The idea for the morning was to start early before it gets too hot with a walk up St Paul’s Hill. But with a windowless room I didn’t get out there till 0930 which is still good as the crowds hadn’t appeared yet.
So I walked from Porta de Santiago up to St Paul’s Hill to the site of the old Portuguese church St Paul’s (later used by the Dutch before they built their own and then used as an ammunition store by the British). Then I came back down to the Christ Church (the Dutch-built church) and Stadhuys area. I vaguely recall that during my last visit over a decade ago, things were very un-touristy. I don’t recall even being able to walk up St Paul’s Hill.
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- Porta de Santiago, built by the Portuguese after Melaka fell into their hands in 1511.
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- Hey you Catholics out there! Has there been a new “Our Lady”? Maybe she was a language teacher. I always thought it was Annunciation but now we have Enunciation.
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- Church of the Annunciation which later became St Paul’s.
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- Dutch gravestones in the Church of the Annunciation which later became St Paul’s.
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- History of St Paul’s. Church of the Annunciation which later became St Paul’s.
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- Church of the Annunciation which later became St Paul’s. What did St Paul do to have his hand cut off? Stealing?
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- Christ Church, built by the Portuguese.
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- Christ Church, built by the Portuguese and the clock tower.
I crossed the bridge to Jonker St and Heeren St (now known by their new names). Both are very atmospheric but a lot less so than I remember. It was time for me to have breakfast but the stalls weren’t ready yet. At this time in Kuching, things would have sold out by now!
So I killed some time, had some fishy assam laksa for breakfast before visiting the Nyonya Baba Museum. I enjoyed it very much last time as it reflects my heritage. So it was worthwhile for me to repeat the visit.
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- Mansion on Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (formerly Heeren St).
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- Shophouses on Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (formerly Heeren St).
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- On Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (formerly Heeren St).
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- Melaka River.
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- Love them or hate them, these rickshaws roam Melaka with loud booming music.
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- Love them or hate them, these rickshaws roam Melaka with loud booming music.
I squeezed in a light lunch somewhat prematurely before retiring in my room. As the hotel is fairly close to the council pool, I went to do some laps, 1km, actually. It’s less than my usual 1.5km but after a lapse of two months, my arms were killing me after about 0.5km. After doing some fortnightly admin on the internet, it was time for dinner.
I elected to go to a Nyonya restaurant called Banya next to the hotel. I had wanted to go earlier but with sightseeing and my body clock, I had ended up eating elsewhere so far. I had been severely disappointed with the Nyonya food I’ve had so far in Melaka. I feel in a position to comment as the Nyonya cuisine here is like what my Mum cooks (rather different from Penang Nyonya).
The two meals which I had tried were like poor imitations for Europeans who didn’t know any better. I could have done a better job. So tonight’s dinner at Banya turned out to be extremely good. I had the Ayam Buah Keluak which had a more sour flavour than Mum’s. I complemented it with Eggplant in Chilli-Salt sauce (not too different from a sambal really). I regret not having eaten every meal there! I vowed to eat every remaining meal at Banya.