Showing posts with label Portuguese Village. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Portuguese Village. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 25, 2024
Friday, December 20, 2019
Portuguese settlement amps up its Yuletide celebration
Portuguese settlement amps up its Yuletide celebration
Finishing touches: Theseira adjusting the decorations at the Portuguese settlement in Melaka.
MELAKA: Come rain or shine, the annual Christmas celebrations at the Portuguese settlement here are set to go on and will be even merrier than previous years.
This is the promise made by the residents there and Kampung Attap Christmas’ celebrations joint committee members.
They said the rings of jingle bells would reverberate greater than before at the settlement in Bandar Hilir here.
Martin Theseira, a committee spokesman, said a host of programmes had been lined up to make this Yuletide a memorable one.
He said Christmas would be a lively affair despite the committee being cash-strapped and residents affected by the economic slowdown.
“The spirit of Yuletide will not be dampened and colourful decorations will adorn the settlement just like in previous years.”
Theseira said the settlement would also be the venue for the state-level Christmas celebrations on Dec 31.
“We were told that the state government is allocating RM80,000 for the event, which will further turn the settlement into a Christmas fairyland, ” he said.
Theseira said due to the lack of corporate sponsors, the celebration could not be organised on a grand scale.
“But we will plan a meaningful celebration accordingly with the available funds and resources.”
He expressed hope that Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong would be able to allocate some funds to light up the settlement.
Khoo, he said, was treated to traditional Portuguese dishes when he paid a visit to the settlement on Friday night.
Theseira also commended state executive councillor Datuk Tey Kok Kiew for providing financial support to organise several events for senior citizens and the disabled among the community.
He said the community would also hold prayer sessions on the eve of New Year.
As part of the Christmas celebrations in the settlement, children will also be given toys as Christmas gifts during a special get-together programme.
Portuguese Village Community Management Council head Jacinta Lazaroo said toys worth about RM60 each would be given away.
“We used our own funds to buy these toys. Hopefully, we will be able to organise charity giveaways with the collection through ticket sales during the event.”
~The Star~
Finishing touches: Theseira adjusting the decorations at the Portuguese settlement in Melaka.
MELAKA: Come rain or shine, the annual Christmas celebrations at the Portuguese settlement here are set to go on and will be even merrier than previous years.
This is the promise made by the residents there and Kampung Attap Christmas’ celebrations joint committee members.
They said the rings of jingle bells would reverberate greater than before at the settlement in Bandar Hilir here.
Martin Theseira, a committee spokesman, said a host of programmes had been lined up to make this Yuletide a memorable one.
He said Christmas would be a lively affair despite the committee being cash-strapped and residents affected by the economic slowdown.
“The spirit of Yuletide will not be dampened and colourful decorations will adorn the settlement just like in previous years.”
Theseira said the settlement would also be the venue for the state-level Christmas celebrations on Dec 31.
“We were told that the state government is allocating RM80,000 for the event, which will further turn the settlement into a Christmas fairyland, ” he said.
Theseira said due to the lack of corporate sponsors, the celebration could not be organised on a grand scale.
“But we will plan a meaningful celebration accordingly with the available funds and resources.”
He expressed hope that Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong would be able to allocate some funds to light up the settlement.
Khoo, he said, was treated to traditional Portuguese dishes when he paid a visit to the settlement on Friday night.
Theseira also commended state executive councillor Datuk Tey Kok Kiew for providing financial support to organise several events for senior citizens and the disabled among the community.
He said the community would also hold prayer sessions on the eve of New Year.
As part of the Christmas celebrations in the settlement, children will also be given toys as Christmas gifts during a special get-together programme.
Portuguese Village Community Management Council head Jacinta Lazaroo said toys worth about RM60 each would be given away.
“We used our own funds to buy these toys. Hopefully, we will be able to organise charity giveaways with the collection through ticket sales during the event.”
~The Star~
Saturday, December 22, 2018
RM5 entry fee for cars into Portuguese settlement to ease traffic congestion
RM5 entry fee for cars into Portuguese settlement to ease traffic congestion
The decision to collect a RM5 entry fee for every car that enters the Portuguese settlement during this Yuletide season is aimed at controlling traffic congestion, says a spokesman for the community.
