Coming to Bunga Raya is a must whenever I visited Malacca. One of my BFF owned a jewelry business here.
Bunga Raya Melaka
This place used to be very popular and considered as the heart of Malaka city in the 70’s. The name Bunga Raya in English mean hibiscus, also Malaysia’s national flower! If you are interested in shopping in old town, do pay a visit here. Just about 10 mins walk from Stadthuys Red Square.
These old shop houses has been converted into budget accommodation with a touch of peranakan style.
It is interesting to explore the alley of Bunga Raya. Most people will hunt food in this area. Two of the most famous food in Bunga Raya is the Popiah and the Oyster Egg Omelette/Oh Chien. I can still remember the queue get super long even back in the olden days when the popiah guy’s father used to own the business.
Address : Jalan Bunga Raya Lane
Madam King Department Store
With so many newly opened shopping centre in Malacca recently, especially in the Dataran Pahlawan Area, I wonder how did Madam King Department Store survive till today? Madam King Department Store is considered one of the oldest and most established emporium. Back in the olden days, only the rich come to Bunga Raya and shop at Madam King Department Store. 🙂 Pay a visit and you may find something you like from kitchenware utensils, fashion apparel to tourist souvenirs. It is easier to shop as everything is under one roof, 3 levels.
Plastic flowers shop in Bunga Raya
Exploring in the Bunga Raya street, bring back a sense of nostalgia.
These days not many people willing to make their own clothing but we still see a fairly big shop selling cloth for curtains and other wedding purposes in Bunga Raya main street. Making your own clothes actually cost more these day as compared to the ready made. Previous generations love designing and sewing their own clothes.
Discovery jewelry shops in Bunga Raya
Check out my friend’s Jewelry Shop in Bunga Raya, you may find some special collections you like here at the corner of Bunga Raya main street and Jalan Jawa. The business established more than 40 years ago and has their regular die hard customers who frequent their shop.
Entertained by Sharon, my childhood BFF, she is so patience to fulfill my needs. Do stop by and visit this friendly lady boss when you are in Bunga Raya Melaka.
Address: Kedai Emas Poh Mei 4, Jalan Jawa, 75100, Melaka
Dataran Pahlawan Megamall
If you want shop at some megamall shopping area, come visit Dataran Pahlawan. It has more variety and hundred of shops inside the big megamall. We stayed in Hatten Hotel so it is just next to the Dataran Pahlawan Megamall, one min walking distance. The place is so huge and full of shopping areas and restaurants. There are cheap stuff and branded stuff, you can shop whole day if you love shopping.
Hatten Hotel is very new and has a very good location, it is very near to the shopping malls and also the historical spots, like A Famosa and St. Paul Hill. Hatten Hotel belong to Hatten Group so if you are tired of going out from the hotel, you can even shop inside the hotel.
View from the hotel, overseeing the iconic A’ Famosa and Melaka skyline.
Coincidentally another BFF pharmacy shops is located 1 mins away from the Hatten Hotel. I paid a visit and stock up some medicine to bring back home.
4 Sekawan Dinner
My night ended at a restaurant nearby Hatten Hotel. The setting of the restaurant is very interesting. Most people think it is a tailor shop when they passed by the shop but actually it is a nice cafe serving fusion food. Mainly western.
It was a fun night catching up with my school mates but now they are all hardworking entrepreneurs. Far left, the friendly looking Pei Shi runs a student care and tuition centre, she is the principal now. Second left, Sharon owned a jewelry business and the one next to me, Pauline owned a pharmacy business. It’s amazing to see them designing, launching and starting their business from the scratch. A lot of hard work and determination. Great to learn about their business challenges, sweet and sour experiences.
Empat/4 Sekawan is the forever classic drama series which uses multi-dialect, pretty hilarious show run in the Malaysia TV for more than 2 decades. Pei Shi, the principal named our meeting as 4 sekawan in group chat. 🙂 Our principal is so creative.