Penang Hidden Gems

15/02/2025

The recent demolition of Kampung Siam in Pulau Tikus has sparked a lot of debate. While some mourn the loss, others cite past legal battles. But the real issue is heritage preservation. The gradual erasure of Penang's Siamese community through development is alarming. Remember Asdang House? Probably not. It's now the Mayfair Condominium on Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah.

Did you know King Chulalongkorn's half-brother, Prince Damrong, lived at 15 Kelawai Road? His memoirs of "Cinnamon Hall" are Thai classics. Yet, many Penangites are more familiar with Kafka or the Penang Flying Club. Thailand's first prime minister, Phraya Manopakorn Nititada, exiled to Penang after the 1932 coup, also resided here; his house still stands on Burma Lane. And did you know that this dilapidated Anglo-Malay bungalow on Jalan Cantonment used to house an important guest? It was home to Prince Wibulsawat, the secretary to King Rama VII, who was in exile. These aren't just buildings; they're threads in our shared history.

Why is conserving these places so important? They connect us to the past, giving context to our present. They tell stories of migration, cultural exchange, and the diverse communities that shaped Penang. Preserving these sites allows future generations to understand their roots, appreciate their heritage, and learn from the past. Without them, we lose a vital part of our identity. If the old buildings that witnessed these historical events are not valued and kept, nothing will be left as physical evidence to relate to our past.

What happens if we don't conserve them? Future generations will be disconnected from their history. They'll lose touch with the stories of those who came before them, the struggles they faced, and the contributions they made. Our cultural identity will be diminished, and we risk becoming a society without a sense of place or continuity. We'll rob future generations of the opportunity to learn from the past and build a better future.

Protecting these sites is a marathon, not a sprint. We need a sustainable strategy: ongoing advocacy, community engagement, and strategic legal action. Remember, the fight for historical preservation is a fight for our collective memory and cultural identity.

After all, our history is hidden in the walls, in the words that our people speak, and in the ingredients of our food.

14/02/2025

💔 Boon Phrom Sararaksh, a 4th-generation descendant of the Sararaksh medicine family, graciously shared his ancestral home, Baan Siam, with us just months ago. During our visit in July 2024, Boon, along with his children Chanatt and Charern, showed us their humble abode, now lost forever.

We had hoped for a miracle for Kampung Siam, but the news is devastating. Legal disputes aside, the loss of a piece of Penang's heritage is undeniable.

Our hearts are with Boon and his family during this difficult time. Khap Khun Kha to Boon Phrom and Goh Chai Yen for their warmth and hospitality.

Baan Siam, your loss is immeasurable.

13/02/2025

We've just received devastating news that TNB has cut off the electricity and the demolition of Baan Siam is going to happen very soon. We at Penang Hidden Gems are heartbroken and outraged. Our thoughts are especially with the Sararaksh family during this tough time. We hope they can find solace amidst the loss of their home.

Our poignant tribute to Baan Siam, a historic Rumah Siam in Penang facing an uncertain future. We talked to Boon Phrom Sararaksh about the Sararaksh family's...

05/02/2025

A nostalgic place not to be missed...

03/02/2025

Did you know that the Penang branch of the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China first opened its doors at 33 Beach Street on January 11, 1875? It later moved to 11-13 Beach Street.

Fast forward to January 30, 1930, and the iconic Standard and Chartered Bank at No. 2 Beach Street was completed. This impressive 4-storey building, designed by John McNeill and Charles Geoffrey Boutcher of Stark & McNeil, was built on the site of the old Central Police Station, which was demolished in 1925. At the time, it was one of the tallest buildings in Penang!

Today, the Standard Chartered Bank no longer is housed at the building. Last year, it was taken over by INFINITY8 Reserve George Town and is now one of the largest co-working spaces in Penang.

FUN FACT: Ever wondered about the cost of insuring such a gem of a building against fire damage? Back in 1934, the premium for insuring the "Chartered Bank Chambers" was a grand total of $32.24, with a stamp duty of 25 cents! The sum insured was a $25,000.

Source:
Marcus Langdon's book, "George Town's Historic and Commercial & Civic Districts" (2015).

03/02/2025

We had the amazing opportunity to get on board KD Gagah Samudera, TLDM's training ship on January 15th.

Our Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) ships (KD Lekir and KD Gagah Samudera) were in Penang on bilateral training with the French navies. LA PEROUSE 25 is a multinational maritime security exercise in the Straits of Malacca.

The training focuses on detecting, identifying, and acting against illicit activities at sea, including visiting exercises (VISITEX).

Thank you Samsuddin and Naval Officer Penang - TLDM Penang for this wonderful opportunity to get to know our maritime heroes.

Video by Spotlight Media Production

30/01/2025

May the Year of the Snake 🐍 bring you clarity and insight, guiding you to make wise choices and navigate life's challenges with poise and patience. Wishing you all an abundant, prosperous, and harmonious year filled with love, health, and happiness.