Portuguese Settlement and Kampung Attap joint-Christmas organising committee spokesman Martin Theseira said the vehicles parking outside the perimeter of the core zone of the settlement need not pay the fee.
"This is part of two strategies that we outlined this year to manage the heavy volume of traffic in the Settlement.
"One was to fully impose a ban on party spray cans that had triggered disputes between residents and revellers in previous years,' he said when asked to respond to outcry from certain residents that the organising committee had no right to collect fees.
"Furthermore, the traffic wardens commissioned by the committee are from Rela, and we need to pay them," he said.
Theseira said permission had been obtained from the authorities before the collection was started.
"Anyway, we are open to ideas and welcome any suggestions to prevent vehicles from clogging up the settlement during the Yuletide season," he said.
He added that the organising committee had also received a complaint from an eatery owner over the fee collections.
"However, nine eatery owners and many residents supported the move as it helps to control the bottleneck at the narrow lane leading to the eateries," he added.
~News courtesy of The Star~
The decision to collect a RM5 entry fee for every car that enters the Portuguese settlement during this Yuletide season is aimed at controlling traffic congestion, says a spokesman for the community.
Portuguese Settlement and Kampung Attap joint-Christmas organising committee spokesman Martin Theseira said the vehicles parking outside the perimeter of the core zone of the settlement need not pay the fee.
"This is part of two strategies that we outlined this year to manage the heavy volume of traffic in the Settlement.
"One was to fully impose a ban on party spray cans that had triggered disputes between residents and revellers in previous years,' he said when asked to respond to outcry from certain residents that the organising committee had no right to collect fees.
"Furthermore, the traffic wardens commissioned by the committee are from Rela, and we need to pay them," he said.
Theseira said permission had been obtained from the authorities before the collection was started.
"Anyway, we are open to ideas and welcome any suggestions to prevent vehicles from clogging up the settlement during the Yuletide season," he said.
He added that the organising committee had also received a complaint from an eatery owner over the fee collections.
"However, nine eatery owners and many residents supported the move as it helps to control the bottleneck at the narrow lane leading to the eateries," he added.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Decorations light up holiday spirit
Decorations light up holiday spirit
FROM small baubles to huge reindeers, Christmas ornaments featuring various themes have over the years livened up the spirit of Christmas in the Portuguese settlement in Ujong Pasir, Banda Hilir, drawing in hundreds and thousands of foreign tourists and local visitors.
Every year, residents go all out to decorate every nook and corner of their houses, from the kitchens right up to their gardens to create a lively Christmas atmosphere.
This year, despite a rather toned-down Christmas decor, the settlement hasn’t failed to mesmerise tourists and local visitors alike, thanks to their legacy in creativity and charm.
A house along Jalan Day was spotted with huge Christmas candies planted just outside the garden and glittering garlands were seen wrapped around the pillars in the porch.
There was also a lighted wooden crib, a colourful gingerbread house and several small Santas on parachutes, hung next to the window.
Corinna De Silva, a 47-year-old resident here, who started decorating her house on Nov 10, said the garlands should be put up first.
“My sister, Frandora De Silva, 46 dislikes using many colours so we always stick to the same colour, using mostly white and a little bit of blue and red in our lighting decorations,” she said.
Corinna added that some technical skills were needed to insert lights into house sculptures, without the protruding wires.
“My brother-in-law Jerry Alcantra and nephew Adam help with the lighting. They put garlands around the decorations so that wires don’t hang out and make it look messy,” she said.
Corinna said decorating the house for Christmas was also a good bonding time among family members.
“It is a feeling that you only get once a year. This is the time when families get together, decorate homes, sing carols — it’s a good bonding session for us,” she said.
Moses Hendricks, 49, said making an extra effort to store the ornaments helps him save cost when it comes to the decorations.
“Every year, I would add some powder to the lights before keeping them in a box.
“This is to prevent the wire coating from becoming sticky,” he said, adding that he reuses the LED lights year after year.
“With the money I save on lighting, I can afford to buy new decorations every year.
