Malacca Heritage Trail: Jonker Street / Jonker Walk
Malacca has seen ruthless days, from being passed on from one conquistador to another, bellowed upon, pillaged to the hilt and regimented down to the ground, this city has definitely had her own share of unbridled antiquity.
The Portuguese first arrived in 1511 annexing Malacca to Portugal. However, the Portuguese’s quasi monopoly in the region (they had Macau in China) was threatened when the Spanish and the Dutch arrived in the area, with the Spanish settling in the Philippine archipelago, and the Dutch claiming their trading ports in the West Indies which is present-day Indonesia and Malaysia. The city was eventually overturned and captured by the Dutch and became an important trading point in Asia for a time. When the British came the Anglo-Dutch Treaty was established to separate what was for the British (present-day Malaysia and Singapore) and for the Dutch (present-day Indonesia).
Clearly, you can see a lot of colonial interference in this region and this led to historical fragments scattered around the city such as street names.
Jonker Walk/Jonker Street: Baba Nyonya Houses
Jonker for example is a Dutch name and Jonker Street or Jonker Walk (the official street name is ‘Jalan Hang Jebat’ but everyone calls this street Jonker) is the most famous heritage street in Malacca. Everyone will direct you to here. Interestingly, jonker in Dutch is pronounced as ‘yong-ker’ while the locals pronounced it as ‘jong-ker’.
It goes to say that evidently the street goes back to the Dutch Period, and when the Dutch left Malacca, rich Chinese locals moved in this street and built beautiful Peranakan houses. Quite a number have survived up to this day and a stroll here would show you a lovely delight of Peranakan—Baba Nyonya preserved houses, mostly restored and converted into commercial shops selling antiques to souvenirs to trendy garments and home accessories, as well as cafes and restaurants.
I mentioned in my Singapore post (here and here) that Chinese migrants in the 15th-16th century settled in this wider archipelago (Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) and they call themselves Peranakan or Baba (male) and Nyonya (female). So you can say that this part of the city is the Chinatown of Malacca.
Jonker Street and its surroundings are a fine fusion of tradition, heritage, hip and innovation. Definitely a must stop when in town.
Coffee Break at RainForest Coffee Bean
Website: RainForest Coffee Bean (Facebook)
We need a short break for my mom to rest and for my dad to have his afternoon coffee =) and we found this coffee shop called Rainforest Coffee Bean that also sells traditional Peranakan and Asian antique-style furniture. It is a coffee shop and furniture gallery rolled into one.
I am fascinated with design, after all I once was an Interior Designer, so I did my rounds in the gallery.
No Smoking Zone?
On this street as well is a ‘No Smoking Zone’ sign which honestly I find quite double standard because the street is open to vehicular traffic. In fact, many of these vehicles passing through are so-called ‘idling cars’ waiting. How can you take this regulation seriously?! In my humble opinion, the exhaust fumes from the slowly passing and idling vehicles are far worse than a man smoking 5-metres away from me on the street.
Not a ‘Hit and Run’ but a ‘Hit and Ignore’
Oh, before I forget, I was almost run over by a car because this reckless woman cannot seem to distinguish if I am the road or not? Luckily a man saw the car slowly approaching behind me, er she was trying to park, and was able to warn me just in time. I have quite a nimble reflex so I jumped away, although, I was still hit, albeit very lightly on my side. BUT YES, I WAS STILL HIT! And the woman did not even noticed it. I mean, WTF? Simply unbelievable. I need to confiscate this woman’s drivers license.
‘Stupid woman who cannot drive!’ I vented out in frustration to the man who warned me. He responded still shocked from witnessing what had just happened, ‘Yes, very stupid woman!!!’
To Malacca authorities: PLEASE PEDESTRIANISE JONKER WALK!
During the weekends—Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, the street is closed to traffic for the night market. It is very lively and festive here during the weekends and I will be posting a separate entry about my weekend evening experience on this street soon.
