Back to the trip. We reached Paris in the evening, and were so glad we could see the Eiffel Tower glimming in the distance. Welcome to Paris, the City of Lights, and the most visited city in the world, and the most romantic and the best-designed city with the best urban planning in the world. I saw these on the websites, and I agree whole-heartedly with what they said.

We started the day by exploring the city. The first stop was Arc de Triomphe, an arch-shaped structure that is so famous alongside the Eiffel Tower, that every time Paris is mentioned, the arch will appear on screen, anywhere, everywhere. During Christmas, when the tv programme starts introducing different cities, Paris will be shown with the tree-lined boulevards and the Arc de Triomphe right in the middle, with the trees all decked in shimmering christmas lights. Thats how famous this building is, in the eyes of a foreigner. This arch was erected by Napoleon in 1806 as a memorial to his victorious battles. SInce 1919, it has become a National Monument to the unknown soldiers of France. Situated on a small hill with 12 avenues radiating like rays of lights from a star, the area was aptly named Place de I’Etoile.

We visited the Luxor Obelisk. It is a 23 metres high Egyptian obelisk standing at the center of the Place de la Concorde in Paris, France. It was originally located at the entrance to Luxor Temple, in Egypt and was actually a gift to France from Egypt.

The entire square was large, and there was a ferris wheel which was not open when we were there. Was it because it was too cold and the wind was too strong? Paris was really cold when we arrived. It did not reach below freezing, but the wind was unbearably chilly. Anyhow, we managed to capture the unraveled beauty of Paris. The buildings were so architecturally and artistically appealing, it really made me feel so inspired.

After touring the square, we went to Les Invalides, which consists of a complex of buildings containing museums and monuments, all relating to the military history of France, as well as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans, the building’s original purpose. It is also the burial site for some of France’s war heroes.

After that, we went to the most visited attraction in the world, the Eiffel Tower! It looked so majestic from the bottom of the tower. I just couldn’t describe my feelings when I stepped foot on the tarmac of the base of the tower. I just could not believe that I have finally visited an attraction so well-known, that it is almost everyone’s wish to visit this place before they die. I know I am exaggerating but it really is one of the most famous man-made structures in the world. I can’t say its beautiful, because it is just a dull metallic structure in the day, but more visually appealing at night. But it is so representative of the city of Paris, and it holds so much value and pride to the Parisans, and that to me is a very beautiful and precious structure which represents the spirit and vibe of the city.

We ascended to Level 2 of the tower, with a towering view over Paris. It was a clear day, and I could easily see the entire Paris. I realised most of the buildings in Paris are short, except for the business district where the tall commercial buildings are clustered together. I was kind of wondering how do Parisans live in a city full of short buildings but with a population of almost 10 million? Maybe the city is a huge urbam sprawl, but still there must be something about these European cities that Asian cities should learn from. Another thing that we must really learn from them, do not tear down old historical buildings. Singapore tore down so many historical buildings especially at Raffles Place in the mid 1970s to make way for tall gleaming skyscrapers, at the expense of losing our very own colonial heritage and architecture. It was one of the gravest mistake we had ever made. The Europeans really know how to protect their buildings and infrastructure, and this is something I really appreciate a lot.

Anyway, after descending the tower, we set off for the Louvre Museum, which reminds me fondly of Da Vinci Code, one of my favourite movies of all time. The Louvre Museum is one of the largest museums in the world, with nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres. We managed to look at Mona Lisa’s smile, where more than an estimated 1000 people crowding around the bullet-proofed painting just to snap a shot or have a loser look at the most celebrated painting in the world. Her eyes follow you wherever you go. She seems to be smiling at you, yet there is something she is thinking about and doesn’t seem like she wants you to know. She is mysterious, and yet so innocent at the same time. She wants you to look at her, and admire her beauty, yet at the same time, she does not seem happy with all these attention. How confusing and mysterious she is.

 The famous glass pyramid. I heard it was designed by a chinese architect, who was assigned with the task of designing something to bring the underground levels to the ground level, so that people in the underground will not feel claustrophobic. Well he really did a good job, letting in natural light to the underground levels and allowing visitors to have a view of the outside of the museum from underground.

