Old Town - Melaka

Besides the Malacca town is the Old Town which is easily accessible by crossing back the bridge at the red town square. When compared to the Malacca Town mentioned earlier, the Old Town is also filled with historical and religious architectural buildings. Some of the interesting tourism spots in Malacca are found here in the old town where these interesting places include the Jonker Street, Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and as well as Bukit Cina.

Jonker Street
For those who are interested in the Baba and Nyonya heritage, then the Jonker Street or also known as the Jalan Hang Jebat is surely the place to visit. In the early days during the Dutch colonial period, the Jonker Street is actually known as the rich man’s street. Nowadays, the Jonker Street is filled with fellow antique hunters and collectors from all around the world as Jonker Street itself is very popular with shops selling antiques. The rich heritage of the Baba and Nyonya can be clearly seen on the walls and pillars of the buildings as all of the walls and pillars of the buildings on this street are carefully engraved with various carvings.

Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum
For the less informed, some of them may wonder what exactly does Baba and Nyonya means in literal terms. Well, to share the truth, Baba (masculine) and Nyonya (feminine) are actually off springs of inter-racial marriages where generally speaking in a sense, it is the marriage between a Chinese male and a native non-Muslim female. The result of this marriage are the appearance of the culturally distinct community where this community (sometimes also known as Peranakan or Straits Chinese) has a unique variety of attires, language, customs and as well as architectures. In the Old Town, the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum is a place where all of these interesting cultures come together and displayed for the eye of the public.

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple
The Cheng Hoon Teng Temple is located at the Temple Street in the Old Town. As far as most of us are concerned, this temple is considerably one of the oldest and most respected Chinese temples here in Malaysia. This 300 years old temple is also seemingly known as The Temple of Bright Clouds when the name is read in Chinese. The construction of this temple caused a rather small commotion as the materials and the craftsmen were specially brought in from China. In this temple, the main worshipped god is the Kuan Yin, or better known as the Goddess of Mercy.

Bukit Cina
Although the name of this place might sound like a mountain for relaxation, it actually serves as that purpose, however, it is not for the living but it is for those who passed away in the early days. Yes, Bukit Cina is nothing less than a monastery. However, the reason which makes Bukit Cina interesting is because Bukit Cina is the resting place for people of a different culture in the early days such as the Imperial Ming subjects, colonial heads and as well as Malay chieftains. Unfortunately, the 1581 Franciscan Monastery has been degenerated and what is left today is just a pile of rubble with a few unmarked flat stones.

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