Raya at Kampung Morten, Melaka

Our Raya in Melaka would not be complete without visiting the traditional Malay village in the city - Kampung Morten. It seemed a pretty quiet third Hari Raya day when we were there, but we were lucky to be invited into the home of Hajjah Bibi and Haji Ibrahim for sembang-sembang (chats), kueh (cakes) and tea.

The house of Hajjah Bibi & Haji Ibrahim (CNB 2014)

The hospitable couple (CNB 2014)

A third generation resident of the village, Hajjah Bibi had many interesting stories to tell about life in this kampung. She divulged that even the Prime Minister of Malaysia and Chief Minister of Melaka have dropped by to say hello/salam. Her traditional kampung house is a veritable museum of Malay domestic artifacts and she does get tourists peeking in. In fact the whole village is a living museum of 'rural' life in a bend of the Melaka River.

B & Hjh Bibi in HB's daughter's bridal bedroom (CNB 2014)

Hjh Bibi's dining hall/kitchen (CNB 2014)

There are many other pretty houses in the unique Melaka style in this riverine kampung and their surroundings are very neat and tidy indeed. The container gardens around the abodes here give added charm to the 200 odd houses. The Melaka River cruise boats come up to Kampung Morten before turning back, so the houses here are lighted up at night (with spot lights on the roofs as well). Some of the houses in this heritage village offer homestay/guesthouse options for visitors to Melaka.

Pretty pink curtains and salmon red staircase of the famed
private house/museum Villa Sentosa (CNB 2014)

Blue window panes and orange staircase (CNB 2014)

Next door to Hajjah Bibi is her sister's rather famous house. The 'Merdeka' house with the Malaysian flag painted on its roof gains fame come 31st August every year. It has been featured in the news time and again.

The 'Merdeka' house in Kg Morten (CNB 2014)

Some historical facts about Kampung Morten: It is a Malay village which had its beginnings in the 1920s in a swampy area by the Melaka River. It is named after Joseph Frederick Morten, then Commisioner of Land in Malacca.    (Melaka 28-30 July 2014)