88. Pinang Peranakan Mansion

The last historical place to visit on the tour was the Peranakan Mansion of which I was greatly looking forward to. History has long interested me and was always my favourite subject at school. I love the old buildings, the architecture, the furniture, the costumes and the many beautiful things that were in vogue. I've always been fascinated by the way people lived, the lifestyles and cultures of the past.

And so....we come to Peranakan Mansion, an opulent, luxurious place of wealth and eclectic archictecture and design.


History
Peranakan Mansion is one of the most ornate and beautifully decorated homes in Penang. It originally belonged to Kapitan Chung Keng Kwee (sometimes spelt Quee), a colourful personality of the late 19th century who used it as his home and office. Kwee was a 19th century Hakka tin-miner and secret society leader of Hai San. Typical of a Peranakan home, this stately mansion built in the 1890's is built around an open-air courtyard. The ceramic floor tiles are from England, the ironwork (balconies and railings) from Scotland and the carved-wood panels and screens from China. Today a museum, it houses antiques of the Peranakan/Baba Nyoyian community. The typical home of a rich Baba of a century ago

 

Above: Front door
Note the red curtains here and in other photos. To the Chinese, red means good luck, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality, long life, summoning, the direction South. Chinese saying goes "when something is so red, it is purple" - red purple brings luck and fame. Which is why red is the traditional bridal colour.

 

Above: Iron lacework

 

Above: Reflection mirror
The reflection mirror - exactly opposite each other. Pinang Peranakan Mansion has many antiques, collectibles and object'art on display showcasing the colorful lifestyle of the Baba Nyonya of Penang.

 

Above: Decor of one of the main rooms
Chung Keng Quee had two official wives, Lim Ah Chen and Tan Gek Im - they bore him 8 sons and 5 daughters. He also had a child (Cheang, Thye Gan) by a woman named Tye Thye. His eldest son, Thye Yong, was adopted. Of his sons, the best known was Chung Thye Phin, his fourth son. (Remember, girls were of no significance in those days).
The photos you see here are of a Baba and Nyonya couple on their third day of wedding in the 1930's. The bride, Kim Suak Sah is wearing a red and gold songket sarong.

 

Above: Memorabilia
This photo was taken in the servants' quarters, near the kitchen. I remember thinking to myself, how many babies slept here? Who slept here and did their mothers or nannies take them for walks in the local parks I wonder?

 

Above: The red telephone box
I just love this red telephone box don't you? It is always really good when I happen to spot one - these were the telephone boxes of childhood, sadly they have all but disappeared. Find them only in museums or someone's backyard today.

 

Above: Front view

Visiting hours
The museum is open Monday to Friday Monday-Friday from 9.30 am to 5.00 pm. Saturday from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm (closed on Sunday and public holidays). Admission: Adults - RM 10. Children 12 and ovdr RM 12. Children under 12 - Free.

45. Countryside - The Real Cambodia 2

The countryside was flat and quite green. Lush trees in parts, then smaller vegetation. Crops were growing though from my view in the tuk tuk I was unable to make out what they were.

Above: Father and son
This man and his young son were walking along the riverbank collecting things which the young boy carried in the bag.

Above: Searching for food
A young ox eating grass - he was not as thin as the other animals I saw, perhaps because he was only young.

Above: Swimming
When I saw these two animals swimming I was so excited - I thought they were hippos because that is just what they looked like. It is only now as I'm typing these words, after enlarging the photo for a better look that I realised they are oxen! Just as well I did zoom the photo isn't it, otherwise I'd have made a big boo-boo!

Above: Baskets to markets
The lady taking her baskets to market - the one on her left at the back (right side in the photo) is filled with what looks like green vegetables and something red. A cloth perhaps to protect them from the sun?

Above: Cambodian houses
The man appears to be working on something and in the shelter on the right side there's a hammock and a number of household items hanging up.

44. Countryside - The Real Cambodia

Above: Bicycles
These two young lads were riding their bikes along the road. None of the riders I saw wore helmets and none of the bikes had gears.

Above: Children at play
As we drove passed, I saw this house with pretty pink flowers and a little shite dog. Two children were playing in front of the family motor bike under the trees.

Above: Market stall
This is the family's fruit stall set up out of the sun under an umbrella.

Above: Thatched house
Another home further along.

Above: Oxen grazing
All the animals are very thin with their bones sticking out. This made me feel very sad - coming from a land of plenty where we say, "I can't afford to buy a new oufit" or we wonder how we're going to pay the electricity bill and still have enough money for food and decry and complain about the cost of petrol and we know we're poor living below the poverty line and yet......seeing the things I saw, the terribly thin animals, the houses without sanitation, no electricity, lacking the modern conveniences we take for granted....I felt very small and realised back home we don't know what poor is. We have no idea what it means to be poor - really poor. These people have very little, and yet, they still smile. They laugh and are courteous and friendly. Yes, I felt very small indeed.

And I realised, I saw parts of Cambodia that most tourists don't see. My driver took me on a "countryside" tour, and I was grateful that I had the privilege of seeing places and people that weren't "touristy". It opened my eyes and for this I will always be grateful, for I realise how lucky I am to live in a country where we have everything. I also realised I'm not poor - I just don't have any money. After all - what are rich people? They're just poor people with money!☺

Above: Red roofed house

Above: Ducks
A family of ducks swimming along the river.