My Island Penang Shares

Kee Lai Huat, founder of Sungai Bakap

2020-04-08T03:51:00.001-07:00

Kee Lai Huat was known as Sinkeh in the early days. Sinkehs means new arrivals to a foreign country. The Chinese Coolies landed in Batu Kawan, Province Wellesley in 1852 with a tongkong or junkyard with loads of other immigrants. He came with his young brother from Theng Hai, district of Shantou, Chenghai @ Tenghai, Guangdong, China. Early days, it was also know as Swatou or hilltop, swa is hill and tou is top.

His brother Kee Lai Kee worked for a while but fell sick and passed on at 19. His date of birth and death is approximately between 1845 to 1864. I was told he was adopted into the family.

The story went like this, about nearly reaching Batu Kawan, the tongkang sank. Many lives were drown and lost. Somehow Kee Lai Huat survived, barely to a log of dead wood floating on the sea. He clung on for many days, was dead tired, lost conscious but somehow reached dry land.

Upon waking up, he had a shock of his life as where he was, there was lots of crocodiles. And he was not eaten by them! (My late father Kee Saik Thong, for a long time would not eat beh kar kiam hu (salted horse mackerel). Tales were passed down not to eat them because crocodiles loves the smell. ha ha, how about that! I get scolded by him each time I fry them at home as he believed crocodiles will smell me when I am at sea. I continue eating but dare not swim, ha ha.)

Kee Lye Huat, founder of Sungai Bakap and Valdor

There was a spot, I was told he will go to pray every time he needed help. My aunties and uncles repeatedly said, he worked very hard to give his family a good life in Sungai Bakap. His virtuous capability is hard work. His determination to lead a frugal life is commendable.

Another story I can still remember clearly was how he married the sugar tycoon Khaw Lau Hup daughter, Khaw Bee Gek. Also know as Khaw Mooi Gek.

He worked as a labourer but was earmarked to marry the daughter of Khaw Lau Hup. A certain feng shui master described his big round face feature coming in on a certain day from China. Khaw Boo Aun, the son of Khaw Lau Hup was told to go look for him.

One day, while resting by the river after lunch, he fell asleep. He woke up hearing his name being shouted. He thought, they caught him sleeping on the job. He was so scared they might terminate him. He ran so fast, cross the river of crocodiles by stepping on the crocodile heads. He never came back for many days.

Khaw Lau Hup sent man to find him, bought him back. He was told that because of his dedication and hard work, he will be marrying the daughter. Hiya, what a relief, he must have felt. ha ha. I kept laughing each time they repeated the stories, you know old people when you asked for stories, they repeat every time until you can tell the story and that is me.

With the experience he gained as a sugar cane plantation supervisor, he worked very hard to toil the land. A zinc house in Sungai Bakap was a gift from the Batu Kawan father in law to Kee Lai Huat. With that, he was told to work hard and ensure his daughter does not stuff to death. Worked hard he did, for he acquired dozens of shop houses, vast coconut and sugar plantations, town market and a theater.

Batu Kawan Sugar Planation

My late sister told me, when she was young, they just walked everywhere in the middle of the road. Feeling like a grand lady in Sungai Bakap. Have heard the phrase, you think this is your grandfather road? I think she being high and mightly until her last days would reply, YES!

With a motto "one cent saved is a cent earn", he purchased over 1000 acres of swampy land and did what he knows best, growing sugar cane. It was not surprising, as he was running over 2400 hectares of the Batu Kawan sugar plantation belonging to Khaw Boo Aun.

But one wonders how he did it running over 2400 hectres of sugar cane for Khaw Boo Aun, son to Khaw Lau Hup. Then toiling on his own newly purchased 1000 acres of swampy land. Same time, he must have acquired good discipline from his strong headed brother in law Khaw Boo Aun who was the leader of Ghee Hin.

I guessed he has too, as in 1860, the Teochiews or Teochew communities were owning over 20,000 hectares of sugar cane plantation from Province Wellesley to Perak.

As the saying goes at that time, not even a bird can't fly out of their estate as it was so vast. A generous donor to charities, Kee Lai Huat vision was to built the Sungai Bakap township. So together with his 2 friends, Lau Kuang Mia and Tan Ah Pow in the 19th century, they did.

Kee Lai Huat first founded the Kee Poh Huat Kongsi and built it as family residence in the same replica in China. In Penang, you will see his photos or name mentioned in some old association or temples of Taochew descent, like The Taochiew Ancestral Temple and Kwong Tong Cemetery etc.

Soon words reached the Imperial Chinese Manchu Government. For his many acts of greatness the Manchu Imperial Government conferred on him the title of "Mandarin, Second Rank" retrospectively for two generations.

2nd rank and 3rd rank Mandarin Officials

Kee Lai Huat, his wife and both his father Koe Choe Imm and mother became Mandarins of the Third Rank. You can see four big portraits of them hanging in their impressive mandarin suit in the main ancestral hall in Sungai Bakap.

The gold fram photos is Kee Lai Huat and Khaw Bee Gek. To denote the difference between ranks, is the length of pearl necklace. It also means that when they bow, the necklace must not touch the ground. So the higher official need not bow lower.

2nd and 3rd rank Mandarin Officials

Despite the many fights where they, the Ghee Hins and Hai San secret society, red and white flag Penang Riots, Kee Lai Huat make it through some major disaster during his life time.
Times were more settled after the signing of Pangkor Treaty in 1874, end of the Larut Wars. Chor Chor Kee Lai Huat vision materialized despite all the upheavals during 1860 till his death.

Kee Lai Huat was born in 1834 and died in 1892. His remains was sent back to China but it never arrived as the tongkang was destroyed halfway to China.

Two years before his demise, Kee Lai Huat appointed as a member of Chinese Advisory Board. The township were prospering, money coming in from the rentals of houses surrounding the Kongsi, the coconuts plantations and a few more business he was in.

Eulogy board carrier

Chinese screens, scrolls, eulogy boards, a set of wooden weapons and square boards on poles reminded me of the old Chinese movies I have seen on movies or television.

These were used each time there was an official appointment. Announcements were made the same way it was done in China. The ceremonies was one of splendor. And Chor Chor Kee Lai Huat Vision came true.

Fortunately, his acquisition spirit did not extend to his personal life for he remained faithful to his wife who bore him six sons and two daughters. Kee Lai Huat vision to his six sons and two daughters were to lived frugally and to carry on the future generations and ensured that the kongsi was well maintained.

Ella, Phaik Cheen, Pearly, Ah Nui Kor, Phaik Cheen brother and Simon Kee's wife

Well, those days six to ten families could lived in a big ancestral house. My fourth generation aunt told me when she was young, they were never short of playmates. Every household had at least 10 kids and imagine 6 households, 60 kids would be out playing in the big courtyard. Those days, the courtyards have many pets and horses for the young children to ride on.

