The REAL CurHat Sue: Day 3 - Jom Jalan! @ Pinang Peranakan Mansion, Pulau Pinang. (PART I)

Assalamualaikum,

Oh yes finally I am updating one of our best highlights in our Penang tour this time. Last year or perhaps this year when we visited Melaka we were pretty disappointed to know that the Baba Nyonya Museum there was closed. My family & I especially Deena & I are history & culture buffs. We love everything from the past, the sentimental value in them and the eccentricity of those living in the past. Class and elegance were always part of them regardless they were coming from well to do families or not so, but still the folks from the older days will try their best to inject class in their lifestyles.

Ummi & Nana in front of the main entrance.

Thanks to Abang Sham for lending us his Garmin GPS so it was very convenient for us to find our way there. Oh yes at this point my iPhone was still not working thanks to Maxis. So I had to use my Nokia Cap Ayam, my emergency phone which I love very much. Ok this gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous mansion is located at 29, Church Street, Penang.

It is opened everyday including Public Holidays from 9.30 am to 5 pm.

The Ratu in my blog, not me. =D

Its parking lot which is filled with tourists' vans.

I just love love love this picca here. =)

Alright before we enter this magnificent historical mansion, some background of it first as derived from its official website.

The Peranakans, also known as the Babas and Nyonyas, was a prominent community of acculturated Chinese unique to this part of the world, especially in the Straits Settlements (Penang, Malacca and Singapore) hence its other name, the Straits Chinese. Adopting selected ways of the local Malays and the later, the colonial British, the Peranakans had created a unique lifestyle and customs which has not only left behind a rich legacy of antiques and its cultural influences like cuisine and language are still evident in Penang today.

More than just a Baba Nyonya (Baba is the Patron while Nyonya is the matron of the House) museum, this century-old stately mansion of eclectic design and architecture incorporates Chinese carved-wood panels with English floor tiles and Scottish iron-works. Built at the end of the 19th century by one of local history's famous personalities, this mansion formerly known as "Hai Kee Chan" or Sea Remembrance Store had once served as the residence and office of Kapitan Cina Chung Keng Kwee. Though not a Baba himself, his Chinese courtyard house was much like a typical large Baba home of eclectic style, incorporating Chinese craved-wood panels and English floor tiles and Scottish ironworks. Having survived the many decades of neglect and decay, the mansion has now been restored to its former glory of a stately home.

At the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, the typical home of a rich Baba of a century ago is recreated to offer a glimpse of their opulent lifestyle and of their many customs and traditions. With over 1000 pieces of antiques and collectibles of the era on display, this Baba-Nyonya museum is also housed in one of Penang's heritage mansion of eclectic design and architecture.

If you look at the right side there are some photos of previous TV production mainly an epic Chinese drama from Singapore shot here. For your info the public can rent this venue for basically everything, weddings, birthday parties, lunch and dinners, anniversary function and even product launches.

As for the tickets, RM 10 for adults and it's free for children below the age 6.

You may engage the services of a personal tour guide here or be in a guided group for detailed explanation, or like us we just wandered around by ourselves though we may ask any of the friendly tourist guides there if like to seek for any clarification on the artifacts there. Although in its website stated that photography and videography are prohibited, but the tourists guides told us we can snap photos as we like as long as not use them for commercial purposes without permission.

And we are in. =)

What I love most about typical Baba Nyonya homes are its courtyards. How the generous amount of sunlight shining through the whole house. The warmth and great lighting definitely saves a lot of electricity. They thought of Going Green way centuries ago. =D

Intricate carvings everywhere. Lovely. =)

Acah-acah Pengacara Jemputan Nona as always. =D

In Straits eclectic and Chinese homes, the front hall or parlor is typically separated from the rest of the house by an ornately carved wooden screen. Directly facing the main door, this timber divider acts as a "Spirit Wall" to prevent evil spirits from entering by obstructing their straight paths. The filigree panels also allow the womenfolk to take a peek at visitors where in more traditional households male guests rarely venture beyond this room.

Check out the grandeur of it. I can't imagine if it's my home, I was speechless. =)

As most traditional carvings the Pinang Peranakan Mansion incorporates the beauty of natural environment in its carvings.

Fancy tiles.

Mangkuk Tingkat! =D

I love this Chandelier.

Baba

Nyonya

The Dining Hall is richly decorated with European-styled teak furniture, Victorian ceramic figures and glass epergnes, affluent Baba households even have a separate western-styled dining room meant for entertaining peers and European guests. The dinner service is includes porcelain, glass and silverware, all imported from Europe.

Baba Nyonya beaded or embroidery slippers. Ummi loves them and she custom-made them from her shoemaker Thomas Chan at Great Eastern Mall and also made them when we visited Melaka.