Photo Credits: Callan Bentley and Matt Salleh

Perhaps no other place in Malaysia has as much history as the ancient port town of Melaka.

Inhabited by Chinese, Siamese, Portuguese, Indian, British and Dutch throughout its history, Melaka was once a crucial stop over for the spice trade.

A strategic location on the Straits of Melaka allowed the city to thrive as sailors passed through the narrow channel between peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra, their ships laden with precious, flavorful cargo.