Melaka, a history buff's paradise.
@JadePlatypus (234)
Australia
November 6, 2015 10:55pm CST
Hi, this is my first post on myLot. I (like many here, it seems) have migrated across from another site.
I've just come back from a holiday, in which my last week was spent in Melaka, Malaysia. If you have any sort of interest in history, this is a city you should try to see. Melaka -which is also spelt Malacca- was a very large trading port in the past, and is a beautiful mix of Chinese, Malaysian and European, in both architecture and people. The city's status as a trading port (from 14th century onwards) dropped off very quickly, and it is for this reason that so many of the buildings have been preserved. In 2008, it was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, and it is easy to see why. Not only can you just walk around the streets, and see what I would call living history- such as original buildings that still have the same layout but have been turned into tea/kopi (coffee) houses, restaurants or trinket shops, but there are plenty of museums with some very interesting stories.
However, the most enjoyable part of my Melaka visit was to sit along the riverbank in a guesthouse/cafe, with a cup of tea, just gazing at the reflection of lights coming off the river. Very relaxing indeed. And very few mosquitos! Even better.
9 people like this
13 responses
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
7 Nov 15
Thank you for your welcome, and yes, I found it very interesting.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
7 Nov 15
First of all, welcome to MyLot! I am sure that you'll find a lot of old friends here from the 'other place' and, hopefully, you'll make plenty of new ones too. I've made a page which contains most of the essential information (to save me a lot of typing!). The link is at the bottom. You'll also find people here very helpful and ready to answer any questions you have.
My first reaction on reading your title was "I've never heard of Melaka! Why?" Then I realised that I know the name Malacca and associate it with walking canes and also those thin swishy things which school teachers used to have on their desks - thankfully, no longer! - the use of which I had occasion to feel once or twice!
It sounds a truly fascinating place - I love old cities with a history - and sitting by the waterside drinking tea or coffee and watching the usual bustle of life would certainly be right up my street.
A quick user guide to MyLot with answers to some Frequently Asked Questions, a short history of MyLot and other notes Pages Useful Links Welcome to MyLot MyLot is a social site which rewards you for taking part in discussions. There are members from all ov
1 person likes this
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
7 Nov 15
Thank you @owlwings . The article has been very helpful.
1 person likes this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
7 Nov 15
@JadePlatypus Something else which you might find useful (coming from Bubblews) is that there are no restrictions here on the number of discussions you may start per day and nor are there any restrictions (upper or lower) on the number of characters/words you may use.
You might also find it useful to think in terms of 'conversation starter' rather than 'article' when posting discussions. It's a very subtle difference but I find that, thinking in that 'mode' makes for more responses and therefore opens the way for a more interactive discussion. It also affects the title one chooses (and it is the title which is what most attracts people to a discussion).
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
7 Nov 15
@owlwings that is very interesting. So in fact, a question-based post is a better option, or if I'd posted the above article, perhaps I could have titled it "Have you been to Melaka" and posted that question within the post. It makes sense really. And it is true that the title attracts, I've noticed that even in the short time here, I look at the title of the post to see if it calls to me. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@zebra2222 (5268)
• United States
7 Nov 15
Sounds like a wonderful place to visit. Very nice first posting.
1 person likes this
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
8 Nov 15
Thanks @zebra2222 . I've found people very encouraging here.
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
7 Nov 15
Yes. It is a wonderful experience to be in a place where you have limited language, yet still be able to get food, sleep, and information.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161165)
• United States
7 Nov 15
It sounds like you had a very relaxing trip. The photo is beautiful. Welcome to myLot, I hope you like it here.
@allknowing (138315)
• India
12 Nov 15
There is so much to see in this wide wonderful world. We pick and choose and you seem to have picked something that has history.
Welcome to myLot
@valmnz (17097)
• New Zealand
9 Nov 15
@JadePlatypus I love Melbourne! But know very little of the rest of Victoria. Melbourne is like a home away from home for me and I try to get there once every one or two years. I went to the Melbourne Writers festival in August.
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
10 Nov 15
@valmnz my sisters are writers. They have just come back from Brisbane, was it called Genrecon? They were a little disappointed, I think. I'm unsure if they went to writers festival in August. They live in Melbourne, so I assume so, but I havent asked them.
1 person likes this
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
9 Nov 15
@valmnz, I'm from North-East Victoria, about 40 minutes south of NSW border. Yes, there are many familiar bubble faces here.
1 person likes this
@everloving (439)
• Chennai, India
8 Nov 15
Thats quite a trip you have made. I am growing interest for this place after your post.
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
9 Nov 15
@everloving . If you have interest in history, particularly the spice trading history, this is the place. There were many museums, each devoted to different things.
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
8 Nov 15
Absolutely Catherine. I'm used to Aus, where the closer to water you are, the more violent the mossies are. Melaka was wonderful, minimum bites!
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
7 Nov 15
It sounds like a wonderful place to visit. Maybe some day I will get there.
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
8 Nov 15
It's the first time I'd been there. So very interesting.
1 person likes this
@JadePlatypus (234)
• Australia
8 Nov 15
Thank you @mrtoffee . I think I will enjoy myLot.
1 person likes this
