Tag: Melaka Zoo

Malacca Activities – Top 20 Things to do in Melaka

Post author By melakatour
Post date June 22, 2016
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This article was originally about top 10 things to do in Melaka but later it was upgraded to top 20 things to do in Melaka. The reason behind this is very simple as there are plenty of things to do in Malacca. It is one of UNESCO world heritage sites in Malaysia, so historical sites are on the menu. Food and local culture of Melaka is also unique.

Things to do in Melaka

Thus, keep this top 20 things to do in Melaka list for you in case you cannot remember them at spot. You will find it handy when in Melaka.

1. Get enthralled at A Famosa Resort

Let’s begin the journey from past to present. Whether you are a history lover or not, A Famosa Resort is nice place to visit. It won’t take too long to reach the resort. You will be there in one and a half hour if the journey began from Kuala Lumpur.

A Famosa Resort offers accommodation and theme parks including Safari Wonderland, Water Theme Park (also referred as A Famosa Water World), Old West (Cowboy Town). You can also have fun with different fun activities in the resort including Achery, Horse Riding, Paintball, Rock Climbing, Go Kart, Cycling, Paddle Boat, Pony Riding, Horse Carriage, Target Shooting Fishing.

You will find it a great place whether you are visiting alone or with the family. 20 things to do in Melaka list without A Famosa Resort will be incomplete.

2. Take a Trishaw Ride

Fast moving cars, bikes and planes are fun but the slow and colorful vehicle Trishaw offers you a unique travelling experience. Getting around Melaka in a Trishaw offers you a sort of experience where you move about scenery of the city like. The best thing about the Trishaw ride is that you would be able to take pictures as you move. The colorful carriage sort of vehicle reminds you of the horse carriages.

3. Explore Cheng Hoon Teng Chinese Temple

Old is Gold. You would love telling your family once you are back that you visited the oldest traditional Chinese temple in Malaysia that belongs to the seventeenth century. You can probably impress your Buddhist friends too that you know a little more than them about their culture! After all you have seen the once robed effigy of Guanyin with your own eyes in the temple.

4. Look into The Stadhuys

The Red Square or the Stadhuys is a Dutch architecture that takes the visitors on a trip to 1600’s. You will find Oriental buildings and a Museum of Ethnography in the Stadhuys. You can find daily routine items and goods as well as the bridal cultural items in the Stadhuys. The glory of past of the Malaccan people is evident for the costumes in the Red Square, so visit to The Stadhuys is one among the best things to do in Melaka.

5. Get on the River Cruise Melaka

Melaka River connects the two parts of city as well as past to the present. The river flows besides streets and you will remember the sails besides Jonker Street from where you could see the Ferry Wheel too. The specially designed boats float on the river between streets like a shadow of Venice. So, don’t forget to try River Cruise Melaka in your 20 things to do in Melaka list.

6. Explore Baba Nyonya Heritage Museum

The Chinese-Malay rich families left behind them a culture that is center of attraction for the tourists. Baby Nyonya Heritage Museum located behind the Jonker Street is a worth visiting place. One can see rooms, ceilings, wall and doors of the old houses telling about the rich architecture of the ethnic group.

7. Cheng Ho Cultural Museum

The Cheng Ho Cultural Museum is maintained by a very warm staff that guides you about history of the place. Cheng Ho was a legend and the museum offers his history and fabulous maritime exploits. You can also find literature on Chinese maritime here in the museum. Don’t forget to watch the 5 minute video on the history of Cheng Ho in the museum.

8. Shop in Jonker Street

Fun begins at Jonker Street but is never ends. The street is not as crazy as the water world in the A Famosa Resort but the fun is no less when you shop and dine with your buddies. History and culture can be experienced at their epic in the Jonker Street Melaka. Weekdays are fun but Saturday Sundays are the must have experience in the Jonker Street.

This street is so famous that now it is being referred as Jonker Walk Melaka Experience. There is also a Jonker Walk gate when this street will start. Without a visit to Jonker Street your 20 things to do list will always be incomplete.

9. Visit the Malacca Sultanate Palace

Paintings, art depiction and the furniture of Sultans of Melaka can be found in the Malacca Sultanate Palace. The city had been home to Malay, Buddhist, Christian and Dutch cultures. This building of Muslim era is located near the St. Paul Hill. The building is made of wood totally and it is amazing to find that there are no nails used in it. The gardens beside the palace also reminds you of how gardens used to be in the old time.

