At Taming Sari Tower, Malacca.
I spent my young days in Malacca, at Kampung Kelongkong, Tanjung Keling since my father retired in 1952. My secondary school and my sixth form days were in Malacca town (Blog on My Adolescent and Early Adulthood). At that time Malacca was known as the 'Sleepy Hollow'. The town was uncomplicated and very accessable. But now I find it a nightmare going round the city of Malacca. I cound't even find my old school - High School which is now tucked and sandwitched by new buildings and the school ground is so congested with buildings - the spacious padang has gone!
I have been back to Malacca every now and then but it was totally for visits or weddings. I decided to devote 2 days of my in early 2009 to see the place where I grew up and experienced such unforgetable memories. But 2 days weren't enough to cover the interseting places and internalise the changes in Malacca. My trip from Port Dickson was 0n 5 January 2009 took almost 2 hours in leaisurely drive through the kampung route to Linggi, Masjid Tanah, Sungai Udang, Tanjung Minyak and to Lorong Pandan to pick up my sister-in-law, Juriah, to be my guide.
The old Chinese temple at Hang Li Poh Well, belived to be the earliest temple built and used by the Chinese who came to Malacca during Sultan Mansor Shah's marriage to Hang Li Poh.
The Hang Li Poh or King's Well at Bukit Cina, Melaka.
At Hang Li Poh's well - sealed, though we can still see the well water.
An amazingly huge old bunga tanjung tree at the Chinese temple and the Hang Li Poh's well.
Our day started with a visit to Hang Li Poh or King's Well in Bukit Cina. This well was dug by the order of Sultan Mansor Shah for his Chinese wife Hang Li Poh (1458-1477) for her daily use.It seemed the well water has never dried even during draught. Legend has it that whoever drinks the water, no matter where one goes, he/ she will return to Malacca. However, the well is sealed now - sorry, no more such priviledge! In 1551, the Malay worriers fought against forengn invaders, the Portuguese, and poisoned the well water killing a number of Portuguese in 1551. The same tactic aws used by the Dutch when they wanted to conquer Malacca (1606) from the Portuguese. When the Dutch conquered Malacca, they realised the importance of the well and subsequently built a wall, guardhouses and put cannons to protect it. Unfortunately when the British defeated the Dutch and ruled Malacca, the well was neglected. But today it is well-maintained and has becoame a tourist attraction. If you visit and drive during high season (school and public holidays, weekeneds), it is better to come early morning as there are no proper parking place - the road is narrow.
Our day started with a visit to Hang Li Poh or King's Well in Bukit Cina. This well was dug by the order of Sultan Mansor Shah for his Chinese wife Hang Li Poh (1458-1477) for her daily use.It seemed the well water has never dried even during draught. Legend has it that whoever drinks the water, no matter where one goes, he/ she will return to Malacca. However, the well is sealed now - sorry, no more such priviledge! In 1551, the Malay worriers fought against forengn invaders, the Portuguese, and poisoned the well water killing a number of Portuguese in 1551. The same tactic aws used by the Dutch when they wanted to conquer Malacca (1606) from the Portuguese. When the Dutch conquered Malacca, they realised the importance of the well and subsequently built a wall, guardhouses and put cannons to protect it. Unfortunately when the British defeated the Dutch and ruled Malacca, the well was neglected. But today it is well-maintained and has becoame a tourist attraction. If you visit and drive during high season (school and public holidays, weekeneds), it is better to come early morning as there are no proper parking place - the road is narrow.
The Selat Mosque of Pulau Melaka.
The Selat Mosque tower for azan.
Juriah at the side of the Selat Mosque of Pulau Melaka.
I wanted to see Pulau Melaka, a reclaimed land connecting to the mainland by a bridge. Though it is ready a long time a go, there is still no takers and the rows and rows of shop buildings are still unoccupied. But there is a beautiful mosque, the Selat Mosque of Pulau Melaka is being used especially during Friday prayers. The mosque juts out into the sea and the beautiful architecture is so pleasing to the eyes.
I wanted to see Pulau Melaka, a reclaimed land connecting to the mainland by a bridge. Though it is ready a long time a go, there is still no takers and the rows and rows of shop buildings are still unoccupied. But there is a beautiful mosque, the Selat Mosque of Pulau Melaka is being used especially during Friday prayers. The mosque juts out into the sea and the beautiful architecture is so pleasing to the eyes.
The unoccupoied shophouses of Pulau Melaka.
Malacca river from Dataran Merdeka opposite Pulau Melaka.
View of Malacca from the deck of Taming Sari Tower.Menara Taming Sari is a new attraction in Malacca. We paid RM8 for senior citizens to go into the rotating viewing deck to 80 meters high. From the top, the view of Malacca is quite breathtaking which we can see as far as 5 km, including theiEye On Malaysia which is about 25 meters high. But I hardly recognised the old landmarks which were familiar to me once upon a time. For further inquiries, you can visit website http://www.menaratamingsari.com/ or call 06 2881100/06 288 3366.
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