Under the matriarch Khaw Bee Gek, she single handedly raised 6 sons, Tek Thye, Tek Kooi, Tek Phang, Tek Kow, Tek Seng, Tek Leng and 2 daughter Siew Kee and Siew Sim.

The late Ah Nui Kor (red) and Poey Chim

Three of her sons, Tek Chye, Tek Kooi and Tek Phang carried on the family tradition of public services and were awarded Justice of Peace for Penang.

Kee Yong Hee in newspaper

The matriarch Khaw Bee Gek passed on at the age late 80s in 1911. Her remains were buried in Kee Burial grounds in Sungai Bakap. Not bad at all for a simple man from Thenghai, Swatow Mainland China. Indeed a grand lady if not first lady of Sungai Bakap. Don't you think?

Yong Hee guiding Simon Kee in the Cheng Beng rituals

Ok, this are tales uncle the late Kee Yong Hee, the late Ah Nu Kor Kor, Yong Hee sister, Ah Poey Chim (still alive in her late 80s, told me when I visited them back in 2006 to 2010.

Newspaper cutting in 1970s

Kee Ancestral Hall

2020-04-06T22:10:00.000-07:00

The Kee Ancestral Hall sits at the front the Kee Ancestral home in Sungai Bakap not far from Penang. Allow me to share the hall history, then I will talked about the home.

In case you are not sure the way, turn the car into highway 156. (Nibong Tebal, Jawi, Sg Bakap)

After coming out from the toll, just take the trunk road to the once Valley of Gold, Valdor road and turn into Sungai Bakap.

The Kee Ancestral Home is placed under our family trust and it is considered as one of Penang cultural treasures. In 1991, the Kee Ancestral Worship Hall was used as a set for the filming of Indo-Chine.

Lineage of future generations

But let me share with you our Kee Heritage in parts as the cultures those days were one of filial piety and respect to one's parents and ancestors. A practice seriously lacking in our modern society.

The houses and hall has lots of history and treasured moments for my surviving uncles, aunts and cousins. It is through their eyes and ears I get to capture these rich Kee Heritage and the wonders of building the Kee Ancestral Home.

As you can see from these inscriptions, since the days of Chor Chor, the lineage for future generation was prepared and carried out. Middles denotes the generation you belong to. Of course along the way, after the fourth generation it was not followed. For those who followed, you will know then you are the descendant from this line of Kee Ancestors.

I guess a good reason why some did not follow was, they might have migrated and don't know of their Kee Ancestors History in Province Wellesley, Penang or Malaysia. Interestingly, it took me half a century to realize and appreciate my forefathers even though I lived just over 30 mins away.

All that is left, 4 chairs to receive guest in the hall

As you cross over the threhold or (mui teng), one enters the receiving Kee Clan Hall. It is not as glamorous as in the old days. But you get to see the some very old treasured antiques. The Ancestral Receiving Hall plays an important part in any Straits Settlement house. This is the place where guest are received and entertained. Until one was closely befriended, then you will be allowed in their homes.

Reflecting each other on both sides of the wall hangs the infinity or (Feng Shui ) mirrors. In it, I get to view myself 4 to 5 layers deep. My cousin Ella Kee saw herself many more layers deeper than me.

Infinity Mirrors in the 6 houses of Kee Family

These infinity mirrors must be so important in those days as all the six houses, have huge ones in the main household. And it is and was important for the phenomenon symbolized the old man's wish for the spawning of generation of Kees.

These two Chinese frame ups are very very old. It consist of a worn out material with precious words written in old Chinese. Not sure whether it was Shell and Bone or Bronze inscriptions or small seal style. No one dares to remove or upgrade it for fear of ill faith, that is why it is left to decay.

Shells, Bones and Bronze Insciptions from ancient China

(Personally I heard someone wanted to buy for alot of money but the trustees was against it. 2 to 3 buyers kept coming and the main trustee knew something is going on and stopped the guest from entering)

I am sharing this so that next time you enter the guest hall, please be obeservant of it. The darker photo show how Chinese alphabet were formed using oracle bone script etc. The other show written in cloth material showed the reign of the Chinese Emperor since Shi Huang Ti or Qin Shi Huang

Heavy Wooden doors with Confucius and Mencius sayings.

Doors leading to the Main Kee Clan Hall in Sungai Bakap Penang

Kee Lai Huat like Confucius and Mencius believed a leader should possess good morals to gain the respect of the people. By then, he had built a name for himself in town, fathered 6 sons and 2 daughters.

Inscriptions of the Maxims of Home Management

As you are allowed to enter the main ancestral hall, one uses the 2 open side doors. The Main door is closed and only open for ancestor worship purposes. You get to read all the inscriptions of the Maxims of Home Management, devoted to Zhu Bo Lyu.

Chor Chor appeared to be philosophical sort of fellow for Zhu Bo Lu, Confucius and Mencius advises are being passed down from generation to generation.

Empress Dowager Eulogy board

The Eulogy board hanging on top of the hall reminded me of the once prosperous days of the Kee family. Periodically Kee Lai Huat contributed money back to China. The Empress Dowager presented him with an honorable appreciation.

Inscripted 24 filial piety in Sungai Bakap Penang

Now once you stepped in the ancestor hall, where it housed the 4 generations altars and name tablet, you will be so fasicinated by the illustrations and murals on the door frames of the altars. Cho Cho held it firmly and uncle Yong Hee, his sister Ah Nui Kor Kor whenever we visited, I love to probed them to tell me stories. And I loved all the stories, guess I am reminiscing too much, during recent times.

Carvings of 24 Filial Piety

And I can still remember some of them. Guys, you are lucky, you lived in modern times. Some very old parent, may used these words whenever they did not get their way.
1. "Put how" or not filial, time like you did not give them monthly allowances or do not listen to them not to marry or simply, return late at night.
2. Choe kau Jee Chap Si How, fulfill the 24 Paragons of filial Piety

Most descendant makes effort to go back to worship Ancestors on All souls day (Cheng Beng), Eve of Chinese New Year (Je Kow Meh), Chang (Dumplings) Festivals, Tung Chek (Lantern Festival) and so on.

24 filial piety carvings on mother of Pearl

The Threshold or Mui Teng is a piece of thick wood one crosses as you step in the receiving hall. It has a story, myth or folklore to relate. But basically these Straits Settlement folks are very superstitious. So the Mui Teng or threshold is to ward off evils spirits.

They believed the evils Chinese spirits hops not more then 6 inches above the ground. The threshold is then higher then 6 inches.

The Evils spirits knows the laws of homes and do not enter by the main door. So when the main door is closed, there is no way for the evil spirit to enter. Ha ha, this is what my aunts shared. True or not, I do not know.

Pearly
7th April
P/s Please remark something to inspire me, ok.

Kee Ancestors Lineage

2020-04-06T07:49:00.000-07:00

The Kee Ancestors Lineage is more than 170 years old and I am the fifth generation in the lineage.

It is now in the eight to ten generation as some of my nieces and nephews are married and are with kids of their own.

