Praya Lane: a place of community, culture and Christmas cheer

Tucked away in Melaka, Praya Lane may appear quiet and unassuming, but its narrow stretch holds a rich tapestry of memories shaped by community, culture and shared lives.Once home to a vibrant community of Portuguese Eurasians, Chinese, Indians and Malays, the lane thrived on neighbourly bonds – from children turning it into their playgrounds to adults lingering over conversations as pushcarts selling char kuey teow and mee rebus rolled by.FMT turns its lens on Praya Lane’s story – a reminder of a Malaysia where the heart of community lay not in grand spaces, but in simple, shared moments..rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cSpinner{ margin: 50px auto; width: 50px; height: 40px; text-align: center; font-size: 10px; } .rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cSpinner > div{ background-color: #333; height: 100%; width: 6px; display: inline-block; -webkit-animation: rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179c-stretchdelay 1.2s infinite ease-in-out; animation: rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179c-stretchdelay 1.2s infinite ease-in-out; } .rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cSpinner .rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cRect2 { -webkit-animation-delay: -1.1s; animation-delay: -1.1s; } .rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cSpinner .rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cRect3 { -webkit-animation-delay: -1.0s; animation-delay: -1.0s; } .rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cSpinner .rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cRect4 { -webkit-animation-delay: -0.9s; animation-delay: -0.9s; } .rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cSpinner .rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cRect5 { -webkit-animation-delay: -0.8s; animation-delay: -0.8s; } @-webkit-keyframes rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179c-stretchdelay { 0%, 40%, 100% { -webkit-transform: scaleY(0.4) } 20% { -webkit-transform: scaleY(1.0) } } @keyframes rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179c-stretchdelay { 0%, 40%, 100% { transform: scaleY(0.4); -webkit-transform: scaleY(0.4); } 20% { transform: scaleY(1.0); -webkit-transform: scaleY(1.0); } } Praya Lane in Melaka may look humble, but its narrow stretch holds a colourful past.Along this lane, neighbours once lingered over easy conversations, pushcarts served up mee rebus and char kuey teow, and children ran freely.Once, these weathered wooden windows in a pre-war building would have been flung open to let in morning light, street sounds and familiar voices below.The word “praya” means "beach" in Kristang, but it was more than just a name - it reflected who they were: a unique community shaped by the sea and one another.Children once transformed this lane into their playground, pedalling tiny bicycles, playing “teng-teng”, spinning tops and flying kites.Former and current residents (from left) Christian Bernard De Mello, Helen Tee, Oliver Low and Martin Theseira share a light-hearted moment in front of No. 6 Praya Lane, now transformed into a community centre by the Melaka Portuguese Eurasian Heritage Arts & Cultural Society.Old photographs and stories at the community centre bring to life the memories of those who once lived on Praya Lane and those who still call it home today.A snippet of a story at the community centre tells of belonging, paying tribute to the lives that shaped Praya Lane across generations.Here, a vibrant community of Portuguese Eurasians, Chinese, Indians and Malays once lived side by side, their daily lives closely interwoven.Martin Theseira and his nephew, Christian Bernard De Mello, ring in joy of Christmas with festive songs, filling the community centre with warmth.Martin Theseira stands in front of what was once a humble sundry shop - a place that even sold guitar strings, as many young people here played the instrument.A quiet corner of Praya Lane today, where the walls of a wooden home gently echo the memories of the lane’s storied past.A well-kept home on Praya Lane, dating back to 1938, where the simple architectural design and potted plants reflect the quiet charm of a bygone era.A wooden house stands quietly amidst overgrown greenery, weathered walls and creeping vines bearing silent witness to the passage of time.A narrow passage between wooden houses tells of a time when neighbours formed a tight-knit community.It is hard not to imagine how this quiet yard once bustled with life, as neighbours stopped by and children filled the space with play and laughter.The Assumption Chapel, believed to date back to the 19th century, was built by the Portuguese Mission.Each December, the magic of Christmas fills Praya Lane as carolling organised by the Assumption Chapel brings former and current residents together.On Dec 12, big smiles, easy laughter and festive cheer filled the air as Assumption Chapel’s carolling united familiar faces in song and laughter.As beloved festive melodies drift down Praya Lane, it is easy to imagine how Christmas once came alive here - and to be reminded that the heart of the season lives in simple moments of coming together.var rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179c = {"version":"3.2.1","id":3240962,"class":"id3240962","roboGalleryDelay":1000,"mainContainer":"#robo_gallery_main_block_rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179c","loadingContainer":"#rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179c-block-loader","loadingContainerObj":"rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179c-block-loader","columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"resolutions":[{"columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"maxWidth":960},{"columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"maxWidth":650},{"columnWidth":"auto","columns":1,"maxWidth":450}],"descBox":true,"descBoxClass":"rbs_desc_panel_dark","lightboxOptions":{"gallery":{"enabled":true,"tCounter":"%curr% of %total%"}},"facebook":true,"twitter":true,"pinterest":true,"vk":true,"overlayEffect":"direction-aware-fade","boxesToLoadStart":12,"boxesToLoad":8,"waitUntilThumbLoads":1,"LoadingWord":"Loading...","loadMoreWord":"Load More","noMoreEntriesWord":"No More Entries","horizontalSpaceBetweenBoxes":15,"verticalSpaceBetweenBoxes":15,"lazyLoad":1,"wrapContainer":"#robo-gallery-wrap-rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179c","filterContainer":"#rbs_gallery_694ca28ba179cfilter","loadMoreClass":"button-flat-primary button-large "};

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Praya Lane: a place of community, culture and Christmas cheer

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