The Malay and Islamic World Museum

A place to visit.

St. John Fort, Malacca

In 1760, the Dutch built a fortress on top of the hill to avoid assaults from the Achene's and Bugis who came from the south.

An army was stationed here to detect any possible attack.

Therefore, cannons facing the sea and land were placed around the fort.

LOVERS & MOUNTAINS; GARAJONAY PARK, LA GOMERA & MOUNT OPHIR, NEAR MALACCA

PARAJONAY PARK

Jeep owners in Egypt converged often in a cafe in Cairo along the Alexandria Highway near the Pyramids.

Jeep owners had trekked the Garajonay Park housing some of the world's oldest woodland, the laurisilva plant being at least 28 million years old and marked Christopher Columbus's stopover on the island in 1491.

La Gomera is just a short ferry trip from Tenerife and it is an unpredicable island, with the Jeep braving landslides, trade winds and ride floods.

La Gomera is the second smallest of the Canary Islands, with a plateau at its centre of a diameter of 23 miles. The demanding bends, the spirals of gradients, the gaping ravines is a good test for the Jeeps. For those who suffer vertigo, this is not the correct place although La Gomera is magical and beautiful.

Garajonay Park is a national park, declared a world heritage site by Unesco. Like the legend of the Princess of Mount Ledang, in Asahan, Malacca; the name Garajonay, so the legend has it, comes from 2 lovers called Gara and Jonay.

The couple threw themselves off the park's highest peak because their marriage was opposed.

The light changes with every bends, one moment you see the sun but the next it disperses, clouds appears there and then with sudden rain and stop abruptly. With strong winds, the sun, clouds, the rain and the fog teases you.

You will get worried one minute, happy the next and then worried again.

MOUNT OPHIR

Leave your luggages in your hotel in Malacca. Enjoy a countryside ride to Mount Ophir. Return to your hotel in the evening on the same day or if you prefer, stay a night at the foothill of Gunung Ledang and return to your hotel in Malacca the next day.

Mount Ophir or Gunung Ledang is near to Malacca with a driving distance of about 1 hour. The gateway to Mount Ophir or Gunung Ledang is  Duyong. Duyong is the home to the legendary Hang Tuah.

Turning left after completing the main road of Duyong, Tehel is a place for delicious durians. After Tehel, you will reach Benbam. From Benbam, you must continue your journey until you arrive at Jasin. When Jasin's roundabout appears, take the road on your right to proceed to Tangkak. Look far towards your left when you are at the first traffic-light junction at Tangkak and you will see Mount Ophir or Gunung Ledang.

The Chinese called Mount Ophir 'Kim Sua' in Hokkien dialect. The Malays called Mount Ophir 'Gunung Ledang' which means 'mount from afar'. Many know the 'Kim Sua' is magical. There are facts that lottery jackpots came from tickets of the 'Kim Sua' areas.

The Princess of Mount Ophir has set 7 conditions for the Sultan who love her. Eventually, the Princess married Ragam, whose boat was crushed during a raging storm and the debris of the wreck created Hanyut Island, Nangka Island, Undan Island, Serimbun Island, Burong Island while the Princess is today Pulau Besar. Pulau Besar has got the shape of a lady.

Cross On Shells

Rare crab re-appears in Malacca

Saint Francis Xavier was buried in St. Paul's church in Malacca in 1553.

Before Saint Francis Xavier reached the shores in Malacca, there was a ragging storm and he dipped his crucifix into the sea and prayed to God to calm the storm. The crucifix slipped from his grip and fell into the sea and he prayed that it could be returned to him.

On arrival at the shores of Malacca, he saw the crucifix in between the claws of the crabs. He retrieved the crucifix and a sign of the Cross appeared on the crab's shell after he blessed it.

These crabs re-surfaced again in Malacca after half a century.

MELAKA: ST. PAUL'S CHURCH

St. Paul's Church


This church was originally a small chapel built by Portuguese captain called Duarto Coelho in 1521 A.D. and called "Nosa Senhora - Our Lady of the Hill".

The chapel was handed over to the "Society of Jesus" in 1548 and enlarged in 1556 with the addition of a second storey and renamed "Annunciation". A tower was added in 1950.


When the Dutch took over Malacca from the Portuguese, they changed its name to St. Paul's Church and used it for 112 years until their own church, the Christ Church was completed in 1753.

