Oct 29, 2015

5 things to do around Jonker Walk on a Sunday morning....

If you are looking at a list of “must-go” places in Melaka, you will be sure to find that Jonker Street will always be at the top of the list. It is also a must go place for those who would like to discover Melaka in an interesting way.

Admire the Heritage Homes /Shops

 If you are just planning on spending an hour here before hopping to another major attraction, you might like to think twice as this is not an ordinary “street” – one can lose his or her sense of time and spend a whole day there just to check out the pretty old heritage houses and attractive shops along the street.



Jalan Hang Jebat, or Jonker Walk is it commonly known, is a street in historical Chinatown of Melaka starting just across the river from the Dutch Square. 


Jonker Walk is flanked on both sides of the road with pretty well kept heritage houses. At that time, rich Baba Nonyas (also known as Perankans, descendents of 15th - 16th century Chinese immigrants marrying local Malay women)  had their homes here...


You can definitely find some of Malaysias oldest heritage buildings dating back to the 17th century which have been built witha combination of Portuguese and Dutch influences.


Go Shoppng at the Sunday Morning Antiquities Street Market


Every Sunday morning until 12pm you can enjoy the little antique market along Jalan Hang Lekir (right next to the popular Geographer Cafe). 



This is an amazing good place to find some old treasures and haggle for a bargain or two if you love antiquities or are in search of something unique. 

It is here where you can find a variety of antiques, collectibles, ornaments, old coins and currency, posters, paintings, vinyl records, religious relics, old magazines and others...


Check out and take photos of the 3 D Street Murals


The 3 D Street Murals is located at the back lane in Jalan Hang Kasturi... which I happen across after paying my respects to Hang Jebat at his mausoleum.


There are quite a number of interesting paintings and murals there you might like to take some pictures of if you liked art...



My daughter sure had a time of her life posing and taking pictures with all the street murals there....


Have a drink or breakfast at the Cheng Ho Tea House


I found a perfect place, by chance to take some time off to chill and relax along Jalan Tukang Besi  after some walking . I was drawn by the very pretty Chinese looking exterior that reminded me of the mansions and palaces I visited in Beijing when I was there...



This was actually a Chinese teahouse which was a real tranquil haven from the crowd along Jonker Street in Melaka. .


It resembles a high official’s Chinese garden courtyard. There are beautifully inscribed Chinese calligraphy on wooden walls as well as lovely  Chinese carvings that bring you back to those ancient times…. 


I know I was in love with this gorgeous peace of haven away from the bustling crowd... it was so well kept and beautiful...


Apparently it is here they serve vegetarian food as well as tea. I was there early in the morning and so we decided to have breakfast which was served at a very affordable price of just RM7!!  And for that RM7 , they serve you with two slices of bread, scrambled eggs and a small bowl of 'chicken' curry..(in which actually there are potatoes and taupok - this is a vegetarian place!!!)

And frankly, I heard the tea serving ceremony here is only about RM15-20 which is super affordable in comparison with one I had with my daughter in the Summer Palace that really shocked us... We paid about RM60 for that... and the venue was not even this picturesque...


Amazingly,this gorgeous Cheng Ho tea house preserves its heritage design with high timber ceilings with a central air well most olden type bungalows, homes and mansions favour


Visit and pay some respect to Historical Malaccan warriors at the Hang Kasturi and Hang Jebat Mausoleum


Hang Kasturi was one of the five great warrior friends that includes Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu. The five friends where great warriors during the reign of the Melaka Sultanate especially during the regime of Sultan Mansur Shah (1456-1477). The courage and strength of the five great warriors plus the wisdom of the Bendahara Tun Perak has helped the Melaka Sultanate to expand the Melakan empire up to as far as the Malay Archipelago. Thus, the Melakan empire gained the respects of friends and foes.


Hang Kasturi was said to be ordered to kill his sworn-brother Hang Tuah who had been accused of violating some of the Sultan's maids. Hang Tuah, however, killed Hang Kasturi after he found out about this plan. He also killed Hang Jebat who was the real traitor.


The mausoleum is surrounded by many historic Straits Chinese Buildings. Facing opposite to the entrance of the mausoleum is the entrance of Hokkien merchants guild which highlights the beautiful stone carvings.