10. Stopover Christ Church

The Malaccan Churches had been home to Christians from different lands. Visit the church for its architecture and the history. The Church has been redesigned. You would love the spacious halls and the touch of local Melaka culture. It is a spiritual and historical trip to be in the Christ Church Melaka.

11. Flora de la Mar Maritime Museum

It would be nice to go to the Maritime Museum in Melaka where you can see the Portuguese ship called Flora de la Mar, which was sunk in the Melaka shore long time ago. There are many historical ships and ship related parts but the colorful depictions of the sea routes and sea trade are worth seeing particularly. The museum is within the walking distance of Jonker Street The Stadhuys.

12. Try Nyonya Food

Less chopped and more tasty Nyonya food is a must try experience in Melaka. After all you cannot stay hungry all the day especially when there is a great fusion food available. The Nyonya food in Melaka offers you a mixed taste of eastern and western dishes. You should try some of the unforgettable dishes like Asam Pedas, Curry Fish head (with sauces and salads), Otak-Otak, prawns soups and much more. A meal is not complete without Cendol (Melaka desserts) in Melaka.

For food lover, trying Nyonya food should be on top in best things to do in Melaka list 🙂

13. Stop by Kampung Morten and have a Snapshot

The Kampong Morten is a great place to stop by for a selfie or a family group photo. The place is great resort and educational development that guides the visitors and tourists about cultural way and traditional life in Malacca. The place is a living encyclopedia of Melaka.

14. Catch up on Portuguese History at A Famosa Fort

A Famosa fort is the 16th century wonder remembrance of the Portuguese arrival in Malaysia. Not enough is left of the fort, but the front still stands. There are canons placed in front of the fort too. The fort is one of great places to test your camera skills since it offers view of a historical place with background of sharp blue shy and green trees.

15. Melaka Wonderland Theme Park

You may forgive yourself for not having been to Melaka Wonderland Theme Park, but your kids will not. It is a great place to visit in all the seasons, but summers are cooler in this Theme Park. Thrill rides and speedy water slides are the best fun services of the place. The park is surrounded by a natural recreational forest spreading over 360 hectares.

16. Have a Homestay Experience

There is more than one reason for having a homestay in Melaka. Although it is nice to be in a hotel, yet the homestay is a better experience since you get a more comfortable environment. Normally the homestay sates are a little higher. But you can avoid bug bites of some old furniture’s in hotels by staying in the local residences as a paying guest.

17. Visit Amazing Malacca Butterfly Reptile Sanctuary

The fauna of Melaka is attractive for both the locals and the tourists. There is a Malacca Butterfly Reptile Sanctuary that can be found in Ayer Keroh, which is also one of the best Malacca tourist attractions. It is an 11ha jungle area that is home to species of reptiles, butterflies and insects. You can see amazing sizes and colors of butterflies in the sanctuary. Another thing you are going to surely appreciate is the well maintained area that does not let your interest decrease at the place.

18. Melaka Zoo – The Second Largest Zoo in Melaka

Wanna visit one of the largest Malaysian Zoo’s? Melaka Zoo is second largest of its kind in the country. The zoo is a safari place where the visitors are introduced to over 1200 animals, most of which roam freely in the park. You will love to find over 200 animal species in the zoo that could not be probably covered in biology book too. You can bet your friends after visiting the Melaka Zoo that deer barks too! (Barking deer is an endangered species kept in the zoo).

19. Sri Pogyatha Vinoyagar Moorthi Temple

The rich Malaccan culture is not only home to the Muslim, Christian and Buddhist cultures but you will also find some great Hindu cultural buildings as well. Posters, paintings and carvings of elephant head creatures (Ganesh) tell you that the place belongs to the Hindu deity Vinoyagar. The place tells you about one of finest use of colors in Hindu traditions especially the Chitty community that arrived here 600 years ago.

20. Climb the 110 meter Menara Melaka

Riding the Menara Melaka should be either first or the last thing to do in Melaka. Reason? It offers you a 360 degree view of the city that should either serve as an introduction to the city or a review of the places you visited.

