Ideally located at the centre of some of the region’s greatest powers, the port city of Malacca,
Malaysia (also Melaka) was once at the centre of some of the world’s most important trade routes. A thriving city when Singapore was still a fishing village, it was founded by a Sumatran prince in the early 15
th century. Traders from China, India and Arabia settled here before the city was invaded by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, who then traded it with the British – all of these influences, plus rich Peranakan culture (descendants of early Chinese, Indian, Arab and Eurasian traders who married indigenous women), can be seen today as you explore.
Colonial rule turned Malacca into an impoverished backwater, but now the city is once again booming thanks to its illustrious history and patchwork of well-preserved architectural styles. Small and easy to explore, a short walk will take you past grand mosques, pagoda-roofed temples, colonial churches and canals lined with brightly coloured warehouses, recently converted into galleries, boutique shops and hotels.
Take one of the infamous local trishaws (the gaudier the better!) to head to the bustling Jonker Walk Night Market in the compact Chinatown at the weekend to taste some of the best Peranakan street food and browse an array of souvenirs and knick knacks.
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