第十一天 马六甲

马六甲——精彩的历史课
（陈抿川 撰写）

马六甲，我们到了！

刚从芙蓉下来，我们都迷迷糊糊的，秀兰联络赖兴祥校长，他亲自来接我们，真的很不好意思，感激，感恩！赖校长请我们吃午餐，还特地安排两位学生带我们参观马六甲古迹区。她们是玉婷和嘉颖，都很友善。他们很卖力地介绍古迹区各个地方，还跟我们讲了有关的历史。可是我只顾得不停地按快门，因为我很喜欢古老的建筑屋和古董，所以这里简直是我的天堂！

走着拍着我们到了一间回教堂。玉婷想考考我们的观察力，叫我们在回教堂找出一个华文字。我心想开玩笑，在回教堂里找华文字不是在鸡蛋里挑骨头吗？姑且看看，没想到还真有华文字，是一个双喜字！原来这回教堂是由华人建的，是一间中马合璧的回教堂，很有趣！可惜我拍不到那双喜字，不然一定很有纪念性。

我们过后到了郑和馆，认识了天豪，他跟我们同岁，在那里工作。他很卖力地给我们介绍郑和的事迹，我们正听得津津有味，奈何时间已迟，只好第二天才回来继续“上课”。

晚上，赖校长请我们吃晚餐。餐后，我们到学校会议室，与赖校长进行访问，谈了蛮久。

隔天早上竟下起了大雨，害我们赖床不起。但还是起来了，我们手脚很快，基本上本没耽误到时间。早餐后我们到学校去参观。因为这星期六是培风校庆，所以每班都忙着依照各自的主题来布置课室。我们这三个陌生人进了几班去看看，让他们很奇怪，但我们也没说明，拍了几张照片就离开了。

下午我们享用了马六甲著名的美食——鸡饭粒，之后由玉婷和嘉颖带回郑和馆继续历史课。天豪引我们走完整间郑和馆，一一给我们详细说明，真的是辛苦他了。我们了解到Hang Tuah 和Hang Jebat这两个兄弟原来不是马来人，而是华人，也是中国人，还是太监哦，真想不到！我们也看到了馆里的很多井、钱币、陶瓷，还有机器操纵的布袋戏。走到尽头，里面还可通向一家茶馆，通道是一条小路，小路只容一个人行走，很狭窄，两旁都是攀藤植物，有进入古堡的感觉。

天豪放工后，驾车载我们到海边去欣赏夕阳的风景。我们在那里待了好久，一边欣赏风景一边聊天。聊着聊着，才知道原来天豪8月底也要到北京留学，真的是太好了！北京体育大学和北京大学才相差5公里，我又多个人可互相照应了。过后，我们一起回到培风中学观赏校庆彩排的表演。由于我们太累了，所以半途离席，结束了今天的旅程。

Knowing the Past and the Present

by Paul Chong

Throughout my schooling years, the name Cheng Ho appeared in history textbooks for a few times. Every time we study about the Melaka Empire, we study about Admiral Cheng Ho and his voyage. At that time, my history failed quite badly every time. I absolutely detest that subject and thought that it was useless and boring, especially those that are related to Chinese culture or Malaysian history.

My recent trip to Melaka brought me to an understanding that history is in fact very important and closely related to us in our life. We were brought by our two wonderful tour guides to Cheng Ho Cultural Museum for a visit. There, we were blessed with another guide who is very knowledgeable and professional in explaining to us the significance of Admiral Cheng Ho’s voyage.

Only then I understand that without Admiral Cheng Ho coming down to Melaka, the very famed Melaka Empire wouldn't have existed. When Cheng Ho set foot on Melaka, he realizes that Melaka’s strategic location was ideal for his stopping point. He then brought the new King Parameswara back to China. Both countries soon formed an alliance with China giving protection to the then newly formed Melaka Empire. This diplomatic alliance with China was the key to ward off attacks from Siam (Thailand) and Temasik (Singapore).

Without this great mariner, Melaka would cease to exist. If Melaka does not exist, then the Malaysia we now know might be under Thailand or Indonesia today. Without Admiral Cheng Ho, Chinese people wouldn't have settle down here in Malaysia, and the Baba Nyonya culture wouldn't be formed. What I am trying to say is, the voyage led by the great eunuch 600 years ago had directly affected the future of Malaya, and greatly influenced the society at that time. Will Chinese culture be brought to Malaysia if Cheng Ho hadn’t set sail on the year 1405? Will Malaysian culture be so diversified if Cheng Ho hadn’t stop by Melaka?