This year, I bought two lighted reindeers costing RM500,” he said.
Hendricks, a fisherman, said the Christmas decorations were put up early this month.
“My father John Hendricks, passed away last year at 83, and my mother Margaret Hendricks, 72, is too old to move around.
“When I was not out at sea, I decorated and painted my house in white and green.
“This was followed by other decorations, including trees, lights and other ornaments,” he said.
Corinna De Silva, a resident of Ujong Pasir, decorates her home.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
FROM small baubles to huge reindeers, Christmas ornaments featuring various themes have over the years livened up the spirit of Christmas in the Portuguese settlement in Ujong Pasir, Banda Hilir, drawing in hundreds and thousands of foreign tourists and local visitors.
Every year, residents go all out to decorate every nook and corner of their houses, from the kitchens right up to their gardens to create a lively Christmas atmosphere.
This year, despite a rather toned-down Christmas decor, the settlement hasn’t failed to mesmerise tourists and local visitors alike, thanks to their legacy in creativity and charm.
A house along Jalan Day was spotted with huge Christmas candies planted just outside the garden and glittering garlands were seen wrapped around the pillars in the porch.
There was also a lighted wooden crib, a colourful gingerbread house and several small Santas on parachutes, hung next to the window.
Corinna De Silva, a 47-year-old resident here, who started decorating her house on Nov 10, said the garlands should be put up first.
“My sister, Frandora De Silva, 46 dislikes using many colours so we always stick to the same colour, using mostly white and a little bit of blue and red in our lighting decorations,” she said.
Corinna added that some technical skills were needed to insert lights into house sculptures, without the protruding wires.
“My brother-in-law Jerry Alcantra and nephew Adam help with the lighting. They put garlands around the decorations so that wires don’t hang out and make it look messy,” she said.
Corinna said decorating the house for Christmas was also a good bonding time among family members.
“It is a feeling that you only get once a year. This is the time when families get together, decorate homes, sing carols — it’s a good bonding session for us,” she said.
Moses Hendricks, 49, said making an extra effort to store the ornaments helps him save cost when it comes to the decorations.
“Every year, I would add some powder to the lights before keeping them in a box.
“This is to prevent the wire coating from becoming sticky,” he said, adding that he reuses the LED lights year after year.
“With the money I save on lighting, I can afford to buy new decorations every year.
This year, I bought two lighted reindeers costing RM500,” he said.
Hendricks, a fisherman, said the Christmas decorations were put up early this month.
“My father John Hendricks, passed away last year at 83, and my mother Margaret Hendricks, 72, is too old to move around.
“When I was not out at sea, I decorated and painted my house in white and green.
“This was followed by other decorations, including trees, lights and other ornaments,” he said.
Corinna De Silva, a resident of Ujong Pasir, decorates her home.
~News courtesy of New Straits Times~
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Christmas at the Portuguese Settlement
Back to traditional Christmas at the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir
Lighted up green: Green is the colour of illumination at this home in Jalan Erida.
MALACCA: Always overshadowed by the numerous and varied commercial decorative paraphernalia and miniature multi-coloured illumination of the festive season, the Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir in recent years has been stressing much on traditional, religious and in-house cultural aspects and facets of Christmas.
This is to fascinate visitors, local and overseas tourists dropping by the village by the hundreds nightly.
As 69-year-old retiree Joseph D’Costa as well as husband and wife Jerry Alcantra and Fendora, emphasise that it is time to move away from a festival to a true meaningful Christmas feast where the younger community generations can appreciate the significance of the season as a step in one’s growth and development of true Christian lives.
On their way: The ‘Santa’s Crew’ as organised by Jerry Alcantra and wife Fendora making their way around homes at the settlement for nightly carolling sessions.
D’Costa, a mango juice trader and long time settlement resident said, “Christ came on Christmas Day to bring joy. In this respect we should live this Christmas message instead of the customary merry-making, partying and being jolly,”
He added, “Christmas is about bringing joy, love and happiness to those around us. We pass this message through our interaction and involvement within the community. Christmas must also indicate the presence of Christ in the world at all times including with our lives’ sorrows, failures, disappointments and also moments of joy, bliss and happiness.”
