The Melaka River was once in a pretty nasty state, but the authorities realized its tourism potential and cleaned it up. A flotilla of small boats transports sightseers up and down past historic buildings, old warehouses (godowns), interesting mangrove stands, churches, and villages.

Melaka started as a trading post in 1403 to serve the hinterland. By the late 15th Century, Melaka was an established trading hub known as the “Venice of the East with people coming from far and wide to trade. It was said that there were 84 languages spoken in its heyday. The river was filled with merchant ships large and small. The buildings that lined the river in the city were for commerce and houses further away.

Malacca has its own share of street arts amidst the street art craze that took Malaysia by storm. Unlike the creative 3D murals — that have parts of real-life objects embedded in them — in other old towns, the murals in Malacca are mostly paintings and categorically more diversified.