Jonker Walk of Malacca

Jonker Walk is one of the tourist attraction in Malacca or Melaka and open only during week end. Melaka is also one of the very popular week end destination among Singaporean.

Tourism is a booming industry in Malacca and the road are getting too congested during week end. With this bike sharing initiative, exploring Malacca is now getting easier.

If you can't ride, just hire a beca or trishaw. This make good Instagram photo too even if is just a short distance.

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and is the year of rooster according to Chinese calendar. This giant rooster mark the start of the famous Jonker Walk.

 The whole area is decorated with Chinese New Year theme.

This shop use the very cute cartoon to attract customers to step into their shop.

 If you are looking to buy souvenirs, this is the right place. From festive light,

 to T-Shirt

 and even Poke ball!

 is a good place to start your next Christmas present shopping.

 As with all night market, food is another must have. This is the new food corner that worth the stop.

 Long que is formed waiting to taste this local delicacy - popiah.

I order some satay (bbq chicken)

The lantern are lighted up when the night falls and add the vibrancy of Jonker Walk.

 Is good to spend some time watching the cultural show while enjoying your favorite snacks.

As with many big cities around the world, Malacca was founded beside a river and this river was a major trade post during colonial time.

From a busy port to a quiet town and is now back to it's previous glory.

Malacca - a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Dubbed as Historic State, Malacca indeed a state in Malaysia with the most historical building and structure. In fact Malacca is the state where Malay sultanates started until it was abolished by Portuguese when they conquered Malacca in 1511.

What is remained today left only the gate of the A Famosa Portuguese fort in Malacca.

Behind this gate is a stairway that will bring you up to St Paul Hill where another surviving European architectural - St Paul's Church.

 The view from the rear of the church. This building have been here for more than 5 centuries!

 This is the inside of the church. Only the wall remained.

 There are many tombstones inside the church. Some on the floor ...

 and some are placed just against the wall.

The sun was rising when I visited this place. Modern building can be seen from this window on the reclaimed area. When this church was built, the view will be much simpler just sea.

The body of St. Francis Xavier was temporarily buried here before it was finally shipped to Goa.

 Statue of St. Francis Xavier outside the church.

 Dutch graveyard can be found at the back of the church.

 These few are the better one and some have badly deteriorated.

I believe more can be done to better protect this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Such as this sign that was attached to this 500 years old structure. There are certainly more than one way to put up a sign rather than dig a hole and attached it to this wall.

 Both the A Famosa and the St Paul's church are using this same construction material.

Can you believe this... 500 years old rock from the A Famosa was used as weight to secure umbrella by the souvenirs seller.

 More rocks from the A Famosa used as weight!

Graffiti can be seen on this 500 years old wall inside the St Paul's Church and no body seem to care about it.

 One of the Dutch grave has now become the toilet of stray cat.

Nothing is done to protect this grave from further deteriorate.

Is sad to see this is happening to one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Looks like the local government only interested in bringing in more tourists and little is done to conserve this area.

Birding at Melaka World Heritage City

Ever since Melaka declared as UNESCO World Heritage City, the number of tourist have been steadily on the rise. Most tourist will only interested in the historical building/structure. In fact there are more things to see or do in this old city and all within the same area! Bird watching is one of them! All the photos in this post are taken within 50 meters radius from the A Farmosa. I arrived in the late evening and this is what I saw. Flocks & flocks of birds are roosting on the tree that just next to the Melaka river where tourist taking the river cruise. As it was dark, I decided to pay a visit the next morning & I only have about 1.5hours in the morning before joining my friends for breakfast and other activities.

This Common Mynah on the good vantage point enjoying the cool morning breeze.

There are lots of birds that feed on this fig tree that are fruiting, including these Javan Mynah.
White-Bellied Sea Eagle gracefully glide on top of me. Nice pair of Asian Glossy Starling Yellow Vented Bulbul A female Asian Koel that often heard their call than seeing them.
Little Heron is waiting for prey at the side of the river.
This is quite a huge bird that looks like a vulture - a bold Large Billed Crow. Not sure what happen to the feathers.

A pair of Thick-Billed Green Pigeon

Brahminy Kite

As with other urban area, this invasive species - Crow is every where.

How nice to be able to see this cute little Coppersmitch Barbet!

Oriental Magpie Robin, didn't give me a second to take a proper shot.

Black-Napped Oriole with the very bright yellow feathers.

Tree sparrow

Pink-Necked Green Pigeon is enjoying this big local fruit.

A pair of White-Throated Kingfisher

This 1.5 hours is really well spent! Birding in Melaka, why not!!