TODAY, I AM on a mission to get to know my five warriors of Melaka. The ones who protected their Sultan unconditionally, who went on missions to protect the kingdom without any question and came back with victories.
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The famous five warriors were Hang Tuah, Hang Jebat, Hang Kasturi, Hang Lekir and Hang Lekiu who lived during the Sultan Mansur Shah era.
Yes, guided by WAZE that brought me to an almost a Get Lost Mission, going through all small kampong roads and lanes (I am famous for getting lost even with maps), I finally reached the Perkampungan Hang Tuah or Hang Tuah Village in Kampung Duyong.
The latest historical attraction is just around eight kilometre from Melaka Sentral, however presently there is no bus that goes to the village. Visitors can either take a taxi or drive here.
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According the brochure I had, the journey to the village would take around 15 to 20 minutes, but with me of course, it was longer. Anyway, enough about my map reading skill.
The Hang Tuah Village sits on an area of 10 hectare and is a cluster of five Melaka Malay houses along with a sultanate palace known as the Hang Tuah Centre. The cost of building this complex is said to be around RM34 million and opened to visitors in 2013.
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Kampong Duyong was chosen because it is said to be the birth place of Laksamana (Admiral) Hang Tuah. His father was Hang Mahmud and his mother was Dang Merdu Wati. Both his parents owned a small shop near Kampung Bendahara and during his childhood, Hang Tuah was said to work as wood cutter at his parents shop.
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Of course, among the five warriors, Hang Tuah was the most prolific admiral. His bravery, his international relations skill and how he cunningly kidnapped Tun Teja, a Pahang nobility for his Sultan and courted Puteri Gunung Ledang, where the legend was turned into a movie.
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All the four warriors were also skilled in the Malay martial arts or Silat. At the village, in the compound of each house which is named after each warrior, there is a court that can be used for silat training or other cultural activities.
I started my tour at the main complex. The entrance ticket for adult is RM5 and children RM3. The grand complex is built like a sultanate palace and in here, visitors can learn the silat movements through its interactive audio visual and also learn about the traditional Malay costumes.
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The information officers were very helpful in explaining the details of history and legends of the five warriors to the visitors. One of them explained that a few weeks ago, the place was abuzz with students who are doing research on historical buildings and monuments for their PT3 History project.
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Meanwhile, the rest of the five houses exhibits other Malay artefact such as the Malay weapon, keris, paintings, costumes and clothes of bygone days. These exhibits are opened for public viewing and for sale.
For those who are into some mystic and brave enough, stepped into Rumah Hang Lekiu to learn about the ghost and ghouls or learn about the unseen and the traditional alternative medicine.
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Do visit the village whenever you are in Melaka. Although it is still closer to the city centre, the place is quite and serene. Once you are done visiting all the houses, why not enjoy the view at the nearby Duyong River.
It is said that the authority has a plan to beautify the river and turned it into a recreational area. There is also a plan for river cruise boats to bring visitors from its jetty at Taman Rempah to the village.
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