How to travel back in time: Melaka

Happy Choose-day! As promised, today we are beginning our UNESCO world heritage series. Every day for the rest of the week, we are traveling back in time (so to speak), one place at a time. Our first stop: Melaka.

Where in the world?

Melaka (Malacca) is a state in Malaysia, which is located in Southeast Asia. It is south of the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and north of Singapore.

How to get there?

First off, the usual reminder applies regarding your passport: it must be valid for at least 6 more months. Otherwise, you need to renew that before anything else. Also, at least one blank page in your passport is needed.

Second, check if you need a visa to enter the country. ASEAN nationals except those from Myanmar (you know who you are: Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos) get visa-free stays for 1 month. US citizens get a good deal: visa-free for 90 days.

Third, get your ticket! From Manila, take a flight to Kuala Lumpur via Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia Zest, or Cebu Pacific. From there, you can either take a bus or charter a private transport through your hotel. Be comfy; it's a 2-hour drive.

Alternatively, you can fly to Singapore via Tiger Air, Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, Jetstar, or Singapore Airlines. From there, take a bus to Malacca (3-4 hours). Or rent a car, but be warned that they drive on the left side of the road (blame colonialism for that). If you do choose to drive, either from KL or Singapore, be assured that the roads are efficient. The signs are in Roman alphabets, so you're okay.

You're there. Now what?

Know that you're sitting in the lap of history. Take it all in. Melaka has a rustic charm to it, a small town flavor. Correction, a small, old town in the midst of the 21st century. Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonialisms layered on top of pre-colonial society color the city to this day. This sounds messed up, but hey, life is messy, anyway. Welcome to the colonized world, buddy.

The streets are narrow, the stones that make up shophouses are ancient, life's pace is slow. This is a place out of time.

One can find a lot of things on Jonker Street, day or night. You can shop or you can eat. Or you can shop and eat. Whatever floats your boat. As you go around, however, bear in mind two things. One -- Malaysia is a tick above the equator, which means it is HOT. Heaty hot, humid hot, it doesn't matter. It is hot. So come prepared. Dress lightly, keep hydrated. Do your thing. And two -- Malaysia is a predominantly Muslim country, so for women especially, dress modestly. If, like me, you're brown-skinned and black-haired, you may be easily mistaken for a Malay girl. Don't be offended if people ask you where your hijab (head cover) is or if restaurants warn you that what you just ordered has pork in it. Don't stumble into a bar and say, "Give me your national beer!" They don't have one. It's a Muslim country, okay? Get a Tiger, that's a good one. Singaporean, but close.

Time to leave?

Not until you've had wanton mee. Or nasi lemak. Or satay celup. I get hungry just typing these! As you pack your bags, say a little prayer for those who've gone to Melaka and who've since then moved on. They may be sultans or colonials or explorers from times past, or explorers just like you. You've walked in their footsteps, just like many more would. Past, present, future meet. Honor that connection.

#travel #malaysia #melaka