Malacca overtakes Penang as tourist destination
Malacca has overtaken Penang as tourism destination attracting some 8.9mil tourists throughout last year.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said in the same period Penang had only managed to draw 5.96mil tourists.
“The statistics speaks for itself. Tourists arrival in Penang has dropped from 6.3mil in 2008 according to the statistics from our research division.
“Penang has good accessibility and a lot of products. The state government must play important role in this,” she said after a soft launching of Penang Hill funicular train upgrading project at Penang Hill lower station in Air Itam Saturday.
She said with a total of 191 flights from 12 international airlines flying into the city weekly Penang has a good potential of becoming the country’s leading tourist destination.
The state, she said, should put more initiative to have more well-trained tourist guides, especially those who were well-informed about Penang heritage and history.
“These guides and restaurant employees should be able to tell the stories behind the heritage buildings. This way, we can give the tourists an added value to the services provided,” she said.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Malacca heritage buildings will be repainted
Malacca heritage buildings will be repainted
Quality paint worth RM2.5mil will be used to spruce up heritage buildings located within the historic city’s Unesco World Heritage Site core zone.
The project is a collaboration between paint manufacturer Akzonobel and the Malacca Museums Corporation (Perzim) to repaint part of the old city and several well known historical monuments.
Perzim chairman Datuk Hamdin Abdollah said RM250,000 worth of paint a year will be used to repaint 26 buildings located in the city’s core heritage zone.
Painting it red: Staff of the Malacca Museums Corporation are busy painting the Stadthuys – By CINDY TAN / THE STAR
“The project will start with the repainting of the 17th Century Dutch Complex or Stadthuys,” he said, during of the launching of the repainting project here recently.
He said the project would also cover several places of worship located in the heritage zone.
“We are very happy Akzonobel has stepped forward to help preserve the heritage buildings in Malacca by giving them a new coat of paint.
Besides paint, they gave free consultation on the type of paints and how to carry out the painting job,” he said.
New coat: The Stadthuys is one of the 26 buildings that will be repainted.
He assured due care would be given to heritage concerns and the repainting would take into account appropriate colours and safe use for the old building.
“Akzonobel has pledged to donate the paints for the next 10 years,” he said, adding that the buildings would be repainted twice over the next decade.
Malacca City was listed as a heritage city under Unesco’s World Heritage Sites on July 7 in 2008.
Last year, the Jonker Walk Committee initiated a RM400,000 project to repaint some 139 18th century Dutch-styled homes located along Jalan Hang Jebat or more popularly known as Jonker Street.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Quality paint worth RM2.5mil will be used to spruce up heritage buildings located within the historic city’s Unesco World Heritage Site core zone.
The project is a collaboration between paint manufacturer Akzonobel and the Malacca Museums Corporation (Perzim) to repaint part of the old city and several well known historical monuments.
Perzim chairman Datuk Hamdin Abdollah said RM250,000 worth of paint a year will be used to repaint 26 buildings located in the city’s core heritage zone.
Painting it red: Staff of the Malacca Museums Corporation are busy painting the Stadthuys – By CINDY TAN / THE STAR
“The project will start with the repainting of the 17th Century Dutch Complex or Stadthuys,” he said, during of the launching of the repainting project here recently.
He said the project would also cover several places of worship located in the heritage zone.
“We are very happy Akzonobel has stepped forward to help preserve the heritage buildings in Malacca by giving them a new coat of paint.
Besides paint, they gave free consultation on the type of paints and how to carry out the painting job,” he said.
New coat: The Stadthuys is one of the 26 buildings that will be repainted.
He assured due care would be given to heritage concerns and the repainting would take into account appropriate colours and safe use for the old building.
“Akzonobel has pledged to donate the paints for the next 10 years,” he said, adding that the buildings would be repainted twice over the next decade.
Malacca City was listed as a heritage city under Unesco’s World Heritage Sites on July 7 in 2008.
Last year, the Jonker Walk Committee initiated a RM400,000 project to repaint some 139 18th century Dutch-styled homes located along Jalan Hang Jebat or more popularly known as Jonker Street.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Weekend in Malacca
Weekend in Malacca
WHAT is synonymous with road trips? Food hunts. And what is synonymous with Malaysia? Food – and each state has its own special cuisine.
On a weekend trip to Malacca recently, I decided to update myself on the tea-time treats available in this Unesco heritage-listed city. I found out that while there are many new establishments around, it’s good business as usual for three hawkers who have been plying their humble trade for decades.