28/01/2025

🌊 A Dutchman's First Taste of Penang! (1613 Edition) 🕰️

Meet Peter William Floris - a savvy Dutch merchant who worked for the English East India Company! His former employer the Dutch East India Company wasn't too pleased when they found out he had been snatched up by the competition; talk about talent wars. On November 28, 1613, he sailed into Penang aboard the Globe, a mighty East Indiaman heading home to England after successfully establishing the Company's first trading posts in Ayutthaya and Pattani.

Following a groundbreaking navigation guide by the Dutch spy-merchant-writer-traveller Jan Huyghen van Linschoten called "Itenario", the "Globe" dropped anchor near what we now know as Teluk Kumbar. And what did our Dutch friend do? The most Penang thing possible - he went food hunting! 🦪

In his own words: "I went myself ashore, and the oysters being so fair and good I ate as many as made me sick" 🤢 (First recorded case of food coma in Penang's history?) The first known recorded foodie in Penang was Sir James Lancaster - one of the founders of the EIC - who spent three months here in 1592 feasting on fish and oysters, but apparently he had a stronger stomach.

But wait, there's more! He found some graffiti - a Portuguese named Pedro do Carvallo had carved his name in 1596 on a tree. Not to be outdone, Floris too left his mark on the poor tree: "Globe van London, 1613, 29 November" 🌴

Fun fact: There's still a place called Pasir Belanda (Dutch Beach) in Teluk Kumbar today! Seems like the Dutch liked to make a pit stop at Penang for fresh water and oysters! 🏖️

Sources:
1. Peter Floris (1613), “Peter Floris: His Voyage to the East Indies in the Globe 1611-1615, the contemporary translation of his journal”, edited by W.H.
Moreland, London, printed for the Hakluyt Society, 1934
2. Bij Johan Blaeu (1647), “Kaart van Straat Malakka met de westkust van het schiereiland Malakka, de west- en oostkust van Sumatra”’, Map.

26/01/2025

Hello! This is a personal ad, as we are looking for a buyer for our house. This is a unit at Taman Bukit Jambul. If you are looking to buy a home, or know someone who is looking, feel free to share this post with them 😁

Apartment for Sale for RM 265,000 in Taman Bukit Jambul, Bayan Lepas, Penang. 865 sq.ft, 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom, Freehold, Security, Lift, Playground, Minimart.

24/01/2025

23/01/2025

A short interview with the head coach Shone Kin Lee from Tong Keow Seah Lion Dance Troupe in Butterworth, Penang. Leroy Lim and his team from Spotlight Media Production did such an amazing job capturing our annual Lion Dance experience last night.

21/01/2025

𝕋𝕠𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕨 ℕ𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥!! 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐞𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠
Embark on an immersive journey with Penang Hidden Gems in the wake of the upcoming Year of the Snake🐍🐍 by visiting the Tong Keow Seah Association in Butterworth.
Through this unique experience, participants will get to learn the following:
💎Origin of lion dance
💎What is it performed for?
💎Rituals and Costumes
💎The history of Tong Keow Seah Association's lion dance troupe.
💎Learn the art of lion dancing by learning a few basic lion dance moves.
💎Try on the lion costume and experience lion dancing firsthand
💎Learn to play loud drums, cymbals, and gongs
💎Seize the moment with photography and videography opportunities.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
Strictly open to 20 participants.
Date: Wednesday, 22nd January 2025
Time: 8:00pm to 10:30pm
Duration: 2 hours plus.
Meeting Point: Tong Keow Seah, Butterworth (address to be shared with participants through WhatsApp)

Purchase Your Ticket at the Following Link: https://penanghiddengems.com/products/experience-lion-dancing-with-the-tong-keow-seah-lion-dance-troupe-in-butterworth-penang-copy

18/01/2025

17/01/2025

𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥!! 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐞𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠

Embark on an immersive journey with Penang Hidden Gems in the wake of the upcoming Year of the Snake🐍🐍 by visiting the Tong Keow Seah Association in Butterworth.

Through this unique experience, participants will get to learn the following:
💎Origin of lion dance
💎What is it performed for?
💎Rituals and Costumes
💎The history of Tong Keow Seah Association's lion dance troupe.
💎Learn the art of lion dancing by learning a few basic lion dance moves.
💎Try on the lion costume and experience lion dancing firsthand
💎Learn to play loud drums, cymbals, and gongs
💎Seize the moment with photography and videography opportunities.

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
Strictly open to 20 participants.
Date: Wednesday, 22nd January 2025
Time: 8:00pm to 10:30pm
Duration: 2 hours plus.
Meeting Point: Tong Keow Seah, Butterworth (address to be shared with participants through WhatsApp)
Purchase Your Ticket at the Following Link: https://penanghiddengems.com/products/experience-lion-dancing-with-the-tong-keow-seah-lion-dance-troupe-in-butterworth-penang-copy?fbclid=IwY2xjawH1LbVleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHffQ00etVme-7fd5yorzmXbKOS0n8DF7f9tNi-P9vwc4b9NV_DXX8WgCTg_aem_rQoXLpvaWhazNsHXrk_AxQ

16/01/2025

15/01/2025

🛩️ PENANG'S FORGOTTEN AIRPORT: The Seaplane Landing Base at Gelugor!