As the Kee Ancestors Lineage has a long history, I would like to share a bit of what I gather from surviving relatives on how my ancestor Kee Lai Huat came to Malaya in the nineteenth century.

The Kee Ancestors in Sungai Bakap, Penang started with my great-great great grandfather, a Teochew man named Kee Lai Huat.

He also was the man who built Sungai Bakap town. (Sometimes pronounced as Taochew, Teochiews or Taochiew.)

Leaving home to seek better pastures

As a young man of 19, he took a barge from his Thenghai home town in Swatow, China. He arrived in Bukit Tambun, then the principal port of Province Wellesley. (I went to Guangdong in 2018, looking at the same river that carried our forefathers to Penang made me wet with tears. The rivers were wide and mighty strong current)

Born in 1834, he worked as a clerk on the sugar plantation of Batu Kawan pioneer settler Khaw Lau Hup.

"Chor Chor Lai Huat"(To pronounce "great great great grandfather" is too long, so "Chor Chor" means at least 2 to 3 generations ago grandfather, for his case 4 generations deep) was very industrious and hardworking.

He was promoted to a supervisor for the sugar plantation owner Khaw Lau Hup.

Young Kee Lai Huat Ancestral founder Sungai Bakap town

Kee Lai Huat's Marriage

Khaw Lau Hup has a daughter Khaw Bee Gek of marriageable age. It seems her first betrothed died after they got engaged. So her father consulted the geomancer to find a match for her. Chor Chor was "hand and face picked" by a feng shui master.

The tycoon seek the feng shui master's help and was told, a certain young man coming in the next boat with such kind of facial expression will be suitable for his daughter. Dutifully Khaw Boo Aun, (her brother) waited at the shore to pick up the young man.

So started the Kee Ancestor Lineage tradition. When they first got married, Chor Chor was not rich and Khaw Lau Hup would sent a "cream cracker" tin of Spanish

coins for his daughter use.

Tek Kooi, Tek Kow,Tek Leng,Tek Seng,Tek Phang, Tek Chye

Chor Chor had six sons, named from the eldest Kee Ancestors Lineage:

Tek Chye (1st Son)

Tek Kooi (2nd son)

Tek Phang (3rd son) (my lineage)

Tek Kow (4th son)

Tek Seng (5th son)

Tek Leng (6th son)

(on the picture, the sons photos were arranged not by hierarchy. Do not be confused)

Now since he has six sons in the Kee Ancestors Lineage, he got to make sure they stayed together. In doing so, he built Sungai Bakap township, in the same replica like the homes in China then under the Manchus.

His Legacy

Chor Chor died at 58 in Sungai Bakap and his remains were taken back to China. He maintained close ties in China.

Even after his death in 1892, a substantial amount of money is sent back to his relatives. Chor Chor was a strict man but was fair to all.

Chor Chor wrote a will six months before he died which stated that his sons were not allowed to gamble, smoke opium, contact veneral diseases or break the Law.

He ruled that "the wrong doer get nothing, only 2000 Spanish dollars. He left specific instructions that the family need not over spent on funeral expenses and be frugal and guided by discretion.

1st and 2nd Lineage of the Kee in main altar

There are three sections with altar and name tablets. Chor Chor's name tablet sits in the first line as the first generation on the center of the main section altars. Below him are the six sons.

So it means the "center" altar housed the first and second generation of the Kee Ancestors Lineage. First lineage, is Chor Chor is "Lai", then 2nd lineage is the "Tek".

3rd Lineage of the Kee, on the main altar's right

Middle names were given and prepared by Chor Chor. The Tek, Hup, Ban, Chin, Yong, Thuan are middle names in the Kee Ancestors Lineage.

The 3rd lineage are those with middle names Hup, Ban and Chin. My own Kee Ancestor Lineage after Great great father Tek Phang is Ban Chuan.

4th Lineage of the Kee, on the main altar's left

Now the fourth lineage is the Saik and the Yong. My late father is Saik. If dad is alive today, he would be 109. My late father has no more surviving sisters or brothers but for the Yongs, I met Uncle Kee Yong Hee.

There are other cousins I recently met after writing this post since 2013. This is the same post but I updated a little more of what I gathered over the past years since 2013.

When my father was alive back in the 80's, we used to meet up with Uncle and Auntie Saik Poh (father's cousin brother) and late granduncle Kee Ban Hoe (Uncle Saik Poh's father).

Khaw Bee Gaik with 6 sons and 2 daughters and families

He too passed on at a ripe age of 97 in the year 1996. It was fun talking to Cheat Chneh Kong (7th granduncle and cousin to my late grandfather). He has lots of stories and jokes to share.

His sense of humor was great. Even in his nineties, Grand Uncle Ban Hoe and his buddies would be walking around town.

When you talked to him, you need to be careful with your words. Even at his age, he is mentally alert, as he could catch you misusing words.

On a few occasions, I had this to tell. He would asked, "Have you all eaten?" and we said "not yet". Then he would ask, "What you like to eat?"

We would reply chin chye, "Anything also we eat."...literal speaking, we can eat anything because won't want to trouble granduncle) "okay, Grand Uncle Ban Hoe would replied", Ok let us go and eat (lang bah) human meat.

Then we would correct ourselves and he would roar to laughter. Really those were good great times we had. The house behind the ancestor main hall had a big playing ground in the courtyards.

They had all kinds of pets. Homing pigeons and scorpions in pits. Sometimes, men folks will be towing the iguana back form hunting. We would see then skin it.

My thoughts in 2009

Last week, I was at Sungai Bakap "Tua Chu Lai or Kong Chu", or the Kee Kongsi. Uncle Kee Yong Hee (now deceased) was there to explain to me the Kee Ancestors Lineage. My last visit was in Year 2000, when uncle Kee Saik Poh passed on.

The late Ah Nui Kor Kor gave me this

Our Kee ancestors home is so rich in our heritage. It is such a waste to be so silent about it. Despite effort to restore the kongsi, I feel a calling for the descendants to come home with your new family, to explain to them their heritage.

Descendants need to understand their roots, their culture and tradition. Chor Chor built this with a VISION that the descendant have a permanent place to come home too.

The fifth generation are my brothers Thuan.I am trying to make sense of my writing on ancestor worship. Why I keep coming to this subject. Why I wanted to start writing? I will write more after my research.

I hope someone who has more knowledge of olden days history and will share more of their own stories.

Pearly Kee
6th Apr 2020

Sri Singamuga Kaliamman, seafaring Goddess sea procession

2016-02-27T06:41:00.001-08:00

Sri Singamuga Kaliamman is a seafaring goddess. Devotees all over Malaysia and Singapore will gather on the beach in Teluk Bahang as early as 6pm to witness and pay homage to the female deity as she was taken for a tour in the sea surrounding Teluk Bahang..

Chandra and I were there this year again to witness this festival together with over 20,000 people crowding the beach. The whole beach should look white with sand, right.

Safely placing Sea Goddess Kaliamah on the floating procession for her yearly sea tour.