This is a great place for you to see a 360 degree panoramic view of the city. Believe it, aerial views of the city are great especially when you can circle over the tower to have a comprehensive view.

This 110 meters high tower or Menara does not make you dizzy, so take a ride and have an amazing 360 degree view of Melaka.

MELAKA JAM TO END IN 2013?

Post author By melakatour
Post date December 15, 2012
No Comments on MELAKA JAM TO END IN 2013?

14 December 2012 | last updated at 08:07AM
Malacca traffic jam soon to be history

By Jason Gerald | jasong@nst.com.my

TRAM OPERATING ON NGV: RM272 million project will begin in February next year
WITH the sounds of Christmas Jingles echoing in malls and popular tourist destinations, such as the Jonker Walk, and the curtains closing slowly but definitely for this year, the traffic in the city is starting to become a nightmare.

Unlike the previous months where traffic and people only flock the Historical City over the weekends, the current school holidays and the rush by almost everyone to strike out their remaining annual leave, the number of people and vehicles coming into Malacca and leaving has almost doubled in December.

Not only are the exits to Malacca via the Simpang Ampat, Ayer Keroh and Jasin exits along the North-South Expressway experiencing a crawl but almost all roads leading to the city centre is seeing a bumper to bumper traffic.

However, this is the small sacrifice that people in Malacca have to pay to ensure the Historical City remains a vibrant tourist destination, as tourism is one of the main income generators for the state coffers and many businesses involved in the hospitality industry.

And the traffic congestion would become part of history when the much awaited Malacca Tram, a RM272 million project undertaken by Mrails International Sdn Bhd in collaboration with Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI), begins in February next year.
The tram, operating on liquefied natural gas (NGV), would be capable of ferrying 120 passengers at any one time at a speed of 40kph and would begin from its depot next to the Ayer Keroh toll plaza and head to the heritage zone of Malacca — covering a distance of 40km and serving 11 of 14 major tourist spots.

Among the popular spots the tram will pass on its route are Hotel Seri Malaysia, Botanical Gardens, Melaka Zoo, Melaka International Trade Centre, Taman Muzaffar Shah, Pantai Hospital, Masjid Al-Azim, Hospital Melaka, Renaissance Hotel, Dataran Pahlawan, Hotel Mahkota, Harbour Club, Equatorial Hotel and Bukit Baru.

With the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) giving the “green light” for implementation of the tram project, although the law on the transport system is yet to be completed, the tram could very soon be seen plying the “tourism” routes in the state.

SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said technical work such as the building of tracks and depots could still proceed and “there is still time to formulate the law” for the tram.

Syed Hamid also recently said SPAD had held discussions with the Attorney-General’s Chambers in drafting the law for tabling in Parliament before gazetting.
SPAD would ask for a detailed report on security and maintenance aspects of the tram system from the project developer to ensure its smooth operation.

When the Malacca Tram starts its operations, in about a year after the project starts in February, it is expected that some 110,000 passengers will use the service on weekdays and 210,000 on weekends.

Mrails is working with CNR Tangshan Railway Vehicles Co Ltd, a Chinese-based locomotive manufacturer, for the building of the coaches.

The tram is a rail borne vehicle, lighter than a train and differs from other forms of locomotion, as the tracks are embedded in the street.

It is able to accommodate 120 passengers at one time, caters to the disabled because of its ground-level design and will operate at speeds of 40kph.

Ticket for the tram ride is priced at RM2 for a single journey but students and senior citizens ride for free. A day pass, priced at RM5 is also available.

When launching the Tram project in February, last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak stressed that despite the nation’s quest for greater modernisation, emphasis must be placed on environmentally-friendly technology to ensure sustainability and low carbon emissions.

He said long-term environmental conservation efforts were important and should not be compromised at the cost of development and that the Malacca Tram project was iconic, not only for the state, but for the nation as well.

This “next generation tram” is the world’s first environmentally-friendly tram that runs on NGV engine. Najib said the project was suitable to be introduced here as it was in line with the state’s slogan “Where It All Began”.