 I managed to explore about 1/4 of the museum? It would likely take an entire day to see everything there. But I tried to find those sculptures and artefacts that are more famous.

The Venus de Milo was added to the Louvre’s collection during the reign of Louis XVIII.

The Nike of Samothrace(winged Victory), circa 190 BC

Our last stop for our tour in Paris was Champs- Elysees, a famous shopping street in Paris full of home-grown names and other famous brands from all over the world. As Christmas was only a few days away, the entire street was filled with shoppers hoping to get last-minute presents for their friends and family members. We managed to shop around for the items we wanted to buy, and stopped at a fast food asian restaurant for some Singapore-inspired noodles. I could tell you how much I missed Asian food when I was in Europe, because every day we were eating bread, pasta, french fries, burgers, chicken chop, pork chop, and other western food you can think of. Chilli crab and Fried Hokkien Mee was constantly on my mind.

Well, it was already our last two days in Europe, and it was really my first time travelling overseas that I really do not wish to go back to Singapore. My 2 weeks trip to Europe was a fulfilling and exciting experience for me, and I really did not expect it to make me fall in love with all the cities I visited. But yes, after this trip to Europe, I swore to myself that when I have the money again, I will definitely come back to visit Europe, which to me is a continent stepped back in time, yet modern and civilised at the same time, with so much things to see, from cities to scenery. I could tell the Europeans are not very confident about their economy now, judging from conversations I had with them, especially the Italians. But I am very sure they can do something about it to save their crippling economy. And as us tourists, I guess we can help by spending in their countries right?

One of the greatest pleasure while in Europe was being able to see all those stunning and mesmerising architecture on the streets. Some were really ancient, almost 2000 years old, and yet still standing majestically. Some were newer, but still old enough for me to call them great x 100 grandparents. To me Paris  is the most beautiful city I have ever seen in my life, so beautiful that every street and every corner is like a piece taken off from a beautifully painted art piece. I just wonder how great those urban planners were in creating such an amazing city. I always had this wrong impression that European cities did not have many modern buildings, and was really convinced that they looked old and needed some new buildings. But this trip has irrevocably changed my perception about the beauty of a city. Asians tend to focus on the future and are too blinded by the greed to make their cities to look more modern than others by building taller, glassy structures to show off. But aesthetically speaking, these European cities know how to blend in modern with the old, and allow us to capture the best of both the ancient and modern world, and that to me is just perfect. What a wonderful world. 

We winded our way through the snow-covered towns, and finally reached our destination Interlaken in the evening.  Interlaken lies in the Bernese Oberland on an alluvial plain, between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Interlaken is presided over by the three mighty mountains, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau and there are many activities to do at this fun-filled town, including winter related sports. We spent some time exploring this cute little town, with a little disappointment that there was no snow on the ground. We ate tradtional Swiss dishes, and the dinner was called Swiss Fondue dinner, with a little entertainment from the restaurant staff themselves. I even tried blowing the tradtional Swiss Alp horn. And yes I succeeded since I can play a trumpet, so Alp horn is not difficult to blow.

The next day, we started on our journey to the top of Europe, Jungfraujoch. Standing at 3454m, this majestic mountain is only just one of the several other mountains surrounding it that form the Alps, including Monch, Breithorn, Tschingelhorn, Eiger and many others. Jungfraujoch is not the tallest mountain around, the tallest one is Jungfrau, towering at a height of 4158, but the Jungfrau Railways can only bring us to Jungfrau, winding through the steep slopes, and through very deep tunnels. I was wondering how those people were able to survive the altitudes trying to build all these tunnels. It was just unimaginable. Alas, along the way up the mountain, I saw my very first snowfall in my life, and that was a very unforgettable moment.

It was a freaking -14C up the top of the mountains, and I had a lot of fun playing with the snow and having snowball fights with the new friends I made during this trip. Everyone was nearly going bonkers at the sight of heavy snowfalls, and thick snow accumulation on the ground. Reason? We are tropical living creatures. Thats why.

The train ride back down the mountain was even more spectacular, because by the mid-afternoon, the clouds were slowly disappearing and the sun was almost setting, so the scene outside the train was much clearer. And to those who have a fear of heights, not to worry, you will not feel like you are floating at 4000m high. The train ride is so smooth, and the view outside is so unreal, you think you are watching a movie from an LCD flatscreen.