St. Paul's Church lost its tower when the British took over but had one new feature added to it - the lighthouse at the front of the church.

The British however did not use the church for worship but used it for the storage of gunpowder. They also erected a tall flagpole and renamed the hill on which the church is sited to Flagstaff Hill (Bukit Bendera).

The name however did not last. The flagpole was later taken down and the church abandoned. Old tombstones found inside the ruins bear silent testimony to the final resting place of several Dutch and Portuguese nationals.

The reowned Spanish-born Jesuit missionary, St. Francis Xavier was a regular visitor to this church from 1545 to 1552 and when he died, his body was interred here for nine months before being exhumed and taken to his final resting place in Goa, India.

A statue of St. Francis was built in 1952 to commerate his passing and internment here. The St. Paul's Church ruins were gazetted as an old monument and historical site under the Antiquities Act No 168/1976 on 12th May 1977.

MELAKA: SAINT LAWRENCE'S CHAPEL

These remnant of building structure were identified as the ruins of Rosary Chapel or 'Capela Ermida de Rosario' which was built in the year 1700.

This Catholic Chapel was built as a substitute to the Saint Lorenzo or Saint Lawrence's Chapel which was constructed on this site in the 16th century.

The Saint Lawrence's Chapel is an epitome of the Portugese chapels that were biult outside the Malacca Fort (Fortaleza de Malacca).

Apart from the chapels, the Portugese have also built convents, stronghold as well as residential buildings outside the city walls.

These buildings were built in Bukit China, Bukit Pipi (Bukit Senjuang or Saint John's Hill) as well as within the proximity of docking yards along the river of Malacca, such as this particular site.

The dimension and design of this chapel is believed to have been similar to Saint Francis's Chapel in Tranquera or Tengkera, and this Saint Francis's Chapel has also been evacuated.

The roles and functions of the Rosary Chapel started to decline following the completion of Saint Peter's Church in the year 1710 some hundred metres away from this site.

This was made more obvious with the declaration of Saint Peter's Church as the official main church in Malacca.

The Rosary Chapel was still in use, though not as much as it used to be, until the end of the 19th century when it was abandoned, left to decay and eventually crumbled.

It is such a sad fate for a building that houses the tombs of Portugese dignitaries such as Emerinci de Souza, whose tombstone still remain.

MELAKA: BASTION HOUSE

Bastion House was built around 1910 and its architecture was influenced by the British. 

It bear witnessed to the historic event to proclaim the date of independence for the Federation of the Malay States on 22nd February 1956.

It was used as offices by the various private sectors (Dunlop, for example). 

However, due to its location and and historic value, The State Government of Malacca had purchased the building and converted it into The Malay and Islamic World Museum which currently collects, stores and exhibits the history and the heritage of the Malays throughout the world for the benefit of the future generations.

Within walking distance, see Bastion House first hand when you are at Dataran Pahlawan.

MELAKA: THE ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH AND ITS VICINITIES

St Xavier Church, Malacca - This picture shows you how the church and its vicinity looks like a very long time ago, how time changes its vicinities and how the place looks like now.

It was built in 1856. The feast of St. Francis Xavier falls on 3rd December each year.

First Hang Tuah Festival begins on Friday in Bandar Hilir

First Hang Tuah Festival begins on Friday in Bandar Hilir

The above picture is a bridge named after the legendary warrior, Hang Tuah during the 15th Century. Hang Tuah, is a local word that cannot be seperated from the word, Malacca.

Above the bridge, there are four dagger indigenous to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Brunei. Of historical value, the dagger of such is classified as Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Hang Tuah was saod to have dug the Hang Tuah well and it has never dried-up in the most severe of droughts. Water from this well is said to be sacred and have healing properties. Locals believed that Hang Tuah's sould which takes on the apparition of a white crocodile, dwell in the well. The present of the Hang Tuah well also give rise to the notion that Hang Tuah was from Duyong. In East Sumatera, a similar well also exist.

MELAKA GURDWARA SAHIB

Vasakhi is one of the most important event in the Sikh calendar. Under oppression by the Mughal Emperor, the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Rai gathered the Sikhs and among them baptised 5 courageous devotees who had proclaimed themself the Panj Pyare (the Five Beloved One). This served to instill the spirit of courage and strength to sacrifice. Guru Gobind Rai established the Khalsa Panth - the order of the Pure Ones. Furthermore, the Guru gave every Sikh the surname of ' Singh ' , which means ' lion ' and took the name for himself as well; from then on he was Guru Gobind Singh. Vasakhi is a three-days affair and devotees throng to the Gurdwaras (Sikh Temples) with flowers and offerings.

