Malacca: Dutch history in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is not the only big city in Malaysia. There is much more to see, such as the Cameron Highlands, the Genting Highlands, and Malacca. By bus, you can easily visit these places. In Malacca you are within two hours, so we decided to go there on a Saturday.

Melaka Sentral

The four-hour bus ride to the Cameron Highlands was hell. Unlike the ride to Malacca. This took two hours and the time flew by. It also made a difference that we didn’t drive on those steep winding roads. From the bus station Melaka Sentral you can easily and quickly order a Grab for the city center. But before we got to the center, I had to go to the toilet.

Toilet

After we found it, it turned out to be just those holes in the ground. Well, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it or if I’ll keep my pee until I start crying. I think it’s the last one. A cleaning lady was cleaning and I asked her if there were normal toilets. Note: I only lived here for a few weeks, so what is normal for me is not for a Malaysian. She looked at me strangely and the woman opened the door of the box. For her, such a toilet is the most normal thing in the world. Not a big thing where you can sit on which is normal for us. So it turns out that the handicapped toilet has a toilet bowl instead of a hole in the ground. I know that now for in the future.

Hard Rock Cafe

Well, Malacca’s nightlife seems to be very interesting. From Friday evening to Sunday, Jonker Street turns into a big market where everyone is on-street cooking. Here you can taste everything. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to look around, we had to get the bus home. We finished before dinner, too afraid to say, at the Hard Rock Cafe. This restaurant can be found opposite the Stadhuys and it doesn’t make any sense that you will find it here. We didn’t do our best to boycott it, but it’s quite strange that you see such a big brand in a historic town.

Nightlife

Malacca was a bit disappointing for us. I didn’t feel very well all day so you don’t feel like walking in the hot, glowing sun. On a different day, we don’t feel like it either… Besides that, there isn’t much to do during the day and it’s only in the evening that it becomes fun. So we know that for the next time. Stay the night so you can take the nightlife with you or take a rental car so you can decide when you want to leave back home again.

Stadhuys

After this toilet anecdote, we took the Grab and had ourselves dropped off at the Stadhuys. The city fell under the Dutch government for a while and you will see this immediately. In the middle of the center is a huge windmill and in the museum, the Stadhuys, the history of this city is told.

Windmill

Scandalous maybe, we walked through the museum for half an hour and had seen it already. The outside of the building is nice to look at and to walk around. It is very busy here. We quickly crossed the roundabout and walked over the bridge via the windmill. On this side of the bridge, you will find a lot of small eateries with the most beautiful murals that are worth a look and to sit down for a refreshing drink.

Cruise

We decided to book the Malacca River Cruise. This is praised everywhere and it’s nice to have a good way to see some more of the city. Well, this turned out to be a setback for RM60 (€13). The boat makes a lot of noise and no guide can tell you something about the history of Malacca. Occasionally a tape is played, but it’s not possible to hear anything, because of the engine of the boat. Also, the city got a bit of a sad look. There was no one around, tourist attractions were closed and it started to rain. Malacca can’t do anything about the rain, but still. We found this cruise a real waste of money and we saw nothing more than that we had already seen walking along the canal.

Malacca: Dutch history in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur is not the only big city in Malaysia. There is much more to see, such as the Cameron Highlands, the Genting Highlands, and Malacca. By bus, you can easily visit these places. In Malacca you are within two hours, so we decided to go there on a Saturday.

Melaka Sentral

The four-hour bus ride to the Cameron Highlands was hell. Unlike the ride to Malacca. This took two hours and the time flew by. It also made a difference that we didn’t drive on those steep winding roads. From the bus station Melaka Sentral you can easily and quickly order a Grab for the city center. But before we got to the center, I had to go to the toilet.

Toilet

After we found it, it turned out to be just those holes in the ground. Well, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it or if I’ll keep my pee until I start crying. I think it’s the last one. A cleaning lady was cleaning and I asked her if there were normal toilets. Note: I only lived here for a few weeks, so what is normal for me is not for a Malaysian. She looked at me strangely and the woman opened the door of the box. For her, such a toilet is the most normal thing in the world. Not a big thing where you can sit on which is normal for us. So it turns out that the handicapped toilet has a toilet bowl instead of a hole in the ground. I know that now for in the future.

Stadhuys

After this toilet anecdote, we took the Grab and had ourselves dropped off at the Stadhuys. The city fell under the Dutch government for a while and you will see this immediately. In the middle of the center is a huge windmill and in the museum, the Stadhuys, the history of this city is told.

Windmill

Scandalous maybe, we walked through the museum for half an hour and had seen it already. The outside of the building is nice to look at and to walk around. It is very busy here. We quickly crossed the roundabout and walked over the bridge via the windmill. On this side of the bridge, you will find a lot of small eateries with the most beautiful murals that are worth a look and to sit down for a refreshing drink.

Cruise

We decided to book the Malacca River Cruise. This is praised everywhere and it’s nice to have a good way to see some more of the city. Well, this turned out to be a setback for RM60 (€13). The boat makes a lot of noise and no guide can tell you something about the history of Malacca. Occasionally a tape is played, but it’s not possible to hear anything, because of the engine of the boat. Also, the city got a bit of a sad look. There was no one around, tourist attractions were closed and it started to rain. Malacca can’t do anything about the rain, but still. We found this cruise a real waste of money and we saw nothing more than that we had already seen walking along the canal.

Hard Rock Cafe

Well, Malacca’s nightlife seems to be very interesting. From Friday evening to Sunday, Jonker Street turns into a big market where everyone is on-street cooking. Here you can taste everything. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much time to look around, we had to get the bus home. We finished before dinner, too afraid to say, at the Hard Rock Cafe. This restaurant can be found opposite the Stadhuys and it doesn’t make any sense that you will find it here. We didn’t do our best to boycott it, but it’s quite strange that you see such a big brand in a historic town.

Nightlife

Malacca was a bit disappointing for us. I didn’t feel very well all day so you don’t feel like walking in the hot, glowing sun. On a different day, we don’t feel like it either… Besides that, there isn’t much to do during the day and it’s only in the evening that it becomes fun. So we know that for the next time. Stay the night so you can take the nightlife with you or take a rental car so you can decide when you want to leave back home again.