Malacca Straits Mosque (Masjid Selat Melaka) - The Floating Mosque @ Melaka [Malaysia]

One of the stopovers of the cultural tour i participated in Malacca was this floating mosque located on this man-made island known boringly as Pulau Melaka. 

Built at a cost of almost RM 11 million, this place of worship for our Muslim friends can hold a capacity of approximately 2,000 persons and overlooked what is arguably the busiest straits in the whole world; the Straits of Malacca. 

The above 30-meter tall minaret has an additional function as a lighthouse for boats and ships traversing up and down the straits. In the midst of low-rise buildings on the small island, the tower appeared like an imposing beacon shining the surroundings. 

Initially, i thought the mosque was built only in the last one or two years and commented to my friends that workmanship must be pretty bad to have the paint peeling after such a short while. I am wrong! The building was officially opened in 2006, making it almost seven years old!

Design of the palatial mosque was a beautiful blend comprising of both Malaysian and Middle Eastern influences and i personally love the stained glass windows that provided a striking contrast to the generally white building. 

Known affectionately in Malacca as the floating mosque, i was expecting the structure to be literally bouncing on the water. From the picture, the many beams supporting the mosque can be seen and hence, "floating" is hardly the right word to use.

Literally floating is out of the question but there was a basis to the title bestowed upon the mosque; it was said that the mosque would appear to be floating in the event of high water level brought on by high tide. 

I could not confirm as it was definitely not high tide when i visited. I was more intrigued by the men who were performing dangerous rectification works on the viewing platform! 

Entry to the mosque's main hall was denied for those who were not wearing long pants (including me) and i just had to make do with taking photographs outside the premise. Note: wear jeans the next time!

Found quite a number of couples taking wedding shoots using the mosque as the backdrop.

At the moment, there was nothing much to do on the island. Let's hope that the area would be more vibrant with a Middle Eastern themed mall that was nearing completion and the realisation of plans to have more tourist attractions.

Smelly Tofu (臭豆腐) @ Malacca [Jonker Street]

The appearance of this banner stopped me in my tracks; i hesitated for a moment, knowing such acquired taste is not generally well regarded by fellow friends who would have to endure the repulsive smell.

Thankfully, the friends whom i went with were fully aware of my peculiar affection for this smelly snack and did not prevent me for purchasing a set. What they did was to keep a safe distance of at least 3.5154 meters away from me for close to an hour! 

Ultimate question - were they good?

Frankly, i was kidding about my friends keeping a distance from me; the supposedly obnoxious smell was barely the standard of those sold in Singapore's night market. Taste was similar though, but i would still prefer to throw my money at the smellier, crispier ones in Geylang! 

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Location

I didn't note the address but you can never miss the facade. If you are walking from the main entrance of Jonker Street where San Shu Gong is, the shop is to further down, to your right. 

Price

Smelly Tofu - RM 5.00

Mahkota Hotel - 2-Bedroom Deluxe Apartment @ Malacca [Opposite Mahkota Parade Shopping Centre]

When it comes to hotels in Malacca, Singaporeans would definitely know the following three; Mahkota, Equatorial and the latest, Hatten. 

I have been to Malacca twice before and both times, i chose the lesser known hotels (Venus Boutique Hotel was one of them) in the hope of getting a better deal. This round, Mahkota Hotel was selected and it's not because i wanted to!

A friend i knew from my army days asked me (and Alex) along for an overseas 2 days, 1 night Melaka trip he organised for his staff. So a BIG THANKS to him for his generous invitation! 

This inviting pool right outside the main lobby attracted the attention of almost everyone disembarking from the coach, especially when the morning ride to Malacca has been tiresomely long.

An appropriate backdrop for a photoshoot!

Room

Let's talk about our accommodation; there are nine housing blocks in total, offering three types of room. 

Here's ours; a two-bedroom deluxe apartment that came complete with a kitchenette and an air-conditioned living room! Gosh, it felt so homely! 

Given the abundance of food in Malacca, i don't see why i would want to use the kitchen. Speaking of which, why would a traveller require so many cupboards for!? I don't think i want to hoard up on food supplies, pots and pans when i am overseas. And you know what the funny thing is?

The sign - 'Strictly No Cooking'!!!! Why bother having an induction cooktop then? For show (to create a more homely atmosphere) or for me to dry my socks?!

Whatever the case, the entire premise was comfy enough and i have always preferred large windows that allow loads of sunlight into the room; gloomy rooms unleash my wild imagination for the non-living. 

The typical bedroom setup. For those who are waiting for paranormal encounters, there is none. We did knock before we entered the apartment though. Want to know the ten taboos when staying in a hotel? Click here. 

Loving the comfortable bed that was directly facing the air-conditioner! The slumber that night was easily one of the best i ever have! Okay, it could have something to do with the four-hour sleep i barely clocked the night before. 

View from my room! This pool, out of two in the hotel, is more for families with children. Jerald and Jovyn would unquestionably enjoy the slides, as they did in Bintan Lagoon!

Bathroom facilities showed signs of ageing even though i am not very particular so long i can take a shower and the heater is working! Oh, and no discolouration of the water! 

TV channel offerings - Mahkota hotel was built quite a while back (i could not find the data but it is likely more than ten years ago) so the television used was that of the traditional CRT display. 

Amenities

I woke up pretty early the next morning to check out other facilities of the hotel. Note: I guess you don't need further introduction on the swimming pools. 

As you could probably assume from the above, the picture shows the tennis court facing Pulau Melaka, a man-made island. Actually, for those who are unaware, Mahkota Hotel itself was also constructed on reclaimed land.

Gymnasium for health freaks like my sister. The equipment looked pretty new to me and i kind of regretted not using it as i woke up much earlier than the rest on that morning! Could do with some running on the treadmill to burn some calories. 

To be totally honest, i initially thought i had stepped into the housekeeping section! Remember i was complaining about the kitchen? There was a launderette too!!! Maybe there are wealthy individuals who bought the apartments as holiday homes; hence the need to have these essential facilities.

Anyway, should you have loads to wash and do not wish to utilise the expensive laundry service provided by the hotel, you can consider the launderette which cost RM 6.00 for a maximum load of 10.5 kilograms and an approximate 30-minute wait. 

Children's playroom and playground - other must-haves for families with kids! I think i would cry if you ask me to be stationed in the playroom when there are plenty to explore OUTSIDE the hotel.

Breakfast

As part of the regular accommodation deal, a buffet breakfast was provided at Cafe Mahkota.

The spread was quite extensive and you get your decent boring fruit punches, coffee, tea, fried eggs, nasi lemak, congee, dim sum, sausages, salads, fruits, breads and pastries. 

My very standard breakfast! 

Price list of the buffets served in Cafe Mahkota; the one that caught my attention is this "longest high tea" (god knows what it means) that is limited to only Sundays from 12noon to 5pm! 

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Location

Jalan Syed Abdul Aziz 

[Opposite Mahkota Parade]

Map

As above.

Rates

This is based on walk-in rates. For promotional packages, please check out the website.

Website

Click here for more information and room bookings!

Additional Information

Singaporeans who drive all the way to Malacca may wish to know that there is complimentary parking for hotel guests.  

Poh Piah Lwee - Not Your Typical Popiah that Comes with Crispy Pork Lard @ Malacca

Kon and Van might have remembered the quaint lil shop in the above photograph; it was supposed to be our last makan stop at Malacca back in May 2013 but was unfortunately closed on a Monday. 

Its main offering was popiah even though i recollected reading somewhere (likely on someone's blog) that it served a pretty mean cendol as well. Strangely, the guy manning the shop told me otherwise; i am not sure if he meant that day or not at all!

Anyway, here's the RM 2.50 popiah. For those who are unsure what this weird looking thing is, please refer to the Wikipedia page here. 

Taste wise, it is very different from the local version in Singapore; there were a lot more bean sprouts that contributed to the raw yet fresh crunchiness that some of you might dislike. The strips of turnip were also more robustly flavoured and i distinctly knew when i chewed onto one! 

I like my popiah with a sweet layer but it was very subtle in this case. However, the lack of sweetness was replaced by a personal favourite item; crispy pork lard! Unusual indeed as i don't think i have ever had pork lards in popiah!

p.s. i could definitely do with more pork lards in the popiah. 

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Location

14 Jalan Kubu [from the main entrance of Jonker Street, walk all the way to the end until you reach a T-Junction, turn left and the shop is just a few shops down]

Chendol In A Cup @ Kedai Nyonya Cendol [Number One Kopitiam], Malacca

In my last visit to the heritage town of Malacca, i simply could not locate the chendol place that my ex-colleague claimed to be the best! 

Knowing how crazy she is over food (and the claim that she downed eight bowls of chendol from various shops in one day), i knew i must find it somehow, somewhat in my most recent trip! 

Based on her description, i think i came to the right place; Number One Kopitiam which is directly opposite the chicken rice stall that is next to the crowded and ever popular San Shu Gong confectionery in Jonker. 

But, it's cendol served in a cup, and not in a bowl. That's kind of an anti-climax, especially when i purposely broke away from my other friends who were happily shopping in air-conditioned malls and rushed down to the place on my last day! I eventually decided to order purely because i didn't want to waste my trip down. 

This delicious sight of gula melaka trickling down to the cup of coconut milk with red beans and green cendol had a mystical soothing effect on me and for a moment, i was actually looking forward to having a sip!

Until the server started using a spoon to mix up everything to ensure uniformity. =_= Hallo lady, i would very much like to stir and mix myself so that certain parts are rich with sweetness and others are rich in coconut! 

Despite the lack of excitement, i have to admit uniformity might not necessary be a bad thing. Having the lingering aroma of coconut added with the sweet, slightly burnt fragrance of gula melaka down the parched throat on a hot day was indeed a blissful affair! 

The verdict is not out yet.

Not till i get my cendol in a bowl! 

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Location

No 1, Jalan Hang Jebat

[Melaka]

Price

Cendol in a Cup - RM 3.50