September 2019 [by Bill]
Today was my last full day in Kuala Lumpur, and I took a day trip to the former capital of Malaysia, the City of Melaka(City of Malacca in English; population:424,800). This UNESCO World Heritage Site was about a 2-hour drive each way. 2 others had reserved space, but they didn’t show up, so just the driver Nora, and me! Nora was excellent, fairly knowledgeable, entertaining, and funny. Total cost, paid in cash, was about USD $80, which includes pick up and drop off at the apartment where I’m staying in Kuala Lumpur.
There’s a small winding canal through the older part of the city, with each side lined with small eateries, stores, and other buildings.
There were lots of tourists, mainly from other parts of Malaysia, as well as other Asian countries. There’s a fleet of bicycle rickshaws, each decorated in a specific theme or character. Every inch of a rickshaw is covered in artwork, decorations, plush toys, and streamers. Pretty outlandish, made me smile!
At the edge of Melaka, we stopped to visit 2 different mosques. The Masjid Selat Mosque is quite large, with a very decorative dome (both inside and outside), and a stunning tower, all situated along the Strait of Melaka.
Lots of interesting street art in Melaka.
There’s also a more modern city-like area just a mile or so away.
What to see & do in Melaka: Lonely Planet
Getting to Melaka from Kuala Lumpur
Small Wide World 