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WANDER
20 | FireFlyz
Hannef Esquander
feels
the pull of the historic city
of Malacca again and goes
back for another wander
round this UNESCOWorld
Heritage Site.
Going
Back For
More
W
henever
a short break away from
the city is needed, I tend to favour
the short trip to atmospheric Malacca.
The Historic State promises more than
just old buildings and local traditions.
A visit to Malacca never fails to take
the stress away and leave me feeling
calm and recharged.
Wandering around
It is always fun to walk around the town of Malacca to check out
all of its historical buildings, especially around the area where
Christ Church is located. It is a little ‘been there done that’ for
some but the fiery red-painted building is the signature of the
town. Imagine going to Paris without paying a visit to the
Eiffel Tower. That is how significant the Christ Church
is to Malacca. After checking out the colourful trishaws
(some are adorned with Disney characters) and locally
made souvenirs sold around the area. Climb up the hill
to another famous landmark, the A Famosa fort. Built in
1511, the fort is the oldest surviving European architectural
remains in Southeast Asia.
Jonker Street is where you can find all the hidden gems.
Some might say the souvenirs sold here are all similar but
you have to know where to find the real deals among all
the shops in this area. There are some antiques, intricate
handicrafts and local Nyonya kebayas in the most vibrant
shades available at a really good price. Take home the
famous pineapple tarts or
cencalok
(local condiment made
from shrimps) for your colleagues and family members.
While you are there, you can also feast on refreshing
cendol
or the aromatic goodness of durian puffs. One
of the best parts is the night market that happens every
weekend. Here you will everything from delicious food
to cheap keepsakes.
Discount Shopping
Discount shopping is very popular in Malaysia with the
opening of several different outlets across the country. One
of them happens to be Freeport A’Famosa Outlet, located
in Alor Gajah, which is about 40-minute drive from town.
At the outlet, you can find major international brands
like Florsheim, Levis and Samsonite among others, being
sold at a fraction of the original price we normally see at
their respective stores. The Freeport A’Famosa Outlet is
built with an open concept, with features such as a lake,
fountains, a carousel and a windmill. The architecture
is loosely themed on Malacca’s Dutch heritage. While
shopping is the main focus of the visit here, there are
plenty of rooms available for pit-stops to take photos of
the beautiful setting of the outlet.
The locals enjoying authentic Malacca cuisine
Spotlights highlighting
the best features of
Christ Church