Marvellous Melaka's Deep Red Historic Heritage Centre and Heritage Hotels

Malaysian Flag.

Marvellous Melaka is an easy trip from either Singapore in the South, - or KL, the capital of Malaysia.

Melaka, Malaysia.

Melaka was heaven, after our motorway stop at Machap
 So glad to escape to old yet new Melaka. A Unesco world heritage site.



Malaysian flags everywhere in Melaka. Red is a feature colour of the outsides of buildings, with matching tiles in patterns on the roads.

Melaka Hotels
The skyscraper hotels are around the edge. The Ibis is in walking distance. The historic waterfront Casa Del Rio (Spanish for house of the king) is a fancy hotel right on the waterfront.



Water fountain, ground floor inside at the Casa Del Rio hotel, Melaka, Malaysia.

We arrived in pouring rain. But our small hotel, Jonker Heritage hotel, had umbrellas for you to borrow just inside the door. free parking at the back.

Jonker Heritage Hotel
For about half the price we had bedrooms in a hotel with no restaurant but right opposite a cafe which serves breakfast. Our boutique hotel within walking distance of all the attractions. No lift. A member of staff carried our bags up to our rooms on the first floor.

We arrived for the evening where we had pre-booked a restaurant table at a family favourite restaurant,  We spent a whole day,  with our two main objectives being the Peranakan Museum guided tour, which we booked, and the riverboat whose ticket we bought at a kiosk.

Walk through or drive through Malacca or Melaka, or take the riverboat, and the landmark red Christ Church in the middle will help you get your bearings. Almost on the bridge in front is Hard Rock Cafe, where you can sit inside in the cool and dark and drink or eat, listening to music, or go out on the balcony overlooking the river..

That's Melaka, old and new, ancient history and recent history, East and West, red and white. A warm welcome, as the sign bridging the road says, for tourists and sellers, Malays and Chinese and Indians, signs in English, Malay, Chinese, tourists and business opportunities, fine restaurants and kiosks, hot spicy food and cooling ice cream, something for everyone, every language and every taste.

Useful Websites
https://www.malaysia.travel/en/sg
Singapore Airlines
singaporeair.com

About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer author and speaker. See other posts for photos of the Swan lake Sculpture at the Botanical gardens. Please share links to your favourite pictures and pages.

Supper in Singapore? Where? Best skyscraper view, best budget price? Old or new? Side trip to Malaysia?

A friend visiting Singapore briefly, for a couple of days, asked us what venue we would recommend for a special supper. Our first choice would be atop the Marina Bay Sands Complex, three skyscrapers offering fantastic views over the city for a first night or last night splurge, special occasion, birthday, Valentine's Day, or anniversary. Apparently Valentine's Day is a favourite day to propose marriage for a long term couple. Check out the prices and deals and cuisines.

You can have a drink at the bar on the terrace with snacks, if you like to be on the terrace watching the sunset. (The view depends on the time of day, season and weather, could be romantic or rainy.)

Not cheap. But some people are so excited they want to buy a day ticket and take the children swimming in the infinity pool.

A modern Asian cuisine restaurant here is Coup d'Etat.  That's new, the latest.

What if you are a traditionalist?

If you would rather be at ground level, in a historic setting, an alternative is the Raffles Grill. Raffles hotel complex - absolute must. Shops and restaurants galore.

What if you are on a budget? Just pick the nearest nice looking place with a good view or good decor or an appealing menu. This is Singapore, famous for food.

Look in the brochures and maps provided free at the airport and big tourist hotels for maps, to help you find your way around. The advertisements on the maps often have discount coupons. Bookshops abound, huge bookshops with attached coffee shops. Sneak a peak at one of the guides to Singapore and read the latest reviews.

Sometimes the airline magazines carry guides to the city.

Use the MRT (underground railway) maps which go everywhere, including the waterfront, riverside, Little India and Chinatown. Some skyscraper office blocks have restaurants and coffee shops with a view.

If you are in Singapore and want to go out of the city for a jaunt, you could drive across the bridge into Malaysia or take an excursion or even a bus (remember your passport). You might want to go the the Twin Towers complex, made famous in the film. If you prefer old and quaint, even nearer is the pretty pink coastal city of Malacca.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer.