Melaka - Transformed.

December 1999, after spending all my growing years and working life in the sleeping hollow town of Melaka, I packed up and moved to Subang Jaya where I am to spend the rest of my twilight years with my children and grandchildren. However, I still go back occasionally to meet with old friends. Old friends are either balder at the top or wider at mid-section. But that's not the transformation I am going to talk about. It is about the transformation of a sleepy hollow into a vibrant tourist hub. Credit must go to Ali Rustum, the Chief Minister for the astounding transformation, albeit the removal and destructuion of green lungs and open space in the city. I suppose the maxim that you cannot have the cake and eat it as well holds true here.
With the reclamation of the sea, the city has extended its land area and boundary, leading to the  construction of a coastal road thereby easing traffic congestion in certain parts. An island has also been created from the reclaimed land.

The introduction of attractions like the Menara Taming Sari revolving tower (top left), the Eye on Melaka (top right) (as different from the Eye on Malaysia which was relocated from KL) have pulled in hordes of tourists, especially over the week-ends.

One transformation that will not escape the tourist's itinerary is the Malacca river (top). I used to fish here and my favourite spot is beside the old wet market in Kampong Mortem. And I never went home empty-handed. But it is a diferent story now. On two occasions, I spent one hour each time but came home empty handed. A local told me that the river is now too clean for the fish to survive.  At the closing ceremony of an International Training Workshop for Youth on 22nd Aug. 2005 , the Chief Minister proudly announced that almost half a billion ringgit had been spent to rehabilitate and beautify the Melaka river, with features like the river-walks, Boardwalks and the river cruise. There is now talk that plans are in the pipeline to bring in a replica of Admiral Cheng Ho's ship to further add to the already congested tourist spots.
The state government has done well to exploit the resources available to make Melaka the best tourist destination in the country. There is the sea, the beaches,  the river, the islands, the hills and the Mini Malaysia Park which make Melaka Truly Malaysia.
At times I wonder whether I have made the right decision to migrate.