Gurdwara Sahib Malacca, built in 1925, serves the local Sikh families and prayers are held on every Sunday morning. Yearly barsi held for Saint Sohan Singh Ji, on or around 24th May attracts ten of thousands of Sikhs from all over the world. The original building was based on portugese architecture and now there are separate buildings housing Saint Sohan Singh complex and Dharmik Vidyala. Located in the centre of Malacca town, it is one of the significant tourist attractions. A member of this blog who is a lawyer and an ex-student of Malacca High School is active with this temple.

MELAKA: READ WHAT 3 PERSONS SAID.

Men cannot estimate the worth of Malaqa, on account of its greatness and profit . Malaqa is a city that was made for merchandise , fitter than any other in the world ; the end of monsoons and the beginning of others . Malaqa is surrounded and lies in the middle , and the trade and commerce between the different nations for a thousand leagues on every hand must come to Malaqa . . . . Whoever is lord of Malaqa has his hand on the throat of Venice .

Cortesao , 1944

On the ruins of Melaka Fort

We build the spirit of freedom

Burhanuddin al-Helmy

During the past, Malacca had been given the name of "Sleepy Hollow". This was because for many decades, there was hardly any progressive development in Malacca which had nothing tangible to offer other than a few well-knowns ruins and monuments. While at one stage of its history, the nomenclature of "Sleepy Hollow" was quite a compliment, it is no longer so at present for time had changed. - said The Honourable Tan Sri Datuk Tan Cheng Swee on April 6, 1973.

Looking for books about Malacca ? Get Reviews at Amazon.

Hang Li Poh's Well, MELAKA

King's Well or the Perigi Raja is also known as the Hang Li Poh Well. The Hang Li Poh Well was dug by an order of the Sultan Mansor Shah of Melaka during the period 1458 AD to 1477 AD. The Hang Li Poh Well is constructed specially for his wife, Hang Li Poh, a princess of an emperor in China. Melaka's relationship with China is very close since Admiral Zheng He voyages.

The water from this well was used for the daily needs of the Princess and has never gone dry even during long periods of drought.

Legend has it that if one were to drink the water of Hang Li Poh's well, then he or she will surely return to Melaka again. To return to Melaka again is a great fortune.

 

Shop and save now at amazon. More books at amazon.

Melaka - All Night Chanting at Seck Kia Eenh

A small group of Straits-Born Chinese in Melaka humbly emulate the teachings of the Lord Buddha in 1920.

In two different Chinese temples for 19 years and for another 16 years in a small wooden bungalow, Full Moon prayers, New Moon prayers and marriages ceremonies were performed.

Seck Kia Eenh means Lord Buddha's Monastery.

The late Tan Sri V.T. Sambanthan (then the Minister of Post, Works and Telecommunication) and Ungku Mohsein Bin Abdul Kadir (then Assistant Minister of Youths, Culture and Sports) witnessed the Wesak Blossoms in 1967.

Today, Seck Kia Eenh is performing the All Night Chanting from this evening 3th. September, 2011 till next morning 4th. September, 2011.

For history, click Seck Kia Eenh.
For events, click Seck Kia Eenh.



Seck Kia Eenh Buddhist, Temple 57, Gajah Berang Road, 75200 Malacca.

 

more books at amazon shop now and save at amazon

Hang Kasturi Melaka

Hang Kasturi is one of the five great warrior brothers namely Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu.

The five brothers were great warrior during the reign of the Malacca Sultanate especially during the regime Sultan Mansur Shah (1456-1477).

The courage and the strength of the five great warrior plus the wisdom of the Bendahara Tun Perak to back up and help the Malacca Sultanate to expand the Malacca Empire up as far as the Malay Archipelago and thus Malacca Empire maintained the respect of friends and foes.

In the Malay Annals (Sejarah Melayu), Hang Kasturi was set up to be the traitor for killing his brother Hang Tuah without proper investigation. Hang Tuah, was hiddened by the Prime Minister in Ulu Melaka took revenge by killing Hang Kasturi in such a big battle for being a traitor to the Sultanate.

