Malacca Weekend Ride Itinerary.
Day 1, Saturday.
6.30am Meet at Grand Continental Hotel, Johor Bahru.
To get to the Grand Continental, after the causeway, get onto the road that leads to Kota Tinggi. The hotel is the tall building on your left, just after the first tunnel you go through, about 3 km from the causeway.
6.45am Pre-ride brief and move off towards the North-South Highway. Stop at an appropriate petrol station for fuel top up before the highway.
7.45am Breakfast & fuel stop at Machap R&R (Kawasan Rehat) along the North-South Highway.
8.45am Proceed north again along the highway.
9.30am Fuel stop and coffee break at Pagoh R&R (Kawasan Rehat) along the North-South Highway.
10.15am Exit at the Ayer Keroh (Melaka) Interchange and assemble just after the toll station.
10.30am Proceed into Malacca town.
Getting to Malacca town can be confusing for new bikers. So just in case you do get lost, here’s how to get there.
From the Ayer Keroh toll station, head straight down the road and do not make any turns at the many major junctions. Slow down when you pass the huge Jusco shopping centre on your right and up ahead, look out for a Fella Design furniture showroom (purple and green building) on the left (just in front) of a T-junction. Make a left turn at this junction and continue going straight down on this road.
You will soon arrive at another traffic light controlled T-junction. Make a right turn here and head straight down the road again. Go slow here and not far ahead you will see the small Kanchil Hotel on your right. Turn left at the next traffic light controlled T-junction just after this hotel.
You will then reach the cross-junction of the multi-lane Malaccan highway. Make a right turn here and a left at the next junction getting off the highway. Go straight ahead on this road again until you come to a Y-junction. Keep right.
Ride straight ahead from here on and soon you'll be in Malacca town. The City Bayview Hotel Malacca will be on the left side of the road you are now on.
All in all, the journey to town will be about 10 to 15 km. Stick close to the route marshals and ride slow. Going fast here will give the marshals a hard time keeping the pack together and heading the right way.
11.00am ETA City Bayview Hotel, Malacca. Tel: 06-2839888
11.30am The afternoon will be free and easy but if you’re interested to try out the famous Malaccan Chicken Rice Balls, check in at the hotel quickly and we’ll be heading out there for lunch. The close shortly after 1pm once the chicken runs out!
2.00pm After this mid-day mind boggling gastronomical experience, digest your food and widen your mind by taking a walk down Jonkers Street, the famed antique district of Malacca. The chicken rice stall is in this district.
7.00pm Ride to Mahkota Parade Shopping Centre for makan at Melaka Raya (stretch of food stalls opposite the shopping centre), shopping and maybe a movie. Motorcycle parking cost RM0.50 (bring exact change) and a movie will cost you RM8.00. There’s a bike accessory shop on the 2nd floor of Mahkota Parade and a bowling alley on the top floor next to the cinema. Let’s have fun! What the heck, it’s a Saturday and we’re mobile!
Day 2, Sunday.
7.00am Breakfast is served.
9.00am Sight seeing on 2 wheels. If time permits, here are some of the local tourist haunts we will be exploring.
A replica of the Melaka Sultanate palace was reconstructed at the foot of St. Paul's Hill. The wooden building now houses the Cultural Museum of Melaka.
On top of St. Paul's Hill is the St. Paul's Church, once the prayer house of the Portuguese Catholics, then turned into burial ground for their noble dead by the Dutch.
After the Portuguese captured Melaka, they built a fortress to defend themselves. The fortress, called A'Famosa suffered severe destruction during the Dutch invasion.
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.
The Kampung Keling Mosque is one of the oldest in the country (17th century). It's a blend of Sumatran and Western architecture with a 3 tier pyramid roof, a touch of Hindu influence perhaps. The carved wooden ceiling is supported by elegant Corinthian-styled columns.
Another well preserved building, the Cheng Hoon Teng temple was constructed in 1645 and is believed to be the oldest Chinese temple in the country. The eaves of the temple are decorated with Mythological figures and animation made from broken glass and porcelain. Besides the figures, the wood carvings and lacquer work are almost breath-taking.
St. John's Fort
was rebuilt by the Dutch during the third quarter of the 18 th century, the fort was once a private Portuguese chapel dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The fort has an interesting feature in that its gun embrasures face inland as during that time, attacks on Malacca came mainly from the land instead of from the sea.1.00pm Lunch in town and after which head back to the hotel.
3.00pm Check out and prep bike for ride back.
3.30pm Pre-ride brief.
4.00pm Move off and head for a fuel station at Ayer Keroh. Top up fuel and head onto the North-South Highway. Proceed south towards Johor Bahru.
5.15pm Stop at Machap R&R (Kawasan Rehat) for fuel top up and coffee break.
5.45pm Proceed back onto the highway.
6.30pm Turn off onto the E3 highway, after the Kulai Interchange, to head for the 2nd link to Singapore.
6.45pm Stop at Gelang Patah R&R for final fuel top-up.
7.00pm Proceed across the causeway and back to Singapore. See you on our next ride!
