Jonker Street is alive + 5 awesome things to do

First things first, an update of our Grand Tour:

​After a really stressful time in the big city KL, we decided we needed to leave and find somewhere that we can find peace. Due to the limited accommodation options in Cameron Highlands, we weren't able to return there again. That would have been amazing. 

Art cards are available now in store :)

We chanced upon a quirky accommodation in the suburbs of Melaka and looked through google maps and street view extensively. (We've got some great shots and will share the links once we've moved on to our next location!) We were apprehensive because we had a heavy heart and a disastrous Airbnb experience the previous time we stayed in Melaka. 

We absolutely love this property and there are amazing neighbours who are very friendly and kind. Quiet and tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the major roads, we've been decompressing! We've been visiting local eateries and shops in places tourists don't usually frequent and we've been blown away by the amazing food and hospitality of the locals. 

One thing that we really love about Melaka is the abundance of AWESOME food!
Here's 4 that we really enjoyed this time...

1. Shu Peo Korean BBQ
No.2, Jalan KPKS 6, Kompleks Perniagaan Al-azim, 75250 Kota Syahbandar, Melaka
https://www.facebook.com/shupeokoreanbbq/

2. Face to Face Noodle House
2 Locations...click link
https://www.facetoface.com.my/store-locations#melaka

3. The Best Chicken Rice (冠军鸡饭)
G14, Jalan Rahmat 1, Taman Malim Jaya, 75250 Malim Jaya, Melaka
https://the-best-chicken-rice.business.site​

4. 729 Kopitiam
Taman Merdeka Permai, 75350 Batu Berendam, Malacca

It's time to make our tummies really happy!

The kids really enjoyed our previous K BBQ experienced and ask for more!

Fascinated with the tiny tissues

Skip the iPad at dinner! Let's do mental sums by adding up the items we ordered. He actually enjoys it and got the right figure for our final bill!

Put the Kimchi on the grill and eat it hot! Its AMAZING!

MEAT!!!!!

Delicious, good portion and you can tell they do put in effort in their food!

A warm soupy bowl always warms the cockles of the kid's hearts.

There's roasted, steamed chicken, roasted duck and char siew!

You sit in the streets on the road and there are MANY hawker stalls selling super tasty BBQ chicken, Char Kuay Teow, prawn noodles, Fried oyster. It feels a little like Bedok 85 market but tastes better and costs way less!

​We've stayed mostly in the suburban areas of Melaka this time but decided to head to Jonker Street this weekend! We were surprised IT WAS ALIVE! So many stalls are back in operation! It is best to go around 5pm before the really massive crowds come by. If you intend to have dinner at the hawker areas in the street, you'll really need to get there early. By 630pm you will have to wait quite long for a seat.  

A beautiful mess is my short description of Jonker's allure.
The longer description: Jonker is where you'll hear the noise of the crowd excited at the calls of shop owners promoting their wares. It is where years are rolled back to when   shopping at a street market was part of life. Homogenised and sanitised shopping malls aren't a thing and haggling was an essential life skill. Street markets like Jonker activates all your senses. The fascinating sounds of hawkers clanging their woks or breaking up ting-ting candy while bright lights illuminate their little stalls. Your olfaction is constantly on alert as the smell of umami wafts through the air. An occasional stink of raw seafood and (controversially) durians interrupts the sweet smell of local delicacies. It is like a little treasure hunt where you're constantly searching for something interesting to eat or buy. 
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By 6pm on a weekend....

Here are 5 awesome things you can do at Jonker Street, Melaka:

1. Eat street food
There's street snacks and if you'd like, the hawker stalls cook up full meals too!

Doom for me but joy for others!

How do you get past the smell? Put it in the comments below!

Quail eggs and yummy sausages!

Happy to get their first taste of quail eggs!

2. Buy local souvenirs
You'll be spoiled for choice at the amount of knick knacks you can find here. There's apparel, electronics, local art, chicken bowls and even customised cup noodles. Go earlier in the day before 5pm to make yourself a customised cup noodle (Noodle Doodle) at Mamee Jonker House. 
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Painted Clogs

Its so creative these stools!

3. Street Photography/Videography
There's so much action to be captured here! It really is a photographer's dream. If you like blogging or creating reels like we do, here is an amazing place for content creation. Be discreet and most people are generally okay to be photographed. 
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​4. Visit the old town 
The Dutch square is just a short 2 minute walk from the entrance of Jonker Street. You'll find the Queen Victoria Fountain, The Stadthuys, Christ Church Melaka and several other museums in the immediate vicinity. The A Famosa Fort is also just a 7 minute walk from Jonker. 

Old is gold. It is always nice to see the old town again!

The Victoria fountain

5. Take a caffeine break at a Cafe nearby
There are some pretty well reviewed cafes and are all walking distance from Jonker street. I've listed these because they are pretty good + they are open in the evenings on weekends when Jonker Street is in operation. 

-Street Barista @ Jonker
3, Jalan Hang Lekir, 75200 Melaka

-Alley No.5
https://www.facebook.com/Alley-No5-五号-1411295249150289/
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​-Limau Limau Coffee
https://www.facebook.com/Limau-limau-cafe-156430097788314/
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We are now wrapping up our Grand Tour in Malaysia! Our Grand Tour is headed to another country and we are SO EXCITED to plan for the next leg. We will be flying again and we've been waiting for this moment since 2018!

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