Grandpa’s curry puff
After working as a sales clerk for years, Jean Tan decided to quit and take over her family’s curry puff business which was started by her grandfather, Tan Joo Chin, 40 years ago. The business was then run by her father, Tan Meng Ho. The curry puffs are huge and bursting with their curry and potato fillings. Tan also sells red bean and yam puffs. “My customers like the variety and the fact that the puffs are filling. Some even have them as a meal,” she says.
This writer can vouch for that. After having the red bean and yam puffs, which cost RM0.80 and RM1 respectively, I was puffed out. The red bean puff is sweet and the yam is savoury. Grandpa’s curry puffs are available at Restoran Yung Lai Siang along Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai, from 7am to 4pm.
Bukit China Soya Bean House
Spoiled for choice: There are 20 versions of tau fu fah at Bukit China Soya Bean House.
During previous trips to Malacca, I always headed for the original stall on Jalan Temenggong, which is manned by 70-year-old Tan Whi Hui. This third-generation business, which specialises in ginger juice tau fu fa, was passed down to him by his father 60 years ago. Many have raved about the smoothness of the soya bean curd served here, complemented by the homemade hot ginger juice.
Tan’s son, Jack, opened the first Bukit China Soya Bean House on Jalan Kota Laksamana 2/17 a year ago. He serves 20 versions of the tau fu fah and 100 types of dishes. A bowl of ginger tau fu fah at Tan’s stall costs RM2. The price at Jack’s Jalan Kota Laksamana outlet is RM2.20.
“The ginger juice takes hours to make and is a very tedious process,” says Jack’s wife, Shirley Ho. “It’s actually made at our small family factory nearby. The ginger has to be cleaned, peeled, sliced and refrigerated before it is boiled.”
The ginger juice is subtly pungent and does not drown out the smooth taste of the curd.
There’s also a Michael Jackson here. A mixture of soya bean milk and black cincau (grass jelly), a glass of this cold refreshing beverage can quench anyone’s thirst on a humid day.
Cendol Bukit China
Can you imagine yourself tucking into a nice, chilled serving of cendol by a cemetery? Eerie as it may sound, Mohd Zaid Abdullah’s stall still draws in the customers despite his location at Bukit China, which is the site of some 12,500 old graves. Mohd Zaid has been doing business at the same location for the past 22 years. “I open during the day from 10am to 6pm so there is nothing scary about eating here,” he says, laughing.
Mohd Zaid, 42, from Batu Berendam, not only sells cendol but also mee rebus, rojak and mee rojak. Each bowl of cendol costs RM1, which is obviously cheap.
Mohd Zaid keeps his stall, sited under a tree, clean. Most of the time, there is a good breeze there so customers can enjoy their cendol, or whatever food they have ordered, in comfort. Mohd Zaid says he took over the family business from his father. “It may seem a bit disturbing at first being near a cemetery but my customers are fine with it,” he says.
Ismail Malik, 52, a retiree who has been Mohd Zaid’s customer for years, says he enjoys the experience. “It’s quite funny when I tell my relatives and friends who are not from Malacca about eating near a cemetery. I have even brought some of them here. As long as the food is good, I have no qualms about the location,” he chuckles.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
WHAT is synonymous with road trips? Food hunts. And what is synonymous with Malaysia? Food – and each state has its own special cuisine.
On a weekend trip to Malacca recently, I decided to update myself on the tea-time treats available in this Unesco heritage-listed city. I found out that while there are many new establishments around, it’s good business as usual for three hawkers who have been plying their humble trade for decades.
Grandpa’s curry puff
After working as a sales clerk for years, Jean Tan decided to quit and take over her family’s curry puff business which was started by her grandfather, Tan Joo Chin, 40 years ago. The business was then run by her father, Tan Meng Ho. The curry puffs are huge and bursting with their curry and potato fillings. Tan also sells red bean and yam puffs. “My customers like the variety and the fact that the puffs are filling. Some even have them as a meal,” she says.
This writer can vouch for that. After having the red bean and yam puffs, which cost RM0.80 and RM1 respectively, I was puffed out. The red bean puff is sweet and the yam is savoury. Grandpa’s curry puffs are available at Restoran Yung Lai Siang along Jalan Bunga Raya Pantai, from 7am to 4pm.
Bukit China Soya Bean House
Spoiled for choice: There are 20 versions of tau fu fah at Bukit China Soya Bean House.
During previous trips to Malacca, I always headed for the original stall on Jalan Temenggong, which is manned by 70-year-old Tan Whi Hui. This third-generation business, which specialises in ginger juice tau fu fa, was passed down to him by his father 60 years ago. Many have raved about the smoothness of the soya bean curd served here, complemented by the homemade hot ginger juice.