A beautifully decorated float, affixed with decorative bulbs, carried the statue of Lord Sri Singamuga Kaliamman and some of the temple's committee members for a ride into the sea to mark the start of the celebration.

As the sun set the deity, who is the patron saint of the fisherman was taken out on a float to bless the sea, tugged by a motor-boat. The idol was decked out in garlands and carried on the shoulders of six men from the 104-year old Sri Singamuga Kaliamman Temple.

On the way to the beach to light the way.

But on this day, all you could see is black stretch of land. This is an occasion we saw the Teluk Bahang sandy beach filled with people. You practically see the whole stretch of beach filled up with people, all shapes and sizes, serious, it is not a joke.

Almost the roads leading to the old Hotel Mutiara were lined with buses from not only the local community but all over Malaysia and Singapore, we were told.

The traffic jam on that day was massive. You either drive up by 6pm and park in a good location or join in snail drive up. And if you are late, the ceremony begins by 7.30pm.

Hindu ladies in colorful saris, big pottus (red dot on their foreheads) holding tightly to their kids in one hand. And on the other hand offerings of incense, camphor, coconut, flowers and not forgetting the lanterns.

Some lanterns were home made but it is not a problem if you need one as the street vendors were having a field day announcing their lanterns for sales. To me it is like Thaipusam but done in a smaller scale.

On the street, vendors had make-shift stalls to sell their goods and food while waiting for the celebration to commence.Indian stuffs like those you would see during Thaipusam Hindus clothing, saris, lungis and accessories were being scrutinized. Bargaining of prices were heard all over the stalls.

Most stalls had styrofoam dish-like candle tray in luminous colors to brighten up the sea waters. The devotees made wishes before setting the lanterns afloat during the temple's annual floating chariot festival. What a lovely sight.

Devotees sang devotional hymns and chanted Omm Omm Kaliammah in praise of the deity, whose loyal servant is the lion.

Rumors has it that sometimes she is seen walking along the shores of Teluk Bahang with the lion by her side. And fisherman never got lost before in this part of Penang.

Some even acclaimed that the 2002 Tsunami avoided Teluk Bahang due to her presence in the area.
Every year for the past 109 years, the Teluk Bahang Sri Singamuga Temple devotees carried the deity out to sea on a beautifully lighted Chariot.

The floating candles in Teluk Bahang

At about the same time, devotees waded into the water with their lanterns of various shapes, made their wishes and released the lanterns into the sea.

The candles sitting on the styrofoam is supposed to hold the candles as long as it can. Most devotees came to fulfill their vows to the female deity year after year.

And it seems the devotees get bigger every year. There are also some new devotees came to pray fervently for their prayers to be answered.

Whether to fulfill vows or to repay their vows, the beaches was a spectacular sight as you can see thousands of lighted candles or lanterns drifting away before your very eyes.

On the way for her yearly sea procession.

Some seems to know which lantern belongs to them and won't go home till they feel it float away from them. Remnants of Styrofoam candles can be seen along the Swettenham Pier in the morning. I do wish they stop using styrofoam as it is not eco friendly.

Anti War Memorial, World War II relic in Air Itam Penang

2016-02-25T03:35:00.001-08:00

The Anti War Memorial in Air Itam Penang may be recognizable but many do not know the great significance of it. A grim reminder to Penangites and Malaysians alike of what had happen during the Second World War.

Penang Anti War Memorial in Air Itam, Penang

Anti War Memorial.

In Air Itam Penang, this Anti War memorial served to remind us of the 800 locals who were brutally tortured then murdered during the Second World War. In March 1951, excavations to recover the remains were carried out in the Coombe Hill in Gelugor, Thean Teik Estate in Air Itam and Vale of Tempe Road in Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi.

The incomplete skeletons and bones were collected in boxes and cremated. The ashes were respectfully packed in 66 bags and buried beneath this War Memorial. It also buried some of the MPAJA (Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army) who fought against the Japanese during the Second World War.

My Father's Experience

Dad will not let me forget how he went through Second World War. During this period of 3 years and 8 months, the Japanese went on a rampage torturing and brutally murdering Chinese.

Any suspicion roused, man would be beheaded. Pregnant women were speared with sharp and shiny Japanese sword.Babies were thrown in the air and poked through the sword to the humor of the soldiers. young girls, my sister included had her hair cut short like a tom boy to escape being picked and rape by the soldiers.

Thousands of Chinese lives were lost during the Sook Ching Massacre.(Sar Ni Peh Koay Jze), is a Hokkien term for 3 years and 8 months to remember the duration of the Japanese in Malaya, the suffering, the brutality and massacre on the people of Malaya).

Historical Facts detailing the events during 2nd World War.

The Sook Ching Massacre

The Japanese Army carried out an identification and interrogation of Chinese youth, an Operation 'Sook Cheng' (to wipe out, eliminate or to purge).

Chinese youths were dragged out of their homes and ordered to register at 'Sook Cheng' Centers with severe punishment for anyone who disobeyed. At these centers which were in open spaces with no water, masked men identified those whom they regarded were anti Japanese.

All those identified as 'undesirable' by the Japanese at Sook Cheng centre were loaded on military truck and driven away to be massacred. Each Chinese walked past a row of hooded informers, mostly Japanese agents.

Those including captured Chinese defenders or triad members who gave information to save their lives.Anti War Memorial

Some were women or children avenging themselves for earlier mistreatment, or trying to gain merit with the conquerors. When the hooded man nodded, a man was dragged away.

Others not under this classification were stamped on their clothing or body as 'cleared' and allowed to return home. Many were rearrested and executed.

The Nanking Massacre

The Chinese had supported the war effort in China through fund-raising campaigns and the boycott of Japanese goods.

Besides that, they also served as volunteers in the defense of Singapore and Malaya. So they were the natural targets.

Apologies from Japanese civilians

Chinese paper, Sin Chew 2007

Translation from the Chinese paper:
A group of 20 over members made special trip here to pay respect and repentance for those murdered under Japan military occupation during the Second World War.

Headed by 60 year old spiritualist from Japan, they visited several locations in Malaysia to pay respect to those killed by the Japanese army.

The visit was arranged by Penangite Lin Yu Sin and cultural worker to conduct prayers at several murder locations in Penang, some without any tomb stones.

The group consists of 10 Japanese and other who join them from Singapore, Thailand, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan and Penang.

The leader prayed by holding palms together, kneeling and touching the memorial stones. He has conducted similar repentance prayer for the victims at Guam island, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Hong Kong -Sin Chew Daily 30 Jan 2007.

The Death Railway

Chandra my husband, shared his late father's experience with the Japanese. During the Japanese occupation, Chandra's dad was sent to built the Death Railway linking Malaya to Thailand and Burma.

He was one of the few survivors who had praises for the kind Japanese officers who gave him a pair of army boots as both his feet were badly bruised from days of walking barefooted to Thailand.