What you see above wasnt the hotel we stayed, sadly. This is Grand Hotel Victoria, one of the only two 5 star hotels in Interlaken. One look at it and you can feel the grandeur and exquisiteness of the hotel. Hmm, I guess I should stop day-dreaming. Back to our trip. We know Switzerland is very famous for its chocolates, Swiss knives, and watches. We decided to try some of the chocolates from small boutique shops across our hotel. They were truly awesome. I don’t know why chocolates made in Switzerland are so good, is it because of the water? Is it because of the cocoa they import? ( Wait do they import cocoa or they grow themselves? Because I always thought cocoa can only be grown on tropical soil.)

The next day, we drove to the beautiful town of Engelberg for a series of cable cars to Mount Titlis, a unique glacier paradise and we were able to enjoy panaromic views of 10000 feet above sea level. ( I decided to type it in feet because the numbers look so much more daunting). Again, we had to overcome our fear of the extreme cold, and braced ourselves for yet another cold wintry, and snowy day up the mountains.

Here are more pictures of the scenery in Switzerland.

The next day we travelled to Luzern which is situated in Central Switzerland, and visited the Lion Monument that is carved from a limestone cliff to commemorate the bravery of Swiss Guards during the French Revolution.

We also went to the Bucherer’s Shop which consists of a 5 storey building selling watches, Swiss knives and other Swiss souvenirs. I specially loved those Cuckoo clocks. I bought a CK watch there, and it wasnt cheap. But well, since we came all the way from the other side of the world, where Swiss watches are even more expensive, I guess it was rather worth it to get one in Switzerland.

And that concludes our Switzerland tour. I learnt a lot about Switzerland in my Social Studies textbook in school because there are lots of similarities between Switzerland and Singapore. Both countries are very small, surrounded by bigger countries. Both countries have few natural resources, and depend on human resources to keep the economy moving. Both are multi-ethnic societies, and racial harmony is the key to maintaining peace and prosperity in the country. But when I went to Switzerland, I learnt so much more about this wonderful place. It is b    not just a place blessed with natural beauty, it is also a place full of colourful traditions, a place where time seems to stand still, and people seem to appreciate every taste of life.

The next day, we travelled out of the western part of Italy and headed towards Northeast, where Venice is. Venice is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it is a must to visit this city when you are in Italy, firstly because its a wonderful place, and secondly, its sinking at a very fast pace, so within the next century, Venice may vanish from the surface of the earth. Venice has been known as the “La Dominante”, “Serenissima”, “Queen of the Adriatic”, “City of Water”, “City of Masks”, “City of Bridges”, “The Floating City”, and “City of Canals”. Indeed, when we reached the city, I could not believe what I saw. Rows and rows of canals flanked by beautiful buildings on both sides, and striking gondolas stay parked on the shores of the city. It was a fabulous sight. Although it was a very cold day, with temperatures dipping to below 3 degrees in the morning, it was a great walk along the shores of the city, while taking in all the amazing sights. Our first visit on the island was St Mark’s Square, which is bordered by Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Basilica, the Campanile and other government buildings. What struck me most was how some buildings were standing slanted at an angle just like the Leaning Tower of Pisa, but just not as bad, like the Piazza San Marco. Our local tour guide told us that because Venice is sinking, and the ground is soft, many of the buildings are slowly tilting at an angle, some dangerously, and so many of them are undergoing renovations to improve the structure and prevent further tilting. I really hope they can succeed in preserving these buildings and not having to tear down the buildings due to safety reasons, because what I saw was buildings more than 5 centuries ago.

This is a view of view of San Giorgio Maggiore Island, off the shores of Venice.

We also visited the Bridge of Signs. It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the old prisons to the interrogation rooms in the Doge’s Palace. It was designed by Antoni Contino (whose uncleAntonio da Ponte had designed the Rialto Bridge), and built in 1602. I however do not really see what is so unique about the bridge which lures so many tourists around that spot when I was there, nevertheless it was good for some photos. Maybe there is some important history surrounding the bridge and the buildings it connects. Prisons. Duh.

