A Trade Vanishing

A shop selling gardening tools and things matter

Two foreign tourists lounging around

There is a certain nostalgic rememberance of Malacca to me, such as these two above pictures. An old shop is offering the services of sharpening scissors and tools, apart from selling all sorts of tools and knick knacks. Where else on earth, would you find this type of service anymore. In a narrow street in Jalan Hang Jebat, lies a shop specializing on a trade, that we think not important anymore. I remember being in Venice, more than 10 years ago, and was taken aback by all things old. It made Venice a special place to me. That's why Malacca to me, is somehow rather special too. It made me think. It made me feel that I am such in a paradise, where time stood still and life is not just about deadlines and traffic jams.... Yes, wonderful Malacca. The lost paradise...

Sate Celup the Malaccan Way

Patrons of the shop

See- how happy my family is -having discovered this eatery

Verdict- Proofs on what we had eaten


Sate Celup - Chicken, Seafood and vegetables
dipped in hot peanut gravy- kuah kacang.

This is only a quarter of what we have actually eaten

Sate Celup is very famous in Malacca. The food is synonym with Malaccan Chinese. Now, Muslim tourists could have the bite too. This eatery is owned by a Chinese Muslim, situated in Taman Kota Laksamana, Malacca. Only the locals know about this shop as outsiders are more into the ever commercialised asam pedas. However, not all asam pedas sold in the shops in Malacca are that good. Locals do not really frequent these shops as we cook our own "masak asam". Asam pedas are what outsiders call this dish. The locals always calledthis dish as "masak asam". Well, back to this sate celup- I am giving two thumbs up for this food. I have always been fond of Chinese food, due to my own Chinese heritage. Therefore, no asam pedas to me but yes to sate celup. You would never imagine that we could end up choosing so many types of sate celup. Yes, eat as much as you could as the gravy was so tantalising. Forget rice or noodles... these sate celup would make you salivating for more. If you are not all into rice, this is place to be.

Notes: This shop is open during the evening until midnight. It's near to the "famous" Asam Pedas shops in Taman Kota Laksamana. The location of the shop is not really strategic, it is quite at the corner of rows of shophouses. Please ask around the area to know the exact location.

A Gem By The Riverside

Kampung Morten

Now- a beautiful village by the river

A view of Villa Sentosa - a grand Malay house owned by the late Tuan Hj. Hashim Hj Abdul Ghani

The newly renovated bridge of Kampung Morten

Kampung Morten is a Malay village in the heart of the historical city of Malacca, Malaysia. I could say that this is a Malay enclave which was brilliantly preserved by the current Chief Minister of Malacca, Datuk Mohd Ali Rustam. Once a Malay kampung or village famously known for its vicinity near to the old Malacca bus station, it is now known as the the village by the river. Decades ago, the previous administration of Malacca was even bold to demolish the beautiful Malay kampung for modern blocks of apartments and buildings... (what a short-sighted vision). However, due to protests from the villagers, the plan was cancelled. If this plan went ahead, what a loss to the whole state and country. I could not imagine how a stateman has the idea of demolishing Malay architecture for the sake of modern ugly buildings.

It is noted that, cities of the world are famous for their history and cultures. That is why Georgetown and Malacca are endearing to tourists, be it local or foreign- due to their old cultural values. Well, back to this kampung- if you want to feel the nostalgia of a Malay kampung by the river, where children waved and greet you, where housewives sit near the balcony of the house and exchange "news" of the day, where there are calls of prayers by the muezzin - this is the place to be. Call it a magical place, it is indeed a "gem by the River of Malacca". I could not help but say this - I've been to Venice, Italy once- but if you cruise by the river during night time, you could never want to miss this place.. This is like the Venice of the Malaysia.