Malacca (May '12)

Traveled to Malacca from 19 May (Sat) to 20 May (Sun) over the weekend with my colleagues. We also met up with our Malaysian colleague who was there one day earlier with his family. This trip was mainly on food trail rather than visiting its tourist attractions.

Leisure trip at a glance

Country: Malaysia
Period: 19 May to 20 May 2012
Transport:
Return trip on StarMart Express coach bus
Accommodation:
Hotel Equatorial Melaka (19 to 20 May)
Currency exchange rate: MYR 10 = SGD 4.08 (May '12 period)

There is no time difference between Singapore and Malaysia as both countries are in GMT+8 time zone. Total damage was about SGD 250 including transport, food & hotel, and excluding personal expenses.


Day One

Took the StarMart Express coach bus from the Golden Mile at 0745 hours (left photo below). The seats in this coach were wide and comfortable (right photo below). The return coach bus cost SGD 71 per person.
Requested the coach driver to allow us to alight at Melaka Butterfly Park where our Malaysian colleague was waiting for us. After which took our colleague's car to our first sight.

Malacca

Malacca (马六甲), or Melaka in Malay, is a state in Malay Peninsula bordered by Negeri Sembilan to the north and west, and Johor to the south. Malacca is located 148-kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur, and commands a central position on the Straits of Malacca.

Malacca, together with George Town, both Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca, has been listed as World Heritage Site in 2008 by UNESCO.

Dutch Square

The Dutch Square of Melaka is located in Bandar Hilir and probably the most famous landmark in Malacca. The square is surrounded by buildings painted in red, which gives rise to its popular name Red Square.

Prominent sign of Malacca being an UNESCO site could be seen from building wall besides the carpark (left photo below). We then walked round the Malaysia Youth Museum (right photo below) to reach the Dutch Square. This museum building was formerly used as part of the Dutch Administrative Complex during the Dutch Malacca.
One of the most picturesque points and most prominent building of the Dutch Square is Stadthuys (left photo below). Built between the 1660s and 1700s, the red buildings are characterized by large windows and wrought iron hedges. The entire area of Dutch Square has a vibrant surrounding and can always be seen buzzing with tourists. Another major highlight at the Red Square is the Queen Victoria Fountain which is standing proudly at its center (right photo below). This century-old fountain was built in 1901 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Cendol Jam Besar (Clock Tower)

We then walked towards a small eatery 'Cendol Jam Besar' opposite the Clock Tower (left photo below). Got ourselves a bowl of Cendol (biasa) each at MYR 1.50 (right photo below). Taste was average but refreshing especially in a hot afternoon.
Malacca River

Also known as Sungai Melaka, Malacca River originates from the foothills of Negeri Sembilan and flows through middle of Malacca City into the Malacca Strait. Million-dollar project was initiated to clean up and rejuvenate the river and restoration of buildings along the river. Used to have the impression that the river was polluted and smelly when I visited Malacca as a child, now the river is completely cleaned up and revitalized with alfresco dinning and even daily river cruise rides (photos below).
Hotel Equatorial Melaka

Checked in to Hotel Equatorial Melaka (left photo below) for the night. Booked this 5-star hotel online through the internet for MYR 370 per room per night without breakfast. This hotel has a grand and spacious lobby with a beautiful chandelier (right photo below).


The Premier room was sizeable with a TV console, an office desk (left photo below) and a double bed (right photo below).
There was a wide window couch that can even let an adult sleep on (left photo below). Part of Malacca city can be viewed from our hotel room including our Malaysian colleague's secondary school (right photo below).
Hotel location is great in Malacca, and it is just 386-meters from A Famosa and 1.12-km from Jonker Stret.

Hoe Kee Chicken Rice (和记鸡饭)

Decided to have our early dinner in this popular chicken rice shop (photos below). It is located just right next to the San Shu Gong shop along Jonker Street at No. 468, Jalan Hang Jebat.
Furnishing in this shop is simple with wooden tables and chairs (left photo below). Like most visitors, we ordered an Assam Fish Head at MYR 23 (right photo below), Steamed Chicken at MYR 15 (bottom left photo), a plate of stir-fried cabbage at MYR 4, some 'normal chicken rice' and of course their famous signature Chicken rice balls at MYR 5 (bottom right photo). In addition, we also got some cold drinks at total of MYR 4.80.
The chicken was succulent and juicy, with hint aroma of fragrant sesame oil, which goes superb well with rice. Fried cabbage was good with nice scent of garlic. However, their signature chicken rice ball was rather disappointing as it tasted like sticky rice dough; perhaps too much pressure on making these rice balls.

Jonker Street (鸡场街) Night Market

Jonker street is a 600-meters long street in Chinatown area filled with small shops, stalls and crowds. It is located along Jalan Hang Jebat in Malacca and opening hours from 6 pm to 12 midnight every Friday, Saturday and Sunday with its street blocked for traffic (photos below).
Street Food stall

Saw a street food stall selling durian spring roll (left photo below) at MYR 5 for 3 pieces, so decided to give it a try. The spring rolls were well fried with crispy golden colored-skin (right photo below), however there was no durian taste in its fillings at all.