Even before the Penang Aerodrome (our present International Airport) opened on September 29, 1935, our island had another airport – one that landed on water! 💦✈️

In 1928, the Royal Air Force (RAF) made history by flying from Plymouth to Australia. Four "supermarine Southampton metal balled fying boats' - literal kapal terbangs - "each with two Napier Lion engines ... under the command of Group Captain H.M. Cave Browne-Cave" landed at the Strait of Penang opposite the then new Government Marine Department to refuel. It was a groundbreaking flight "that no other nation had attempted before, a 28,000 mile flight that took months to complete. 🌏

By 1937, this sea plane landing base got a major upgrade costing $64,000 upgrade - a big sum back then. The facilities were expanded and upgraded to accommodate civilian flights. The following year illumination and covered walkways were added to what the press referred to as the "Glugor Airport".

During WWII, the Japanese Navy took over the place. This photo is after the war: an RAF guard can be seen at the pier keeping watch over magnificent Sunderland flying boats moored at the Penang Strait.

Sources:
1. Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle (1937), " $64,000 Flying-Boat Base For Penang", 18 November 1937, Page
2. Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle (1928),"First Log Of R. A. F. Flying Boats" 13 February 1928, Page 9
3. Pinang Gazette and Straits Chronicle (1938), "Glugor Air Port To Be Illuminated", 25 October 1938, Page 3
4. Imperial War Museum (c. 1946), "The Royal Air Force in the the Far East, 1945-1946" Photo: CF 741

14/01/2025

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐞𝐨𝐰 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐠
Embark on an immersive journey with Penang Hidden Gems in the wake of the upcoming Year of the Snake🐍🐍 by visiting the Tong Keow Seah Association in Butterworth.
Through this unique experience, participants will get to learn the following:
💎Origin of lion dance
💎What is it performed for?
💎Rituals and Costumes
💎The history of Tong Keow Seah Association's lion dance troupe.
💎Learn the art of lion dancing by learning a few basic lion dance moves.
💎Try on the lion costume and experience lion dancing firsthand
💎Learn to play loud drums, cymbals, and gongs
💎Seize the moment with photography and videography opportunities.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
Strictly open to 20 participants.
Date: Wednesday, 22nd January 2025
Time: 8:00pm to 10:30pm
Duration: 2 hours plus.
Meeting Point: Tong Keow Seah, Butterworth (address to be shared with participants through WhatsApp)
Purchase Your Ticket at the Following Link:
https://penanghiddengems.com/products/experience-lion-dancing-with-the-tong-keow-seah-lion-dance-troupe-in-butterworth-penang-copy?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2lo1crGTJswUY81Z_FvVLMb22-5BtqwBpYs9reGyNX9v4l9nhZI-zo6to_aem_WFbruKmI9_tMvuxQm1_AlQ

13/01/2025

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚’𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬?
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘜𝘔𝘕𝘖’𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳, 𝘕𝘰𝘢𝘩 𝘖𝘮𝘢𝘳, 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘢’𝘴 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘛𝘶𝘯 𝘏𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘪𝘯 𝘖𝘯𝘯, 𝘛𝘶𝘯 𝘈𝘣𝘥𝘶𝘭 𝘙𝘢𝘻𝘢𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘣𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘩 𝘈𝘩𝘮𝘢𝘥

The Soong Sisters of China—Ai-ling, Ching-ling, and Mei-ling—were famously described as "One loved money, one loved power, one loved her country." They were the daughters of Charlie Soong, a Methodist minister, and Ni Kwei-tseng. Each sister married influential figures who shaped China's modern history: Ai-ling wed H.H. Kung, a powerful financier; Ching-ling married Sun Yat-sen, the founder of modern China; and Mei-ling became the wife of Chiang Kai-shek, the leader of the Republic of China.

In a similar vein, Malaysia's "Three Swans"—Tun Fatimah Fakhriah, Tun Suhailah, and Tun Rahah—were daughters of Tan Sri Dato' Noah Omar, a prominent figure in founding the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). The Three Swans the nation’s prominent men: Rahah to 𝐓𝐮𝐧 𝐀𝐛𝐝𝐮𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐳𝐚𝐤 the 2nd Prime Minister from 1970 to 1976; Suhailah to 𝐓𝐮𝐧 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐧𝐧, who served as the 3rd Prime Minister from 1976 to 1981; and Fakhriah to Abdullah Ahmad, a member of the Johor royal court.

Today, the lineage of Tan Sri Dato' Noah Omar includes grandson, Najib Abdul Razak, who became the 6th Prime Minister, and Hishamuddin Hussein, who has been a cabinet minister in various portfolios and is a leading figure in UMNO since the 1990s.