Travel Period: August 2013
Destination: Malacca (Malacca), Malaysia
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
The Portuguese first arrived in 1511 annexing Malacca to Portugal. However, the Portuguese’s quasi monopoly in the region (they had Macau in China) was threatened when the Spanish and the Dutch arrived in the area, with the Spanish settling in the Philippine archipelago, and the Dutch claiming their trading ports in the West Indies which is present-day Indonesia and Malaysia. The city was eventually overturned and captured by the Dutch and became an important trading point in Asia for a time. When the British came the Anglo-Dutch Treaty was established to separate what was for the British (present-day Malaysia and Singapore) and for the Dutch (present-day Indonesia).
Clearly, you can see a lot of colonial interference in this region and this led to historical fragments scattered around the city such as street names.
Jonker Walk/Jonker Street: Baba Nyonya Houses
Jonker for example is a Dutch name and Jonker Street or Jonker Walk (the official street name is ‘Jalan Hang Jebat’ but everyone calls this street Jonker) is the most famous heritage street in Malacca. Everyone will direct you to here. Interestingly, jonker in Dutch is pronounced as ‘yong-ker’ while the locals pronounced it as ‘jong-ker’.
It goes to say that evidently the street goes back to the Dutch Period, and when the Dutch left Malacca, rich Chinese locals moved in this street and built beautiful Peranakan houses. Quite a number have survived up to this day and a stroll here would show you a lovely delight of Peranakan—Baba Nyonya preserved houses, mostly restored and converted into commercial shops selling antiques to souvenirs to trendy garments and home accessories, as well as cafes and restaurants.
At the back of the boat statue is the entrance to Jonker Street/Jonker Walk.
I mentioned in my Singapore post (here and here) that Chinese migrants in the 15th-16th century settled in this wider archipelago (Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) and they call themselves Peranakan or Baba (male) and Nyonya (female). So you can say that this part of the city is the Chinatown of Malacca.
Jonker Street and its surroundings are a fine fusion of tradition, heritage, hip and innovation. Definitely a must stop when in town.
Coffee Break at RainForest Coffee Bean
Website: RainForest Coffee Bean (Facebook)
We need a short break for my mom to rest and for my dad to have his afternoon coffee =) and we found this coffee shop called Rainforest Coffee Bean that also sells traditional Peranakan and Asian antique-style furniture. It is a coffee shop and furniture gallery rolled into one.
I am fascinated with design, after all I once was an Interior Designer, so I did my rounds in the gallery.
The parents waiting for their coffee.
No Smoking Zone?
On this street as well is a ‘No Smoking Zone’ sign which honestly I find quite double standard because the street is open to vehicular traffic. In fact, many of these vehicles passing through are so-called ‘idling cars’ waiting. How can you take this regulation seriously?! In my humble opinion, the exhaust fumes from the slowly passing and idling vehicles are far worse than a man smoking 5-metres away from me on the street.
See the No Smoking sign on the left hand side of this narrow and busy street.
Not a ‘Hit and Run’ but a ‘Hit and Ignore’
Oh, before I forget, I was almost run over by a car because this reckless woman cannot seem to distinguish if I am the road or not? Luckily a man saw the car slowly approaching behind me, er she was trying to park, and was able to warn me just in time. I have quite a nimble reflex so I jumped away, although, I was still hit, albeit very lightly on my side. BUT YES, I WAS STILL HIT! And the woman did not even noticed it. I mean, WTF? Simply unbelievable. I need to confiscate this woman’s drivers license.
‘Stupid woman who cannot drive!’ I vented out in frustration to the man who warned me. He responded still shocked from witnessing what had just happened, ‘Yes, very stupid woman!!!’
To Malacca authorities: PLEASE PEDESTRIANISE JONKER WALK!
During the weekends—Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, the street is closed to traffic for the night market. It is very lively and festive here during the weekends and I will be posting a separate entry about my weekend evening experience on this street soon.
Travel Period: August 2013
Destination: Malacca (Malacca), Malaysia
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
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