I was rather disappointed with the pictures I took this round in Italy because most of the time the weather was so gloomy, the pictures produced were not good enough, but the buildings really saved the pictures. So gorgeous and elegant. After a tour of the church, we made our way to the glass-blowing factory to learn how richly coloured Venetian glass were being made to world-standard. Then we hopped onto a gondola to tour the canals.

And that concludes my trip to Venice. Next, we travelled northwards towards Milan, the fashion capital of Italy, and arguably, the world. Milan is ranked by GaWC as an Alpha world city in 2010, as well as the 42nd most important global city. An important centre of the international arts and musical scene, the city holds several renowned institutions, theatres and museums, as well as important monuments. Milan also hosts several important events and fairs, including Milan Fashion Week, and will host the 2015 Universal Exposition. The city is also home to two renowned football teams, A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano. Our visit to Milan was a short one though, as it was just a stop for our shopaholic mums and sisters who were keen to lay their hands on all the bags of the famous brands at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II like LV, Prada, Chanel and the list goes on and on, and the men will keep watch by standing at the door of the shops while looking on, often glumly. Well, shopping just isnt for men. And what a harvest! Off we went back to our hotel with our shopping bags.

And this is the end of our trip to Italy. In my next post, I will post about my trip to Switzerland as well as France. The next post will have a much more Christmassy feel to it, which sadly, is over, and even the new year is over. Gosh, I think my post about my trip to Europe is a little bit too late! Never mind, I shall carry on with my journey in Europe after my trip to Korea, which is just this Tuesday. I really cant wait, because Seoul is my favourite city in Asia. Goodbye Singapore. Off I fly to another winter wonderland!

Credits: wikipedia

My trip to Rome did not get off to a very peaceful start. My plane was delayed almost 3 hours due to technical faults in the aircraft which resulted in the inability to switch off cabin lights during landing and take-off. We were stuck in the plane as technicians frantically tried to sort out the problems. When all of us thought everything was alright when the technicians left the aircraft, and we were informed about the take-off, the problem resurfaced again. After what seemed like eternity we finally left Singapore with a sign of relief.

Day 2. It was a pretty mild day for a winter morning, with temperatures hovering around 10C. We touched down at the airport, met our tour guide and made our way towards our coach, which brought us to the first stop of our tour in Rome, St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

I was awed beyond words when we dropped off to take in the sights of the amazing place. Vatican City is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares, and a population of just over 800. This makes Vatican City the smallest independent state in the world by area, and also the world’s least populated. I also saw the Apostolic Palace and the surrounding St Peter’s Square.

Next we left for Colosseum, one of the most magnificent monuments of ancient Rome. Built in 72AD, it once used to seat 50 000 spectators and was the chief circus of the Roman Empire, where gladiatorial battles and other cruel glories were held.

The thought of standing right in front of a 2000 year old building struck me hard. I live in a very young and modern city, so I do not have any idea whats the feeling like to live in a historic city, and that very day I suddenly felt vulnerable amidst those precious structures that withstood thousands of years of wind and rain. We then proceeded to Trevi Fountain, which was one of the main filming sites of “triumph in the Skies”. And I saw many people making wishes by tossing coins into the fountain. I did not get to toss one into the fountain though. It was packed with tourists and locals.

After our tour around Rome, the next city on our itinerary was Florence. Florence  is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area. We viewed the entire Florence from the hill, and although the weather wasn’t good, it was still a breathtaking sight.

Next, it was time for us to explore the city. We made a photo stop at Ponte Vecchio, a historic bridge with a superb view of River Arno, which runs along the entire city.

We also had a tour around Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, the 3rd largest cathedral in the Catholic world. And although it is not as majestic as the St Peter’s Basilica, the architecture was simply stunning.

Next, we went for some shopping and sight-seeing along the most fashionable and high-end street for the well-heeled,  Via de’ Tornabuoni, and its the place where major luxury fashion houses and jewelry labels, such as Armani and Bulgari, have their elegant boutiques.

Our last stop was Piazza della Signoria, which is a lordship square, which houses many sculptures by famous Italian sculptors including a copy of Michelangelo’s ‘David’ statue. It is a site important for being the centre of Florence’s civil life and government for centuries. It is still home of the municipal government today.

