Malacca

 

Today is the last day of April and it will be our final month in Malaysia before we return to Indonesia. We have made wonderful friends and had many memorable experiences here. Yesterday Sister Letty and Presdent Tan (whom you will see in subsequent pictures) accompanied us to Malacca, spelled "Melaka" here. It is only a two hour drive from KL and it is a place that I have long wanted to visit because of its importance as a strategic location along the Straits of Malacca which runs between the Malay peninusula and the island of Sumatera. For hundreds of years this was an imporant sea trade route between Asia and Europe and Africa. I won't go into the history because it is quite complicated but suffice it to say that the present population and culture are a mix of Malay, Chinese, Portugese, Dutch and Brittish influences. We also traveled here with the Brikerhoffs, who are in this picture, and who are a senior couple from Oregon serving with us in KL.

If you look closely you will see that this church was built in 1753. It is still standing and still being used as a Caltholic church. 

This building sits atop St. Paul's hill. There were several old Dutch grave markers inside. This one is marked April 1678.
We are sitting next to the river enjoying a local specialty, Cendol Melaka. It is iced coconut milk with pandan gelatin, red beans and coconut sugar. We also enjoyed the local peranakan food for lunch and dinner.
Bapa and Nyonya mean father and lady in Malay but here in Melaka they have a special cultural meaning. As the chinese married the local malay people these families became known as Bapa Nyonya families. The window where Cheri is standing is actually in the midde of the Baba Nyonya museum which is an old mansion from a weatlhy Baba Nyonya family here in Melaka. This is one of two locations where the house opens to the sky to let in the fresh air and the rain.
Beaded shoes are a special type of footwear that Melaka is known for. Cheri purchased these sandals that are hand made in the shop that I am standing by in the above picture. People were working in the shop on beadwork and making shoes.
This is called a becak. That is the same word that we use in Indonesia for three wheeled pedal powered carriages but the Indonesian becaks have a much different design. There are many of these in Melaka and they are all over-the-top decorated with various themes.
It wasn't quite dark yet but the Melaka night market was getting underway and it was very crowded. The pictures below are all from Melaka. To keep it simple I will not give them captions. Enjoy.





















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