- our last stop on our two-day road trip in Malaysia. It is the second smallest state covering an area of 1,652 square kilometers, yet rich enough in historical significance and cultural resemblance. The state is divided into three regions - Alor Gajah, Central Malacca and Jasin.On 7 July 2008, UNESCO declared Malacca a World Heritage Site
. The birthright of the state's splendour and tempestuous past can be witnessed through a visit to Bandar Hilir, where traces of the Portuguese, Dutch and English influences are still left and preserved.As we strolled down the narrow streets to visit old temples, museums and medieval fortresses, Malacca's history never failed to allure us. Historical attractions tucked into the nooks and crannies of its limited streets were just barefaced signs of its affluent history. Much of the fragments of Malacca's effulgent past lie within the Town Square and waterfront area near the river.
Our first entry to Malacca started from Ayer Keroh. Places of interest within this place included the Melaka Zoo, Butterfly and Reptile Sanctuary and the World Honeybee Museum. Further north along the main road was another place of interest called the Hutan Rekreasi Air Keroh, a recreational forest - part secondary jungle and part landscaped park with paved trails, a 250m canopy walk, picnic areas and a forestry museum. Nearby was the Taman Mini Malaysia which showcased the traditional houses of all 13 Malaysian states, as well as neighboring countries.
Bullock Cart Ride for RM2.50 per person. This ride was really fun though the place stank so badly! Nature smell!
Souvenir shops along the sidewalks..
We proceeded our journey to Bandar Hilir immediately after having a good lunch at the Macdonalds within the vicinity of Ayer Keroh. Bandar Hilir is the national heritage zone where many historical legacies and remnants of past historical buildings are found. Below are some of the pictures we took from the place.
At my background is the Taming Sari Tower situated within Bandar Hilir which is similar to that of Singapore's Skytower in Sentosa. It is a 110-meter tower that will enable visitors to experience a 360 degree bird's eye view of Bandar Hilir and its surrounds.
Close up view of Taming Sari Tower
Melaka River Cruise - an opportunity to cruise along the river and view the bustling surrounding area and Kampung Morten enclave while recalling the history of Malacca. The trip starts from Taman Rempah in Melaka Town.
Maritime Museum
Inside the Captain's Cabin at the Maritime Museum... That purple hat was my souvenir from Ayer Keroh for RM10. Who wouldn't want to take a pose with this one?!
A day trip in Malacca was certainly not enough for us to fully explore all its places of interests. But we're fortunate enough to capture and visit a few of its historical sights and attractions and though we only managed to visit the Maritime Museum among all the museums there were at the place, it was already a fulfillment that we were really proud of for this had been an unplanned road trip we had in such a short span of time. Malacca is definitely a must visit state in Malaysia for historical sightseeing.
