Kampong Jawa Melaka Arab Village

Location of Kampong Jawa, Melaka

Kampong Jawa or Java Village, Melaka (Malacca), is located at Latitude. 2.1666667° and Longitude. 102.3166667° (source: Where is Kampong Jawa?).

Location maps of Kampong Jawa, Melaka

(click on map to enlarge):

Location of Kampong Jawa is indicated by a "pin"

About Kampong Jawa Melaka

Kampong Jawa was a 19th-century Javanese village in Melaka. Its name actually a misnomer as it is currently not mainly populated by descendants of Javanese from Indonesia, but have evolved over the centuries to a few rows of double-storey pre-war shoplots and semi-wooden premises offering a myriad of household items, clothing and other knicks and knacks for sale run by mainly Chinese. The only vestige (trace) of its Javanese-Malay origin is the presence of a 56-year-old surau (prayer house) next to the riverbank.

However this may not last as there are plans by the Malacca State Government to acquire this quaint "village" and turn it into an Arab village for tourists from the prosperous Middle East. So if you want to visit this heritage "kampong" you will have to do it soon before it disappear.

Malacca or Melaka named Cultural World Heritage by UNESCO

Photo of is property of Mike

Malacca (spelling in Malay, Melaka) has been named a Cultural World Heritage site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). This is a global recognition that had long been sought.

One of the many historical sites is the 17th Century Cheng Hoon Teng Temple. Its trustee member is Josephine Chua. Josephine said the Malacca must now take steps to create greater awareness amongst the public (and the authorities who are fond of tearing up old historical relics to replace wiht monstrous "modern" structures like the RM21mil revolving tower at its new site next to Taman Bunga Merdeka in Jalan Merdeka) on the importance of preserving the city’s rich cultural heritage.

Another chicken rice ball restaurant in Malacca

The original chicken rice ball restaurant is Hoe Kee Chicken Rice (click BACK button to get back to this page), which started selling the now famous chicken ball rice 30 years ago. Now this restaurant is facing stiff competition with many imitators sprouting up.

The latest one is:

Famosa Chicken Rice Ball
28-30, Jalan Hang Kasturi,
Off Jonker Street,
75200 Melaka.
Tel: 606-2860121
Fax: +606-282 4595

in the neighborhood of Old Town, Malacca. It calls its chicken ball rice "Chicken rice ball special".

The Famosa Chicken Rice Ball restaurant is house in a former century-old former goldsmith shop, but has positioned itself as an upmarket chicken ball rice restaurant with its chic décor and comfortable setting. They say their chicken ball are cooked with butter and ginger, complemented by tender chicken meat flavored with sesame oil and sauce. Expect to pay more (about RM10 or USD3 at time of publishing) as becoming of its more comfortable settings.

The real chicken rice balls of Malacca - Hoe Kee Chicken Rice

If you are a sticker for original, and you want to sample the real thing, you will have to go to

Hoe Kee Chicken Rice
No 4, Jonker Street
Malacca,
75200

in Old Town, Malacca, for this is where the famous Malacca chicken rice balls started some 30 years ago. If you want some modern restaurant settings, you will have to go elsewhere as there are lots of imitators now of which I will be writing about later. This one is located in an old little shop just as it was when it started and would appeal for those who long for the nostalgic times.

The golf ball sized, are cooked in butter and ginger and is accompanied by steamed chicken. With imitators sprouting, they have added extras like asam fish, black bean soup and lotus root soup. Expect to pay about RM5 for a decent meal (1.49 USD at time of publishing. Probably more later with the US Dollar falling like "a ton of bricks". Sorry if I got this English saying wrong, but just trying to say that the US dollar is expected to go lower with time).

San Petro festival at Portugese settlement in Malacca

It was April 1511 when Afonso de Albuquerque set sail from Goa to Malacca with a force of some 1200 men and seventeen or eighteen ships to make it a strategic base for Portuguese expansion in the East Indies. Lots of things have happened since that date, but some Portugese have chosen to stay behind in Malacca to set up a Portugese settlement which still exist today. Malaysia is a multi-racial country with 3 major races - Malay, Chinese and Indians, plus other races and tribes. The Malay holds the political power and has given itself Bumiputra (sons of the soil) status with special privilages. This had been extended to the Portugese (accuracy not verified yet) but not to the Babas and Nyonas (the Chinese who came with Admiral Zheng He (Cheng Ho) and settled in Malacca and Penang) for reasons only known to the authorities. The Portugese came to conquer, but the Chinese came in peace.

The majority of the Portugese occupants of the settlement back in the 1930's and 1940's wereb either directly or indirectly involoved in the fishing industry. Fishing is a hazadous occupation, thus the need for a patron saint for the fishermen - San Petro or St. Peter. From June 23 to June 30 (the period varies from year to year, but this year being Visit Malaysia Year, the dates have been extended), the settlers celebrate the birthday of San Petro with Fiesta San Petro. There will be dancing, singing and feasting amidst dim candlelights. There are also fun fairs, game stalls, best decorated boat contest and the procession of the statue of St. Peter.

