Fascinating Kampong Jawa

I've always found Kampong Jawa area fascinating. Whenever friends from out of Melaka, especially those from overseas come a-visiting, I would bring them to Kampong Jawa to savour its uniqueness and quaint beauty.

Situated near the Melaka River, it is a part of Melaka town. How it got its name is a mystery but translated it means 'The Javanese Village'. Perhaps in Melaka's early days this part was settled by the Javanese traders who made it their home, hence the name. I don't see any Javanese there no more. It is now densely crowded with all sorts of traders, a real happy potpouri of nations.

If you look around to find the road, you may never find it unless you are a local. You enter Kampong Jawa between these canvas awnings put up by small traders selling roasted peanuts and local Malay delicasies.

On either side of the narrow alley, there are stalls upon stalls selling ready-made clothes, t-shirts, baby-wares, praying attires, shoes and the like. You can get anything here at a reasonable price provided, that is, if you are skilled in bargaining!

The narrow alley opens up to yet another narrow road where there is a Malay makan stall selling delicious mee rebus, rojak and a variety of satay - the usual beef, chicken meat, perut and kerang. This stall, opened only during daylight hours, is always crowded with customers of all races.

The mee-rebus, rojak, satay stall

I like this shop in Kampong Jawa that sells different types of basket-ware. Even if I don't buy anything, I like to browse around and look at the variety of old and new designs within.

Walking further, you'll find a pedestrian bridge linking Kampong Jawa with another quaint alley of Kampong Pantai. They have renovated the old bridge when the steps were uneven and the whole look was antique. To me now it has lost its quiantness. Ah well . . . development . .

This little stall sells wooden clogs. It is a part of a dilapidated wooden house which has seen the times. I think it must have been built even before I was born! That old, eh?

And then a few steps away, at the end of the pedestrian bridge mentioned earlier, is a pet shop that sells pets from fish to rabbits to birds. Interesting . . but how I wish the owner would care more about the pets and not cramp them in cages.

Along the road there's the hardware shop, the DIY fanatics treasure house.

There's even a goldsmith shop across the road and . . . this traditonal barber shop. So how not to get exicited at the sight and sounds and the kaleidoscope of colours at Kampong Jawa? Folks, the next time you are in Melaka town, put on your sneakers and go 'ronda-ronda' in Kampong Jawa. Enjoy . . . .