In recent years, Jerry and Fendora has grouped some 30 young children including their own residing at the settlement to conduct nightly carolling sessions from house to house belting out traditional Christmas carols and popular festive hymns in both English and Latin.
The group complete with a battery powered sleigh on wheels see members wearing red and white outfits, capes and caps. Upon completion of the settlement rounds, the group is also invited to perform at major hotels and shopping centres in town.
Gingerbread homes: Cyril De Mello busy putting up home models at the entrance of his home,
“Usually the young are associated with merry-making during the season and we have brought back traditional practices like carolling and spreading the season’s joys and goodwill. Traditions like carolling or attending the midnight church service seem to be dying out but we are making sure our young come to know of these practices and preserve them for the generations ahead,” added Fendora.
Meanwhile, Christmas at the settlement, is like no other place in the country. Having hosted the national Christmas open house celebrations twice, the season associated to being merry and jolly is still being observed with much gusto and fervour particularly at family reunions.
As settlement regedor (headman) Peter Gomex explains, “The overall atmosphere is simply spontaneous and generally the community revels in the festivities. Also the period is like homecoming with family members, relatives and good close friends returning from outstation and overseas to be with the community folks.”
Gaily lighted up: Miniature illumination fills this home’s porch.
In recent years, the community’s women folk have begun to bake and cook up varied Portuguese cakes, delicacies and dishes relying on traditional home recipes preserved from the bygone years.
Among the traditional foodstuffs making comebacks are bolukoku, a cake made with coconut scrapings and agar-agar, a type of jelly made from seaweed.
Another Christmas seasonal cake is bluder, a butter-flour delicacy that is heavily spiced. Also on the home reunion meals menus is the long time popular feng, a spicy combination of liver, pig’s tongue, intestines and pork, all finely sliced. A beef preparation called semur is also on the card notably at family dinners.
As far as settlement decor and lighting up goes, no expense is spared.
With multi-coloured miniature bulbs and fancy illumination both inside and outside homes, the settlement is invariably turned into a fairyland.
Apart from Christmas trees in and ouside homes, even potted plants, porches, balconies, gates, fences and compounds are not spared the colourful illumination.
Large plastic toys and even mobile ones depicting everything from Santa Clauses, Santarinas, sleighs, snowmen, reindeers, ginger bread houses, bells of all shapes and sizes, gold and silver tinsel balls and still more varied lighting illumination are all part and parcel of the settlement’s Christmas do that makes the locality a truly one-of-a-kind in the country.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Portuguese settlement folk gear up for national Xmas do
Portuguese settlement folk gear up for national Xmas do
It’s brisk business for shops selling Christmas decorations ahead of the national Christmas celebration at the Portuguese Settlement here on Sunday.
Residents have been snapping up decorative pieces and lights to deck their homes in preparation for the weekend festivity in their village.
Wholesaler Abby Gan Siew Bee said sales of Christmas accessories and lights were up between 20% and 30% over the past month, compared with the corresponding period last year.
“Many residents from the settlement come to my shop to buy lighting and other Christmas frills for their homes.
“They want to make their homes impressive with colourful trimmings to welcome the grand celebration,” she said yesterday.
Gan, whose family has been in the decor business for 20 years at Jalan Bunga Raya, said their shop stocked up a large variety of items to ensure their regular customers were able to find what they needed for the Yuletide season.
“We offer more than 200 varieties of Christmas-themed decorations.
“Sales have been good despite customers being more thrifty,” she said, adding that Christmas tree decorations, lighting and soft toys were among the hot items.
Tan Kia Boon, 33, who runs a shop, also in Jalan Bunga Raya, said his business picked up about a week ago with shoppers making final preparations for the celebration.
Meanwhile, village Regedor (headman) Peter Thomas Gomes said the 1,200-strong community in Ujong Pasir were all excited to welcome the grand celebration on Sunday.
He also said the village development and security committee spent some RM20,000 to deck the village for the celebrations, adding that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam presented RM10,000 from the state government for the festive preparations.
