48 hour trip to Malacca, Malaysia

Malacca is a wonderful mix of modern living and centuries’ old heritage, with the tagline ‘Visiting Malacca is visiting Malaysia’. It is a small state but has plenty to offer. The city can be deemed sleepy compared to the bustling Kuala Lumpur. See all sides of Malacca with those things to do when in this UNESCO World Heritage city, and while public transportation is a little scarce, most hotspots are within walking distance from each other, so invest in a pair of good walking shoes and start exploring!

Admire the Sultanate Palace

The Sultanate Palace is actually a model of the original wooden palace that belonged to Sultan Mansur Shah who would have been the ruler of Malacca from 1456 to 1477. The home has now been transformed into a cultural museum which is flanked by pretty gardens and what makes the building even more impressive is that it was made without using any nails to hold it together.

Instead the structure stands as a result of some clever engineering and a series of wooden grooves and slots and the reconstruction was done after taking detailed notes of how the original palace would have looked according to the Malay Annals.

Walk around Jonker Street

Jonker Street is the soul of Malacca. The former residential centre of the old city bursts with life and activity. Colourful and decorated shop houses, each different from its neighbour, line the winding and branching streets. Stop by the vibrant cafés to rest your feet or hunt for bargains and relics in the antique shops.

In the evening, Jonker transforms into the city’s beating heart with energetic travellers, riverside bars and unlimited street food. Weekend travellers can hit the nationwide-famous Jonker Street Night Market on Friday and Saturday nights.

Enjoy Street Art

The street art is what makes Malacca so colourful and will give you lots of photo opportunities on your Malacca trip. Lots of street art can be found around the River and it is all in perfect condition too! Visit Melaka must be taking care of it as they know the street art is now one of the top places of interest in Malacca and it is becoming so famous for it!

As well as looking along the river be sure to head off into some side streets around Jonker Street to find the best street art in Malacca.

Explore the Botanical Garden

Escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself with lush greenery with a visit to the Botanical Garden in Ayer Keroh. Home to over 300 species of flora and fauna, enjoy a scenic morning walk, a healthy jog or a bike ride through its pathways, and when you are done, pay a visit to the Book Village located right in the heart of the park. With over 15,000 books on its shelves, the Book Village makes a great place for a relaxing afternoon with a great read.

Visit Cheng Hoon Temple

Photo Yann Pinczin du Sel

Cheng Hoon Temple is just off of Jonker Street and worth a quick visit. There are a few Buddhist Temples in Melaka but this is famous and on my list of Malacca things to do as it is the oldest working Buddhist temple in Malaysia. It is very pretty from the outside and inside.

Visit Stadthuys

Stadthuys is one of the most famous landmarks in Malacca and you will recognize it immediately thanks to the crimson façade.

The building dates from 1650 which makes it the oldest of its kind that was built during the Dutch colonial period and is modeled on the Stadhuis or town hall in Hoorn in the Netherlands. This used to be the local town hall and residence of the governor but nowadays it houses the History and Ethnography Museum.

Shop local food products

Some claim that Malacca is home to some of the finest food in Malaysia. People from all over Malaysia flock to Malacca to get some of only-in-Malacca food products, so grab the opportunity while you are in town. Head to two of the biggest food manufacturers in Malacca; Tan Kim Hock for delicious dodol and coconut candy, and San Shu Gong for durian chocolate and bean biscuits. When you are done, hop over to LW Pineapple Tarts for some fresh out-of-the-oven nyonya pineapple tarts.

See more: Malaysia and spectacular places to visit

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Top things to discover in Bandra, Mumbai

Bandra is often called the “Queen of Suburbs” and with good reason. One of the most popular and coolest neighborhoods of Mumbai, this western suburb is a unique amalgam of heritage and modernity and is home to some of the most popular restaurants, pubs, and shopping districts in the city. Here is something you can see and do in Bandra so you can get the best out of this neighborhood.

Admire the Street Art

The lanes in the vicinity of Ranwar village have recently become renowned for their quirky street art created by artists from all over the world. Most of it can be found on and around Waroda Road, Chapel Road, and Saint Veronica Road up to Mount Carmel Church in Bandra West. The most prominent murals on Chapel Road are the work of the Bollywood Art Project. There are also massive murals of Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna on the corner of Bandstand and Pereira Road.

