We stayed at the Hotel Puri Melaka, a beautiful, charming, yet affordable boutique hotel very close to Joker's Street and walking distance to main historical places in Melaka. The hotel is a carefully restored Peranakan (Straits Chinese or Baba - Nyonya 峇峇娘惹) house which once belonged to the descendant of an eminent philanthropist and rubber plantation owner, Tan Kim Seng. Highly recommended to all who plan to visit Melaka.
Exterior front view of the hotel
The interior deco of the indoor cafe is generally very basic but charming in its old way, and comfortable too (air-conditioned mah! Ha ha). The focus point of the indoor cafe is the the gold-painted wooden arch. The design is rather intricate.
One thing I learn from my numerous trips to Melaka is that, if we pay attention to details, we will find something new and interesting in every trip.
If I were to had my breakfast out-door, I would be accompanied by the breeze, the fishes in the pond and the blossoms of the plants surrounding the cafe. Can you spot the fishes in the picture above? There should be eleven of them
Flowers of a water plant.
The above ain't toy house for the girls to play, but residence for the spirits. So, no Barbie please.
Another good, cozy spot in the hotel for those who fancy a quite reading with coffee.
The Cafe turned quite in the afternoon but the atmosphere was so conducive for some reading, coffee and a cigarette (Oops, my friends will start lecturing me again to quit smoking)
It reminds me of the lamp post in the Chronicles of Narnia. the difference is that this one has 3 lamps, runs on electricity and located in the tropics. Ha ha.
Oooo, Cendol. my favorite dessert that is made on shaved ice, top with sweetness of the Palm sugar, red beans and pandan leaf colored starch noodles and generous shower of coconut milk. Divine!
Mark is demonstrating how a man suffer from too much good food
One cannot claim he / she has been to Melaka without having the Nyonya kuih (dessert). So many variety to choose and to eat... Yum Yum
Walking down the Jonker's Street, heading towards Kampong Keling Mosque and Cheng Hoon Ting Temple.
we can see a Hindu temple (beige colored building), co-exist together with a Muslim mosque (white building with green roof) - the Kampong Keling mosque.
It is admirable how racial harmonic the people of Melaka was in the past, during the Melaka Sultanate time. Places of worship can exist side by side and all races can live together peacefully; compared to how divided we are now. Now, everything is about creation and protection the interest of one dominant race, religion and politics. Thanks to the racial segregation policy of the current government!
The Kampong Keling Mosque is one of the oldest in Malaysia (17th century)
One will wonder why the Kompong Keling Mosque looks so different from the other modern mosques prevalent in Malaysia. This is because the Kampong Keling Mosque architecture is a blend of Sumatran and Western architecture, with a touch of Hindu influence.
It is sad how the current government and religious scholars distance Islam in Malaysia from other influences, except from the Arabs; although the fact is that Islam was brought into Malaysia via the Indian traders to Melaka
Tower of the mosque. To me, I think the tower structure also has some resemblance to Chinese architecture.
More about the mosque
The Cheng Hoon Teng temple was built in 1645 and is believed to be the oldest Chinese temple in the country. The eaves of the temple are decorated with Mythological figures and animation made from broken glass and porcelain. Besides the figures, the wood carvings and lacquer work are stunning. 
Can you see the figures on the eaves of the temple? From this picture, I can't. If you can, you must have eyes with magnifying capability. Ha ha
The elaborate wood and lacquer works
Monks chanting.
View from inside the temple towards outside
A replica of Portugese ship who once sailed to Melaka - which currently houses the maritime museum . That's all, folks!
