The main trading hub of Kampung Pantai has a more wider road in old Malacca.The early Chinese immigrant chosed this point which was just beside the Malacca River and very near to the Straits of Malacca for easy transport of goods and services to other countries.
Most of the merchants were rice dealers and general merchandised traders where trading with mainland China has already started as early as the 18th century since most of the Chinese people here has their roots in Fujian,Guangdong and Hainan Provinces in China.
I should say Malacca is the only state to have the longest established relationship with China.
Despite the authorities preventing Chinese citizens below aged 55 to visit China till late 1989,the local Chinese communal associations played a vital role in the process of communications linkage.
The taxi in the photo is travelling towards Jonker Walk which was just a short distance away.
You can see some of the old traditional businesses that still existed along the small lanes.
The olden days Chinese owned shoplots building are quite similar to those in Cholon(Ho Chi Minh City) and Thonburi(Bangkok)
They used to have an attic in the building.
Admiral Cheng Ho arrival: China had been warring with the Siamese over the control of the Straits for a number of years and sought to hold the position in Malacca to control the trading route.
The emperor sent Cheng Ho to bestow upon Parameswara - two silver robes, a mandarin's hat, a girdle of office, and an embroidered silk robe.
Parameswara in return,presented the Emperor with a pair of spectacles. That was the introduction of spectacles to the Chinese.
The Emperor proclaimed Parameswara as the ruler of Malacca and declared that it was a city-state under the protection of the Emperor of China and paid homage to the Ming throne.
With the Chinese securing the trading routes and its special interest in developing Malacca as its regional warehouse for trading of goods, Malacca claimed its position as an entreport.
Malacca was successful because its own Malay traders traveled and traded with the rest of the archipelago bartering with Indian textiles from Gujarati in return for spices, aromatic woods, sea produce and other tropical exotic items highly prized by traders from the East and West.
Kampung Pantai is centrally located in the heart of old Malacca and each and every of the UNESCO heritage sites are all within walking distances.
Areas around here have the most guesthouses.
Malaccan has a good culture of hospitality and will be very happy to greet visitors.
Roof Top Guesthouse located at No:39,Kampung Pantai is one of the gueshouse in the vicinity with a room rate from MYR22.00(USD7) onwards. Raymond and Mani will be on hand to assist all visitors ensuring that everyone will have a memorable and happy stay while in Malacca.
River One Guesthouse is just across Roof Top occupying two shoplots which were formerly a textile company and the back of the building is the Malacca River.
William is the manager here with his excellent public relationship and the interior settings are very cosy while room rates are from MYR15 onwards.
Just in case you did not make a booking,give a call at +6(016) 6846616.
Heading out of Kampung Pantai after the bridge,towards the left is Jalan Bunga Raya and the Chinatown area while the right goes to Melaka Raya and the Dutch Square.
Jalan Bendahara(old name Wolfeston Road) was the main arterial road during olden days where you have the Little India of Malacca where you can try Indian cuisine like the famous banana-leaf rice and tandoori.You'll sure love it.
Walking further straight ahead from the Kampung Pantai bridge is Jalan Temenggong,(old name Egerton Road or Mill Road) which is near Bukit China hill and the Sam Po Kong Temple.
There were so many Indian shops milling curry powders at that time,and that's where the British named it.The oldest market in town is here also.I spent my childhood days at Egerton Road.
Behind Kampung Pantai is the Jonker Walk where you can find antiques shops,souvenirs,restaurants and many Chinese clans associations with their superb colonial style buildings.
This arch here is the end part of Jonker Walk just beside the Tamil Catholic Church.
Keeping to your right will be Jalan Kubu and heading to nearby Tesco,old bus terminal and turn back to town.
The left turn will lead to Tranquerah Road along the coastal stretch but unfortunately coastal land refill and reclamation has spoilt the beauty of this section.
At this corner on the left is a small coffee shop and the wonton noodles taste lovely as it was a recipe pass down from generations.
Jonker Walk is also beside the oldest Chinese temple in Malacca.The locals called it Kwan Yin Teng(Cheng Hoon Teng)
Cheng Hoon Teng was founded in the 1600s by the Chinese Kapitan Tay Kie Ki alias Tay Hong Yong.
During the Portuguese and Dutch eras, Kapitans were appointed chiefs or headmen of the various ethnic communities.
In its early years, besides serving the community's religious needs, the temple also functioned as the official administrative center and a court of justice for the Kapitans.
Just as you were to exit from Kampong Pantei after the bridge right at the corner is Discovery Cafe & Guesthouse.