Gomes said that more than 20,000 visitors, including foreign tourists, had come to the village to view the Christmas decorations and lighting.
-News courtesy of The Star-
It’s brisk business for shops selling Christmas decorations ahead of the national Christmas celebration at the Portuguese Settlement here on Sunday.
Residents have been snapping up decorative pieces and lights to deck their homes in preparation for the weekend festivity in their village.
Wholesaler Abby Gan Siew Bee said sales of Christmas accessories and lights were up between 20% and 30% over the past month, compared with the corresponding period last year.
“Many residents from the settlement come to my shop to buy lighting and other Christmas frills for their homes.
“They want to make their homes impressive with colourful trimmings to welcome the grand celebration,” she said yesterday.
Gan, whose family has been in the decor business for 20 years at Jalan Bunga Raya, said their shop stocked up a large variety of items to ensure their regular customers were able to find what they needed for the Yuletide season.
“We offer more than 200 varieties of Christmas-themed decorations.
“Sales have been good despite customers being more thrifty,” she said, adding that Christmas tree decorations, lighting and soft toys were among the hot items.
Tan Kia Boon, 33, who runs a shop, also in Jalan Bunga Raya, said his business picked up about a week ago with shoppers making final preparations for the celebration.
Meanwhile, village Regedor (headman) Peter Thomas Gomes said the 1,200-strong community in Ujong Pasir were all excited to welcome the grand celebration on Sunday.
He also said the village development and security committee spent some RM20,000 to deck the village for the celebrations, adding that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam presented RM10,000 from the state government for the festive preparations.
Gomes said that more than 20,000 visitors, including foreign tourists, had come to the village to view the Christmas decorations and lighting.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Festa San Juan
Portuguese community light candles to herald Festa San Juan
Every year during the latter part of June, the Portuguese-Eurasian homes at the Portuguese Settlement, Praya Lane and Kampung Banda Hilir have little white candles lit on verandas, balconies and atop picket fences as twilight sets in.
These numerous mini flames herald the Festa San Juan (Feast of St John the Baptist) which falls on June 23.
This year’s feast celebration which is part and parcel of the week-long Festa San Pedro (Feast of St Peter, the patron saint of fishermen), was launched by Ronald Gan, assistant chairman of the Banda Hilir constituency development committee at the Medan Portugis sited within the 80-year-old Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir.
Following an Eucharistic religious service at the settlement community hall, a small bonfire was lit at the square and members of the Irmaos de Igreja (Brothers of the Church) lighted their wicker torches. They then walked to all homes in the settlement lighting up little white candles set on fences and gates at sunset.
According to the settlement’s regedor (headman) Peter Gomes, the ritual of using lighted candles to observe the feast was adopted from the Portuguese when they occupied Malacca from 1511 to 1641.
“St John the Baptist is described as the forerunner evangelist prior to the coming of Christ. Hence, the lighted candles signify this saint who led the way during the time of pagan communities,” he explained.
In the early 1950s and 1960s, when Praya Lane and Kampung Banda Hilir witnessed a large number of Portuguese-Eurasian families moving to the area and with fishing as a dominant livelihood, the residents wore green pyjamas on the night of the feast day while during the day their children were all dressed in similar coloured clothing.
It is said that green represented the community’s innocence, purity and rejuvenation. It is also believed that when St John was beheaded, children who visited his tomb were dressed in green and carried lighted candles in homage.
Former long-time Praya Lane resident Anthony Fernandez, 67, recalled that in the old days a mini food fair and the performance of the popular ‘Branyo’ (a traditional Portuguese song-dance routine similar to Malay ronggeng) were the main highlights.
“However, with many of the Portuguese-Eurasian Catholic residents moving out of Praya Lane and Kampung Banda Hilir from the early 1970s onwards, the feast day celebration is somewhat diluted.
“Later, the Portuguese Settlement took over organising the festival and combined it with the San Pedro festival, which eventually got listed on the state tourism calendar.” said Fernandez, who now lives in Banda Hilir.
Another practice of the feast day still adhered to until today is the making of Kanjee Munggu, a sweet delicacy made from mung beans. This sweets is only made on the feast day and is eaten in Portuguese-Eurasian households at tea time.
