Boutique Hotel in Malacca -The Settlement Hotel,Ujong Pasir

Leisurely walk along the Malacca River heading towards The Shore from the Tun Sri Lanang River Cruise jetty.

View of The Shore housing Swiss Garden Hotel& Residences,Malacca;Tangs,Seoul Garden ,La Bodega beside the red zinc roofs of traditional houses in Kampong Morten.

Amazing view from the swimming pool at L9 of The Swiss Garden Hotel Malacca

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Chinese New Year mood is in the mall and hotel

The Year of the Goat model @ Garden Terrace ,Swiss Garden Hotel Melaka

An extra large size model of a Bakul Sia or special traditional gift basket
@ Dataran Pahlawan 1st Floor

Red and yellow and orange are the auspicious colours favoured to welcome the Lunar New Year.
Note the extra large size Cheongsam which is a traditional Chinese dress for ladies @ Dataran Pahlawan Ground Floor.

Malacca's hidden sights -beautifully clean backlanes in old town near Jonker walk

See how clean and nice the backlanes are.There are even concrete benches and  light posts .

An old well now covered with glass to showcase historical use.
Below is the bicycle mode of transportation available in  a few hotels.A leisurely way to see Malacca Old Town sights.

Preparing to usher in the Year of the Goat or Wood Sheep

Malacca is a UNESCO heritage status city state.This historical city which is home to famous landmarks like the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple,St Peter's Church,Portuguese settlement ,Kampung Morten,Dutch buildings the Stadthuys, now houses many modern malls and hotels.Below are some pictures to show how these modern buildings are blending culture into their decor.Since Chinese New Year is round the corner on 19 February 2015,decorations are building up the mood.
There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac.There are also 5 elements .That is why a person who reached age 60 years of age is deemed very fortunate for having gone through a complete cycle.Their next birthday  will be the start of a new cycle which will

Aeon Bandaraya Mall Melaka 

Ramada Plaza lobby 

Parkson Mall Melaka ,Banda Hilir.Lion dance performance complete with loud drums.

 complete only if one lives to 120 years of age.
The animals are:Rat,Ox,Tiger,Rabbit.Dragon,Snake,Horse,Goat,Monkey,Rooster,Dog,Pig.
The elements are:Wood,Fire,Earth,Metal,Water
This year it is named by Feng Shui masters as the Year of the Wood Sheep or for the most of my young days I have just learned it is the year of the Goat .

Pls refer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_zodiac

You will observe that red is considered an auspicious colour for this celebration.Also lots of noise .

Heritage tour in Melaka by trishaw;visit Baba Nyonya Heritage House in Jln Tun Tan Cheng Lock.

Melaka is a historical city.What is the better way to see all that is old and gold in a short span of time?Call for a trishaw ride by Firdaus Muttalib.He is a pleasant young man ,well versed with heritage tours and can tell you stories while peddling his classic basic trishaw.Get a ride on an authentic trishaw or in local language we say 'beca'(pronounced bay cha).One of the must see sights will be the Baba Nyonya Heritage house in the famed Millionaires'row of olden days.

See the info below and I leave you with this:Enjoy the ride and sightseeing and stories.

Firdaus mobile is +6 016 630 2502.He informed he is  available on fb and whatsapp and via email.After hearing an insightful interview of him by Melissa of Baba Nyonya Heritage house(a private museum) this evening at Riverine Coffeehouse,I am convinced Firdaus will always do his best to give tourists and locals value for money on his rides in and around the heritage city of Melaka(Malacca).

Ramada Plaza Melaka Buffet-promotion for senior citizens until January 31 ,2015

If you like to enjoy your buffet in a cosy ambience in a grand hotel like Ramada Plaza,this is a good time to make your reservations there.The service is impeccable.The staff are polite and pleasant.Great hospitality with delicious varieties of food and dessert.
For senior citizens above 55 years,this is a golden opportunity to enjoy a discount according to age.The older you are,the more you are rewarded.What can I say but,Enjoy!

Hi tea @Garden Terrace,Swiss Garden Hotel & Residences,The Shore,Melaka

Level 3A of the Swiss Garden Hotel houses the Garden Terrace.Senior citizens enjoy discount @RM26++ ppax.Food arrangement  and presentation is very unique and delicious.The pastries especially are highly recommended.There is also satay,prawns, lamb and salads and ice cream ,ice kacang and more.

Blueberry tarts -generous amounts of almond flakes ,strawberry and mango slice on a bed of rich blueberry jam.The pastry is so good it crumbles easily.So handle with care. 

What a lovely fruit stick bunch arrangement!

A window seat will give you a clear view of the Malacca River and also Kampong Morten ,a living museum.

Food @La Bodega @the Shore,Ground Floor,MelakSeafood paella

New year countdown @La Bodega ,the Shore was interesting.Spanish rice paella and drink Sangria.

Sangria(top) and Peach and Mango cream (right)@RM20 per glass

Seafood Paella  @RM75 for 2pax

Tuna salad

Spring chicken

Japanese food Melaka @ Ichi Zen Melaka

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ichi-Zen-Japanese-Restaurant/142706592579072?rf=134741213380113

Salmon Salad with crispy fired salmon skin
Sauce dipping below pic.Very unique sesame sauce.

Bento set-chicken ,salad,miso soup and steamed egg with rice.

Melaka Food Paradise in Dataran Pahlawan,Level 4 -the card system

Buy a minimum of RM15 preloaded card.But you can only use the cash value of  RM12

So if you think you will  be eating a meal costing more than RM 12 ,pls pre load more.Whatever balance is refundable upon the checkout after your meal.The card has to be returned to the cashier.So I have captured the memory to share.

Batu Berendam -A batter coated deep fried specialty discovered for the first time

What's this?I asked the food stall operator .Answer:
'Punggung Ayam' aka Chicken Butt.Deep fried in batter!
Is it for you?Go try.Drop a comment here after that :)
But it is not for me....definitely!

Melaka cafe food -A chic outlet named -i Seeker Cafe in Malim

The Interior -Cheerful,simple airconditioned comfortable dining.Personalised and efficient service.

Side walk for smokers and those who loathe airconditioning.

i Seeker @15 Jln PPM8 ,Plaza Pandan Malim,Melaka.Near UOB Malim,Klinik Goh and Malacca Securities

A sewing kit souvenier from Munich hotel,Munchen Penta Hotel,Germany.

                                      This sewing kit has outlasted more than 30years.Incredible.

Handy pouch for travel -A contest prize from LeSportsac

This classic black & white pouch will come in handy when you travel.waterproof,light weight,flexible shape,foldable are all its 'genetic' characteristics.This special B&W is really striking .A contest prize worth keeping .

Melaka restaurants and other places interesting decor and plants

Porcelain drum seat

Tea cup

Prayer altar cloth 

Embroidered Shoe front

All the above framed as painting photos in Donald and Lily's Nyonya restaurant ,Kota Laksamana.

 Beautiful girl playing on the  flute in a framed picture in Family Heritage Restaurant,Bukit Beruang(near Petronas)

inside LTP in Jln Tun Sri Lanang(Pengkalan Rama -opposite Ping Ming primarySchool)

Are they pink birds?Look closely.They are flower buds of this cactus family plant!Awesome!
Inside the historic Cheng Hoon Teng Temple 

Melaka Dataran Pahlawan -Dragon-i

 Terracotta warriors decor.-signature decor.
Fried La Mien with cod fish and other sea food-delicious!

Mango desserts -with sago and the RH with glutinuous dumpling.Both taste as smooth and nice but I prefer the one with sago.