Visit Castella De Aguada (Bandra Fort)

One of the fascinating aspects about Bandra is its history, which is a mix of Portuguese Catholic, British, and Indian cultures and sensibilities. The most prominent of these is Bandra’s Portuguese heritage, with Castella De Aguada or Bandra Fort being its most iconic remnant.

Constructed as early as 1534, the Bandra Fort is located at the southern edge of the neighborhood and overlooks the Mahim Bay to the south and the Arabian Sea to the west. Several conservation efforts have taken place to protect the fort since the early 2000s, and currently, the fort’s maintenance is undertaken by the Taj Land’s End Hotel, located in the vicinity. Apart from its architecture and history, the Bandra Fort is also popular for being a great vantage point to view the sunset along the Arabian sea and it also presents great views of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

Take a walk at Jogger's Park

Jogger's Park is an ideal park for early morning or evening stroll in Bandra. This is a seaside park with walking tracks. Jogger's Park is definitely a hub for locals who love to walk around in this age-old park. Visitors can find the Jogger's Park next to the Otters club across Carter Road.

Visit St. Andrew’s Church

Constructed in the year 1575, the St. Andrew’s Church in Bandra is one of the oldest churches in all of Mumbai. The Portuguese Jesuit structure has withstood a number of historical events, including a cyclone in 1618 and the Maratha invasion of 1739, during which the Church of St. Anne, an even older church, was destroyed. The church draws hundreds of devotees and visitors and was Bandra’s only major church for nearly a century after the Maratha invasion.

Go shopping

Bargain hunters definitely will not be disappointed by Bandra West. Linking Road is lined with stalls selling cheap shoes, bags, clothing, and accessories. Make sure you haggle hard to get a good price. The neighborhood also has boutiques that are worth browsing through. Go to Anokhi for gorgeous block-print textiles, Kulture Shop for groovy products by Indian graphic designers, OMO for funky Indian attire, and The Shop for boho-chic fashion and home decor.

Read more: Top 10 must-visit attractions in Mumbai, India

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Best street arts destinations in Singapore

Did you know that despite Singapore’s reputation for clean streets and strict rules, there is a flourishing street art scene? Here are the spots where you can find the best street art in Singapore.

Victoria Street

Fans of Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic‘s works don’t have to go to Penang to see his art – he has several works, featuring his trademark images of local children playing, scattered along this stretch of road between Arab Street and Jalan Sultan. The piece with an actual supermarket shopping cart is especially popular. Also of note is the giant camera-shaped building that houses the Vintage Cameras Museum, with a mural by Singaporean artist Ceno2 on its side.

Haji Lane

Hipsters love Haji Lane for its many indie boutique retail outlets – but what attracts the photographers are the Insta-worthy murals that cover the walls of the shophouses near the Beach Road junction. Colombian artist Didier Jaba Mathieu’s futuristic pop-colour characters feature prominently, but don’t miss the alleyway that connects to Arab Street which features works by Ceno2, Yok & Sheryo and local crew ZincNiteCrew.

Aliwal Street

Pop into the alleyway behind the Aliwal Arts Centre and you’ll find an ever-changing canvas of works on the back walls. This is thanks mostly to local crew RSCLS, who have a studio space in Aliwal Arts Centre alongside many of Singapore’s prominent performing arts groups. Pop over to Sultan Arts Centre across the street to find graffiti shop The Blackbook Studio and you may even chance upon the artists at work on the long panels in its yard.

Tekka Centre

A popular market and hawker food spot in Singapore, there are several murals to be found around the market complex. This is thanks to the annual ARTWALK Little India, an outdoor arts festival that commissions local and international artists to create works celebrating the culture of this Indian heritage district. Check out Buffalo Road, Race Course Road and Bellilos Lane for various murals that pay tribute to past landmarks and customs unique to Little India.

222 Queen Street

Art is in abundance in this district with the Singapore Art Museum, National Museum and various private galleries within a stone’s throw – but of biggest note to street art lovers is the long wall on the side of 222 Queen Street that connects to Waterloo Street. This long wall is an outdoor gallery for various street art projects, the latest being a collaborative project between Singaporean and Thai street artists.

See more: Reasons why Singapore is a worth-visiting destination once