Notes from the book Survival Through Times, authored by the late Portuguese cleric Fr M.J. Pintado who served and lived in Malacca from the late 1950s, state: “At the height of the Portuguese occupation of the state, the feast of St John the Baptist was observed in grand fashion. A prayer service was then held at the chapel atop St John’s Hill, located midway between Praya Lane and the Portuguese Settlement where hundreds would gather to pray and feast in picnic-like atmosphere until the late hours of the night.”
-News courtesy of The Star-
Every year during the latter part of June, the Portuguese-Eurasian homes at the Portuguese Settlement, Praya Lane and Kampung Banda Hilir have little white candles lit on verandas, balconies and atop picket fences as twilight sets in.
These numerous mini flames herald the Festa San Juan (Feast of St John the Baptist) which falls on June 23.
This year’s feast celebration which is part and parcel of the week-long Festa San Pedro (Feast of St Peter, the patron saint of fishermen), was launched by Ronald Gan, assistant chairman of the Banda Hilir constituency development committee at the Medan Portugis sited within the 80-year-old Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir.
Following an Eucharistic religious service at the settlement community hall, a small bonfire was lit at the square and members of the Irmaos de Igreja (Brothers of the Church) lighted their wicker torches. They then walked to all homes in the settlement lighting up little white candles set on fences and gates at sunset.
According to the settlement’s regedor (headman) Peter Gomes, the ritual of using lighted candles to observe the feast was adopted from the Portuguese when they occupied Malacca from 1511 to 1641.
“St John the Baptist is described as the forerunner evangelist prior to the coming of Christ. Hence, the lighted candles signify this saint who led the way during the time of pagan communities,” he explained.
In the early 1950s and 1960s, when Praya Lane and Kampung Banda Hilir witnessed a large number of Portuguese-Eurasian families moving to the area and with fishing as a dominant livelihood, the residents wore green pyjamas on the night of the feast day while during the day their children were all dressed in similar coloured clothing.
It is said that green represented the community’s innocence, purity and rejuvenation. It is also believed that when St John was beheaded, children who visited his tomb were dressed in green and carried lighted candles in homage.
Former long-time Praya Lane resident Anthony Fernandez, 67, recalled that in the old days a mini food fair and the performance of the popular ‘Branyo’ (a traditional Portuguese song-dance routine similar to Malay ronggeng) were the main highlights.
“However, with many of the Portuguese-Eurasian Catholic residents moving out of Praya Lane and Kampung Banda Hilir from the early 1970s onwards, the feast day celebration is somewhat diluted.
“Later, the Portuguese Settlement took over organising the festival and combined it with the San Pedro festival, which eventually got listed on the state tourism calendar.” said Fernandez, who now lives in Banda Hilir.
Another practice of the feast day still adhered to until today is the making of Kanjee Munggu, a sweet delicacy made from mung beans. This sweets is only made on the feast day and is eaten in Portuguese-Eurasian households at tea time.
Notes from the book Survival Through Times, authored by the late Portuguese cleric Fr M.J. Pintado who served and lived in Malacca from the late 1950s, state: “At the height of the Portuguese occupation of the state, the feast of St John the Baptist was observed in grand fashion. A prayer service was then held at the chapel atop St John’s Hill, located midway between Praya Lane and the Portuguese Settlement where hundreds would gather to pray and feast in picnic-like atmosphere until the late hours of the night.”
-News courtesy of The Star-
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Other tourist sites in Malacca
Others
* Portuguese Settlement - Here is where the descendants of the Portuguese who conquered Malacca in 1511 live today. The settlement, located just southeast of the city centre, consists of tidy rows of mostly wooden houses leading up to the Portuguese Square (Malay Medan Portugis) and Hotel Lisboa (sorry, unlike its Macau namesake, there is no casino here) on the waterfront. The people here may look Malay but peer into their houses and you'll see the characteristic altar with status of Jesus and Mary perched high on their walls. Quite a few still speak Cristao (or Cristang), a Portuguese patois. There are also many restaurants for you to sample Portuguese fare. The most interesting times to visit is during Intrudu - usually in February - when the you'll get a Songkran-like drenching with buckets of water thrown at you; Festa San Pedro to commemorate the Feast of Saint Peter in June, where there are processions, cultural shows and general merry-making; and Christmas when the whole settlement is decked in decorative lights. Getting there/away: Malacca Town Bus (green) No. 17 (destination "Ujong Pasir and Bandar Hilir") from Melaka Sentral will bring you right into the Settlement.