However, based on another story known by many people, Hang Jebat was the real traitor who finally died in the arms of Hang Tuah. The structure of the tomb of Hang Kasturi was much influenced by the art and architectural from India where by there are spaces to put light around the tomb.

The tomb is staggered and it has medium site unlike other tombs that are long and considered to be holly. The tomb has been gazetted as a historic site.

 

Hang Kasturi's Mausoleum, 120 Jalan Hang Jebat, 75200 Malacca, Melaka, Malaysia

1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created

By Charles C. Mann

From the author of 1491—the best-selling study of the pre-Columbian Americas—a deeply engaging new history of the most momentous biological event since the death of the dinosaurs.

More than 200 million years ago, geological forces split apart the continents. Isolated from each other, the two halves of the world developed radically different suites of plants and animals. When Christopher Columbus set foot in the Americas, he ended that separation at a stroke. Driven by the economic goal of establishing trade with China, he accidentally set off an ecological convulsion as European vessels carried thousands of species to new homes across the oceans.

continue at amazon

MELAKA - DUTCH GOVERNORS 1641 TO 1788

1641 Johan van Twist
1642 Jeremias van Vliet
1645 Arnold de Vlaming van Oudshoorn
1646 Jan Thyssen Payart
1662 Jan van Riebeeck
1665 Balthasar Bort
1677 Jacob Joriszn. Pits
1680 Cornelius van Quaalberg
1684 Mr. Nicolaas Schagen
1685 Francois Tack
1686 Thomas Slicher
1692 Gelmer Vosburgh
1696 Govert van Hoorn
1700 Bernard Phoonsen
1704 Johan Grotenhuys
1704 Carel Bolner
1706 Pieter Rooselaar
1709 Willem Six
1711 Willem Moerman
1717 Hermanus van Suchtelen
1727 Johan Frederik Gobius
1731 Pieter Rochus Pasques de Chavonnes
1735 David Johan Bake
1736 Rogier de Laver
1743 Willem Bernard Albinus
1749 Pieter van Heemskerk
1754 Mr. Willem Dekker
1758 David Boelen
1764 Mr. Thomas Schippers
1772 Jan Crans
1776 Pierre Jean Louis de Fillietaz
1776 Pieter Gerardus de Bruijn
1788 Abraham Courperus

This is a historical record of the Dutch Governors in Melaka from the year 1641 to the year 1788. This list is a good reference for educational and historical studies.

MELAKA: WALKING DOWN MEMORY LANE

Walking down memory lane

HIDDEN away in the shadow of a massive shopping complex in Malacca is an almost forgotten part of Malaysia’s history. It is a small mosaic-covered pyramid with a large ‘M’ in the middle, and it marks the beginning of Malaysia as we know it.

know it better at The Star Online

A Short History of Malaysia

A Short History of Malaysia: Linking East and West (A Short History of Asia series)
By Virginia Matheson Hooker

The origins of Malaysia’s aboriginal peoples, the years of Western domination in the country, and the forceful political stance of its current leader are all outlined in this lively and informative account of Malaysia's history and politics. A concise and accessible look at this constantly changing country, this book is perfect for travelers, students, teachers, and businesspeople. Discussed are the major trends in its contemporary political life and the challenges the country faces in the 21st century as Malaysia serves as a model for rapid modernization. The lives of individuals from various time periods are examined to create a complete picture of Malaysia. Also included are maps and illustrations.

...find out at amazon

Crossroads: A Popular History of Malaysia and Singapore

By Jim Baker

In this fully updated, second edition of Crossroads, Jim Baker adds two new chapters that bring Malaysia and Singapore into the middle of the first decade of the 21st century. The original text (which traces the complex currents of history and politics of Malaysia and Singapore neighbours with a common past) is also revised to re-evaluate events in the context of an expanded history.

...find out more amazon

TAN CHENG LOCK

At both ends of the street
Signplates bear the name
Of an illustrious son.
His only son, too, every Baba knows,
Deserves a token somewhere,
And in their memory.



In this very street
In the lavish study
Of the most famous house
Were made and sealed
A people's fortunes,
And their fate.

by Ee Tiang Hong , Heeren Street

Cheng Lock completed his Standard VII in Malacca High School in 1899 .