lights.