The first museum was the The Malacca People's Museum that houses the Kite Museum, and Museum of Enduring Beauty. It cost only RM2 (S$0.90) per entry, and has 3 level of exhibition. One thing about Malaysian Museum is, it's pretty spooky! hahaha. Plus, you can really smell it :P 
The last museum we visited was the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum that cost RM8(S$3.50) per entry. Here you can see how the Baba and Nyonya used to live in the olden days. I like visiting this place cause it brings back memories of my childhood, with all it's Peranakan culture and tradition. My family (both paternal and maternal side) originated from Malacca before migrating to Penang. My mum actually spend her whole childhood and teenage years here with my grandparents. So I can relate to this small town and it's slower pace of life, and completely feel at home here :)
Another very prominent sight at the Malacca River from Dutch Square, is the Maritime Museum in a shape of a ship. Pirates! Ahoy! It looked pretty impressive, and although we walked pass it, we didn't actually went into of it as, well, it's just a museum. If you're ever in Penang, there is also a ship replica at Batu Ferringgi Beach that houses The Ship restaurant. Now that one you should visit!
All in all, I find it extremely relaxing to walk along the Malacca River. Sometimes I feel that we spend too much money traveling to far away places when there are so many wonderful nearby places for us to explore that is just as beautiful, just as exotic. I think I should spend more long weekend in my own country!
On our second day in Malacca, we were still wondering around pretty much lost and without a map. But we managed. From the Dutch Square, walking straight on we hit the Maritime Museum (which photo I will share in another post later), and walked one big round till we reached the iconic "A-Farmosa" Fort. Just a few meters away from the fort, is a replica of the Malacca Sultanate palace which looks pretty impressive. Can't remember why we never bother to visit the palace. I think it was because of the massive noon time heat that kinda melted our brains. 
At the back of the fort is St Paul's Hill. You can walk up the stairs to the hill to reach the St Paul's Church. But just before you reach the church, you can turn right and walk down a small pathway called the Dutch Grave. I guess here's where all the famous Dutch people who once lived in Malacca were buried?
St Paul's Church is actually a ruin, as shown in these photos. You can find painters there trying to sell their craft, and singers there singing traditional Portuguese songs which really adds to the atmosphere. 
A shorter way to get to St Paul's Hill from Dutch Square, is to walk straight on and keep left until you reach this charming red door that leads up the charming hill. Both ways lead to the same place, and everything is really just a walk away. So Malacca is really a great place for a weekend getaway where you can see everything on a leisure scroll! We even managed an afternoon nap on the same day before heading to a Peranakan Dinner. And best of all, all these sights are free! No administration fee required! What else can you ask for?
Next, we took a local bus 17 to Dutch Square(RM1 per person). Easier said then done, since I have no idea what Dutch Square looked like but only knew it was 15 minutes by bus! No fear! Friendly bus driver told us where to alight. And it was an amazing sight that greeted us!
Unfortunately, we didn't have much chance to admire the sights as I have told the hostel guy Sam that we were arriving by 5pm, and already I was running 1.5 hours late! We rushed to confirmed out lodging first, then came back to Dutch Square to enjoy the sight. By then, it was past 7pm, and all the trishaw were all lighted up! I've seen decorated trishaw in Penang and Singapore before, but the ones in Malacca win hands down!
Here's a view of the narrow red shop houses leading to Dutch Square during the day time, as well as the night time. The sight at night was extremely romantic. Malacca is an extremely colorful town! There was also a tourist information center in this photo that is just next to the Malacca River all lighted up like some Japanese Castle!
Here are two wonderful shots of Dutch Square to share, one being the current banner of this blog :)
Costing at RM35 (S$15) for a double bed room per person (breakfast not included), Sam (the person in charge) was extremely kind enough to gave us a room with "more air" as he puts it. Although simple, I actually loved it! It reminded me of my old house in Penang, with all the mosquito included as well! The scene from the bedroom looks out into the courtyard below as shown here in the photos. It was extremely cooling even though there was no air-con. The air was sweet and fresh, with birds chirping merrily in the morning. Charming indeed! (Except for the damn mosquitoes).
Even the toilet was charming! Here shows the pathway to the toilet. There is only one toilet and one bathroom in the whole hostel, but we had no problem using them as and when we like. Best of all is the open-air-ness of the bathroom, which reminds one of a kampung(village) life, with squatting toilet included. And after a hot day of walking, it was extremely calming to come back to a cold shower and relax in a place where time seems to have forgotten.
The lobby area too was simple, equipped with PC which is free for 30 minutes a day for guest. I didn't even need it as I could receive the Wi-Fi signal all the way upstairs in my room! Sam was hardly ever around, so you could just come and go as you pleased as if it was your own house. And the location is just in the heart of Chinatown, totally near to all the sights of Malacca. In fact, we only had to spend RM1 per person to get to the hostel from Melaka Sentral Bus Terminal, and RM1.50 back when departing. No other public transport was needed! (Of course we did walked a lot!).
