Author: WiLL CWK

The Northam Lodge

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This elaborated European inspired mansion is located at the Northam Road (or Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah) in George Town.

This beautiful mansion was built by a famous architect named James Stark back in the year 1911 for Heah Swee Lee, a wealthy and successful rubber and sugar planter. The mansion was a symbol of George Town’s high society back then and even Straits Settlements Legislative Councillor A. R. Adams praised the owner for his “splendid domicile” and the architect on the “excellent results.

The mansion was originally named Northam Lodge before a subsequent change of ownership and was later renamed as Soonstead Mansion.

Penang Isle: Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion

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Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a historical and cultural rich building located along Leith Street in George Town, Penang. A winner of multiple historical and heritage awards including the ‘Most Excellent project’ Award at the UNESCO Heritage Awards 2000, the blue mansion is one of the most visited and a definite tourist destination in Penang. The mansion is said to be one of the two of its kind outside China which also features architecture design of both Chinese and Western influences. The mansion was built by a famous Chinese merchant in 1880s named Cheong Fatt Tze and it has 38 rooms, 5 granite-paved courtyards, 7 staircases with 220 vernacular timber louvre windows.

The mansion now serves as both a museum (with guided group tours) and a boutique hotel at the heart of Penang’s heritage zone. There is a daily guided heritage tours of the house in English (11am / 1.30pm / 3pm) with an admission fee RM 12 per person. For more information, please visit its official page HERE.

Penang Street Art (Wish Granted)

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There used to be a large painting of a Tapir with the caption “Guess I’m Next To Be Erased” on the wall before it is being ‘erased’ by the Panda.
This wall painting can be found on the side wall of a blue building facing an open car park located along Jalan Dr Lim Chwee Leong (opposite 1st Avenue shopping mall). It is not clear who painted the mural.

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Penang Street Art (P. Ramlee, a Local Legend)

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P. Ramlee was a Malaysian entertainment legend popularly known for his contribution in the country’s movie and music industry. He was a movie actor, director, singer, songwriter, composer, and producer. Till now, he is still considered as the icon of Malay entertainment in Malaysia, Singapore, and Sumatra.

P. Ramlee was born on 22 March 1929 in Penang and was educated in Penang Free School. During his times as both a prolific actor and singer, he had starred in more than 50 movies and made more than 300 songs. He passed away on 29 May 1973 due to a heart attack and was subsequently honored with titles as well as a number of streets in the country named after him (including Jalan P. Ramlee in Penang).

This large portraiture mural of P. Ramlee is located at Batu Uban, Gelugor, Penang and is part of the The Silent Figures Project by Lebuh Acheh Interpretation Center, Penang.
For more info on the project, please visit https://www.facebook.com/LebuhAcheh.

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