Tag: heritage

Hotel Puri Melaka

I stayed at Hotel Puri in Melaka twice. It is converted from an old shop house which was characteristically long and deep. Hotel Puri is one of several so-called heritage hotels in Melaka set in a restored Peranakan townhouse. It is a boutique hotel with beautiful antique fittings and modern conveniences in the room. There’s wi-fi and bedside power outlets to power or charge multiple devices. You’ll appreciate that when you need to charge two or three camera batteries sequentially, overnight. Many hotels, including new ones, still have the AC socket far from the bed.

Book Hotek Puri at a low price here.

What I really like is its location on ancient Heeren Street (renamed as Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock). Such a strategic take-off point for exploring the historical city by foot. Jonker Street is just behind. Other landmarks such as the as the nearly 400 year old Cheng Hoon Teng Temple and the 300 year old Kampung Kling Mosque (lower right pic) are nearby.

Across the street from Horel Puri is the vintage Chee Mansion, (upper right pic) a house belonging to tycoon and philanthropist Chee Swee Cheng, the first chairman of OCBC Bank, who built it in memory of his father.

Houses belonging to then wealthy Straits Chinese and Peranakan people incorporated Anglo-Indian, Straits eclectic and Malay architectural styles. This mansion featured a European-style watchtower above its roof.

During its time, properties were taxed according to width. As such, owners built deeper with some of the houses and townhouses stretched over 200 feet.

The lobby is photogenic too. Shown here photographed from the wooden corridor upstairs. (upper left pic)

Have buffet breakfast in the longish court yard and under the air well inside  Hotel Puri  (lower left pic)

Many people visit Malacca the UNESCO World Heritage City but don’t want to stay in a heritage hotel because they are also boutique hotels and are perceived as expensive. Many are but this one is relatively affordable when booked through MyCen Hotels

Book Hotek Puri at a low price here.

Find over 490 Hotels in Malacca city here

Address: 118 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, (Heeren Street), Melaka City, 75200 Malacca

#melaka #malacca #heritagehotels #history #peraknakan #vintage

Masjid Kampung Kling

This ancient mosque bears testament to the rich multi-cultural roots of Malacca. Its architecture design incorporates Chinese, Hindu, Indonesian and Malay elements. The minaret resembles a pagoda and there are European Corinthian columns and Moorish arches inside. It was originally built by Indian Muslim traders in 1748.

The landmark in the UNESCO World Heritage Site is difficult to photograph as it is surrounded by criss-crossing utility cables. Nevertheless; on a gorgeous morning, the mosque stands as glorious as its past.

Olympus OM-D, ISO 200, f11, 1/1000 sec.

#heritage #history #landmark #melaka #malacca #mosque #tbt #masjidkampungkling

The Quintessential Small Town Coffee Shop

A sepia rendition of an old kopitiam in Main Street, Behrang. This is a typical coffee shop found on many one-street towns along the ‘old road’ or Federal Route 1.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f6.3, 1/250 sec.

Sun Setting On A Rest House

The Tanjung Malim Rest House stands like a crumbling monument to an era long gone. There used to be a rest house in every town but only a few have survived or are still operating. Government rest houses are now mostly a British colonial day relic left abandoned and to fade away silently.

This one is unique as it is one of few with the original design from more than a 100 years ago. One of the last caretakers was a Hainanese. Not surprisingly, the rest house was well-known for the food he served.

During its glory days, this rest house not only served as a hotel (or motel) but also as a popular dining venue for royalty, other VIPs and room guests.

Now, the wooden structure is rotting away, the fittings stripped bare and creepers are encircling it in a slow strangle of death. Only thing that will probably remain is the eponymous Rest House Road it stands on.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f11, 1/320 sec.

Kaki Lima

The five-foot-way or ‘kaki lima’ is a colonial legacy from the time when front of shops were required by law to have a 5-foot wide walkway. The practical and functional architectural design element lives on in the old shops of Tanjung Malim and many other places.

According to Wikipedia, the requirement was first specified in the Stamford Raffles Town Act of 1822 for Singapore. It applied also to Malaya and Brunei.

I think is quite a brilliant design as the overhanging top floor acts as a shelter or shade for window shoppers. Together with classic columns and arches, the shady walkways appear like a long tunnel or corridor to the camera.

Saw this girl gulping milk on the five-foot-way from afar. When I got near, I found out her parents are trading in one of the shops. I asked her father if it is normal to drink milk so fast and furious. He said is normal. Gulps.

Anyway, I like how she multi-tasked by posing, smiling and drinking at the same time.

Happy Mother’s Day, all.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 200, f4, 1/250 sec.