Jonker Street (Jalan Hang Jebat) is the center of Chinatown in Malacca, Malaysia. Back when the town was a thriving trading port, Jonker Street was the place to be for the affluent. It was also a great place to go to for the numerous antique shops lined up one after the other. These days, Jonker Street is a cozy location for a collection of restaurants, shops and boutiques.
Street Party
During the day, there isn’t much to look forward to along Jonker Street. Many travelers agree that the best time to go there would be on Friday and Saturday nights, when the Jonker Walk Night Market comes to life in full color. The street is closed to traffic, and restaurants, bars and cafes would set up chairs and tables on the sidewalk to accommodate more people. The lively atmosphere punctuated by loud music would give the impression of a street party.
Street Bazaar
Among the things that you can see for sale along Jonker Street are little bobble-head dolls, with photos of well-known Malay and Chinese celebrities attached. CDs, DVDs, cheap plastic toys like masks, action figures, cars and even shades can be purchased at stalls that litter the street. In the video you’ll see a man selling wallets as he patters on about its merits and possibly its durability. Handicraft shops also abound and Jonker Street is considered to be a good place to shop for souvenirs.
Street Food
The sheer choices of food available is enough to make you go crazy. Most are prepared for easy eating, so you can munch on them while walking around. A popular way is to skewer food on sticks. Potatoes on barbeque sticks then cut into spirals are fried into crisps and dusted with salt and other flavorings. Various kinds of meat are skewered and tossed over the grill. Even fruits are placed on sticks and coated with sweet syrup. Jonker Street also has a wide selection of Chinese food including bak chang (sticky rice stuffed with meat and wrapped in bamboo leaves), dim sum, and popiah (fresh spring roll).
Jonker Street also has distinct decorations showing its Chinese origins. Red lanterns are hung on strings tied in between the buildings, while some banners provide color to the area.
Visitors will surely enjoy these activities that present something unique to Malacca.
Photo by Maikcol
