22 Melaka : Stamp Museum

Once the home of Dutch dignitaries, now a stamp museum. For some, paying RM3 to catch up on the postal history of Melaka may not be an exciting way to spend the holiday but it is different with me.

I was formerly an enthusiastic stamp collector. The hobby slowly slid out of my life as the world connected through the internet and letter writing became obsolete. I stopped having penpals. To continue purchasing new stamp releases direct from the post office seemed a meaningless activity. Handwritten letters, to me, were the heart and soul of stamp collecting. I guess I'm just old-fashioned!

Melaka Stamp Museum

This museum is a simple two-storey setup with information boards and stamps on display. The ground floor houses a stamp store and the ticketing counter.

Information Boards

As you enter the gate, you will see several olden day postboxes displayed within the compound. Pictured below is one of it.

A Postbox

It took us only 20 minutes to explore the place. There isn't much to see if you have no interest in postal history but just as important if you want to show kids how regular people communicate with the outside world back in the old days, before the era of computers and besides using the telephone or telegram. Ticket prices for kids are RM2 each.

For me, this was more of a trip down memory lane and I gladly parted with my money to help maintain this place.

Melaka Stamp Museum
(Around the corner from A Famosa)
Address: Jalan Kota, Melaka 75000, Malaysia.

16 Melaka : The Ruins Of St. Paul's Church

Located at the peak of a hill, just a little away from Aldy Hotel Stadthuys is the ruins of St. Paul's Church. Hubs and I walked through a small entrance with an open air staircase leading up. The climb wasn't too steep but we found out later that there was an easier path up, behind the gate of the famed Portuguese fort A Famosa.

It is said that St. Paul's hill was previously known as Malacca Hill by the locals before it was renamed Monti Ali Maria or Mary's Hill by the Portuguese who had developed the place. St. Paul's started out as a little chapel dedicated to Virgin Mary, which later extended into a church with the addition of a second floor and a belfry tower. The place, now no longer what it used to be, was deconsecrated with the building of a new place of worship, that is, Christ Church under the Dutch rule and underwent several modifications to be strengthened as part of a fort.

Next to the ruins is a statue of St. Francis Xavier; he is said to have established a school in these premises. The hand on the statue was severed when a Casuarina tree fell on it.

Left : St. Paul's Church and A White Belfry Tower
Right : A Statue Of St. Francis Xavier

The building has no roof in a large part of its area. It is designed with many arched windows and entrances. I imagine the church to be bright and airy in its heyday. This place is a tourist hot spot, as you can see from pictures below. There are buskers and stalls right outside the building adding liveliness to an otherwise solemn spot.

Inside the Ruins of St. Paul's Church, Melaka

St. Paul's Church, Melaka

Intriguing Dutch tombstones are lined against the old walls. I wondered about the people who once walked here, how they dressed and lived, what 'routine' was for them.

The Dutch Tombstones of St. Paul's Church

The Dutch Tombstones of St. Paul's Church

More pictures of St. Paul's church on my way up the hill that sunny day. We enjoyed touring this place. It gave us a nice view of surrounding areas too.

View of St. Paul's Church nearing the top

Beautiful St. Paul's Hill, Melaka

Finally, this shot of Aldy Hotel just to show you how close the hotel is.

The best time to visit would be early in the morning before the humidity sets in. Entrance is free.

St. Paul's Church
Address: Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia

20 Melaka : Old Is Gold Aldy Hotel Stadthuys

Perhaps the fifth hotel I have stayed in, in  Melaka. And I must warn you that this is a long overdue post - last Christmas long in fact, when my aunt and I were here for a holiday.

This is what Aldy Hotel Stadthuys looks like. Painted dark red like all most of the buildings in Melaka's Dutch Square. Bamboo Hut bistro takes up the ground floor.

Aldy Hotel Stadthuys, Melaka

The check-in lobby is hidden behind the bistro. We headed to the back and entered through a side door. Checking in was fuss free. I had even arranged with the courteous hotel employee to book a taxi for us to the bus terminal for the day we were leaving.

The Entrance Located At The Side

We lugged our bags into a small lift at the corner and were soon in our room, happy that everything from toilet flush, electric kettle to the flat screen TV was in working order. The wifi service was good too - not that we used much of it since we were out most of the time and exhausted at night!

It was a good-sized room with twin beds. I could snore peacefully in mine and my aunt, in hers. A casual batik kaftan was found hanging in the wardrobe - my aunt wore it as her pajamas to sleep.

The Comfy Beds In Aldy Hotel Stadthuys, Melaka

Another View Of The Room. My Aunt In The Kaftan.

I chose this hotel because it was located smack in the middle of many tourist attractions. It was a short walking distance from Jonker Street, the Dutch Square, a number of museums and old historical buildings such as St. Paul's Church. It is also close to the jetty of the River Cruise, the Taming Sari Revolving Tower and two large shopping malls. We relied only on our two legs to get around.

