a rear view of a famosa, one of the oldest surviving european architectural remains in asia. built by the portuguese in the 17th century, the fortress in malacca changed hands multiple times to the dutch and ultimately the english, which ordered its destruction in 1806 except the small gate house porta de santiago (with the intervention of sir stamford raffles, who had a knack for history) in the picture above. unfortunately at that time, the front view was littered with tourists and against the sun, hence the less dramatic view. taken on a cloudless noon in july 2009.

the location: