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Muzium Rakyat
Perhaps the most unusual museum in Melaka is the Muzium Rakyat (People's
Museum) located just to west of Porta de Santiago. As would be expected,
on the first floor the museum has all the usual exhibits about economic
and social progress of Melaka and so on. However the second floor
is a bit more unusual with an exhibit that intends to show how different
cultures view beauty and some of the practices used to achieve beauty
including distorting the human form. The exhibit ranges from the
mundane i.e.. tattooing and body piercing
to the weird (by western standards) i.e.. foot binding, body stretching
and head shaping. Then its back to popular culture on the 3rd floor
with an exhibition of Malaysian kites.
Address: Jl. Kota
Admission RM1 for one exhibit / RM2 for access to all.
Muzium Budaya
Looking eastward between Porta de Santiago and Proclamation of Independence
Memorial you will see a large brown structure. It is the Muzium
Budaya (Cultural Museum) a newly built wooden replica of a 15th
century Melakan sultan's palace. Based on the description of an
original palace from the 15th century and built using traditional
methods - i.e.. not one nail was used in the construction of this
immense building the museum is a display for Melakan culture. Some
of the exhibits available include textiles, musical instruments
and games but perhaps the most valuable would be the Terengganu
Stone. Dating from the 14th century, the Terengganu Stone inscribed
with Arabic and Malay words that point to the first vestiges of
Islamic influence in Melaka and Malaysia.
Address: Jl. Kota
Admission: RM1.50 (children 50 sen).
Maritime
Museum / Royal Malaysian Navy Museum
Housed in an impressive model of the Flora de la Mar, a Portuguese
ship laden with treasure bound for the new world that sank just
off the coast of Melaka the Maritime Museum is hard to miss. Exhibits
include maps that date back hundreds of years to the time of Portuguese
rule. Guided tours are available in English.
Across the street is the Royal Malaysian Navy Museum, houses the
treasure that was salvaged from the cargo ship Diana in 1993. The
Diana sunk off the Malaysian coast not far from Melaka in 1817 as
it was passing from Guangzhou, China to Madras, India.
Address: Jl Quayside
Admission: RM2.00 for entrance to both museums.
Baba-Nyonya
Heritage Museum
Located at 48-50 Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (next to Cafe 1511) the
Baba-Nyonya Museum is a traditional Peranakan townhouse that has
been turned into a private museum. The building itself is well preserved
and a good example of the average home for the rich Chinese mercantile
class that lived in that area circa 1850. The influence of Chinese,
Dutch and English Victorian design and culture is evident in the
furniture and household furnishings. The family which owns the house
will give a guided tour if asked.
Address: Jl Tun Tan Cheng Lock
Opening hours: 10 am to 12.30 pm and 2 to 4.30 PM daily.
Admission is RM8 / children RM4 (including tour - approx. 30 min)
Kampung
Morten Villa Sentosa
A Kampung (sometimes Kampung) is a small village. Lying next to
the Melaka River Kampung Morten is a small group of traditional
Malay homes located on a street bearing its name in the heart of
the city. The idea being to give foreigners an idea of a traditional
Malay village life. Villa Sentosa is one of the houses in Kampung
Morten that was built in 1920, strives to give an idea of how a
traditional Malay family lives. The house is occupied and the used
as a residence for a Malay family who will give you a tour (for
a donation).
Address: Jalan Kampung Morten
Opening Hours: 9am to 5 PM daily (closed Fridays 12.15pm - 2.45
PM).
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