The Dutch Square, Melaka

The room rates were reasonable too. I managed to score 2 nights stay for RM350 with breakfast from an online hotel booking website.

The view outside our window was not bad either. We could see colourful trishaws passing by with loud music blaring from the speakers attached to it. The noise stopped before midnight. Funnily, it didn't really bother us.  I slept through it.

I was happy with the cleanliness of the bathroom. The basics were provided - soap, shampoo, towels. It is enough for me.

Bath Amenities

Breakfast was a simple affair at the bistro.  The waitress greeted us cheerfully and we were asked to choose from a small menu what we'd like to have. I much prefer this over a breakfast buffet - less food wastage and no chance of overeating. My aunt agrees too! This way we wouldn't be too full to hunt for street food later.

Breakfast At Bamboo Hut Bistro, Aldy Hotel Stadthuys, Melaka.

To end, I will say that am taken in by the excellent service we received from staff at this hotel. The warmth I felt makes me want to come back. The rooms and overall decor is okay too. There is an aged feeling to the place unlike the minimalist rooms of modern day accommodation or the fanciness of trendy boutique hotels but I like it.

Aldy Hotel Stadthuys, Melaka

Aldy Hotel Stadthuys
Address: 27, Jalan Kota, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka, Malaysia.
Telephone: 06 - 283 3232

18 Melaka : Restoran Famosa Chicken Rice Ball

It was a humid day. I was sweaty from an hour of traipsing around Jonker Walk before Hubs and I decided to lunch here. My hair protested with frizzy vengeance and there was nothing I could do about it. Hubs insisted I looked beautiful. Ahem.

The first floor of the restaurant was preserved to give us a glimpse into Melaka's heritage. That's interesting - I get to enjoy the food and then go for a walkabout. I was surprised when I got upstairs. There were several rooms set up to give us a glimpse into the culture of various communities. The wooden carving on the wall and the doors itself tell of an era of skilled woodwork.

Famosa Chicken Rice Restaurant - First Floor

In one corner was a sculpture made out of plates that had me scratching my head trying to figure out what the creator of this piece was trying to tell us. The Chinese wording on the wall made me even curiouser. Hubs showed me what it was for - I laughed.

What do you think? Do I look pretty in my Cinderella dress?

Me In My Borrowed Dress

The Famosa Chicken Rice Ball restaurant, located along Jonker Street, is a lovely place to go for yummy Melaka food. I enjoyed the lively atmosphere, friendly waitresses and watching experienced staff roll the rice into balls.

This is the food we ordered, which we were satisfied with.

Chicken Rice Ball

Here is a short video of rice being rolled into balls to give you an idea how its done.

Below are more pictures of the area in the two-storey restaurant. It is a busy place but if you come at the right time, there will be no queue and you should be able to get a table quickly.

Walking to the back, I noticed some tourists putting on the traditional costume for pictures. I believe it is free for anyone to use. It was here that I saw a staircase and ventured up to discover another world to this restaurant.

Restoran Famosa Chicken Rice
Top: Dining Area |
Bottom: The Staircase To The Upper Floor Is Pictured On The Right

It feels like a place out of a Kung Fu movie.

First Floor and Back Area

The Facade and An Olden Day Cart

There you go - another post on my Melaka trip, but I'm not done yet. There's more which will have to go into another blog post.

19 Melaka : Chop Chung Wah Hainanese Chicken Rice Ball

It was the longest queue I'd ever seen outside a kopitiam ; that made me curious. I crossed the triangular traffic island at Jonker Street to get a peek inside. Hainan Chicken Rice was written on the signboard.

"They're lining up for chicken rice balls!" I told my partner, rolling my eyes in disbelief. And that was that or so I thought.

We were up and about Jonker Walk early next morning looking for food. The skies were gloomy and it started to drizzle. Under the cover of a newly purchased tourist-priced umbrella, we scoured the quiet streets of quaint historical buildings for something to eat. We could tell we were in the wrong corner of town when it came to breakfast. Deciding to walk back, we passed Kedai Kopi Chung Wah again and this time, there wasn't a queue.

Chop Chung Wah, Melaka

It was 8am-ish. The shop had just opened. The rain was getting heavier so hubs and I made a dash for it, both agreeing that it was best to wait it out here. Only four tables were occupied with customers. We were welcomed in with a lovely smile and our order was taken - which was simply us showing a V sign with our fingers indicating we wanted food for two persons.

Whilst waiting, we watched an adorable child of not more than four years, possibly a relative of the shop owner, ambling up and down within the confines of the small building, greeting people she knew.