The room rates are as follows:
Dormitory RM 17 (aircond with lockers)
2 Single Beds / 1 Double Bed Rooms =RM 40.00 (Fan) ,RM 50.00 (Air/Condition)
Double Room with Attached Bathroom = RM 60.00 Triple Room (1 Double + 1 Single Bed), RM 70.00 Air-Condition
Triple Room with Attached Bathroom (1 Double + 1 Single Bed), Air-Conditioned = RM 90/=
Quad Room( 4 Single Beds), RM 90/= A/Condition Extra Mattress = RM 15.00 Each.
The room rates are as follows:
Dormitory RM 17 (aircond with lockers)
2 Single Beds / 1 Double Bed Rooms =RM 40.00 (Fan) ,RM 50.00 (Air/Condition)
Double Room with Attached Bathroom = RM 60.00 Triple Room (1 Double + 1 Single Bed), RM 70.00 Air-Condition
Triple Room with Attached Bathroom (1 Double + 1 Single Bed), Air-Conditioned = RM 90/=
Quad Room( 4 Single Beds), RM 90/= A/Condition Extra Mattress = RM 15.00 Each.
Contact person:-Mr. Teng : 012 – 6835606
Guest-House : 06 - 2925606
At the end of Jalan Temenggong(Egerton Road) is a small roundabout near the Japanese Occupation Memorial Monument which is also beside the Sam Po Kong Temple.
Herein lies the Princess Hang Li Po's well at the foothill of Bukit China.
This is one of the 7 wells of Admiral Cheng Ho.The Seven Wells are also known as the Dragon's wells according to Feng Shui principles.
The local government bulldozed some of these wells during the 1950-60s on the pretext of road building.
To-date only three wells are left intact and they have never been dry even through the worst of drought. An evening walk up the Bukit China hill to the highest point can be breathtaking to have a panoramic view of Malacca and watch the evening sunset in the horizon.
This hill is the biggest and oldest chinese cemetery outside China and the locals used to jog around here ever since when the nearby seaside has been reclaimed and developed.
The path beside the Sam Po's temple has a gentle gradient and near the peak.
Some guesthouse nearby:
The Eastern Heritage Guesthouse at No:8,Jalan Bukit China is a baba and nyonya owner.The interior woodcraft and mother pearls furnishing were imported from Holland.
Old Town Guesthouse along No:119,Jalan Temenggong.
Malacca in the early 1960 was faced with the great flood when the Malacca River overflowed.
It went to the extent of rising nearly half of the shop front.
This old photo was taken along Jalan Bunga Raya,the main shopping and entertainment area those days.
Now you have the Chinatown as an added attraction. Tai Chong Restaurant Ice Cafe is the only western style cafe that have existed since colonial days and still remained as it is. BATA shoes is the only branded footwear and every school going students will never missed this brand, in fact there were no other competitors at that time.
At the end of Jalan Temenggong(Egerton Road) is a small roundabout near the Japanese Occupation Memorial Monument which is also beside the Sam Po Kong Temple.
Herein lies the Princess Hang Li Po's well at the foothill of Bukit China.
This is one of the 7 wells of Admiral Cheng Ho.The Seven Wells are also known as the Dragon's wells according to Feng Shui principles.
The local government bulldozed some of these wells during the 1950-60s on the pretext of road building.
To-date only three wells are left intact and they have never been dry even through the worst of drought. An evening walk up the Bukit China hill to the highest point can be breathtaking to have a panoramic view of Malacca and watch the evening sunset in the horizon.
This hill is the biggest and oldest chinese cemetery outside China and the locals used to jog around here ever since when the nearby seaside has been reclaimed and developed.
The path beside the Sam Po's temple has a gentle gradient and near the peak.
Some guesthouse nearby:
The Eastern Heritage Guesthouse at No:8,Jalan Bukit China is a baba and nyonya owner.The interior woodcraft and mother pearls furnishing were imported from Holland.
Old Town Guesthouse along No:119,Jalan Temenggong.
Malacca in the early 1960 was faced with the great flood when the Malacca River overflowed.
It went to the extent of rising nearly half of the shop front.
This old photo was taken along Jalan Bunga Raya,the main shopping and entertainment area those days.
Now you have the Chinatown as an added attraction. Tai Chong Restaurant Ice Cafe is the only western style cafe that have existed since colonial days and still remained as it is. BATA shoes is the only branded footwear and every school going students will never missed this brand, in fact there were no other competitors at that time.
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