Malacca has a unique place in Malaysian history and perhaps even on the world stage. The confluence of cultures that has shaped Malacca makes it a true global melting pot. Malacca occupied a covetous position in the trade routes between Europe and Asia and thus became a object of contention, especially between the shifting European powers. Even before the Europeans arrived on the scene, Malacca had formed a strong connection with China and was under Chinese protection during the 15th Century. The Portuguese arrived in the early 16th Century and seized the city in 1511. In 1641, the Dutch expelled the Portuguese and became the new masters of Malacca. The British took over the trading port in 1795 after the Netherlands fell to the French. 

Today the remnants of these past colonial influences can still be seen in Malacca and it is definitely a worthy stop for any visitor to Malaysia who is keen to experience a truly unique aspect of Malaysian history and culture beyond the glass and steel megacity that is Kuala Lumpur. Malacca is easily accessible by a modern highway from Kuala Lumpur and the drive itself takes about two hours. The historical sites in Malacca are concentrated in its small town centre and can be visited on foot. Given the oppressive tropical heat, it is recommended to arrive early in the day such that walking around in the cooler morning climate will make the experience all that more enjoyable.

The key landmark in Malacca is The Stadhuys, a large red building that marks the centre of town. The Stadhuys was built by the Dutch and was centre of its administration. This historic building continued to be used for 300 years until 1980 when it was converted into a museum. Right next to The Stadhuys is the Christ Church, again brightly painted in red and built by the Dutch. It is the oldest Protestant church in Malaysia.

From here, take Fort Road (Jalan Kota) on foot for 5 minutes and you'll arrive at Porta de Santiago. This stone portal is all that remains of the great Portuguese fortress, A Famosa, that stood here 400 years ago. From Porta de Santiago, walk up St Paul's Hill via the stairs behind the portal. On top of the hill, you will find the ruins of St Paul's Church, built in 1521 by the Portuguese. The Dutch subsequently converted this into a burial ground and today you can still see many historical tomb stones inside the church. The Church is also famous for being the resting ground for St. Francis Xavier who died in 1552. The body of St. Francis Xavier was subsequently moved to Goa, India.

Take the stairs down the hill, immediately in front of the church and you'll be back on Fort Road. Turn right and you'll find yourself back at The Stadhuys. This short walking tour has covered the main European historical sites. Now let's see what the Chinese left behind. For this, you have to cross the Malacca river and make your way to Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat). Jonker Street is one of three streets that comprises the Chinese heart of Malacca. The other two being Temple Street and Heeren Street.

Jonker Street is especially famous for the antique dealers that line this street. And we are talking about really old antiques such as Chinese porcelain dating back to the Sung Dynasty (969 - 1126). On Jonker Street, you will also walk past old Chinese clan association halls. At the other end of Jonker Street and off on a side street (Jalan Tokong or Temple Street), is the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. This richly decorated temple is the oldest Chinese temple in Malaysia and was built in 1645 using materials imported from China. On the same street, you will also find a rather nondescript shoemaker called Wah Aik who practices a unique trade. He makes tiny shoes for women with bound feet. Feet binding was a cruel practice that was finally made illegal in the mid-20th Century. Today, according to the shoemaker (who is a very friendly gentleman), the shoes are mainly bought as souvenirs.

From Temple Street, make your way back to Jonker Street and cross it to the parallel Heeren Street (Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock). Turn left as you enter this street. This is not the most pedestrian friendly street in the world, so be careful ! There is no footpath to speak of and the road is very narrow and busy. On Heeren Street, you will find many historical shop houses built and owned by wealthy Chinese traders and will give you a good sense of what like was like back in the heyday of Malaccan history, minus the traffic.

If you continue to the end of Heeren Street, you'll be back at the river and on the other side is The Stadhuys. Some other interesting sights not covered in this walking tour (because they are not within walking distance) are the Portuguese Square and Bukit Cina.

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