Gi Kiat Huay (義結會)

It was rather warm in the evening with little wind. Therefore decided to have some refreshments in this Gi Kiat Huay (left photo below). The restaurant did have the feel of 50s or 60s due to its furnishings (right photo below).
Ordered a Nyonya Asam Laksa at MYR 5 (left photo below) and a bowl of cendol with durian at MYR 4 (right photo below). Taste of the Laksa was average but the cendol was good with rich coconut milk.

Jonker Walk Arch

Jonker Walk Arch is an arch located at Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Walk) in Bandar Melaka. This modern arch has become a landmark for Jonker Street (left photo below).

Hard Rock Café Rock Shop

Visited this rock shop just to get my memorabilia (right photo below). This shop is known to be the largest rock shop in South East Asia, and it is located just opposite the San Shu Gon shop. Diagonally across the street is their Hard Rock Café Restaurant.

San Shu Gong (三叔公)

San Shu Gong (三叔公) is a popular food souvenir shop in Jonker Street for its tidbits and drinks (left photo below). It is a must stop destination for visitors who visit Malacca. Like most tourists, I also bought some of their snacks back (right photo below).
Nadeje Cake Shop

Our colleague then brought us to this pastry shop Nadeje located at Plaza Mahkota (left photo below). This shop is famous for its mille crepe cakes. Initially wanted to have it inside the restaurant, but we could not find a seat thus decided to take-out.

Bought a Malacca mille crepe slice (right photo below), an Original mille crepe slice (bottom left photo) and an Orange-Chocolate slice (bottom right photo) to try. Each slice cost MYR 8.50.
A&W Restaurant

We then proceeded to this fast-food restaurant (left photo below). Ordered their signature A&W float (right photo below), and got to try the mille crepe cakes at the same time. It's been a long time since I had A&W float which was nostalgic. As for the cakes, they were delicious except slightly sweet to my taste.


We then headed back to hotel for a good rest.


Day Two

Woke up early in the morning to have a local dish of bak kut teh as breakfast.

Teo Chew Bak Kut Teh (潮州肉骨茶)

Located at Jalan Melaka Raya 4 (opposite Ibis hotel) in a coffee shop, it was just few minutes' walk from our hotel (photos below).
Ordered a claypot of bah kut teh (left photo below) with some 'yu char kway' (right photo below).
In addition, we got a claypot of braised pork (left photo below) and a plate of garlic fried vegetables (right photo below).
The pork broth had less herbal taste and more of the peppery type, but tasted equally good as the pork meat was very tender and in generous portions. Total cost of this meal was MYR 43.

Tan Kim Hock Product Centre

After meeting our Malaysian colleague, he then drove us to Tan Kim Hock Product Centre which is located at No. 157 Jalan Laksamana Cheng Ho (left photo below). There were a wide variety of its own house-brand products as well as other brands of local products available (right photo below). However I did not manage to get any food souvenir from this shop.


A&W Restaurant

Back to this restaurant again which is located at Dataran Pahlawan Shopping mall for lunch (left photo below). Got a Coney Dog set meal with an upsized float at MYR 13.30 (right photo below).


A Famosa

The A Famosa could be seen once we walked out from the Dataran Pahlawan Shopping mall (left photo below). A Famosa, or Kota A Famosa in Malay, was a Portuguese fort build in 1512. This is another famous landmark in Malacca.

Malacca Trishaws

Not sure since when the trishaws in Malacca started to be vividly decorated with flowers (right photo below), and some with flashing lights and even soft-toys. Definitely able to attract tourists for a short ride.


Jonker Street during the Day

We drove passed the Jonker street and saw some of the famous shops we didn't get to see the previous night.

The Kedai Kopi Chung Wah (中华茶室-海南鸡饭) is another coffee shop popular with their chicken rice balls and often can be seen with long queues outside the shop (left photo below). The Kedai Kopi Chung Wah is located at No. 18 Jalan Hang Jebat, just opposite of San Shu Gong shop. The Geographer café is located in a conspicuous corner of a pre-war shophouse just in the middle of Jonker street (right photo below) which is hard to miss.


Baba Charlie Nyonya Cake

This company deals with all kinds of nyonya cake, nyonya popiah and cater for buffet party. It started by selling the delicacy at night market around Melaka over 20 years ago, and now Baba Charlie Products supply to major hotels, restaurants, wedding parties and private functions.

Located at No. 72, Jalan Tengkera Pantai 2, this shop is also a residential house for the owner (left photo below). After ushered into a room, visitors will be awed by the room full of colorful nyonya kuih and biscuits (right photo below). They were so tempting and wanted to try all of them, but ultimately I bought a small box of assorted kuih at only MYR 8.80.
Lung Ann Refreshments (隆安茶室)

Located at No. 807, Lorong Hang Jebat at a corner of shop houses, they are famous for their satays (left photo below). Their satays are grilled perfectly using charcoal thus have a smoky flavor (right photo below).
Ordered a cup of tea (left photo below) for myself and kaya toast (right photo below) to share while waiting for our satays. Taste was good for the toasted bread with thin spread of home-made kaya.
After waited for about 20-minutes, our ketupat (left photo below) and mix of pork and chicken satays (right photo below) finally arrived. Satay was amazing as the meat retains its sweetness but the peanut sauce was not much to my liking. Was told that their business hour is only 1 pm to 5 pm daily and their off-day is not fixed. We were the few lucky ones to be able to taste their famous satays.


We then proceeded to the Bus Station and boarded our coach on time. Reached Singapore at about 9 pm. With this, it ended our short weekend trip to Malacca.