The Malaysian state of Malacca, however, has probably the richest history of all Malaysia's nine states, and in Malacca was the foundation of the country that now exists. Malacca has Hindu origins, and was subsequently settled by the Portugese, followed by the Dutch, and, most recently (extending to all what became Malaya), the British, with the Second World War period of 1942 to 1945 being under the occupation of the Japanese (the tracks of the railway in Malacca were torn up by the Japanese and used in the construction of the infamous Burma railway). It is predominantly in Malacca that evidence of all the former occupying nations (except Japan) can be found, added to by the strong Chinese presence since the earliest days of the state's development. A fascinating place, where modern motorways run side-by-side with the old road system that skirts through old tribal villages, and where cows still wander the roads. Also where descendants of the Portugese still live and speak the old dialect of Portugese. Click here for more information.