Malaysia - Malacca

Thursday 12 July

We had a leisurely morning in KL and went for a walk to explore in a different direction.  At about midday we caught a commuter bus to take us on a 20 minute ride to the terminal for our coach to Malacca.  The terminal was huge and a bit like an airport with electronic boards showing arrival and departure times.  After a 2 hour bus trip and a short mini bus ride we arrived at our hotel in Malacca where we dumped our gear and went off in search of lunch.  It was a nice walk beside the river to get from our hotel to Jonker Street (one of the main streets) where we found a cafe and had lunch.

Malacca river

water monitor

We then went for a two hour ride in a brightly decorated trishaw.  At first I was a bit dubious about being in a trishaw festooned  with barbie dolls but it was an advantage as it was easy it tell which trishaw was ours when we returned to it after stopping to explore.

We stopped off at the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple , founded over 400 years ago and had a look inside. This is Malaysia's oldest still active traditional Chinese temple. The three doctrines of Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism are practised here.  The temple is elaborately decorated with carvings, gold paintings and  roof  with chien nien decorations (mosaic porcelain)

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Decorated roof at the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple

Close up view of the roof decoration

carved panel

We then crossed the road to look at the  Xiang Lin Si Buddhist temple.  This is more modern and by comparison is plain. 

 Xiang Lin Si Buddhist temple

Xiang Lin Si Buddhist temple

Street scene in Malacca

Our trishaw tour then took us to see some older houses.  One was a living museum and although the house was being lived in we were able to go inside.  

Museum house

in the kitchen

house in Malacca

Friday 13 July

We awoke to a rainy day but with umbrellas held aloft we set off in search of breakfast.  We found a friendly cafe by the side of the river where we had an American breakfast - 2 eggs, sausage, beans, tomato and toast with tea.  With this fuel inside we went up the hill to see the ruins of the St Pauls church, built by the Portuguese in 1521.  The outer walls are still standing with what appears to be minimal propping.  Around the walls are huge granite tombstones with Portuguese and Dutch inscriptions dated in the 1630's.

St Pauls Church

St Pauls Church

Down the hill from the church is the ruins of the A Famosa Fort, which was built by the Portuguese in 1512.  The gatehouse is the only part remaining.  The fort changed hands in 1641 when the Dutch took over Malacca and in the early 19th century the Dutch handed it over to the British to prevent it from falling into the hands of France.

A Famosa gate house

Another old building we visited was the Francis Xavier church, built around 1856.  From the outside the building has a noticeable lean. 

Francis Xavier church

Francis Xavier church

After lunch we went on a river cruise but had to wait for the ticket office to open as it closes for 2 hours of Fridays for prayers.   The 45 minute trip was very informative and we had good views of the murals on the walls that are a feature of the riverside buildings.  

Bridge over the river

Murals

Murals

Blue heron