DAY 4 IN MALAYSIA

Read part 1 here

The Dutch Square (Red Square) is one of the most picturesque spots of the Malacca heritage trail.

“The Stadthuys is believed to be the oldest-surviving Dutch building in the East. It is a massive bright terracotta-red riverfront building that was once the official residence of Dutch governors and officers.”

“It had various makeovers and alterations during its lifetime and now serves as an Ethnography Museum.”

Sadly, the museums were closed on that day so we didn’t had the chance to go in.

Next to it is the famous Christ Church – one of Malacca’s most defining structures.

“Christ Church, completed in 1753, is one of the oldest Protestant churches outside of Europe. It was built to commemorate the centenary of Dutch occupation and to replace an earlier Portuguese church, which was by then a ruin.”

Meet our cool guide, Guna.“No nails were used in its construction by the Dutch. It became an Anglican Church when the British took over.”

“Its most significant features are the original, elaborate, 200-year old hand-carved pews plus its heavy timber ceiling beams, each carved from a single tree trunk.”

“The floor is studded with Dutch tombstones while the walls have plaques recording WWII and epidemic deaths.”

Right in the middle of the Dutch Square, surrounded by the red-painted Dutch buildings, is the Queen Victoria Fountain.

“Although more than a hundred years old, this fountain is still functioning well and is probably the only functioning colonial water fountains in Malaysia.”

“The fountain was built in 1904 to commemorate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. It is one of the last traces of the British colonial era in Malaysia and it symbolizes the glorious days of the British colonization in Malaysia.”

“The Tang Beng Swee Clocktower, though it looks distinctly Dutch, was actually built by a wealthy Straits Chinese family in 1886 in honour of a rich Chinese merchant.”

Across the street is a replica of a Dutch Windmill surrounded by a nice little garden.

Just before the bridge that takes you to another side of the heritage trail is the remains of a fort or possibly a part of the original city walls.

Lots of fancy tuk–tuks (rickshaws) to take you around the area but we preferred to walk and smell the flowers.

Malacca is a melting pot of culture and character. I would love to come back to this place and explore the different heritage trails according to each colonial era.

Read part 3 here

ETIHAD AIRWAYS FLIGHTS TO KUALA LUMPUR