Shopping
Shopping in downtown Melaka can be an interesting and
delightful experience, especially for those hunting for
antiques and local products. Jonker Street, now known as
Jalan Hang Jebat with its old world ambience is the perfect
place to shop for antiques, authentic collectibles and
artifacts. One can find just about anything from rare coins
to replicas of ancient silver and brassware, restyled
ceramics of an ancient Chinese era, old Victorian furniture
and even jewelry boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Most of
the outlets at Jonker Street can make special arrangements
for shipment of bulky purchases overseas.
Don't miss the experience of hunting for local Melaka
handicrafts, souvenirs and delicacies at Taman Merdeka,
Jalan Hang Jebat and Jalan Tokong. Infokraf Melaka on Jalan
Kota offers a range of batik, bamboo products and ceramic
ware made by local craftsmen. For those looking for the
convenience of one-stop shopping in air-conditioned comfort,
Melaka has its fair share of modern shopping centers.
Prominent among these is the extensive Mahkota Parade
Departmental Store which has Parkson Grand, a local chain as
its anchor tenant. Other popular establishments include Jaya
Jusco, The Store, Fajar, Great Wall and Madam Kings.
Dining & Restaurants
Because of its multi-ethnic influence, food in Melaka is
largely an exciting combination of Portuguese, Chinese,
Indian and Malay style cooking. A blend of Chinese-Malay
cooking can be enjoyed when one chooses to eat at a Nyonya
restaurant. Some local Nyonya favorites are Acar, Sambal,
duck soup with salted vegetables, Chicken Kapitan, and
chicken cooked in coconut milk blended with fresh spices and
Otak-Otak - a snack consisting of minced fish, coconut milk
and spices steamed in a wrapping of banana leaf.
For a taste of Portuguese cooking, one can try Devil's
Curry which is a spicy chicken dish with a unique sour and
spicy taste. Melaka also offers its own version of the
famous Satay, called Satay Celup. It consists of skewered
prawns, squid, cockles, fish, meat and vegetables that are
dipped into a unique spicy peanut sauce. For Portuguese
fare, the restaurants at Portuguese Village Square are worth
trying. Portuguese, Nyonya and Chinese restaurants can also
be found in Taman Melaka Raya, a newer section of the city
close to the Mahkota Parade and the seafront.
For dessert, one can sample a wide range of Melaka
sweets. Among them is Sago Gula Melaka, made from steamed
sago topped with chilled coconut milk and Gula Melaka Syrup.
Other tempting favorites include Kuih Koci, Angku, Buah
Melaka, Kuih Lapis and Kuih Talam.
Ikan Bakar or grilled fish, a local Malay favorite dish
can be enjoyed at Serkam and Pernu on the coastal stretch
just south of Melaka town.
Entertainment & Nightlife
Melaka offers some fun places where you can seek out
entertainment. Melaka's string of pubs and night cafes are
excellent spots for relaxation and for a person to unwind
form the day's activities. For the price of a drink you can
relax to live music in one of the many lounges and pubs or
belt out your favorite songs in one of the many karaoke
lounges. Nightlife in Malacca ranges from relaxing to the
soft and soothing strains of melodious music, to gyrating to
the wild and pulsating beat of hard music. Most of the
international and local hotels offer entertainment with live
bands as well as karaoke lounges.
Light and Sound Show
This show held nightly at the Padang Pahlawan re-enacts the
highlights of Melaka's history using a combination of
lights, narrative, dialogue, music and sound effects.
Getting Around
It is best to take a walking tour of the main historical
area located along Jalan Kota and Jalan Gereja as many of
the city's attractions are found here. They include the
Stadthuys, Christ Church, St. Paul's Church, A Famosa,
Museum Rakyat, Malaysia Youth Museum, Infokraf, Proclamation
of Independence Memorial and the Cultural Museum.
Alternatively, one can take in the sights by hiring a
trishaw.
From the Clock Tower opposite Christ Church, one can
cross the bridge over the Melaka River and take a brisk walk
over to Jonker's Street (Jalan Hang Jebat). In its vicinity
are attractions such as the Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum, Sri
Poyyatha Vinayagar Moorthi Temple, Kampong Keling Mosque,
Hang Jebat's Mausoleum, Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and Hang
Kasturi's Mausoleum.
To get to other historical sites and tourist spots, it is
advisable to take a taxi or the local bus from the Jalan Tun
Ali Terminal located off Jalan Hang Tuah, the town's main
thoroughfare.
Melaka's resort islands of Pulau Besar and Pulau Upeh are
accessible by a short boat ride from the Shahbandar jetty in
Melaka town, situated by the Melaka River close to the
Melaka Tourist Information Center. Alternatively, one can
also get to Pulau Besar by taking a bus to Umbai on the
coast just south of Melaka town and proceed by boat to the
island from the Pengkalan Pernu Jetty.
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