EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - NIGHT VIEWS FROM JAMBATAN CATHAY - 11.2.2009

These features may not look so glamorous during the day but are definitely attractive at night. This is the view of the Eye of Melaka from Jambatan Cathay

This facade is actually the back of a row of old shop houses brought to glam with the lights

Even the old unoccupied Cathay Theatre can turn majestic in the night.

(Here's what it's used to look like during its heydeys in the 60s)


This building is a recent add-on to the landscape and houses an eatery


This is the upriver view of the Mangrove Boardwalk from the old shophouses

What's there to do?
1. Stop for tea tarik at the eatery and watch the river boats go by
2. Practice your night photography
3. Sit and enjoy the sights by the river planter troughs
4. Walk on the boardwalk
5. Ride the Eye of Melaka and do the Pirate Ship
6. Get a 360 degree view from Jambatan Cathay

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - NIGHT VIEWS FROM MEDAN HANG TUAH - 11.2.2009

Here's another set of views from a different angle and at river level. These palms adorn the sidewalks at the Hang Tuah plaque and fountain display. This is also where one of the new public toilets is located.

Across the river, is the iconic Clock Tower at Dewan Hang Tuah and looking pretty in deep pink. Unlike Big Ben, Dewan Hang Tuah Clock chimes at every hour to a popular Malay tune ending with a gong strike

The new eatery across the river connects to old shop houses. You can choose to sit in or outside alfresco style from where you can get to wave at the people on the river boats

The Eye of Melaka is located after the Cathay Bridge and is the brightest-lit because of the blue neons

There are two ways to go across the river - you can use the Hang Tuah Bridge (which is nearer, if you are at Medan Hang Tuah) or the Cathay Bridge

What's there to do>
1. Check out the clock chime, identify the tune and hear the sound of the gong
2. Check out the Hang Tuah plaque
3. Walk the bridges and see the sights

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - NIGHT VIEWS FOM JAMBATAN HANG TUAH - 11.2.2009

This is the view of two river walk cafes. One is a contemporary cafe with wireless internet access and the other has a more typical laid back coffee shop environment

On Hang Tuah Bridge, you will get to see a more picturesque view of the Clock Tower at Dewan Hang Tuah lined with glittering lights along the new walkway

From the mid portion of the Hang Tuah Bridge, you can get a more extensive view of both sides of the river. Notice the very well lit walkway on the right with palms. This palmy spot is called Medan Hang Tuah

Here's a more fuller view of Medan Hang Tuah that display a large copper plaque with a pictorial collage of stories of the Melaka Sultanate during the time og Hang Tuah. A great amenity here is the new and well lit public toilet


This is fuller picture of the eatery and the shophouse block. Notice the majestic colours that transform these buildings into photogenic opportunities

What's there to do?
1. More night photo practices
2. Listen to the chime of the clock
3. Check out the menus of the two cafes
4. Choose to go upriver or downriver to explore further

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - NIGHT VIEW OF DEWAN HANG TUAH CLOCK TOWER - 11.2.2009

This is the night view of the iconic and still functioning Clock Tower at Dewan Hang Tuah from across the road. Dewan Hang Tuah is a multi-purpose hall and a public library

What's there to do?
1. Listen to the chime and gong beat on the hour
2. Choose to explore down river, upriver or in the direction of the traffic towards Hang Tuah Mall or against the traffic towards Jalan Bunga Raya
3. Check out the library

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI MELAKA STAGE 3 - 11.2.2009

Stage 3 Le Tour de Langkawi on 11.2.2009 started from Dataran Pahlawan and ends at Hang Tuah Mall. The cyclists arrived from Bangi on 10.2.2009. Race proper starts at 10.00am and racers arrive as early as 8.00am. The Korean team seen here arriving

Racers get ready for the race with all kinds of personal and professional regimes on the sidewalks

Sun block is a must for this racer from China. It was perfect weather with blue skies and steady gusts of morning wind

The start off had over 100 racers


Racers passing by the Clock Tower of Dewan Hang Tuah about 500m from the finish line at Hang Tuah Mall.

