From Singapore we took a bus across the causeway to the Malaysian state of Johore. We had to pass through Singapore and Malaysian immigration to do this. While in Johore we stayed for three days at the home of a friend who heads an International School in Johore Bahru. As Singapore International schools filled up, international schools opened across the border attracting foreign as well as many Singaporean children. While in Johore Bahru, we noticed the influx of Chinese investment in real estate, especially the very impressive Forest City.
From Johore Bahru we boarded a bus for the historic city of Malacca. Malacca was founded in 1403 by Parameswara, a prince from Indonesia who was displaced from his kingship in Singapore (then called Tumasek). Malacca was an important early trading port. Besides the early Chinese and Indian traders (many of whom settled there), Malacca was taken over by the Portuguese in the year 1511. This gave the area its initial Christian and European influence. The Dutch conquered Malacca in 1641 and exerted their influence in the area until they ceded Malacca to the British in exchange for Bencoolen in Sumatra under the Anglo-Dutch treaty of 1824.
The intermix of cultures in Malacca is evident in the racial mix found in Malaysia. Both the Dutch, Portuguese and English intermarried with the local Malay, Chinese and Indian women. The term Eurasian (or Serani) came to describe the people of such mixed origins – of which I am one. Besides, the European influence, the Chinese settlers who took on the Malay culture are known as the Nonyas and Babas (Peranakan). This mix of cultures has produced some of the best fusion foods that is only found in Malaysia and Singapore.
There is a lot of history to soak in during a visit to Malacca. The city is a living museum and very easy and interesting to walk around. We took advantage of the walk along Jonker road as well as the boat ride along the river. We stayed at the hotel Puri which is a converted Peranakan mansion with many artifacts of its own.
One of my most interesting visits was to the Cheng Ho museum. Cheng Ho was a Chinese admiral who sailed through the region. The Chinese were intrepid sailors well before the Portuguese and Spanish. This has prompted the book by Author Gavin Menzies, “1421 – the year China discovered the World.” Menzies a former British naval officer puts forward the theory that the Chinese discovered the Americas before Christopher Columbus.
We of course took the opportunity to sample the different foods in Malacca, especially the Peranakan flavors which originated from there. After a very busy three days exploring Malacca, we took a taxi up a coast to Port Dickson, the town where I completed my high school studies.
Educhirp 