For those who are looking for a short getaway where you'll be able to walk around and explore historic sites in Malaysia, Melaka is one of the top-rated destinations for a weekend getaway. The historic city is famous for its diverse culture and rich heritage, reflecting influences from various cultures such as Malay, Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese, and British. Though many many years have passed, remnants of the culture and its past still remain in Melaka, observed by its architecture, food, and traditions.
Driving into the city, you'll already be able to feel that difference from being in a modern city; its architecture is in bold red, the windows are made of wood and its design is uniform from one unit to the next. However, finding parking in the city centre is difficult, and you'll need to keep making turns or park a bit further away. To avoid this, you can try to arrive earlier in the morning before the peak starts.
To start off the trip, one should always visit the most famous historical sites in Melaka. Starting with Christ Church Melaka, it truly is a building you cannot miss. Many tourists like to walk around the area, get a 'beca' ride, and take OOTD photos for the 'Gram. Inside the building, you'll find an old church, where you can walk around and read plaques on the wall.
If you're interested in the history of Melaka, I would highly recommend visiting the museum inside Christ Church. There is a ticket counter where you can purchase a ticket for just RM10 per person. The museum is two floors high and showcases portraits, paintings, statues, and replicas of old Melaka - even as far back as Parameswara times. This extends into Melaka's colonialization by the British, Portuguese, and Dutch, with a detailed explanation of the historic encounters as well as items used during that era.
Walking up a bit further, you'll reach St. Paul's Hill, where you can visit the ruins of St. Paul's Hill Church, originally built by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Many of the ruins that now remain are tombstones of cultural significance. The location of the church allows a beautiful birds-eye view of the city.
Around the area is Kota A'Famosa, a small fortress originally constructed by the Portuguese in the 16th century. Serving as a crucial defense and administrative center during their colonial rule, the remaining brick structure of the fortress now stands as a testament to Melaka's colonial history and its significance as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It's a symbol of Melaka that physically shows its history.
After a whole morning of walking, it's time for some much-needed lunch! This is where you make the drive to Jonker Walk, where you're welcomed with a printed banner and an entire street filled with tourists. Again, keep in mind that parking is difficult to find here. Once you enter Jonker Walk, it's time to find a place to enjoy yummy chicken rice balls with steamed or roasted chicken and bean sprouts. There should be a number of shops available, but the most notable ones are Hoe Kee Chicken Rice (和记鸡饭团) and Chung Wah Chicken Rice Ball (中华茶室海南鸡饭). There are usually many people during lunchtime, so you can expect to queue before you can finally have your lunch.
📍Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
468, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka
📍Chung Wah Chicken Rice Ball
20, Lorong Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka
After lunch, there's so much to explore around Jonker Walk! You can do some light (or heavy) shopping for clothes, snacks, and more, while trying out a variety of snacks available, such as muah chee or coconut shake. One thing you'll notice as you walk around Melaka is the number of times the blue Mamee Monster mascot appears! As Mamee Monster was founded in 1971 by Datuk Pang Chin Hin when he and his partner started a small factory in Melaka that manufactures instant noodles, you cannot miss out on visiting the Mamee Jonker House located in the middle of Jonker Walk! There are many activities to do there, such as decorating and customizing your very own Mamee Noodles (RM15 each), or learning how to make noodles (subject to availability). You can also just walk around and purchase some snacks or cute merchandise.
About now would be a good time to check in to your accommodations to take a break before exploring other places in Melaka. After a short rest, the late evening is a great time to visit Pantai Klebang to enjoy the view and walk in the sand. There are ATVs available for rent and a pasar malam as well, just in case you're feeling bored and are looking for activities to fill your time. Here you'll see many families having fun. Do remember to bring an umbrella with you as it rained heavily when I was leaving.
Other than chicken rice balls, another cuisine that's famous and a must-try in Melaka is authentic Peranakan or Nyonya cuisine! For this, I would highly recommend Restoran Aunty Lee. The exteriors of the restaurant are decorated in a Peranakan theme, with intricate designs that give you a feel of the Peranakan culture. When I was there, I ordered a classic Nyonya favorite - the Pong Teh chicken, squid fritters, and some vegetables. All were very good and tasty! Personally, the squid fritters were the best I've tasted and I'm constantly craving it; the squid is fried to perfection without too much grease, and the coating is well-seasoned with pepper. After a hearty dinner, we moved on to dessert, where we ordered their signature Aunty Lee’s Cendol and Sago Gula Melaka. The total for everything including rice and warm tea was about RM70+.
📍Restoran Aunty Lee
385, Jalan Ujong Pasir, Taman Sinn, 75050 Melaka
Usually, on weekend nights, Jonker Walk would be transformed into a night market with stalls lining the street from start to end! This gives a pleasant view of the bright lights of the street, and most stalls sell products that are not usually available in the area, such as potato sticks. While I did return to Jonker Walk to enjoy the night market, it was unfortunately still pouring heavily and I was unable to try many of the food sold.
The next day, we returned to Jonker Walk (again) to enjoy a different Peranakan place before heading home! Initially, we wanted to try The Daily Fix, a famous aesthetic cafe located in Jonker Walk. However, the line was extremely long by 9 AM so we opted to eat elsewhere instead. We decided on Peranakan Place, with its unique store design being highly attractive. It was also full of people and required us to queue, but not for too long. There, we ordered the Pie Tee, Nyonya Laksa, and Fishball Noodles. The Pie Tee is something very unique in both taste and presentation! Definitely a must-try on your next trip to Melaka.
After our meal, we took a short walk around Jonker Walk and found this OOTD spot that many on Instagram have taken photos of.
Then, we headed home. See you next time, Melaka!
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