The clock tower seen above is the Palazzo Vecchio. It is the town hall of Florence, Italy. This massive, Romanesque, crenellated fortress-palace is among the most impressive town halls of Tuscany. Overlooking the Piazza della Signoria, it is one of the most significant public places in Italy. And when night falls, the entire plaza is transformed into a magical land where tourists gather for pictures, and locals bring their dogs out for walks, and couples sit along sidewalks for candle-light dinners. So picturesque.

I shall continue my journey through Europe in my next post, where I travelled to Pisa and Venice!

As you walk down the street, you will notice the entire road decked in white and blue, with flowers in the tropics theme. Paragon is also very beautiful with a huge tree outside its entrance. Sadly, H&M which just opened its doors to much fanfare last month does not have any christmas decorations. Maybe its still new, and I guess we have to wait till next year before we get to see something different.

I was really impressed with Orchard Central’s decorations this year. It looks simple, yet it has that fairytale theme to it, and it really blends well with the entrance of the shopping centre.

I am trying to immerse myself as much as possible into the christmas spirit here as much as possible because I will not be spending most of my christmas weeks in Singapore. The 2nd half of December will be spent in Europe, which I believe will have a much more authentic christmas spirit in the air. However, I was looking at weather forecast for those countries I will be visiting and it seems like this year’s winter is going to be a mild one. Not that I am hoping for extreme winter but I would definitely hope for some snowfall at least, since I have since snow but not a snowfall before, and I was really hoping that I can catch one in Europe or Korea this winter. I am betting my chances on Switzerland, which is much colder, and the weather forecast next week to be snowing at the places where I will be going in Switzerland. But on the day I arrive in Rome, temperatures in Interlaken is predicted to be about 8C, so the snow would have melt by then. URGH. Maybe I will wait till my korea trip to see my first snowfall then.

Well I am ready for my Europe trip, and I am just praying there will be some snowfall when I am there. Christmas 2011 is going to be a very eventful and memorable one for me because I will be getting my best christmas present ever, and that is my PINK IC. Yes, I am finally leaving the army, and become a citizen once again. When I get my pink IC this Friday, I will finally be able to rid myself of the troubles and worries from camp, and become a normal citizen, while looking forward to my tertiary education next year. Its the best christmas present and new year present for me, with a new chapter of my life awaiting me. Of course, the next important date of my life would be my birthday next year, when I turn 21. Great series of events for me. I really can’t wait.

One of the current popular tourist attractions on the island is Chek Jawa. A previous coral reef 5,000 years ago, Chek Jawa can be said to be virtually unspoilt, with a variety of marine wildlife comparable to other islands, such as sea hares, sea squirts, octopuses, starfishes,sand dollars, fishes, sponges, cuttlefishes and nudibranches.

Visitors may travel to Pulau Ubin from the main island of Singapore via a 10-minute bumboat ride from the Changi Village jetty. One-way ticket to Pulau Ubin cost $2.50 and so a trip to the island will cost you $5. People who do not want to wait can pay S$30.00 for the whole bumboat and leave without waiting. The rental price for bicycles range anywhere from S$2.00 to S$20.00 (for the entire day) depending on the condition of the bike, number of gears etc.

I was awed by the awesome scenery at Chek Jawa which we can hardly find in any heavily urbanised areas in Singapore. The serenity and beauty of the island captured me like what it did to hundreds of villagers who moved to the island from mainland many years ago. The virtually untouched nature struck me the most, and it really occured to me how well-preserved Pulau Ubin is, and efforts taken to keep the place as natural as possible, giving visitors like us a glimpse of what nature is like. I was indeed mesmerised by the blue skies, blue seas, lush forests, and the wonderful call of nature. Of course, the occasional rumbling sounds of the aeroplanes in the sky flying towards Changi Airport do irritate you a little, but hey, how often do you get to see so many different planes flying in the sky, without making as much sounds as when you notice them when you are at the airport?

I believe the best point on the island is near Chek Jawa, at the place where my friends and I were resting for some time. It was the place where we could see the past behind us, and how it connects us to the present, and how we are able to see the future.The past represents Pulau Ubin, and the ferries connects us to present mainland, and the Marina Bay skyline we could see in the distance represents the future Singaporeans are building right now. What a great day indeed.