Besides Cheng Ho, more importantly is that we know more about our ancestral roots, China. We learnt that China was once a very strong nation, if not for their conservative way of doing things, I am sure they would’ve far surpassed the Europeans. One thing is for sure, when the Chinese set their mind on something, they will give their all to do the best. Take Admiral Cheng Ho’s fleet as an example, who would’ve thought that 600 years ago, there was a fleet of three hundred ships that sailed the ocean? Who would’ve thought that a ship more than a hundred meters long can be made of wood? These show that our ancestors not only have the skills and technology, it shows that they have the determination to be the best.

Speaking of the best, nowadays China is fast catching up to more advanced countries like America and all the European countries. Take the recent 2008 Beijing Olympic for example, it was arguably the best Olympic ever held. The way they showed their architecture prowess, their creativity, their technology, and finally their enthusiasm never failed to get praises from around the world. In the end, China was the overall champion of the Olympic games.

With such a long and grand history for us to take as lessons, and such a bright future in front of us, we, Malaysian Chinese should always hold our heads up high. As longs as we preserve the qualities of our ancestors, observe the values that are passed down by them, never give up without a fight, always do our best, and be persistent, one day, Malaysia will definitely shine brighter than other nations.

来到世遗之城马六甲

陈秀兰 撰写

2008年，马来西亚的两个州属，即槟城和马六甲双双被联合国教科文组织列为世界文化遗产城。如今步入了世遗两周年，槟城的老街正轰轰烈烈上演全民共庆，一系列的文化演艺活动，与此同时七月七日还被列为州民的世遗公休日。相较之下，马六甲显得冷清，据知古城并没有任何的庆典活动。

槟城，是马来西亚最早开发的城市，乔治市为槟岛的中心，本岛人都鲜少会刻意去留意这里的建筑物，尤其是老屋。这里的地价越炒越热，十年前空旷荒芜的草地，如今已是挤满住宅及建筑高楼。自从乔治市被列为世遗后，一连串的发展与修建工程陆续进行，尤其是在世遗区，酒店、餐馆、书店、商店等如雨后春笋般林立，最近更建了时代广场、太平洋购物广场、新世界美食天堂等，可见世遗效应可真大啊！万众瞩目的世遗老街，瞬间成了处处有商机的宝地。管理者以提倡旅游与经济效益来经营这块宝地，可是却往往忽略了古迹本身是否得到应有的保护。摒除我们肉眼看不见摸不着的潜在危机，我们触目可见的不良示范，还可真是显而易见呢！

最近炒得的水深火热的燕屋问题，大量的世遗老屋被非法改造为引燕屋，业者胡乱修改建筑，更是破坏了老房子的结构。商家三不五时又买了这条街那条街的成排老屋，随意修整，不顾古迹建筑修护条规，改成了全新面貌的餐厅，卖着贵价的咖啡。在商家的眼里，那是谋利的商机，但是在贫民百姓的眼里，那是百年来留下来的历史文化的根，为何在被列为世遗后，破坏的现象却不减反增呢？在管理者眼里，那或许是个创造州内经济的命脉之一，但是对文化历史来说，这些古迹已经变质了，不再是百年前遗留至今的面貌，而是被改装破坏的历史遗迹。

相反的，马六甲是个文化气息特别浓郁的城市，来到鸡场街，眼前是一栋栋拥有百年历史的店屋，据当地人的解说，那里的每一间老屋都不曾重新装潢粉刷，至今还保留着原来的面貌。郑和纪念馆，只能以“麻雀虽小，五脏俱全”来形容。那块地原本就是郑和办事的官场，原始留下来的三口古井依然被管理者保存的好好的，那里让我们认识了马六甲的历史及郑和的由来。经管理员讲解，更让我们认识了不为人知的真相，就如小学念的“汉都亚（Hang Tuah）、汉杰巴（Hang Jebat）、汉立久（Hang Lekiu）等等”其实是中国的回教徒。当地人热爱古迹的精神及保护古迹的态度让人为之佩服，他们在不破坏世遗的面貌下，同时适当的拓展旅游业及经济活动，反而更能凸显当地的文化色彩与历史古迹的珍贵。

世界文化遗产原来的意义就不在于促使经济利益发展，而是在于促进各国和各国人民之间的合作，为合理保护和恢复全人类共同的遗产作出积极的贡献。人家说历史就如一面镜子，让我们认识人类文明的根本由来，希望我们能借历史为教训，不重犯过往的错误之余，更能模仿古人的智慧创造更辉煌的历史。

“读万卷书，不如行万里路”这句名言还真是形容得很贴切。与其呆在家里饱读诗书，不如踏出家门看看这世界，用自己的眼睛去见证，用自己的脚去印证，用自己的心去感受。也许读到的与看到的不同，这样不是更能激发我们去追寻答案的真谛吗？