* St John's Hill and Fort. Malacca's other fortress located on top of St John's Hill in Bandar Hilir, south of the city. Pretty views of the surroundings from the top. Malacca Town Bus (green) No. 17 passes by this fort.
* King's Well - Legends have it that Hang Liu was a Chinese princess from the Ming dynasty who was sent to Malacca to wed Sultan Mansor Shah in the 15th century when the Malacca Sultanate was at its zenith. She had 500 followers who were all settled on Bukit China, which means Chinese Hill, and this well, at the foot of the hill, was where they got their water.
* Poh San Teng Temple - This temple is located at the foot of Bukit China and next to the King's Well, was founded in 1795 by Kapitan China Chua Su Cheong as a graveyard temple. The main deity is Fu-te Zhen Shen. the temple was built to allow the descendants of those buried on Bukit China to conduct prayers to their ancestors away from the heavy rain and strong winds.
* Bukit China - Bukit China is the one of the largest Chinese cemetery outside of mainland China. Graves can be found here that go back to the late Ming dynasty (mid 17th century). The earliest grave found so far dates to 1622, but unfortunately many graves were exhumed during the British occupation of Malaysia. Bukit China is a famous jogging spot for the locals and jogging tracks are available all over the hill. When you climb on top of the hill, you will have a nice view of the town.
-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-
* Portuguese Settlement - Here is where the descendants of the Portuguese who conquered Malacca in 1511 live today. The settlement, located just southeast of the city centre, consists of tidy rows of mostly wooden houses leading up to the Portuguese Square (Malay Medan Portugis) and Hotel Lisboa (sorry, unlike its Macau namesake, there is no casino here) on the waterfront. The people here may look Malay but peer into their houses and you'll see the characteristic altar with status of Jesus and Mary perched high on their walls. Quite a few still speak Cristao (or Cristang), a Portuguese patois. There are also many restaurants for you to sample Portuguese fare. The most interesting times to visit is during Intrudu - usually in February - when the you'll get a Songkran-like drenching with buckets of water thrown at you; Festa San Pedro to commemorate the Feast of Saint Peter in June, where there are processions, cultural shows and general merry-making; and Christmas when the whole settlement is decked in decorative lights. Getting there/away: Malacca Town Bus (green) No. 17 (destination "Ujong Pasir and Bandar Hilir") from Melaka Sentral will bring you right into the Settlement.
* St John's Hill and Fort. Malacca's other fortress located on top of St John's Hill in Bandar Hilir, south of the city. Pretty views of the surroundings from the top. Malacca Town Bus (green) No. 17 passes by this fort.
* King's Well - Legends have it that Hang Liu was a Chinese princess from the Ming dynasty who was sent to Malacca to wed Sultan Mansor Shah in the 15th century when the Malacca Sultanate was at its zenith. She had 500 followers who were all settled on Bukit China, which means Chinese Hill, and this well, at the foot of the hill, was where they got their water.
* Poh San Teng Temple - This temple is located at the foot of Bukit China and next to the King's Well, was founded in 1795 by Kapitan China Chua Su Cheong as a graveyard temple. The main deity is Fu-te Zhen Shen. the temple was built to allow the descendants of those buried on Bukit China to conduct prayers to their ancestors away from the heavy rain and strong winds.
* Bukit China - Bukit China is the one of the largest Chinese cemetery outside of mainland China. Graves can be found here that go back to the late Ming dynasty (mid 17th century). The earliest grave found so far dates to 1622, but unfortunately many graves were exhumed during the British occupation of Malaysia. Bukit China is a famous jogging spot for the locals and jogging tracks are available all over the hill. When you climb on top of the hill, you will have a nice view of the town.
