On the #DiscoverMalaysia blog trip we visited Malacca (in Malay, Melaka), which is dubbed “The Historic State”. Located south of Kuala Lumpur, this historical city centre of Melaka has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is well worth visiting if you make it to Malaysia.
Melaka was my favourite part of the trip; I loved the red-brick Dutch colonial buildings, the colourful flashing trishaws and the wide array of street food available on Jonker Street.
During our visit we stayed at The Majestic Malacca, a gorgeous colonial-style hotel which fits perfectly with Melaka’s heritage. The hotel is built around a serene mansion dating back to the 1920s, and the 54 rooms are housed in a new building that mirrors the original architecture.
Welcome Drinks
Upon arrival we were presented with these welcome drinks…looks like a cocktail but it’s simply delicious ice tea with lemon! The lobby had such a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere, so I knew I would be in for a treat!
The Lobby
The lobby features a bar in a traditional colonial style, providing the ideal spot to enjoy a cocktail or whiskey! I personally loved the huge bouquet of flowers at the entrance.
The Room
I was staying in one of the Deluxe Rooms, which features a four poster bed, floor-to-ceiling windows, silk drapes and warm timber floors. There is also a silk-upholstered chaise lounge, a desk and a flat-screen TV. I love this traditional colonial style, which makes a nice change from the contemporary, minimalist hotel rooms of today.
The Bathroom
The bathroom is separated from the room by a big sliding wooden door, so you can choose to bathe with it open or closed. It features a clawfoot standalone bathtub and a separate shower cubicle. Complimentary toiletries included shampoo, shower gel, body lotion and soap.
The Pool
The outdoor swimming pool is situated between the gym and the Spa Village. It’s quite a small area but the hotel has only 54 rooms and I wasn’t really in Melaka to sit by the pool when there are so many things to see and do!
Afternoon Tea
Coming from England I love afternoon tea! At the Majestic Malacca the afternoon tea came with the usual sandwiches and scones, but it also had a bit of a Malaysian twist! My favourite dessert was the Malaysian Onde Onde. Onde Onde are balls made of sweet potato or glutinous rice flour that are infused with pandan (screwpine leaf), filled with palm sugar and rolled in coconut. When you bite into them they literally burst in your mouth as all the palm sugar oozes out! I also liked the Kuih Koci which is a Nonya Dessert of steamed glutinous rice flower filled with brown sugar and grated coconut, wrapped in banana leaf parcels.
Dining
At night we dined in the upstairs restaurant called ‘The Mansion’, which serves regional cuisine combining Portuguese, Dutch, English, and Baba-Nyonya influences. Melaka is particularly known for its Nyonya cuisine, which has developed from the intermarriage of the Malays and early Chinese settlers over the centuries. Among the various Nyonya dishes we tried were Kuih Pie Tee (top hats), Pong Taufu soup (meatball soup) and a dark stew with potatoes.
This trip was sponsored by Malaysia Airlines, and my room at The Majestic Malacca was provided by YTL Hotels. All opinions are my own.