According to Chandra's dad, many British soldiers became weak and died because they were not adapted to eating rice like us. Tapioca and rice porridge were then the staple food during the Japanese Occupation.

Today the Penang Chinese Anti War Memorial stands to be forgotten as Air Itam becomes increasingly urbanized. Lest not allow these relics of the Second World War.

This anti war memorial must not fade from our memory. This should be a constant reminder what and how war is cruel and terrible.

A reminder of cruelty

Britian's History

The fall of Singapore to the Japanese Army on February 15th 1942 is considered one of the greatest defeats in the history of the British Army and probably Britain's worst defeat in World War Two.

Yearly Commemoration of the Memorial

Once a year Kong Min, a Chinese school just opposite the road commemorated the Anti War Memorial at the Air Itam roundabout. The Anti War Memorial is held on the 11th November, time 11 am sharp without fail. Wreaths and food are offered on the ground of the memorial.

On November 11th at 11am 2011, 60 years after, a wall with historical facts was built for people to read the true events. I was glad to be there to read and understand more the events and happened during the 2nd World War in Malaysia.

Nearby places of interest include the Kek Lok Si temple and Penang Dam. These are places most people near and far knows.

Parallel to this Air Itam road is the road that leads you to Penang Hill, Jade Emperor Temple and Penang Hill Tua Pek Kong Temple. In the triangle corner between Penang Hill Railway Road and Main Air Itam road stands this whitewashed obelisk.

120, Armenian Street.

2015-12-20T02:42:00.000-08:00

120 Armenian Street is Dr Sun Yat Sen, Penang Base is a shop house with facade lime washed indigo blue. A heritage signage stands to advise visitors of the many heritages sites in the heart of our Penang Unesco Heritage City.

Chandra and I had the opportunity to visit Dr Sun Yat Sen Penang Base in 120 Armenian Street. Little did we know how fortunate we were to learn some in depth knowledge of this great man.

Khoo Salma, a conservationist writer, present custodian of the house runs a daily tour of Sun Yat Sen Penang Base.

Khoo Salma,our historian

For many of us, the name Sun Yat Sen is whispered throughout our life. But never really knowing the extent of his influence in us and China.

It is in this shop house that Dr Sun Yat Sen and his supporters planned a famous event of the 1911 Chinese Revolution. The Tung Meng Hooi was the party of Dr. Sun Yat Sen alias Sun Chong San, leader of the Chinese nationalist revolution.

His days in Penang

Dr Sun traveled many times around the world by steamship. He first came to Penang in 1906 and it became his yearly trip until 1911.

During his sojourns in Penang, he stayed at the homes of his wealthy supporters. Grand entertainment of wine, woman and song were held in these homes.

His own residence was at 404 Jalan Datuk Kramat (since demolished). He came together with his family consisting of his two wives, his two daughters and his brother.

During their stay in Penang, the daily expenses of Dr. Sun and his family were borne by his Penang supporters.

What is Tung Meng Hui?

Leaving his family in Penang, he went one or two more world trips to countries he was not barred to campaign for monetary support.

The Chinese United League or the Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, was a secret society and underground resistance movement organized by Sun Yat Sen and Song Jiaoren in Tokyo, Japan, on 20 August 1905.

The Tung Meng Hooi headquarters was then in Singapore but later moved to Penang. On 13th November 1910, the famous "Penang meeting" was held in this house.

It was an Emergency meeting convened to plan the Canton uprising which took place in Guangzhou on the 29th day of the third month of the lunar calendar, (27th April 1911).

A massive fund raising campaign was initiated and Dr Sun managed to raise 8,000 Strait dollars on the spot.

When you visit Sun Yat Sen Penang Base, you get to see the antique bulky safe where he kept all the money for the revolution.

"The Overseas are the mother of the Chinese Revolution", quoted by Dr Sun, as with his last pleading money poured in from Chinese communities from Canada, the Dutch East Indies, French Indo-China, Thailand, United States and British Malaya.

120 Armenian Street, Penang Base

As a secret society and underground resistance movement, this house was chosen for a few reasons. Initially to cover up their activities, the millionaires would used it as a reading room or a place they come for relaxation.

Sun Yat Sen chairing a meeting for the Penang Convention.

Today, the reading room is located at Macalister Road called Penang Philomatic Society. Secret meetings were held whenever Dr Sun was in town.

In case of a police raid, the escape route as the back exit of this elongated shop house opens into the back alleys of the Indian Muslim community.

The escape Route

Try walking in the alleys of Kampung Kaka and Kampung Kolam and you will understand what I am trying to share with you. It will be difficult to catch anyone who knows the back alleys at the back of their hand.

Inner courtyard at 120 Armenian Street

Greens in lovely celadon flower pots in the inner courtyard of 120 Armenian Street

The shop house Sun Yat Sen Penang Base is really a wonder. This Straits Chinese residential terrace house maintains a heritage interior complete with carved screens of the 1880s. You will get to view 1920s furnishing with an inner courtyard garden.

As you walked in, you get to the 1st hall, where visitors are received and announced to the master.

Interior of 120 Armenian Street

Behind the heavily carved screen is the second hall. A Tok Panjang or long table is where family and guest have their meal here.

Interior of 120 Armenian Street.

One can viewed the century old history from the first owner till the present custodian Khoo Salma.

The wooden chairs adorned with mother of pearls, an old hat stand, fireproof safe (where 8,000 Straits dollar were kept stands solid in the second hall).

An old portrait of Dr Sun were handsomely hung on the carved screen. Chinese school students would bow to the portrait to pay respect to him.

Sun Yat Sen portrait

A very familiar scene appear at the back of the shop house with a typical Nyonya kitchen, complete with coffee corner, stone mortar and pestle (anak dan ibu or chengku) and firewood and charcoal stove.

The "dwelling house" or messuage was already extant in 1875. At the time, the owner was Cheah Joo Seang, a trustee of the Cheah Kongsi from 1879 to 1895. From 1900 to 1913, the shop house belonged to Lim Boon Yeow.

In the 1926, the house was taken over by a gun dealer Ch'ng Teong Swee, and until it was used as a godown for his company Ch'ng Eng Joo.

Though it is privately owned, you are visit for a minimal fee. Opens daily from 10am to 12pm and is closed on Sunday. Telephone # 04-2620123.

Some happenings at that time

The Penang supporters were led by Goh Say Eng. In 1906 they started the Penang Branch of the Tung Meng Hooi. Another society was the Penang Philomatic Society in 1908.

Then in 1910, both of them founded Kwong Wah Jit Poh which is the oldest Chinese language newspaper in Malaysia. It was first published in 120 Armenian Street.

A grand memorial was built at Hwang Hwa kang, Guangzhuo China to 72 fallen heroes of the Canton Uprising. Of the known martyrs, 24 were Nanyang Chinese, of whom the most posthumously famous was Malaya's Luo Ching Huo.

Among the martyrs were distinguished writers, gifted poets, popular journalists, skilled workers and farmers.

