Melaka River Cruise : A major tourist attraction in Malaysia
Melaka is a famous historic port strategically located on the Straits of Malacca,144 kms southeast of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.The Portuguese came to Malacca in 1511 and ruled the place till 1641. When they arrived at the shores of Melaka, the first thing they did was build a fort overlooking the river. They named it A Famosa. The A Famosa is one of the oldest European Architecture present in Southeast Asia.
There is now a 45-minute cruise that goes along the Melaka River which visitors find exciting and informative. It is said to be a good bargain and the 10 kilometer Melake River Cruise takes off at the mouth of the river, at the Dutch Square, and it travels all the way to Kampung Morten. The Tan Boon Seng Bridge is seen along the way, and it is important to point out its immense historical importance. The Portuguese used this bridge to capture the state; they divided Melaka in half and cut off communications in between.
That’s not all as there are two more important bridges to go! The Chan Boon Cheng Bridge is seen further along. Constructed in 1908 and rebuilt in 1963, it is a steel bridge that links the older Chinatown (Kampung Pantai) with the new Chinatown (around the Jalan Bunga Raya). Later on there is the Ghostbridge of Malacca, for pedestrians, that links Kampung Hulu with Jalan Kee Ann and the old Central Market. This pedestrian bridge was originally used for fishing trade and there are many Chinese restaurants in the area for this reason. One of the restaurants is now famous because it was used in Entrapment, a movie produced by Hollywood.
Other highlights of the cruise are the old homes and warehouses that are built on both sides of the river. High tide is the only time in which it is available, so visitors should plan ahead to fit this into their schedule. The Central Market is nearby and visitors can also see the Jalan Hang Tuah Bridge that links Jalan Munshi Abdullah with Jalan Hang Tuah. There was a theatre called the Cathay Cinema, but it is now closed. To the left of it is the Express Bus Terminal for Jalan Kilang. Buses can be taken to any other part of Malaysia at a reasonable price and old shops line the street in a quiet manner.
The last destination on the cruise completes the trip wonderfully. It is Kampung Morten, a very old village. It is a national heritage site that is well taken care of and its beauty lies in the traditional Malay architecture, reflecting older lifestyles and culture. The Melaka River Cruise is a major tourist attraction and since it allows visitors to enjoy history in a much more entertaining way.
