Joey Yap Feng Shui Talk @ KLCC Convention Centre

Joey Yap's session has rather become a yearly affair and this would be the 3rd year than I am coming for such talks.

The first time, I remembered it was held in Nikko Hotel, it was my first time there and I was shocked to see so many people listening to such talk... at this time and era when we are into ipods and mp3s, it was like a surprise to see so many people around...

Anyway, this year, the talk was held in KLCC Convention Centre to a full house of 3,ooo people.

Packed to the very end....Joey Yap had us captivated from 10 -5, other seminars, you might have fallen asleep, but certainly not this one!

Mystical Steppes @ KLCC Convention Centre

As I walked in to the hall with the traditional songs of Xin Jiang filling up the Plenary Hall, I knew I was in another place already.

Mystical Steppes held In KLCC Convention Centre brought Xinjiang closer to Malaysia with its songs an dance.

A group of 42 dances, they are also known as the Xinjiang International Grand Bazaar Theatre and they have been performing around the world.

Each dance had a theme, where the opening act started with "My Village" an Uyghur dance to welcome people from a far.

Xinjiang is made of different miniroty groups and that night we were treated with dance and songs from each different group, there was " Zamila", a dance belonging to the Uzbek minority group. This performers had female dancers attired in midriff-baring costumes that accentuated their hips whenever they swayed them seductively.

I called this the Shakira and The Fast and The Furious as I once thought only Shakira can sway her hips like that.

They also had an Exotic Arab Snake Dance, with a real snake that looked half dead... but it was fun to look.

In total, 12 dances were presented and each one gave the audience a glimpse into Xinjiang’s rich culture.

The Stadthuys @ Melaka

The Stadthuys (1650) was the official residence of the Dutch Governor. It now houses the Historic Museum and Ethnography Museum which has many traditional bridal costumes and relics on display. Nearby, one will also find the Christ Church built in 1753, another fine example of the Dutch architecture.

This is the place to get your pictures taken, as it is the famous landmark in Melaka

The Queen Victoria's fountain was built in 1901 and it did reminded me of a similiar landmark in Lemington Spa......

Anyway, this is the place where history comes alive!

The Ruins @ St Paul's Hill

If there is something you remember during your history class, it would be the Melaka history, the glory of Melak during that days, which was suppose to be the Venice of Asia or something like that, where trades were done in such a big way that everyone wanted to come to Melaka..

Well, now is still the same, everyone wants to come and see the ruins and the historical landmark... up the hill I went and came to the ruins where I can imagine it was once a powerful fort.... If these stones could talk, I am sure they will tell me a fantastic tale......

St Paul's Hill - A Famosa @ Melaka

St. Paul's Hill (A'Famosa)



The Portuguese colonised Melaka from 1511 to 1641. A' Famosa was built by the Portuguese as a fort to overlook the river.

Within the fort walls were housing and food stores, a castle, a meeting room for the Portuguese Council and five churches.

However, what we can see now is actually the ruins of whatever is remaining as a seven-month attack by the Dutch just about destroyed the entire fortress, leaving only the entrance façade and the structure of a church at the top of the hill.

If you wake up early, then go up the hill to have a jog, its definitely refreshing!

Makan-makan @ Melaka

Ok, so many you do not want to eat hawker food, dun want to sweat it out while eating and walking at the same time..

Dun worry, the streets of Melaka is also filled with cute eating spots, from those open air dining spots to eating in in those historical shop houses, you are spoilt with choices..

But if you are first time here, try eating inside those historical shop houses, the architecture within allows you to feel the past glory of Melaka

Geographer Cafe @ Melaka

Be it am or pm, this is the happening place to be, the set up is absolutely nice in the afternoon to see people walking by and as the night sets in, the mood is relaxing and some might even call it romantic, that is if you are there will your other half.

A movie scene was known to be shot here and as the picture shows it can very well be one of the landmarks here in Melaka!

Open Karaoke @ Jonker Street

Maybe you can consider this as a Fear factor Challenge! Open karaoke..... definitely not for the faint hearted...As you walk along Jonker Street, other than food and souveniers, a stage is also been set up for you to do Karaoke.... yeah and if you sing badly, you would not find any audience sitting there to listen to you... so you better to your best...

Other than Karaoke, the stage is also an event for them to have events such as singing competition etc... life is more interesting here, you can see Jonker Street Idol.... live....

Jonker Street @ Melaka

Its exciting walking along Jonker's Street, one one hand you are holding your drink or some tid bits, on the other hand while looking for more food, you can see what are the other stuff that are out on display.

From books, to clothes to pictures.....other than the pirated VCDs and DVDs, they practically have some things to amaze you. As compared to other night markets, Jonker street has an edge, it does display some antiques or some things from the past which some other night markets in Malaysia do not have!

From made in China goods to artifacts from Melaka, you can find it here!

Food Galore @ Melaka

If you are on diet, please don't come to this place, because trust me, you will not be able to get out of here without trying one of its many favourites.

The best time to come here to Jonker's Street in the weekend, not sure whether they have this night bazaar during weekdays, but during the weekend, the whole Jonker Street will be filled with hawker style food and other tid bits, that will let you want to eat more and more.

From fried oyster to radish cake, from ice kacang to "lok-lok".... you just can't resist the food here.

I find here is the best place to destress and relax with friends, while eating food and walking along Jonker Walk, so if you are bored, come to Melaka okay!

Chinese Architecture @ Melaka

In Melaka, history is everything! It is the heart and soul of this state and within the city, it is the historical element that brings tonnes and tonnes of people to this state.

One of the things that you will notice in their historical town is the Chinese architecture which is not only reflected in the temples and also the clan associations, but also in some of the residences.

The fine and eleborate designs with dragons, tigers and other symbolic features as their motives clearly highlights the skillful "artists" that were involved in designing and bringing all these motives to life.

While learning history has always been boring to me, but a walk to the past in this town will walk you to learn how the Chinese influence came about in this town.