Credits: wikipedia

Famosa chicken rice balls

Malacca’s Chinatown has a famous chicken rice stall called the Famosa Chicken Rice Stall (古城鸡饭粒). The rice does not taste as good as we thought. But the kampong chicken which we ordered was delicious. There is another chicken rice ball stall in Chinatown, called HeJi Chicken Rice (和记), which some locals told us the rice balls are nicer than the Famosa ones. It was too bad we did not heed their advice and tried Famosa balls instead, which to our surprise, was not really very nice. Sadly we did not have the time to try Heji’s balls. To quote Sun Shuo after the meal, ” **** the chicken balls”. Lol!

Some of our great finds at Chinatown include Angry Bird slippers which cost RM10, equivalent to Singapore’s $4. Seriously I dont know if there is some angry bird craze going on in Malaysia or Malacca right now, but almost every street and every pasat ( markets) you go, you see Angry birds cushions, bags, slippers, soft toys and even cups! Are Malaysians being slow about the Angry Bird craze, which happened in Singapore a long time ago and did not go as crazy as what we saw in Malacca, or the craze is still happening, after so many months! Anyway, the three of us bought these cute slippers.

On the last day we visited Porta De Santiago. The Portuguese admiral, Alfonso built this for in 1511. However, this fortress was badly damaged during the Dutch invasion in 1641. Fortunately, Sir Stanford Raffles intervened in 1808 and saved what remains of Porta De Santiago today.

There is an old building at the foot of the hill, and a staircase that brings visitors up to the top, where St Paul’s Church stands. This church was an old chapel built by a Portuguese captain in 1521 called Nosa Senhora. When the Dutch took over Malacca they changed the name to St Paul’s Church and used it for 112 years. When British took over Malacca they used it to store gunpowder instead of a place of worship. From the hill, we had a good view of Malacca city and the Malacca Straits. We recommend visitors to climb the hill in the early evening before the sun sets because it may be tough for some who cannot stand the strong sun rays in the afternoon. The 3 of us managed to climb up the hill though, it was nothing for us who experienced the worst in army. (exaggerated).

Port De Santiago

St Paul's Church

View from the top of the hill

We also explored the Melaka Sultanate Palace, which is a replica of a 15th century palace in Malacca. This museum displays mainly exhibits that are related to the culture of Malacca. Visitors are not advised by me to go though, because again, this is just a replica, and it looks fake. Lucky the entrance fee is only RM 3, so if you want to go there to take pictures and look at some of the malay cultures, this is a good price. Otherwise, it is more advisable to spend time on other authentic stuff in Malacca.

Sultanate Palace

Our last place to visit on our itinerary was Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum. This was the exact loaction where Mediacorp’s Little Nyonya film was made. This building is typical of a 19th century Baroque style home of wealthy chinese families. Furnished with Chinese rosewood furniture with a mix of chinese, victorian and dutch designs, this residence has an interior which opens into a courtyard that admits sun and rain. This museum was the ancestral home of 3 generations of a Peranakan family. To learn more about Peranakan culture, google it. LOL. Anyway, since I come from a family with Peranakan background, I am naturally more interested in this culture which is more foreign to me than my cultural roots as a chinese. In the 18th century, chinese immigrants left China to seek for better lives in the southern parts of Asia, which is today’s South East Asia. Many chinese settled in what they call as “Nanyang” or 南洋, or South Ocean when directly translated to English. These Chinese marry the local malays and create a new and unique culture, called Peranakan culture, with a blend of both the indigenous  malay culture as well as the chinese culture, while embracing the western cultures. So I guess I do have some malay blood in me. The Peranakans were rich, and they were English educated and set up businesses with the Westerners. These people can be found in Malacca, Penang, Singapore and some parts of Indonesia, which were the Chinese enclaves in the 18th-19th centuries. This museum does not allow photos, so it was kind of sad as the building was so beautifully furnished and restored to its original glory. Everything inside was authentic, and had this old-world charm that I have never seen before.

Peranakan Museum from outside

This concludes the Malacca trip with my friends. While it was really tiring and shag, I really learnt a lot from this trip, and got to know cultures which are similar to Singapore’s, but different in certain aspects. This old city is filled with historical values and cultures, it makes me want to go back there and immerse myself in the retro environment. So there is going to be more visits in the future. Yeap.