Cuisine in Melaka

ZOO MELAKA TO BE PRIVATISED

Post author By melakatour
Post date November 23, 2012
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21 November 2012 | last updated at 09:50PM

State govt to take over Zoo Melaka by year’s end

By Hanis Maketab
hzmak@nst.com.my

MALACCA: The State zoological park or Zoo Melaka would be taken over by the State Government from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Malaysia, which is under the Federal Government, by the year’s end.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said the management of the zoo would be primarily taken over by a consortium which would be headed by the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council.

The consortium would be made up of Koperasi Hang Tuah Jaya, Koperasi Bela Masyarakat (Kobemas) and WildlifeTheatre Melaka.

The consortium hopes to adopt the management style of the Singapore Zoo to steer Zoo Melaka to greater heights.
Mohd Ali said that while the state government was awaiting an official letter from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, preparations were currently under-way for the take over.

“Th privatisation will include an upgrade of its facilities and infrastructure, which is expected to cost up to RM6 million.

“We would also be changing the name of the zoo to ‘Melaka Zoo and Night Safari’. Once everything is finalised, the zoo would be a private entity, it will no longer receive the RM4 million yearly grant from the Federal Government, and therefore, the new management must work towards ensuring the zoo’s continued success,” he said.
Mohd Ali said he hoped the zoo’s privatisation would be the first step in improving it as a major tourist attraction not only for the state, but for Malaysia as well.
“Malacca Zoo is currently one of the best zoos in the country, and I believe it can one day become a world-renowned zoo,” he said.

When asked on the fate of the contract employees of the Zoo Melaka, Mohd Ali said that they would be absorbed by the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council.
Zoo Melaka is a 54-acre (approximately 21.22 ha) zoological park located beside Lebuh Ayer Keroh in Malacca.

The zoo has progressed rapidly since 1979 to become the second biggest zoo in the country, behind the National Zoo of Malaysia (Zoo Negara).
Zoo Melaka annually records than 400,000 visitors and more than half of the visitors are from Melaka and the neighbouring states. Its annual ticket collection exceeds RM3 million.
The number of exhibits has also increased significantly since it opened and as of today there are a total of over 1,200 specimen made up of 215 different species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians in the zoo.

The major attractions in Zoo Melaka are the highly endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros, Malayan Sun Bear, Malayan Gaur, Serow and the Malayan Tiger.
The zoo is also renowned world over as a a centre for wildlife research, conservation and breeding, especially for the Malayan Tiger, Wild Dogs (Dhole), panther, tapir, serow, barking deer, sambar deer and many others.

Cuisine in Melaka

RM300 MILLION INVESTMENT IN MELAKA

Post author By melakatour
Post date August 29, 2011
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July 25, 2011 19:07 PM

Plentifield Invests RM300 Million In ‘Best Western Premier Melaka’

MELAKA, July 25 (Bernama) — Property firm Plentifield Marketing Sdn Bhd is building a five-star hotel and commercial centre called “Best Western Premier Melaka” involving RM300 million investment in the Ayer Keroh Botanical Park here.

Its managing director, Dr Teoh Lian Hong, said the nine-storey hotel and five commercial blocks were expected to complete by end of 2013.

“The project is being developed on a 2.8ha site with modern and green technology features.

“It will house, among others, entertainment centres, shoplots, halls, corporate offices and meeting venues on par with those in luxury hotels overseas,” he told reporters after the project’s groundbreaking ceremony today.

Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam officiated the ceremony. Present was Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council President Sapiah Harun.

Teoh said the hotel, near the Melaka International Trade Centre, Melaka Zoo and Melaka Wonderland Theme Park, would have 301 rooms.

“This project is Plentifield’s first in Melaka and we see it has a big potential in view of its location within a tourist area,” he said.

The five commercial blocks will also have 506 business suites and 166 retail lots.

Plentifield’s previous development include a RM220 million project comprising a three-star hotel and commercial lots in Sandakan and RM300 million commercial lots in Shah Alam.

Meanwhile, Mohd Ali said he welcomed Plentifield’s investment because the state had a shortage of five-star hotels.

Plentifield had also agreed to build another five-star hotel on a 4ha site near Kolej Yayasan Saad in Ayer Keroh, he added.

— BERNAMA

Tags cruise melaka, homestay melaka, malacca heritage, malaysia melaka, managing director, Melaka Zoo, PM, Sandakan, tempat menarik di melaka, touris melaka attraction, tourism melaka