Malaka Day Trip

24/08/14

2 and a half hours on a coach to reach Malaka the historic port. Indian tour guide today who was very funny and told so much history about the town as well as jokes. It was a major world port for the spice trade for centuries started by pirates. Indonesians were first in. A few Asian rule changes and finally the Europeans came over about 1700. The Portuguese first building Catholic Churches. Next the Dutch who knocked them down for Protestant churches and possibly changed to catholic later? And then the British who knocked it all down stopped the port, bought Singapore for $30,000 and built ports there instead. Because everyone had to stop at Singapore on the way to anywhere. The name means stopping place. Although Malaysia is a Islamic country, this is not a Islamic state and the majority are Catholic. St Peter's day is their biggest celebration and the whole of Malaysia does Christmas and Easter. Not as big as here but they get to have the public holidays from each religion and they can all celebrate together as Malaysians. Later on During the war Japan took over and then British came back in again. The architecture mainly comes from Indian and Dutch design. He said some buildings have only one window from when the Dutch had window tax. The Portuguese built lots of forts. 

St Peters church built 1710 by the Dutch. Had a figure of Jesus laid out after he was taken from the cross. Freaky looking. 

The largest Chinese graveyard outside of china. They bury from hill to hill. Their graves take up a lot of room because they are circular shaped to represent the womb and two straight bits for the legs. This is to do with the rebirth. Went into a Hindu temple and learnt about the three alters the lucky number 5 the colour red(fire) for prosperity. There was a well here that had been used to poison the Portuguese and Dutch army at some time. 

A stop at the Malaka straights. The piece of water between Malaysia and Sumatra. 60km separating them and a depth of 250m. Down at Singapore the gap is 35km and only 25m deep. This is the major passageway for 1/3 of the worlds oil supply. Shell is a Dutch company, using they're Malaysian ruling well! Then to a Chinese lunch which was surprisingly nice, not greasy or fried.

Through the shopping centre to a ruin of Portuguese fort later the addition of the Dutch badge! Up the hill to a church ruin. The church of our lady of enunciation/St Paul's. 

Never been so hot in my life!! Actually dripping down my back. Embarrassed about my wet t shirt! Last stop was an hour to spend walking through Jonker street, the main Chinatown road. Where we bought Bambi and Mickey Mouse denim shorts!