On the actual feast day, there is the Eucharistic celebration followed by the blessing of the boats decorated with colourful flags, banners and paints, and candles were lighted. The blessings are for God’s grace for a bigger catch for fishermen who depend on the catch for their livelihood. The lit candles signify the Light of Christ who guides the fishermen through the storms of life whether at sea or on land. The fishing boats then join a procession which starts from A'Famosa Fort, winds through the historic streets of Malacca and ends at the Portuguese Settlement.

It is only the 25th of June today. You still have 5 more days and one night to catch the San Petro festival. Otherwise, plan your visit for the following years.

For more information, contact

Portuguese Settlement: Tel: 06-2847050
Phone: 606-2318200
Fax: 606-2311400
Email: ismail@melaka.gov.my
Website: www.melaka.gov.my

Serviced apartments in Malacca

List of serviced apartments in Malacca, Malaysia:

A' Famosa Resort Hotel

Jalan Kemus Simpang Empat
78000 Alor Gajah
Malacca.
Tel:606-552 0777
Fax:606-552 o811
No. of units: 166

Century Mahkota Hotel

Jalan Merdeka
75000 Malacca.
Tel:606-281 2828
Fax:606-281 2323
No. of units: 422

Garden City Melaka Service Apartment

No. 9 Jalan Merdeka
75000 Malacca
Tel:606-283 3111
Fax:606-284 8550
No. of units: 80

Watercity Resort

Lot 44, Jalan Wakaf Utama
off Jalan Tun Hamzah
Bukit Katil
75459 Malacca.
Tel:606-251 3688
Fax:606-231 3179/3935
No. of units: 920

Homestay Programme

Like to know how the typical folks in the kampongs (villages) live? Join in Malaysia's Homestay Program. There are Homestay Programme in every states in Malaysia. Get to know the family you stay with, experience dining with local dishes. Experience Malaysian's well known hospitality and culture. Live as the local do, like wearing a sarong and play unique Malaysian kites with kids in the scenic paddy fields. Watch a local cultural dance or participate in silat, the local form of martial arts. Host families usually gets between RM60 (USD17.11) to RM120 (USD34.21) per day per head.

There are homestay programme near to Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. In Selangor and Negeri Sembilan there are homestay programmes in Kuala Langat, Banghuris, Air Manis, Sungai Tengi and Sungai Haji Dorani and Pelegong.

You'll have the axperience to taste the authenticity of "kampung life" where you will be staying with your host family and be part of the household by joining them in their daily activities. You might even get a chance to tap a rubber tree, learning to identify local herbs, hands on the local handicraft and making delicous malay cakes - lemang and dodol.

Apart from paddy and mango farming, the villagers are greatly involved in the cottage industry, producing local delicacies such kerepek pisang (banana chips) and baulu (local spongecakes). At Dorani Homestay you not only get to taste these local delicacies but get to try their hand at making them. Visitors also get to learn how batik is made and they also get the chance to create their own batik momento to bring back home. Further more information you may contact:

Dorani Homestay
Kampung Sungai Haji Dorani
Sungai Besar, Selangor
Tel: 603-3241 0846 / 013-607 7025
Email: doranihomestay@yahoo.com
Dorani Homestay

Pelegong Homestay
Kampung Pelegong
71900 Labu
Seremban Negeri Sembilan
Tel: 606-791 1044
H/P: 012-607 7941
Fax: 606-791 1044

Kampung Lonek Homestay Programme
Kampung Lonek,Jempol, Negeri Sembilan
Tuan Haji Mohamed Ayob Yasin
Tel: 609-4983708
Mobile: 6019-3418190

Kampung Seri Tanjung
En Mohd Yusoff Salleh, (Pengurus)
Seri Tanjung Tours & Homestay Sdn Bhd
AG 4926 Tingkat 1,
Bangunan MARA Masjid Tanah
78300 Masjid Tanah, Melaka
Tel : 06-384 5853 (R) 06-385 2330 (P)
Fax : 06-385 2330
E-mail : yusof@malacca.com.net
Website : Malacca Homestay

For a full directory of all homestay programs in various states, refer to Malaysia Homestay Directory (click "BACK" button to return to this page).

Do you want to buy a turtle island?

Pulau Upeh (pulau is the Malay word for island) in Malacca, on whose beaches the endangered Hawkbill turtle come to lay their eggs, has been put up for sale by Tenega National Berhad (TNB, the country's electrical generation and distribution company). The island was reported to have been sold to TNB on June 29, 2004 by Yayasan Malacca.

Although the island has a landmass of only 2,8 hectare (108,000 square feet), 14.100 eggs (a third of the state's total) collected between January and September 2006.

The Fisheries Department has been reported to be interested in purchasing the island to turn it into a research and management center for the turtles as a part of its turtle conservation plan.