Some more Malacca photos...

So, a few weeks ago, some friends and I headed north to the UNESCO World Heritage City Malacca for a weekend trip.

Though it's my second time in the UNESCO World Heritage City, it was a different experience since I was with friends. The first trip to Malacca was with PG Boy some time last year.

It's surprising how much has changed in the historic city in a span of one year... commercially, I mean.

There is now a huge H&M store beside Hatten Hotel. There are a number of outlet stores adjacent to H&M.

One thing remains and that is the charm of the area where the old town centre was.

As I previously said, there are still other places in Malacca that I want to go and check out. In addition to the museums, I want to just walk around and try the different cafes/restaus.

Btw, I finally tried the chicken rice balls. It was unique, but I don't see the whole fuss behind it. Hehe!

It was also so damn hot the whole time we were there. Thankfully, there was always a cendol store every few steps. Haha!

I wonder when I'll be able to visit again. Mon and Richie are planning to visit. I'm quite sure Mon would be interested to check out the Nyonya Jewelry Museum.

Short trip to Malacca...

So our group of two Malaysians, 1 Singaporean, 1 Malaysian turned Singaporean and 1 Filipino boarded a bus headed to Malacca last Saturday.

It was my second time in the UNESCO World Heritage City and still I feel that an overnight trip is not enough to explore and enjoy the city. Hehe!

I've heard quite a number of people say that Malacca is boring. It's this. It's that.

The two times I've been to the city, I didn't feel bored at all. Hehe! I wish I had more time to go to the museums or walk at a leisurely pace.

Again, I've missed checking out the house at 8 Heeren Street. The shophouse has a permanent exhibit on the conservation and restoration process of the building. One can also learn about the history of early shophouses and Dutch architecture, which obviously had an influence on the local architecture.

Two new places I got to visit this trip were the Malaqa House and The Baboon House. The former sells authentic antique Peranakan furniture while the latter is an art gallery/cafe/boutique hotel. Why it was named The Baboon House I have no idea. Hehe!

I want to go back again soon. More cafes and restaus to check out.

Away for the weekend...

Heading to Malacca tomorrow with a few friends.

I've been looking forward to the trip since it's an opportunity to take a break from the little red dot... even if it's just for two days. Hehe!

A few people I know find Malacca to be boring. I don't really agree.

If one is interested in historical places or if one just wants to visit a place where a Catholic saint was once buried, then Malacca shouldn't be boring at all.

I enjoyed walking along the old streets and marvelling at the Peranakan mansions. I enjoyed the canal cruise during sunset. Hehe! I said a prayer when I visited the burial place of St. Francis Xavier. It's just a bit sad that not too many people know that a sacred man was once buried there.

A Twitter friend is in town this weekend but I didn't know he was flying in. Had I known, I would have scheduled the road trip on another weekend. Still, please enjoy Singapura, Jepoy. Maybe next time you can also do a side trip to Malacca.

Happy weekend to everyone...

Q1 of 2013 was all about trips...

Partly inspired by Tipz's recent post. Hehe!

The difference is that my realization came before the actual trips. Hehe! :D

The first quarter of 2013 saw me heading out of the island every month.

In January, I went to Bali with a few friends I've known for more than a decade now. Towards the end of the month, I did my first trip back to the Philippines ever since I got here.

In February, I'm not yet sure if this will be THE major trip of the year. This much I can say though, the very short trip to Kathmandu surely left a lifetime of memories.

In March, PG Boy and I joined the mass exodus from the island because of the a long weekend. We headed to Malacca. What can I say? I def want to go back. It was too short a trip.

I am really grateful to have been able to do these trips. I don't think I've been traveling this much when I was back in the Phils. Hehe. Or I was, but mostly for work and mostly to places around the Philippines. Hehe!

With the current situation for foreign workers here in Singapore, my goal this year is to really save. It's a critical year because no one knows what will happen come March 2013. Yaiks. However, I am praying, I am hopeful, I am claiming it, that I will still be in Singapore in 2014. Hehe!