After the Wuchang uprising in October called the "Double Tenth Revolution", Dr Sun Yat Sen became the first President of the new Republic of China. So, the "Father of Revolution or Republic" became famous known as "Father of Modern China".

Sun was a uniting figure in post-Imperial China, and remains unique among 20th-century Chinese politicians for being widely revered in both the People's Republic of China and Taiwan.

Nearby places to site see around 120 Armenian Street.

Yap Temple
Yap Kongsi
Cheah Kongsi
Penang Heritage Centre
Lim Kongsi
Madrasah Hamid Arabi
Kapitan Keling Mosque
Khoo Kongsi (Leong San Tong)
Acheen Street Mosque
Noordin Family Tomb

Really, it is worth your time and visit to understand more about Penang old history.

Battle of the Chef

2011-06-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Chandra and I were invited for dinner at Battle of the Chef, being the 1st day of the competition. We were happily surprised to meet up with Danny Tan of Tropical Spice Garden. Food bloggers Jacgy, CK Lam and Criz Lai were also invited to be food tester for the evening.

There were 4 tables presentation and Criz Lai and I were in table 3. Table 3 is Italian food and we were really looking forward trying Italian food. Chandra and CK Lam were in table 1 with western food. Danny was in table 4.

Presentation of the first course was Cold Medley. It is Tuna on a cauliflower mousse. In the middle of the platter was Beetroot with roast pumpkin salad and Duck Broccoli stack.

Cold Medley

I enjoyed the duck broccoli stack, finds the texture creamy and smooth and the duck not too salty. What a great combination. The beetroot with roast pumpkin was a little disappointing with no taste but the tuna on cauliflower mousse makes up for the blend taste in the former.


Ocean Consomme

Ocean consomme is clear saffron in deep fried prawn. A unique dish though and I would love a little more flavor from the saffron. Overall appearance if a little yellowish would look clearer rather then blurish.


Chicken Roulade

Goat cheese, spinach wrapped in chicken is what I gather. The base made up of persimmon seems a lovely idea for character and texture with a little crunch.

Rosemary Lamb

The highlight of the evening was rosemary lamb. it is one of the nicest lamb rack from New Zealand. i was totally involved cutting the tender lamb. It was nicely cooked and medium rare. The rosemary sauce was gracefully blended to fine perfumery scent.

All 10 of us totally enjoy this dish and you can see heads were nodding and whispers of "superb dish" was the comment of the hour.

It was indeed a sweet finish with chocolate fondant. With chocolate warm and still oozing out form the fondant, it was really full flavored. Each scoop was tastefully and delicately eaten to savor the lovely and creamy warm fondant.

I must say the graduate did very well with some help. Every table has 3 cooks, 1 waiter and 1 bar tender. the bar tender and waiter were help form some participating hotels.

But my greatest joy was meeting up again with CK Lam, Criz Lai and Thomas who invited us to be food tasters. it was indeed a wonderful experience and we felt privileged to be invited.

As I was saying my goodbyes to Thomas, guess who walks up to us? Lo and behold, my favorite chef, AMY BEH! It completes my day today meeting Amy Beh.

Amy Beh's husband, Thomas, Pearly, Amy, Mr Tan advisor to the Chinese Chef Ass and My better half Chandra

Keen to learn cooking, find us here:
http://www.my-island-penang.com/Penang-HomeCookingClass-Registration.html

Nyonya Cooking in Tropical Spice Garden

2011-05-26T22:23:00.000-07:00


Introduction about Nyonya Cooking

Learning to cook our Penang food like Nyonya, Indian, Malay or Chinese is made easy with locals like me sharing our passion. Our learning starts when we were young.

Janette, Crag, Daneil and Mum having lunch in Tropical Spice Garden

I must tell you, I am glad to use blender, liquidize and latest Thermomix, the world's smallest kitchen. Those days, I keling rempah using mortar and pestle, the big bulky one. To cook Nyonya food, I do missed the keling rempah.

Renee and Dr Bill, mother and son having a private moment

Register in Tropical Spice Garden for a cooking experience you will never forget

The blender cuts it so finely and crushed all fibers till it is too fine for my liking. With the pestle and mortar, it grinds and flatten the fiber of lemongrass, galangal, turmeric. I just love the flavor of grind cooked paste of rempah.


Daniel mum from Germany (lady with white hair) went home and whips out Hong Ark or Stew Duck and Curry Kapitan

When some guest ask me the difference using pester, mortar versus modern blenders, this is my reply. But in modern times, we appreciate modern tools. So most of them are happy to be able to use modern blender to grind the galangal, turmeric, lemongrass.

Cooking Curry chicken with potatoes

The basic principles of The Healthy Way of Eating are:

You have to know how to choose the most nutritious foods.
You have to know how to prepare them the healthy way using the right recipes to enjoy the full flavors.
You have to select foods and recipes to meet your individual needs.


Robert and family cooking Masak Titik

Benefits of using Cekur or Sand Ginger in Duck Stew or Hong Ark

It is a herb from the ginger family and also known as sand ginger. The Chinese call it sar keong in Cantonese and Hakka which both means sand ginger. The stemless leaves usually grow in twos and spread out flat on the ground in opposing directions. These leaves sprout from rhizomes growing in shallow soil. White and purple coloured flowers sprout from between the leaves. Try eating the leaves. It taste pleasantly sweet, try it next time you buy it.

The rhizomes of the plant, which contains essential oils, have been used in Chinese medicine as a decoction or powder for treating indigestion, colds, pectoral and abdominal pains, headache and toothache. Its alcoholic maceration has also been applied as liniment for rheumatism.

The texture and flavor are very similar to Krachai with a faint hint of licorice. More widely available Krachai makes a suitable culinary substitute.


Preparing to cook Fried Garlic Rice

Benefits of Garlic

Garlic's health benefits and medicinal properties have long been known. Garlic has long been considered a herbal "wonder drug", with a reputation in folklore for preventing everything from the common cold and flu to the Plague! It has been used extensively in herbal medicine (phytotherapy, sometimes spelt phitotherapy).

Raw garlic is used by some to treat the symptoms of acne and there is some evidence that it can assist in managing high cholesterol levels. It can even be effective as a natural mosquito repellent.

Allicin does not occur in "ordinary" garlic, it is produced when garlic is finely chopped or crushed. The finer the chopping and the more intensive the crushing, the more allicin is generated and the stronger the medicinal effect.

As well as having antibiotic properties, allicin is an excellent anti-fungal and garlic preparations have been used in folk medicine to treat skin infections such as athlete's foot. Be cautious: too much contact with crushed garlic can result in skin blistering. You should also be aware that a few people are allergic to garlic. Garlic is powerful and needs to be treated with respect - see the warnings page.

The diallyl sulphides (sulfides) obtained from garlic are less powerful than allicin but can still reportedly provide some benefits to health.