Two plates of rice balls and chopped kampung chicken was placed in front of us minutes later. I couldn't wait to tuck in! The chicken was tender enough and it was tasty. I almost asked for seconds but stopped myself from getting carried away.

Chop Chung Wah Kampung Chicken Rice Ball

Hubs and I enjoyed our meal in our own thoughts blissfully unaffected by the brisk activity around us that comes with the typical kopitiam style ambiance. It was cosy with us watching raindrops fall gently from the edge of the roof through an old side door that had been barred with a metal railing. The shop wasn't full so we sat awhile and enjoyed our drink.

Chop Chung Wah, Melaka

We left when the rain slowed to a drizzle. It was a yummy meal and a wonderful start to the day. We had a satisfied grin on our faces, plus a warm fuzzy feeling about the whole experience. It is another memory to be cherished.

This is what the whole place looks like coming in from the entrance.

Chop Chung Wah, Melaka

Below are photos I snapped whilst looking for a place to eat. The streets of Melaka on a chilly Monday morning.

A Morning Walk Around Jonker Street

Chop Chung Wah is located across from this traffic island.

Jonker Walk, Melaka

The 'Don't Mess With Melaka' slogan is meant to be a stern reminder for people to keep Melaka clean. We saw these banners all around Melaka's tourist spots.

Don't Mess With Melaka

Chop Chung Wah
Address : 18, Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Melaka.
Phone: 06-286 0121

10 Melaka : A Night At The Wonderful Quayside Hotel

This is the hotel you'd want to stay in if you like rooms with a balcony to unwind; the view overlooks the scenic Melaka River. I was enamoured the moment I walked into the hotel lobby. No, I was hooked at the thought of staying here from the time I saw the photos on TripAdvisor.

Days Earlier
Haziq attended to my phone call to reconfirm the details of my room booking. He's that person who smiles over the phone. I felt it although I couldn't see him.

Fast forward a couple of days later, Hubs and I arrived at the heart of the heritage area in Melaka. My heart thumped with excitement and my eyes glowed with a happiness I cannot properly describe. Two people attended to me upon check-in, a young lady, possibly in her 20s, and an older woman. They were extremely helpful and friendly.

I knew I had arrived too early and wasn't particularly surprised at being informed that no rooms were ready. So I assured them that I was there only to register my particulars and would return after 2PM or 3-ish. They took my number down and said that they would call me the moment a room was available.

"I'm willing to wait for a good room, ya. You take your time. No worries one! " I said in my biggest smile. I was barely out of the door when they waved me back in. Lo and behold, less than ten minutes since I'd been there, I was already climbing up a spiral staircase to Room 205. How exciting!

The design is minimalistic with a large window that slides open to a balcony; I loved it!

Quayside Hotel, Melaka - Premium Room With Double Bed

Quayside Hotel, Melaka - Premium Room

Quayside Hotel, Melaka - Premium Room With A Balcony

Quayside Hotel, Melaka - Basic Amenities

A little about the 3-star hotel; It was once a customs warehouse. Now, it's a two-storey boutique hotel with 39 rooms.The whole concept of the hotel is warehouse-like complete with light bouncy flooring and walls non-too-soundproof. I was hardly affected by the noises made by my neighbours or the chatter from tourists walking past below the room. Guess all those years living in a village near the airport paid off!

Quayside Hotel, Melaka - The Lobby

Quayside Hotel, Melaka - The Reception Area

Quayside Hotel, Melaka - Me On The Higher Floor

The hotel is located smack in the heart of the touristy area of Melaka. It's next to the roundabout at the Dutch Square (Stadthuys), round the bend from Jonker street and is on the same row as the ship museum. Just behind the parking lot is the famous A Famosa fort, plus several museums.

Quayside Hotel, Melaka - View From Across The River

The rate for the premium room with a double bed at the time of booking, including taxes, was RM231.06. I had made two requests - on the form, for a higher floor and personally telephoned them to reserve one parking lot.

The CarPark
Parking costs RM10 per day and is located across the road beside the police station in an open air private carpark. The hotel will provide guests with a numbered key to unlock the padlock on the folding parking post barrier. The parking spot is yours for the entire day - this means that you are free to leave and come back to it anytime.

Other Costs
RM2 heritage fee.

Website: www.quaysidehotel.com.my
Address: 1, Jalan Merdeka, Quayside Heritage Centre, Bandar Hilir, 75000 Melaka.


The view from my room balcony; day and night.

Melaka River Daytime

Melaka River At Night

Hubs and I had an amazing time. It was good to get out of the city to refresh the mind even if it was only for a night. The balcony was our favourite spot - we dined alfresco with food takeaways from Jonker Street's vibrant night market, took in the sights and sounds of enchanting Melaka and chatted about life in general.

How did we find the stay? Fantastic! No complaints!