Tan’s son, Jack, opened the first Bukit China Soya Bean House on Jalan Kota Laksamana 2/17 a year ago. He serves 20 versions of the tau fu fah and 100 types of dishes. A bowl of ginger tau fu fah at Tan’s stall costs RM2. The price at Jack’s Jalan Kota Laksamana outlet is RM2.20.
“The ginger juice takes hours to make and is a very tedious process,” says Jack’s wife, Shirley Ho. “It’s actually made at our small family factory nearby. The ginger has to be cleaned, peeled, sliced and refrigerated before it is boiled.”
The ginger juice is subtly pungent and does not drown out the smooth taste of the curd.
There’s also a Michael Jackson here. A mixture of soya bean milk and black cincau (grass jelly), a glass of this cold refreshing beverage can quench anyone’s thirst on a humid day.
Cendol Bukit China
Can you imagine yourself tucking into a nice, chilled serving of cendol by a cemetery? Eerie as it may sound, Mohd Zaid Abdullah’s stall still draws in the customers despite his location at Bukit China, which is the site of some 12,500 old graves. Mohd Zaid has been doing business at the same location for the past 22 years. “I open during the day from 10am to 6pm so there is nothing scary about eating here,” he says, laughing.
Mohd Zaid, 42, from Batu Berendam, not only sells cendol but also mee rebus, rojak and mee rojak. Each bowl of cendol costs RM1, which is obviously cheap.
Mohd Zaid keeps his stall, sited under a tree, clean. Most of the time, there is a good breeze there so customers can enjoy their cendol, or whatever food they have ordered, in comfort. Mohd Zaid says he took over the family business from his father. “It may seem a bit disturbing at first being near a cemetery but my customers are fine with it,” he says.
Ismail Malik, 52, a retiree who has been Mohd Zaid’s customer for years, says he enjoys the experience. “It’s quite funny when I tell my relatives and friends who are not from Malacca about eating near a cemetery. I have even brought some of them here. As long as the food is good, I have no qualms about the location,” he chuckles.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
Friday, August 6, 2010
Merry time in Malacca
Merry time in Malacca
MALACCA: Malacca’s month-long celebration to mark its second anniversary inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site culminated in a colourful grand finale at Kampung Morten here on Saturday evening.
The nostalgic event at the traditional Malay village was graced by Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
The evening got off to a rousing start with both villagers and tourists alike participating in a host of activities including savouring the traditional cuisines offered to guests.
Mohd Khalil who arrived at 9pm, was accompanied by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and other state leaders who went for a walkabout to visit the homes and greet villagers.
Aimed at capturing the experience of a traditional village life, the nightly celebration featured several local games such as Batu Sembat, Congkak, Dam Haji, Dam Besar, Sepak Takraw and Capteh, including cultural dances, musical performances and food preparation demonstrations and tasting.
A joint effort by the Malacca government, the Historic City Council, Heritage Department and the local communities, the festival attracted more than 1,000 visitors.
British tourist Mike Grey, 28, said he was impressed with the way leaders and villagers enjoyed themselves and the festival was an eye-opener towards Malacca’s living heritage.
Japanese tourist Miya Tanaka, who was there with her Australian partner Russell Anderson, 34, said they felt lucky to be in Malacca at a time when many events were taking place in conjunction with the celebration.
“We came across the festival by chance when we were strolling and taking pictures along the Malacca River pedestrian walk. The atmosphere is great with everyone celebrating,” said Tanaka, 29, adding they enjoyed nasi lemak the most especially the spicy sambal.
Located along the Malacca River, Kampung Morten was established in the late 1890s and is home to about 100 homes belonging to Javanese descendants who settled in Malacca during the 1400s.
Kampung Morten was declared a heritage village under the state’s Preservation and Conservation Enactment in 1998 with the famous well-preserved Villa Sentosa as one of its main attractions.
-News courtesy of The Star-
MALACCA: Malacca’s month-long celebration to mark its second anniversary inscription as a Unesco World Heritage Site culminated in a colourful grand finale at Kampung Morten here on Saturday evening.
The nostalgic event at the traditional Malay village was graced by Governor Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
The evening got off to a rousing start with both villagers and tourists alike participating in a host of activities including savouring the traditional cuisines offered to guests.
Mohd Khalil who arrived at 9pm, was accompanied by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and other state leaders who went for a walkabout to visit the homes and greet villagers.
Aimed at capturing the experience of a traditional village life, the nightly celebration featured several local games such as Batu Sembat, Congkak, Dam Haji, Dam Besar, Sepak Takraw and Capteh, including cultural dances, musical performances and food preparation demonstrations and tasting.
