DRIVE 2 1/2 hours north and you could find yourself back in the early '80s.
You get an idea of what Singapore used to be like almost 30 years ago as you walk through the streets of Malacca.
Remains of the A'Famosa fortress, which suffered severe damage when the Dutch invaded, still stand behind St Paul's hill.
Rustic and charming.
The early influence from the Portuguese, Dutch and British can still be seen in and around the city. These historical characteristics of the town have since earned Malacca a place in the Unesco World Heritage Site.
An example is St Paul's Church built by the Portuguese in the 1500s, where Francis Xavier was buried in 1553. His body was later moved to India.
The Portuguese also built a fortress when they occupied Malacca. But when the Dutch invaded, the A'Famosa fortress suffered severe damage. The remains of the fortress still stand behind St Paul's hill.
After the Dutch took over, they, too, left their mark on the small Malaysian town.
Another popular tourist spot is the Stadthuys, which means town hall in Dutch.
It was built in 1650 and was the official residence and administration of the Dutch Governor. It has since been converted to the Historical and Ethnography Museum, which showcases the history of Malacca and the culture and lifestyle of the various communities in Malacca.
Tour Malacca town on one of these trishaws.
Its population is a mix of Malays, Chinese, Indians and Eurasians.
Of course, since Little Nyonya hit town last year, the sleepy town of Malacca experienced a deluge of Singaporean tourists.
Busloads of visitors have headed there to see and experience the Peranakan culture.
A stroll down Jonker Street is a must for most visitors looking for a Peranakan experience. The buildings that line the street are a showcase of the Straits Chinese heritage with intricately constructed carvings on its walls.
Today, the street is also famous for antique shops anda very popular night market.
For a closer look at the Peranakan culture, there's the Baba and Nyonya Heritage Museum.
There's more to Malacca than history and culture.
For some fun activities for the family, head to the A'Famosa Resort, which is just a half-hour drive outside the town centre.
This integrated resort has something for every member of the family. Within the resort, there's a 27-hole golf course, a water theme park, an animal safari and a cowboy town-themed entertainment centre.
As its name implies, the 60ha A'Famosa Animal World Safari is home to more than 100 animals.
The A'Famosa Resort, located just half-hour drive outside the town centre, offers fun activities for the family.
And over at the Water World park, you'll find slides and pools of every kind. For the more daring, there are two seven-storey high speed slides that are sure to give an adrenaline rush.
Also within the massive A'Famosa resort is Cowboy Town, which provides an array of indoor entertainment.
Built in old western style, this 'town' takes you into the cowboy era as you walk through its western rustic buildings, while cowboys, cowgirls and Red Indians greet you as country songs play in the background.
This cowboy-themed entertainment village has everything, from restaurants and shopping outlets, to a children's theme park, a cinema, bowling alley and massage spas.
So, while the kids find ample entertainment, mum can shop or go to the spa while dad can take in a round of golf.
Packed to the brim with activities, it may well take more than a day to cover what's offered at the resort, which explains the hotels and villas also available for visitors to stay.
You can also choose a cosy hotel room, a condominium or your own villa - whichever suits your taste and budget.
If you didn't realise small town Malacca had this much to offer, a weekend getaway is always timely.
Getting there
No direct flights from Singapore to Malacca. It takes approximately 2 1/2 hours by car or bus from here.
From Kuala Lumpur, it's about a 1 1/2-hour drive.
This article was first published in The New Paper special "Travel Malaysia 2009".