Mincing prawns to make prawn balls for Masak Titik

Diallyl sulphides are also less volatile than allicin. They do not degrade as quickly and, importantly, the health benefits survive cooking. Note that garlic still needs to be chopped or crushed to produce the sulphides - if garlic is cooked whole then it has almost no medicinal value or health benefits.

Diallyl sulphides do not share the antifungal properties of allicin. However they are reportedly good for the blood and circulation in some cases. The sulphides might also help to lower the levels of "bad" cholesterol, hence garlic might help to keep the heart and cardiovascular system healthy.

See some Nyonya dishes form my website
See some Nyonya kuih from my cooking class in Pulau Tikus
Ask me more here

Cooking in Penang Tropical Spice Garden

2011-05-26T17:52:00.000-07:00

Penang Tropical Spice Garden is such a lovely place for cooking, says Suzanna from Holland.

A nutritionist by profession, Suzanna absolutely enjoy cooking with herbs and spices. After the nature walk with the Tropical Spice Garden guide, she look forward to cook with them.

Suzana with her new found friends after the Tropical Spice Garden, spice trail walk

First dish is Nyonya Curry Chicken with Potatoes. Suzanna first makes the paste as I guide her the reason behind preparing paste before commencing anything else.

Making the curry paste for Nyonya Curry Chicken with potatoes

As she skins and cuts her potatoes, we told her we prefer the potatoes in chunks, not cubes. Halves are acceptable.

Nyonya Curry Chicken with potatoes

Coconut cream or milk is then mixed with water and rest to allow the cream to float. I then told her how important to skim the cream of the liquid for cooking. In this way, as the curry boils, simmers, it won't be too oily at the finished dish.

Guest form India and Australia following their scent to our cooking class in the garden itself

We were really surprised when guest walked in to taste the dish. The aromatic scent is what make them walked in, they guest told us. it was like a treasure hunt, our nose does the job and led us here, our little cooking hut.

These guest were from India and have not cooked with lemongrass, galangal, fresh turmeric before. For them it was indeed an adventure tasting fresh ingredients.

Nyonya Masak Titik

Next dish is Masak Titik, a delicate clear soup of watermelon, dried shrimps paste and prawn balls. Suzanna was surprised how we can used watermelon flesh to cook this lovely delicate soup.She was simply amazed how sweet the soup was.

I explained to here in the days of my forefathers (about 150 years ago), food was scared. Every kind of fruits, flowers, herbs, leaves and roots are pluck and wash.

My ancestors learn form the local Malays how to live off the land. I wish I could still do that but I will miss my modern stuff like blenders and computers.

Suzanna feasting her lunch

Coming back to all things fresh, they were taught what can be eaten fresh, or to make ulam or kerabu (salad). Suzanna feels so blessed to be able to eat food with fresh roots (rhizomes) like galangal, turmeric and ginger.

The health benefits of eating roots and herbs were explained to Suzanna. Some of it contains anti fungal properties so natural detox is happening in your body as you eat the dish.

For registration of nature walks with guides at Tropical Spice Garden, register in here.

Tropical Spice Garden has converted their Spice Museum to the Cooking School, so if you come learn cooking, this is what you get. We have work and cooking stations for 10 people. We shared many secrets and tip and doable recipes are provided in the class. Look at the state of the art cooking school here.

I also teach in my home at Shanta Niketan, a double storey house in Pulau Tikus. Guest gets personalised class and a complimentary wet market tour when you cooked in my house. Register here and i will send you 60 dishes to choose from.

In my own website, there are many pages I dedicate to people I respect and love. You can see some pages of cooking in Penang at my home.

About cooking in Penang, homecooked food is the answer
My Cooking Mentor
Lim Bian Yam Famous Students
Penang home Cooks Set up
If you are happy with my sharing, register here:

What Your Teeth Say About Your Health

2011-05-26T02:56:00.000-07:00

posted by Melissa Breyer May 9. Thank you Melissa. I love it so I post in my blog. Someone was kind to send me through my mail and I find it useful.

Research has shown that there is an association between periodontal diseases and other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, treating inflammation may not only help manage periodontal diseases but may also help with the management of other chronic inflammatory conditions.

But on the flip side, symptoms of disease may present in the teeth and mouth. The mouth is often used to diagnose, make a prognosis, treat or intervene on a number of diseases. Healthy gums should look pink and firm, not red and swollen–and your teeth should feel solid. If you have problems with your teeth and gums, it’s important to see a dentist, and possibly your general physician.

Here is a list of some health problems that can sometimes show up in the teeth or gums.

Tooth Loss: Osteoporosis
The bone disease osteoporosis affects all the bones in your body–including your jaw bone–and can cause tooth loss. The erosion of the jawbone can result in tooth loss, mild facial deformities and pain in and around the temporomandibular joint, which connects the upper and lower jaws. Alveolar bone, the kind of bone around the roots of the teeth, is susceptible to the process of osteoporosis. It tends to erode quickly when calcium is depleted from the body.

Pale Gums: Anemia
Your mouth may be sore and pale if you’re anemic, and your tongue can become swollen and smooth. When you have anemia, your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells, or your red blood cells don’t contain enough hemoglobin. As a result, your body doesn’t get enough oxygen. Other symptoms of anemia, according to the National Anemia Action Council, include: feeling tired, fatigued, weak, dizzy, irritable, short of breath or depressed. With anemia, you may also have pale skin, brittle nails, chest pain, a coldness in your hands or feet, or an irregular heartbeat. Some people with anemia also have a desire to eat ice or other peculiar things.

Eroded Tooth Enamel: Eating Disorders
A dentist may be the first to notice signs of an eating disorder such as bulimia. The stomach acid from repeated vomiting can severely erode tooth enamel, especially on the tongue side of the upper front teeth. This sharply increases the risk for decay in these areas and can make these teeth sensitive to temperature. Severe erosion can lead to changes in the bite, or the way upper and lower teeth come together. Back teeth can be reduced in size and some teeth can even be lost eventually. Tooth erosion can take about three years to become obvious, but not all bulimics experience it. Frequent vomiting may also cause the salivary glands to swell and the tissues of the mouth and tongue to become dry, red and sore. People with bulimia may have chronic sore throat and small hemorrhages under the skin of the palate.

Thrush: HIV, Diabetes
People with HIV or AIDS may develop oral thrush or other candida infections because the immune system is weakened; thrush can also by caused by drugs such as prednisone, or when antibiotics disturb the natural balance of microorganisms in your body. Oral thrush causes white lesions, usually on your tongue or inner cheeks. The lesions can be painful and may bleed slightly when you scrape them–the body’s weakened immune system and its inability to defend itself from infections are to blame. People with HIV/AIDS may also experience dry mouth, which increases the risk of tooth decay and can make chewing, eating, swallowing, or talking difficult.
If you don’t know you have diabetes or the disease isn’t well controlled, your saliva may contain large amounts of sugar, which encourages the growth of candida.

