This morning, we brought along a friend from Australia, to Penang.
After a quick breakfast in Ipoh, a wise choice of Hakka noodle and a mixture of ‘liu’, which were served within 5 minutes! I had to forgo a planned drums demo at the Sunday market where I intended to bring along a CD with Smoke on the water and/or Sweet Child of Mine.
Anyway, the weather was gloomy, with the haze as well as rain, almost all the way to Penang. While discussing on a certain subject, I missed the new turnoff to get to Penang Bridge, and had to contend with a ferry ride instead of making a U-turn requiring a few kilometres. It was only later on our way back that we realised, it was a ‘blessing in disguise’ because this lady had not used the ferry since more than 20 years ago, and it was her first on the Penang bridge!
Our first stop in Penang island was Pinang Peranakan Mansion on Church Street, a favourite of my wife, who is a keen collector of antiques and collectibles. We have been a number of times, and each time, she would find certain things new, or more likely, things she did not observe before or the owner had made some changes to the arrangement of things.
I would recommend any foreign or local visitor to Penang to visit this mansion, which once belonged to Kapitan Cina, Chung Keng Kwee. The new boss, Peter Soon, has placed his fine collection of antiques in this remarkable building, which enable visitors to re-live the grandeur of yesteryears. At Rm10 per person, it is really worth it. Actually, I opted out of the guided tour this time. Then, I was told, that I am allowed to go round without having to buy a ticket! I told my visitors that they must have pitied this poor driver, to which my sister-in-law said, ‘maybe they thought you are a tourist guide bringing in visitors’.
Later, on the guided tour by the same guide before, he said ‘the boss is here, pointing to the entrance’. Then it clicked on me, that it was the boss himself who decided that I should be given a free tour! Later, I found out that the mansion is available for hire at Rm50 per hour, to those newly weds for photo sessions, and even for a dinner function for 200 guests, for Rm3,500, excluding food of course! Well, as far as I know, it was used for the filming of certain scenes of ‘The Iron Lady’ which was shown on NTV7 a few months ago, see my earlier post: http://kosongcafe.blogspot.com/2009/04/iron-lady.html.
For more information on the mansion, visit their website: www.pinangperanakanmansion.com.my
(Peter had been most kind to have offered me a free visit, so it is only fair that I return a favour by putting in a good word!)
No comments:
Post a Comment