-Info courtesy of Wikitravel-
A week of fun and celebrations
A week of fun and celebrations
The week-long traditional annual festivities of Festas San Juang and San Pedro is set to get underway at Malacca’s Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir tomorrow.
Besides the usual festivities, organisers of the event are looking at putting up a large TV screen to allow local football fans to catch the FIFA World Cup matches, in particular if Portugal makes it to the later stages of the competition.
Regedor (village headman) Peter Thomas Gomes said preparations were underway at the village which has 1,200 residents to welcome more than 50,000 visitors who are expected to flood the village during the festivities.
“Besides the usual traditional ceremonies and cultural performances by local dance troupes, we are planning to get sponsors to help set up large TV screens to allow visitors to catch the World Cup matches live,” he said at a press conference recently.
The annual celebrations were held at the village to mark the Feast of St. John the Baptist on June 23 and the Feast of St. Peter, the patron saint for fishermen, on June 29.
Besides the boat decoration contest, he said cultural performances, kebaya competitions, live performances by local bands and popular Portuguese-Eurasian singers from Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Singapore would liven up the festivities.
Apart from the customary Eucharistic Celebration conducted at the village’s community hall tomorrow at 5.30pm to mark the Feast of St. John the Baptist, there will also be the bonfire lighting ceremony with blessed candles adorning homes of residents.
Another Eucharistic Celebration will be conducted at the hall on June 29 (5.30pm) to mark the Feast of St. Peter, followed by the traditional blessing of the decorated fishing boats.
The festivities will be officially declared open by the Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob at 9pm on June 26 at the village’s Portuguese Square.
Gomes lamented on the lack of funding from the state and authorities concerned with tourism and heritage, despite the festivities being listed as a state and national level tourist calendar event.
He noted funding for the festivities from the authorities had stopped in 2003 with the organisers having to rely on sponsorships and donations.
Gomes later accepted a RM40,000.00 mock cheque from Calvin Siow, the area sales manager of Guinness Anchor Marketing Sdn. Bhd, the main sponsor.
-News courtesy of The Star-
The week-long traditional annual festivities of Festas San Juang and San Pedro is set to get underway at Malacca’s Portuguese Settlement in Ujong Pasir tomorrow.
Besides the usual festivities, organisers of the event are looking at putting up a large TV screen to allow local football fans to catch the FIFA World Cup matches, in particular if Portugal makes it to the later stages of the competition.
Regedor (village headman) Peter Thomas Gomes said preparations were underway at the village which has 1,200 residents to welcome more than 50,000 visitors who are expected to flood the village during the festivities.
“Besides the usual traditional ceremonies and cultural performances by local dance troupes, we are planning to get sponsors to help set up large TV screens to allow visitors to catch the World Cup matches live,” he said at a press conference recently.
The annual celebrations were held at the village to mark the Feast of St. John the Baptist on June 23 and the Feast of St. Peter, the patron saint for fishermen, on June 29.
Besides the boat decoration contest, he said cultural performances, kebaya competitions, live performances by local bands and popular Portuguese-Eurasian singers from Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Singapore would liven up the festivities.
Apart from the customary Eucharistic Celebration conducted at the village’s community hall tomorrow at 5.30pm to mark the Feast of St. John the Baptist, there will also be the bonfire lighting ceremony with blessed candles adorning homes of residents.
Another Eucharistic Celebration will be conducted at the hall on June 29 (5.30pm) to mark the Feast of St. Peter, followed by the traditional blessing of the decorated fishing boats.
The festivities will be officially declared open by the Malacca Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob at 9pm on June 26 at the village’s Portuguese Square.
Gomes lamented on the lack of funding from the state and authorities concerned with tourism and heritage, despite the festivities being listed as a state and national level tourist calendar event.
He noted funding for the festivities from the authorities had stopped in 2003 with the organisers having to rely on sponsorships and donations.
Gomes later accepted a RM40,000.00 mock cheque from Calvin Siow, the area sales manager of Guinness Anchor Marketing Sdn. Bhd, the main sponsor.
-News courtesy of The Star-
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