This is the grave of Hang Jebat, a high-ranking Malay warrior during the rule of Sultan Mansor Shah (r. 1456-77).  Story is he was appointed to a high position after Hang Tuah, his predecessor and sworn-brother, was wrongfully accused of having an affair with one of the King's maids. But instead of just accepting his position, Hang Jebat rose to Hang Tuah's defense and exclaimed "A fair rajah is to be revered, but a cruel rajah is to be despised." These words made the Sultan furious, who the ordered Hang Jebat executed.

I know it does not coincide with the story at Hang Kasturi's grave but well... only they really know what happened back then....I was not there, so I wouldn't know....


When Hang Tuah returned to the palace , he was given instructions to kill Hang Jebat, but he was horrified at the thought of killing his sworn brother. He met Hang Jebat on the field for the fatal match, Hang Jebat confessed that he had went against the Sultan because of the false accusations against his sworn brother. Hang Tuah sadly told Hang Jebat that he had to kill him since the Sultan ordered him to do so. Hang Jebat agreed but asked for 24 hours grace as to wreck retribution against the Sultan. Hang Tuah agreed and Hang Jebat had his vengeance.

The very next day, Hang Tuah fulfilled his king's orders and killed Hang Jebat. According to legend, this is his grave site.


Situated at Jalan Kampung Kuli and flanked by shop houses, Hang Jebat Mausoleum (also known as Makam Hang Jebat) is believed to be an old burial grave for the Malay warrior, Hang Jebat. The Acehnese design of the grave is a typical custom used to mark the burial places of high ranked ministers or Sultans during the period of Melaka Sultanate . The age of the grave remains unknown but it predates 1511, before the Portuguese invasion. Hang Jebat Mausoleum houses the tomb of Hang Jebat and surrounded by a few more unnamed old tombs



30 comments:

  1. wow i even know jonker street have The 3 D Street Murals !

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  2. great to know our heritage still being preserve until now

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    1. It is of utmost importance to preserve heritage right...

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  3. Aww, loving your itinerary dear! Who knew that theres a lot to when in Jonker street? :p

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  4. I have been a long time not visiting Malacca. Not aware that they have the nice 3D Murals : ) The ChengHo breakfast of RM7 seems very worth the price : ) Gonna plan my trip soon and to enjoy my favourite satay celup!!
    Cheers, https://siennylovesdrawing.wordpress.com/

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    1. Absolutely... The Cheng Ho breakfast is so worth it to enjoy the environment/ ambience.. I would have paid double for the opportunity to do all I did...

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  5. Wish I can visit there once since my past few years visit to there. Miss there so much!

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  6. Malacca is my third favourite place, which ties with Ipoh. Nice coverage! :)

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    1. Thanks Nicholas.... coming from you, it means a lot...

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  7. thanks. give me idea to write about things to do in Seremban :)

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    1. heheehe... we are bloggers always got to think of things to write... LOL

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  8. Love their heritage homes / shops there. Will visit the 3D street murals when I visit Malacca again.

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  9. Melaka has so many things to see. I haven't been there for many years.

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    1. hehehe... there are indeed plenty to see , do and eat....

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  10. you managed to find things to do in the morning at Jonker Walk! you are awesome la miera. :)

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  11. I like how you summarize things about jonker walk in this post. Now I know there's 3D mural art and Cheng Ho Tea house XD

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  12. Walking down the Jonker Street is like going back to the good old times, I love so much the colorful old buildings there :)

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  13. i always go jonker, but the pics you take makes the places look so good and makes me wanna go there again. your girl is so pretty too

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  14. It's been so long since I last went jonker in Malacca... HOpe can visit it again soon!

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  15. been here many time... still wish to visit here again. special the night / market along jonker wolk. so fascinating me !

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  16. I prefer to go at night! Because of the food. That day I went in the morning, luckily I was wearing singlet, else, I will sweat even more!

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  17. Never really went to all the tradition place that you went ler, I always went for night market. This is the place that everyone will visit when they are at Melacca!

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  18. Loved your post and nowadays I am buying the stuff for my new home and some of those stuff in your photos which i totally love.

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