Malaccan weekend

Finally, I have received all important documents from HF last Tuesday, July 31st. I couldn't wait till the next day to visit VFS-UK-MY to submit my applications. After 3 hours of waiting in line, it was my turn and I thank God the submission process went smoothly. However, my plans to go down to Singapore over the weekend had to be canceled as my passport, at the moment, is in the hands of the British High Commission. I decided to stopover in Malacca while my brother and my cousin went ahead to Singapore on Friday till Sunday.

I vaguely remembered I had been to Malacca about 10-12 years ago. Now that I have been back here again, it's a totally different place from what I can recall.

While jogging my memory, I recalled two water buffalos ploughing the land. They're concrete and tarmac now!

I have only been to 4 out of 7 or 8 main attractions in Malacca. Getting around was not too much of an inconvenience as most places are not too far from each other. However, because it was so hot (I got burn), most people opted for a trishaw ride (beca, in Malay). For 40 Ringgit (about 6£), you will be taken around Malacca city for an hour. You may stop and get back on as many times as you like! These trishaws even have their own stereo system on-board, perhaps to compete for passengers! They look most pretty at night when these guys flip their lights on.

Local favorite delicacies are Cendol, Asam Pedas, Gula Melaka, Dodol, etc. My favorite is the Asam Pedas (lit: Sour [&] Spicy), which is stingray cooked with sour & spicy soup that almost tastes like Thai's Tomyam soup. It's so good! I must bring HF here for this!

The weather throughout was, surprisingly, very good! There were no other better days to go out shooting photos! A group of college students stopped me and asked for my help. Apparently, they were more interested in the pictures I have shot rather than the usual "Excuse me, can you take picture for us? Please?", after noticing me wielding a camera with gigantic lens with a huge camera body! One approached and curiously asked, "Excuse me, Sir, are you a professional photographer?". Her tone of voice broke the ice but the fact that she was with the rest of her group, the ice was immediately broken. I couldn't help but to feel a little shy.

"I would really love to think of myself as one", I responded with the shyest smile I never known to have! Frankly speaking, I withheld my words of, "Yes, but not really. I'm only a part-time photographer. By the way, not everybody who holds a big camera means they are professional. But I guess you guys can be forgiven for thinking that I am a professional maybe because I was going around with my big-ass tripod and a big-ass camera that bears the brand Manfrotto and Canon respectively!"

The group of research students from Taylor's College, Subang Jaya SS/15.

They began to explain what they were doing and why they have approached me. I was glad to help. We were at the Malacca Sultanate Palace then and it was their last stop for the day (Sunday) before they head back to Kuala Lumpur! My brother picked me up not long after from Aldy's.

Enjoy the photos!

Panoramic view: Porta de Santiago and the A'Famosa Fortress by nightfall.

Porta in Portuguese refers to portal, which means gateway and true enough Prota de Santiago was indeed one of the four main gateway into the Portuguese fortress of A'Famosa. The leader of the Portuguese army that conquered Melaka in 1511, Alfonso de Albuquerque, started the construction of A'Famosa in 1512 from which they fended of attacks by the armies of the Sultan of Melaka and Acheh for well over a century.

The Portuguese used slave labour to construct this squarish fort surrounding Melaka Hill with walls 3 meters thick using parts from demolished palaces, royal mausoleums and mosques. A 40-meter high watchtower once stood in the Northwest corner of the fortress.

After the Dutch defeated the Portuguese in Melaka in 1651, they rebuilt and widen the fortress and put the mark of 'VOC' (Dutch East Indian Company) of the coat of arms of the Dutch soldier together with the year 1670.

This fort was nearly obliterated by the British who, in 1795, decided to destroy it for fear of it being used against them after Melaka handed back to the Dutch. In 1807, British under the Resident William Farquhar used gunpowder to blow up the fort, however, Sir Stamford Raffles and Lord Minto intervened and stopped his countrymen from totally demolishing this fort altogether. However, only Porta de Santiago was saved from the total demolishment.

The Porto de Santiago was gazetted as an old monument and historical site under he Antiquities Act 168/1976 on May 12, 1977.

Inside the ruin of Porta de Santiago, which is believed to be made by volcanic rocks.

"Captain! Enemy sighted!".

The ubiquitous colorful trishaws found only in Malacca. Mind you, some are packed with subwoofers and MP3 players so passengers can enjoy a hour of disco time while on the move!

My lunch for the day! I admire the presentation and thought Wagamama was nothing compared to this!

The Clock Tower.

Around the Stadhuys.

The Stadthuys, otherwise known as The Christ Church [of] Melaka or The Red Church (unofficial)

A beautiful mini garden around the Stadthuys.

Against the monument fountain erected to commemorate the late Queen Victoria (22 January 1901).

The Stadthuys, a 17th-century building was the seat of the Dutch administration and now houses a hisotry museam. Apparently, red is the dominant color in this part of town.

Featured in here is one of the many colorful trishaws against the west gateway of A'Famosa by nightfall. I didn't want to get in seated for a photo to avoid looking like a impy devil / ghost!

The Malacca Sultanate Palace, all constructed by wood without using a single nail. It is now a cultural musuem.

The Malacca Sultanate Palace garden.

The west Porta de Santiago, now only the remaining ruin of the formerly massive A'Famosa fortress, Malacca (Melaka).

Balairong Seri

This diorama shows the sitting arrangement of the King's Audience Hall. The King sits atop the royal dias. The 4 chief adviser were always seated close to the King. The Prime Minister and the prince were seated at foot of the dias to the left of the King and the administrative machinery sat along with the PM. The chiefs responsible for the security were seated to the right of the King. Two officials standing on both sides of the ruler, Bentara Kanan and Bentara Kiri, carrying the rulers ensignias, had the power to kill anyone who approaches the King without permission. the Audience were not allowed to carry weapons unless granded by the King.

Delegates from oversea were normally accorded special ceremony depending on the status of the King and country they represented. Delegates were brought in separately one by one based on the country he represented. Anyone found guilty of offence under the laws of Malacca is punishable by death had to be referred to the King. He may either confirm the sentence or may banish him for life.

The Audience Hall was also a place where the subjects who rendered good faithful or chivalrous services to the state were honoured. Sometimes even royal feasts were held in this Hall. Thus, the Audience Hall of the Sultanate era functioned as a multi-purpose hall that reflected the grandier of the administrative system, which was later adopted by few states of this Peninsula.

The St. Paul's Church that sits atop a hill on A'Famosa.