A joint effort by the Malacca government, the Historic City Council, Heritage Department and the local communities, the festival attracted more than 1,000 visitors.
British tourist Mike Grey, 28, said he was impressed with the way leaders and villagers enjoyed themselves and the festival was an eye-opener towards Malacca’s living heritage.
Japanese tourist Miya Tanaka, who was there with her Australian partner Russell Anderson, 34, said they felt lucky to be in Malacca at a time when many events were taking place in conjunction with the celebration.
“We came across the festival by chance when we were strolling and taking pictures along the Malacca River pedestrian walk. The atmosphere is great with everyone celebrating,” said Tanaka, 29, adding they enjoyed nasi lemak the most especially the spicy sambal.
Located along the Malacca River, Kampung Morten was established in the late 1890s and is home to about 100 homes belonging to Javanese descendants who settled in Malacca during the 1400s.
Kampung Morten was declared a heritage village under the state’s Preservation and Conservation Enactment in 1998 with the famous well-preserved Villa Sentosa as one of its main attractions.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Movie Treat
Movie treat
To mark Malacca historic city’s second anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Department of Broadcasting will be screening Cinta Stiletto at 9pm in the field near the Taming Sari Revolving Tower today. For details, call 06-2345 661.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
To mark Malacca historic city’s second anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Department of Broadcasting will be screening Cinta Stiletto at 9pm in the field near the Taming Sari Revolving Tower today. For details, call 06-2345 661.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
Friday, July 30, 2010
Expensive taxi rates irk transport user
Expensive taxi rates irk transport user
I TRAVEL regularly from Malacca to Kuala Lumpur.
Every Friday, I rush home to Malacca by bus and reach Malacca the earliest at 10.30pm.
Sad to say the local bus service does not operate at that time.
My house is about less than one km from the Malacca bus station.
After alighting from the bus, I am often approached by taxi drivers and on two ocassions when I asked how much would it cost to my house which is one km away, the answer was a whopping RM15. This is ridiculous.
So, more often than not I walk home, which takes about 15 minutes.
My questions is, why has the Malacca state government not considered improving the public transport?
Does not the Government notice the fact there are no bus services at around 10.30pm?
Should it not be a logical conclusion that people still need public transport at that hour?.
The relevant authorities should also conduct an inspection on taxi drivers who charge extorbitant amounts for short distances.
Taxi drivers like these at the Malacca Central Station give the state such a bad name. I am in fact very frustrated with the attitude of these taxi drivers. I hope a solution can be found soon for people like us who rely on public transport.
-News courtesy of The Star-
I TRAVEL regularly from Malacca to Kuala Lumpur.
Every Friday, I rush home to Malacca by bus and reach Malacca the earliest at 10.30pm.
Sad to say the local bus service does not operate at that time.
My house is about less than one km from the Malacca bus station.
After alighting from the bus, I am often approached by taxi drivers and on two ocassions when I asked how much would it cost to my house which is one km away, the answer was a whopping RM15. This is ridiculous.
So, more often than not I walk home, which takes about 15 minutes.
My questions is, why has the Malacca state government not considered improving the public transport?
Does not the Government notice the fact there are no bus services at around 10.30pm?
Should it not be a logical conclusion that people still need public transport at that hour?.
The relevant authorities should also conduct an inspection on taxi drivers who charge extorbitant amounts for short distances.
Taxi drivers like these at the Malacca Central Station give the state such a bad name. I am in fact very frustrated with the attitude of these taxi drivers. I hope a solution can be found soon for people like us who rely on public transport.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Visa free for Malaysia
No visa is required for U.S.A. citizens visiting Malaysia for social, business or academic purposes (except for employment).
No visa is required for a stay of less than one month for nationals of all ASEAN countries except Myanmar. For a stay exceeding one month a visa will be required, except for nationals Brunei and Singapore.
Nationals of countries other than those stated above (with the exception of Israel) are allowed to enter Malaysia without a visa for a visit not exceeding one month.
For national of Israel, visas are required and permission must be granted from Ministry Of Home Affairs.
For national of Republic of Serbia and Republic of Montenegro, visas are required without permission granted from Ministry Of Home Affairs.
No visa is required for a stay of less than one month for nationals of all ASEAN countries except Myanmar. For a stay exceeding one month a visa will be required, except for nationals Brunei and Singapore.
Nationals of countries other than those stated above (with the exception of Israel) are allowed to enter Malaysia without a visa for a visit not exceeding one month.
For national of Israel, visas are required and permission must be granted from Ministry Of Home Affairs.
For national of Republic of Serbia and Republic of Montenegro, visas are required without permission granted from Ministry Of Home Affairs.
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