Trishaw a.k.a Beca

No trip to Malacca would be complete without seeing its antiques and curios, best found in the shops along Jonker Street. In fact, Malacca has many small shops selling just about everything, from handmade shoes to bamboo birdcages at very reasonable prices.

The trishaw (tricycle or better known as beca in Malay) ride is the best way to enjoy Malacca in a slow and laid-back relaxing manner. It is also a cheap and excellent way to see the narrow streets of Malacca especially around the old sectors of the town, that you could easily miss out on if you decide to venture out on your own.You can find a number of these “trishawmen” gathered around the historical city, especially near Christ Church, near Jonker Street and waiting to take you on a ride you’ll never forget. Although nowadays a sleepy backwater compared to what it once was, Melaka repays time spent in it. Most trishaw drivers also operate as guides, and in addition to mundane historical facts they will offer you a caustic commentary on contemporary politics to help you understand their city.

So take a trishaw ride in Melaka, feel the exhilaration of its traffic, savour the Baba
and Nyonya cuisine, a speciality of the region, and enjoy the envious gaze of hot and dusty sightseers on foot as you ride in Beca.

You can rent a trishaw on an hourly basis or per trip. Do negotiate before getting on a trishaw though. Some offer substantial discounts and more comfortable trishaws whilst some are a little more well-worn. There are also some that are better decorated than the others. In short, you will find yourself quite spoilt for choice.