From Singapore, we booked a bus from the website to our hotel, Holiday Inn, which I will give 4 out of 5 stars in Malaysia’s standards. At 8am in the morning, we set off from Boon Lay Shopping Center and headed to Malaysia through the Tuas 2nd Link, a second causeway between Malaysia and Singapore. We reached Malacca at about 12noon and went for lunch at nearby Mahkota Parade Shopping Center before checking in at our hotel. Our hotel room had an amazing view of the Malacca Straits, although the sea was murky brown, there was this tranquil feeling you get which is very different from the seas you see in Singapore which is bustling with activities with all the ships and container vessels plying the Singapore Straits route. We started exploring the city in the afternoon, and visited the Christ Church.

 Christ Church is an 18th century Protestant church in the Dutch Square. It is the oldest functioning Protestant church in Malaysia and was built by the Dutch in the 18th Century.

We proceeded to the Maritime Museum which is housed in a replica of the Flor de la Mar, a Portuguese vessel that sank off the coast of Malacca. Inside the museum are models of ships, authentic maps, charts and old iron chests that were once used to store precious cargo. However, while the entrance fee is cheap, I believe it is not worth the time to visit this museum, which somewhat looks fake and uninviting.

Maritime Museum

Unfortunately, we got caught in the Malacca thunderstorm, and we ran for cover while waiting out in the rain. The rain did stop for a little while and we quickly purchased tickets for the Melaka River Cruise.
It was only when we boarded the cruise that the rain suddenly poured again, and we got totally wet from the whole trip down the Melaka River. This 45 minute cruise passes through the downtown area where we could see old warehouses, shophouses, bridges and kampong villages.For those of you who do not like architecture or do not enjoy seeing old buildings, this cruise is not for you because you will end up like Lin Yi, who fell asleep halfway through the cruise down the river.

Malacca River Cruise

After the wet experience, we walked to Jonker Street, Malacca’s Chinatown which is interspersed with antique shops selling an interesting array of authentic artefacts and relics. Some buildings date as far back as 300 years and can be found among continuous rows of shophouses. After exploring Malacca’s Chinatown, it made me realise how Singapore’s Chinatown cannot be compared to this centuries-old ethnic enclave, where the buildings are left how they were like hundreds of years ago, and restored to their original glory when some were getting old and falling into disrepair. While walking I also realised, when Malacca is hot, it is incredibly hot, much hotter than Singapore because it does not have the trees on the sidewalks that act as shelters from the scorching sun, but when it is raining, it gets really cold because the wind blows from the sea, and it really send chills down your spine. That day was a great day because the weather was great after a intense downpour. Walking along the historic streets of Malacca was a real treat.

许氏宗祠，马六甲 （Xu Family Clan Home in Chinatown)

Another interesting attraction is Kampong Kling Mosque, which was built in 1748. It is a Sumatran Mosque with strong Hindu influences, evident in the minaret which resembles a pagoda. There is also an unusual blend of English and Portuguese glazed tiles and corinthian columns. There is also a Victorian chandelier, and wooden pulpit with Hindu and Chinese-style carvings, reflecting the multi-cultural influences evident in the 18th century Malacca.

Kampong Kling Mosque

I believed after the whole trip Lin Yi Sun Shuo and I walked more than 20km of road looking for food, museums, attractions and seeking shelter from scorching sun and poruing rain, and shopping in their super large shopping centers.

A cultural and architectural icon in Singapore, the Museum hosts vibrant festivals and events all year round – the dynamic Night Festival, visually arresting art installations, as well as amazing performances and film screenings – in addition to presenting lauded exhibitions and precious artefacts. The programming is supported by a wide range of facilities and services including F&B, retail and a Resource Centre. The National Museum of Singapore re-opened in December 2006 after a three-year redevelopment.

There is a permanent exhibition which is the Singapore’s History Museum. Since I am an NSF, its free entry. So I recommend NSFs to go to museums before you ORD since its free. What is better than taking advantage of having an 11B? The exhibition of Singapore’s history is visually appealing, and I was able to listen to Singapore’s history in ‘Companion’, a portable multimedia handheld listening device which will explain to you the different exhibits as you move around. I felt so high-tech when using the device, although it is kind of big. 

Credits: http://www.nationalmuseum.sg