The south west state of Melaka is home to around 873,000 people. Its capital, Malacca City, is one of the few parts of the country that still keeps its Western heritage aloft. Malaysia is known to be very complex when it comes to people and cultures. Many from around the world have made it their home. Much like Singapore, there is a running theme in the midst of all this as the state still retains its distinct flavour and way of doing things. The city of Malacca is approximately 144 kilometres south of Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur. However, the way of life is almost night and day because Melaka has a very laid back approach to life. There aren’t many major population points. Small towns and villages are surrounded by miles and miles of green rice fields. As you delve deeper into Malacca itself, you’ll find that Christian heritage is alive and well and Chinese influences regarding ancient buildings and festivals are still going strong. Come to this state of Malaysia if you want an introduction to some historically important locations.
Almost half a millenium
The Portuguese and Spanish came to Malacca during the Middle Ages. Christianity was spreading quickly throughout Europe and began to spread further around the world. Catholicism was the main belief that was being exported to different parts of the world and when landing in Malaysia, it was taught to many locals. One of the more notable movements of the Catholic Church was that of spreading the word of the Bible. Now standing in Malacca is a church dedicated in memory of St. Paul that was opened in 1521. This makes this structure one of the oldest Christian places of worship in all of East Asia. It is almost half a millennium old and is still standing strong, thanks to the locals who maintain it. It is now an open museum where anyone and everyone may come visit or pray. The buildings surrounding the church are just as old but are now ruins. There are Portuguese tombs located at the site.
Triple worship temple
China has had and continues to have a major influence on Malaysia. One of the more mesmerizing examples of this is the Cheng Hoon Teng temple. It was finished in the 17th century and has three different spiritual and religious systems. First of, it practices Taoism, which believes in a spirituality of equilibrium. It is where the yin and yang concept comes from. Next it also practices Confucianism. The teachings it gives is to look at the morality of life and look at different things in a more prosperous light. The final religious system is Buddhism. It is a religion that is widespread all around Asia as the Japanese, Taiwanese, Koreans, and many more can attest. The interior of the temple is bathed in golden statues and clothes. There are also lion statues atop the temple of what looks like to be made out of jade.
Accommodations
There’s so much to explore in Melaka as the state is around 642 square miles. It is often been referred to as the Venice of the East as there are so many culturally important locations dotted around. If you’re travelling with friends then you should definitely consider a long term option that is also cost effective. The main issue when traveling in a group is adequate space for everyone. So look for an affordable house for rent in Melaka, a place where you can make a base camp from which to explore the rest of the state from. Amazingly you can get a 1,540 square-foot house for under $400 a month such as the two-storey Taman Muzaffar Heights Ayer Keroh. It has four bedrooms and three bathrooms and is located near public transport so you can get to and from the main transport hubs in the state.
Here are top things to do in Melaka, Malaysia.
Photo credit: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ChengHoonTeng.jpg
Cultural tours are some of the best ways to explore. I always love the way they take you back in time.