Malacca

We left Singapore by bus and headed north for five hours to the Malaysian city of Malacca (Melaka). Malacca's golden age was more than 500 years ago when it dominated maritime trade on the Strait of Malacca. Its commercial wealth attracted thousands of immigrants from China who remain a large portion of the population today. Malacca's fortunes declined when the Portuguese seized the city in the early 16th century. During its colonial era the city was part of the Dutch East Indies and finally the British Empire. British promotion of Singapore as the region's main port devastated Malacca's commercial economy. Today the city is recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage City.

When did they change the spelling to Melaka?

Portuguese food is still made in Malacca centuries after Portuguese rule

The riverwalk

The oldest Dutch building in Malacca

Malacca TV tower

A Formosa. The oldest Portuguese building in Malacca.

A Formosa was once a church and a Portuguese fort

A replica of a Portuguese vessel sits in the middle of the city

The most common merchandise sold in Asia (by a long shot) is Angry Birds. You wont find any Facebook or Youtube sandals in China, they're banned.