Mini history - Tour de Langkawi is a cycling race started in 1996. It was named after Langkawi because Langkawi was the starting point in the first few editions of the race

What's there to do?
1. Come the next Le Tour get ready for a great photo opportunity
2. While waiting for the start or ending, explore the many shops at Dataran Pahlawan and Hang Tuah Mall
3. Take photos with some of the great racers

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - KIDS IN TRADITIONAL COSTUME AT LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI MELAKA STAGE 3 - 11.2.2009

These kids dressed in brightly coloured traditional costumes were part of the attraction at the Melaka Stage 3 Le Tour de Langkawi on 11.2.2009

The costumes came with a variety of interesting headgear especially for the girls

Most of the costumes represented the different ethnic costumes of people in Melaka like the Portuguese, Malay, Chitty, Baba Nyonya and Indian

Floral accessories adorned the hair of this little girl


While others had equally interesting tiara-like ones

What's there to do during the Le Tour?
1. Photo opportunity
2. Get to interact with the kids and their parents from the different communities

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - KEBAYA BEAUTIES AT LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI MELAKA STAGE 3 - 11.2.2009

As in every other cycling race, it always customary to have a bevy of local beauties dressed in attractive local costumes to perform several customary duties like ushering in VIPs and posing with race winners on the podium

At Melaka Stage 3, the bevy of beauties were dressed in traditional Nyonya Kebayas of green, pink and yellow

These top of these colourful traditional Kebayas are made of cotton voile fabric while the sarong seen here are actually silk pareos

There are 10 over ways to tie the pareos and in each of these beauties, the pareos are tied with the pleats in front

Each beauty also wears a different headgear usually floral

What's there to do at Le Tour?
1. Opportunity for portrait photography
2. Appreciate traditional Kebayas
3. Pose with the team of beauties for souvenir photos

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - ICONIC COLOURFUL TRISHAWS AT LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI MELAKA STAGE 3 - 11.2.2009

A showcase of local becas was held before the start of the Tour de Langkawi Melaka Stage 3 on 11.2.2009. More than 20 assortedly designed becas lined the starting point infront of the Dataran Pahlawan

The becas led the Racers for some distance before the racers took the lead for the actual race

As part of the extravaganza, the becas carried kids in traditional costumes of the local Melaka people

What's there to do?
1. Take a ride on the beca
2. Pose for a photo with a beca or while trying to ride one

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - FANCY SIGN OUTSIDE SHOP - 11.2.2009

Can you guess the full English name of this shop located at Jalan Bendahara?
Place your guess below.

What's there to do?
1. Well, how about looking for fancy signs around the city?

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - COLOURFUL FLOWERS ON THE SIDEWALKS OF MELAKA CITY ROADS - 11.2.2009

This pretty bloom is a Pink Zinnia. Zinnias come in a variety of colour with large profuse blooms. They are annual flowers usually grown from seeds

In all the plant troughs on the side walks on the roads of Melaka City, there are multi-colour Zinnias - pink, yellow, orange, red and rose grown together

When planted on the ground, the designs change to more singular colour patterns. Examples of beautiful designs can be found at the Clock Tower at the Stadhuys and along the walkway near the Taming Sari Tower

Like the colourful becas, these blooms add colour and vibrancy to the surrounding where they are planted
Besides being a heritage and historical city, Melaka can also boasts of being the most "flowerful" city in Malaysia!

What's there to do?
1. Photograph the different colour blooms
2. Pose for photos
3. Grow some back home, buy a book on "How to Grow Zinnias" from the local bookstore
4. Do a botany tour around the city, find out who planted the Zinnias and give them a pat on the back for a great spectacle of colour

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?

EXPLORAQUEST MELAKA - BOUGAINVILLEA HEDGE AT MAHKOTA HOTEL - 10.2.2009

Bougainvilleas are named after its discoverer, Louis Antoine de Bougainville, a French Navy Admiral in Brazil in 1768 and was touted as the botanical discovery of his voyage to the Pacific Ocean

Bougainvilleas can be grown as a shrub or vine. Here at the back entrance of Mahkota Hotel Melaka it is grown as a hedge.

This is the longest single colour bougainvillea hedge I have seen stretching more than a 100m long. The almost full bloom of purple pink flowers is a dramatic sight to behold and it opens up your heart when you see it

Bougainvilleas are tropical plants and they thrive best outdoors and in areas with low rainfall and intense heat. Melaka city weather which is regularly sunny and hot suits the bougainvilleas

Seen from an angle, the blooms do make Mahkota Hotel pretty majestic!

What's there to do?
1. Come see the bloom while it's still blooming..of course
2. Take photos
3. Buy some bougainvillea plants and start a hedge of your own

Now who says there's nothing to see and nothing to do in Melaka?