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 4 eco-friendly hotels you should experience in Singapore

Hotels in Singapore are committed to living up to Singapore's reputation as a 'Garden City', upholding eco-friendly practices and high-level holiday experiences for travelers. Check out these 4 hotels for your next trip that are just as luxurious as they are sustainable.

Six Senses Duxton

Opened barely two months ago, the Six Senses Duxton represents the luxury range’s first city hotel and foray into Singapore, though it will be accompanied by a bigger counterpart at Maxwell later in the year. If you are not familiar with Six Senses, they are known for pushing a rustic yet polished hospitality experience that mixes sustainability with wellness.

Sustainability measures are practiced at every level, including the supply chain, the hotel returns story foam boxes back to the suppliers to be reused, while single-use plastics (plastic drinking straws, bottles and paper plates) are not stocked at all.

Oasia Hotel Downtown

Juxtaposed against the towering concrete structures in Singapore’s Central Business District, Oasia Hotel Downtown stands out with its verdant facade. Creepers intertwine with the contrasting crimson panels, while tall trees from the sky gardens peek through, engulfing the entire building and creating a massive vertical garden.

It is not just the exterior of this tropical skyscraper that is impressive though. More greenery peppers the leisure areas, welcoming fauna like birds and insects into its ecosystem. The open design promotes natural ventilation and provides shade, reducing the need for air-conditioning. Rainfall is collected to irrigate the flourishing gardens, emphasising the hotel’s commitment to sustainability.

JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach

One of the latest entrants onto the crowded Singapore hospitality scene, the JW Marriott Hotel South Beach’s approach is as architecturally arresting as it is eco-friendly. Any visitor there would have noticed the soaring metal canopy, its undulating features, designed by British architects Foster and Partners, is meant to mimic ocean waves but the design has also been angled in such a way so as to lower overall temperatures by approximately two degrees.

Not only that, the structure also collects rainwater for usage and has been outfitted with solar panels, the energy collected goes to light up the building’s facade.

Parkroyal on Pickering

When it comes to eco-friendly digs in Singapore, Parkroyal on Pickering is definitely one of the most committed players, especially with its verdant veneer made up of live plants. And they are not just there for show, there are gardens located on every fourth floor, and the ample amount of vegetation help to absorb heat, reducing the reliance on cooling systems.

Part of their water supply comes from a mix of rainwater, as well as Newater (Singapore’s recycled water). Small wonder that the hotel has clinched the Asia’s Leading Green Hotel accolade at the World Travel Awards for three consecutive years.

See more: Top popular street food dishes in Singapore

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The best budget hotels in Taipei, Taiwan

As one of the more expensive cities to visit in Asia, Taipei is not always at the top of the list for the budget traveler, but this lively city full of culture has a lot to offer the thrifty tourist. And far from being a city full of boutique hotels and five-star establishments, there are more than a few budget-friendly hotels right here in the city. Here are five of the best.

Beauty Hotels Taipei

Beauty Hotels Taipei (Hotel Bchic) is a boutique hotel in a modern tower. With a simple, luxurious design and a fancy vibe, the hotel tries its best to live up to the chic ideal. However, it is still a budget hotel, so you get good value for money still.

It is an eight-minute walk from Songjiang Nanjing MRT Station. The MRT is an interchange, which allows you to easily switch to other train lines. Breakfast is included when you stay at this hotel, but it is not well-reviewed, so you might want to get some street food instead. The rooms are clean and nicely decorated, with art pieces in rooms and cozy wooden flooring. Some people might find the rooms a bit small, but if you do not mind a bit of a squeeze or have lots of luggage, then you will not have an issue. Some rooms come with a whirlpool tub too.

Dandy Hotel Daan

Hotels near Daan Park are usually in a much higher price bracket than this unusually named Dandy Hotel. Here, the focus is on providing as clean and modern a living space as is possible without overcharging guests. The décor is incredible, and the fact that you are in Daan where there are great public transport connections and so many things to do just makes the place an ideal find. Rooms from around TWD2000 (US$65).

Via Hotel

Located right smack in Ximending, a location does not get any more prime than the Via Hotel’s. It is a great location for shopping and exploring all that Ximending has to offer. It is also located near to Ximen MRT Station, so you can explore the rest of Taipei easily from there.

The rooms are cheery, with colorful wallpaper livening up the atmosphere. However, do not that the amenities in the Via Hotel are extremely basic. The wardrobe is just a bar fastened to the ceiling, and the Wi-Fi connection is weak. You might trade in a bit of convenience for the accessibility of the hotel.

CityInn Plus Ximending

This new hotel is right in the heart of one of Taipei’s coolest neighborhoods, Ximending. The entire building is super modern and very well maintained. Some of the rooms feature murals and modern art touches that give CityInn Plus a very chic and stylish feel that often makes guests wonder if the rates they are paying are actually correct. Rooms from around TWD2150 (US$70).

Goodmore Hotel

Located in one of the most trendy neighborhoods in Taipei, Goodmore Hotel is found close to the Shida Night Market which boasts a plethora of street food and retail options. No trip to Taiwan would be complete without a visit to one of its bustling night markets, and Goodmore Hotel is conveniently located 400 meters away from one. On top of that, the Taipei Songshan Airport is also easily accessible from the hotel as it is only 5 kilometers away, not to mention that the hotel offers surcharged shuttle service from the airport.

See more: The most impressive buildings in Taipei, Taiwan

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