What I liked about the Malacca trip...part 2

3.) The Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum. To get a glimpse of how the houses along Tun Tan Cheng Lock look inside, visit the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum. The house belonged to a Chinese merchant named Chan Cheng Siew and his family. The descendants have turned the grand home into a private museum showcasing the distinct Peranakan lifestyle. Centuries-old Chinese needlework, intricately carved wood furniture inlaid with mother of pearl, elegant china dinnerware from England, traditional clothes are but some of the few things on display at the private museum. There is a minimal fee to be paid. The museum opens daily at 10AM. The first guided tour is at 10AM. The Baba and Nyonya Heritage House was definitely one of my favorites. Sadly, no photography/videography allowed.

A bit of trivia: Peranakans (literally meaning "born here" in Malay) are the descendants of early Chinese settlers who inter-married and adopted the local Malay customs. The marriage of cultures resulted in a unique Baba-Nyonya culture. Baba is the term used for the Peranakan male while Nyonya refers to a Peranakan female.

4.) Nyonya cuisine. Philippine cuisine has strong Spanish and Chinese influences. The same can be said of Peranakan cuisine. The intermarriage of Chinese and Malays led to a unique Nyonya (or Peranakan) cuisine. Do try Cafe 1511 just beside the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum. On the way to the museum, we met an uncle who was very proud of his Peranakan heritage. He told us to order the pai tee (tophats), nyonya popiah (which came with a strict order, "Nyonya popiah, okay! Not the Chinese popiah!" Hehe!) and the curry fish head.

5.) The tomb of St. Francis Xavier. At the ruins of St. Paul's church, there is an open tomb. What most people probably do not know is that the remains of St. Francis Xavier was briefly interred there before it was transferred to India. There was no marker to inform people that the tomb is actually a sacred one (to Catholics, at least). As a somewhat practicing Catholic, I was really glad to be able to visit the grave of a saint. A bit more trivia: Quite a number of miracles attributed to St. Francis Xavier took place in Malacca.

An overnight trip turned out to be not enough to explore the city. There was still so much to see - museums, more ancestral houses, dining places we didn't get to try.

Would definitely be back.

What I liked about the Malacca trip...part 1

If I had to choose my favorite parts of the trip, it would be these:

1.) Wah Aik Shoemaker House. Along the bustling Jalan Tokong, one will find most probably one of the world's last makers of shoes for women with bound feet (also known as lotus feet shoes). We met Raymond Yeo, the grandson of the shop founder, who was kind enough to tell us a bit about his grandfather and the shoes they make. The business is family-owned for the past three generations. Aside from the lotus feet shoes (which are now mainly sold as a souvenir), the shop also sells beaded sandals and leather shoes.

2.) Ancestral houses. Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, formerly called Heeren St, was also known as the Millionaires' Row of Malacca. One must take time to walk along the street to appreciate the houses that belonged to the wealthy merchants. It is easy to think that it's just another row of usual houses. Two things: One the beauty of the facade is in the elaborate details. Look for the decorative tiles the front of the house. Look for the details around the windows of the house’s second storey. Two, though the houses may look small, these open up to huge spaces. The reason for narrow width? At one time, taxes were collected based on the width of the house. The front may be narrow but the length of these houses can extend to more than 100 metres in length.

Of the many houses, house no. 117 seems to be the grandest of them all. This is the Chee Ancestral House, which once belonged to one of the wealthiest families in colonial Malacca. (Or I think it still does because the house still has residents and is not open to the public). The house reminds me of some of the ancestral houses in Iloilo.

To be continued...

Malacca getaway...

The recent long weekend was an opportunity to head out of the island for a short holiday in the neighboring country.

Destination: Malacca.

I've missed the chance to visit the historical state of Malaysia twice. Missing a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage City a third time was not going to happen. Hehe!

Grand ancestral houses. Memories of a colonial past. Cuisine that reflect the local culture and heritage.

The old town was a treat for the eyes and the palate. Walking along the streets of the old part of town, one's eyes are drawn to . And at the end of a long walk, reward yourself with a feast of Nyonya cuisine and traditional desserts such as candol.

An overnight trip turned out to be not enough to explore the city. There was still so much to see.

Would definitely be back.

Highlights from the trip in the next few posts...