Gum Disease: Rheumatoid Arthritis
People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are eight times more likely to have gum disease than people without this autoimmune disease. Inflammation may be the common denominator between the two–an autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body’s tissues. (In addition to causing joint problems, rheumatoid arthritis can also affect your whole body with fevers and fatigue.) Making matters worse, people with RA can have trouble brushing and flossing because of damage to finger joints. The good news is that treating existing gum inflammation and infection can also reduce joint pain and inflammation.

Tooth Loss: Kidney Disease
Adults without teeth may be more likely to have chronic kidney disease than those who still have teeth. Exactly how kidney disease and periodontal disease are linked is not entirely clear yet, although researchers think that chronic inflammation may be the connecting link. So taking care of your teeth and gums may reduce your risk of developing chronic kidney problems.

Gum Disease: Premature Birth
If you’re pregnant and have gum disease, you could be more likely to have a baby that is born too early and too small. Exactly how the two conditions are linked remains poorly understood. Underlying inflammation or infections may be to blame. Pregnancy and its related hormonal changes also appear to worsen gum disease; talk to your obstetrician or dentist to find out how to protect yourself and your baby.

GASTRITIS

2011-05-26T02:48:00.000-07:00

Gastritis describes a group of conditions with one thing in common: inflammation of the lining of the stomach. The inflammation of gastritis is often the result of infection with the same bacterium that causes most stomach ulcers. However, other factors — such as injury, regular use of certain pain relievers or drinking too much alcohol — also can contribute to gastritis.
Gastritis may occur suddenly (acute gastritis) or it can occur slowly over time (chronic gastritis). In some cases, gastritis can lead to ulcers and an increased risk of stomach cancer. For most people, however, gastritis isn't serious and improves quickly with treatment.

Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of gastritis include:

A gnawing or burning ache or pain (indigestion) in your upper abdomen that may become either worse or better with eating
Nausea
Vomiting
A feeling of fullness in your upper abdomen after eating

Gastritis doesn't always cause signs and symptoms.

When to see a doctor

Nearly everyone has experienced a bout of indigestion and stomach irritation. Most cases of indigestion are short-lived and don't require medical care. But if you experience signs and symptoms of gastritis consistently for a week or longer, see your doctor. And be sure to tell your doctor if you experience stomach problems after taking any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, especially aspirin or other pain relievers.
If you are vomiting blood, you have blood in your stools or your stool appears black, see your doctor right away to determine the cause.

Causes

Gastritis usually develops when your stomach's protective layer becomes weakened or damaged. A mucus-lined barrier protects the wall of your stomach from the acids that help digest your food. Weaknesses in the barrier allow your digestive juices to damage and inflame your stomach lining. A number of diseases and conditions can make your stomach's protective layer vulnerable to damage and increase your risk of gastritis.
Gastritis can occur suddenly or develop over weeks and months:

    Acute gastritis is stomach inflammation that develops quickly and lasts for a short period of time.
    Chronic gastritis develops gradually and may last for an extended period of time.

Risk factors
Factors that increase your risk of gastritis include:

    Bacterial infection. People infected with Helicobacter pylori can experience gastritis — most commonly chronic gastritis. Half the world's population is thought to be infected with this bacterium, which is thought to pass from person to person. But the majority of those infected don't experience any complications of H. pylori infection. In some people, H. pylori may break down the stomach's inner protective coating, causing changes in the stomach's lining. The reason why some people experience complications from H. pylori infection, such as gastritis and ulcers, and others don't isn't clear. However, doctors believe vulnerability to the bacterium could be inherited or it could be caused by lifestyle choices, such as smoking and high stress levels.
    Regular use of pain relievers. Common pain relievers, such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox), can cause both acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. Using these pain relievers regularly or taking too much of these drugs may reduce a key substance that helps preserve the protective lining of your stomach. Stomach problems are less likely to develop if you take pain relievers only occasionally.
    Older age. Older adults have an increased risk of gastritis because the stomach lining tends to thin with age and because older adults are more likely to have H. pylori infection or autoimmune disorders than younger people are.
    Excessive alcohol use. Alcohol can irritate and erode your stomach lining, which makes your stomach more vulnerable to digestive juices. Excessive alcohol use is more likely to cause acute gastritis.
    Stress. Severe stress due to major surgery, injury, burns or severe infections can cause acute gastritis.
    Bile reflux disease. Bile — a substance that helps you digest fats — is produced in your liver and stored in your gallbladder. When it's released from the gallbladder, bile travels to your small intestine through a series of thin tubes. Normally, a ring-like sphincter muscle (pyloric valve) prevents bile from flowing into your stomach from your small intestine. But if this valve doesn't work properly, or if it has been surgically removed, bile can flow into your stomach, leading to gastritis.
    Your own body attacking cells in your stomach. Called autoimmune gastritis, this type of gastritis occurs when your body attacks the cells that make up your stomach lining. This produces a reaction by your immune system that can wear away at your stomach's protective barrier. Autoimmune gastritis is more common in people with other autoimmune disorders, including Hashimoto's disease and type 1 diabetes. Autoimmune gastritis can also be associated with vitamin B-12 deficiency.
    Other diseases and conditions. Gastritis may be associated with other medical conditions, including HIV/AIDS, Crohn's disease and parasitic infections.

Treatments and drugs

Treatment of gastritis depends on the specific cause. Acute gastritis caused by NSAIDs or alcohol may be relieved by stopping use of those substances. Chronic gastritis caused by H. pylori infection is treated by eradicating the bacteria. Most gastritis treatment plans also incorporate medications that treat stomach acid in order to reduce signs and symptoms you're experiencing and promote healing in your stomach.
Medications used to treat gastritis include:

    Antibiotic medications to kill H. pylori. If H. pylori is found in your digestive tract, your doctor may recommend a combination of antibiotics to kill the bacterium. Antibiotic regimens are different throughout the world. In the United States, antibiotics prescribed for treatment of H. pylori include amoxicillin, clarithromycin (Biaxin), metronidazole (Flagyl) and tetracycline. You'll likely need to take antibiotics for two weeks, depending on their type and number.

    Medications that block acid production and promote healing. Proton pump inhibitors reduce acid by blocking the action of the parts of cells that produce acid. These drugs include the prescription and over-the-counter medications omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), rabeprazole (Aciphex), esomeprazole (Nexium), dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) and pantoprazole (Protonix). Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, particularly at high doses, may increase your risk of hip, wrist and spine fractures. Ask your doctor whether a calcium supplement may reduce this risk.

    Medications to reduce acid production. Acid blockers — also called histamine (H-2) blockers — reduce the amount of acid released into your digestive tract, which relieves gastritis pain and encourages healing. Available by prescription or over-the-counter, acid blockers include ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet) and nizatidine (Axid).

    Antacids that neutralize stomach acid. Your doctor may include an antacid in your drug regimen. Antacids neutralize existing stomach acid and can provide rapid pain relief. Side effects can include constipation or diarrhea, depending on the main ingredients.

Lifestyle and home remedies
You may find some relief from signs and symptoms if you:

    Eat smaller, more frequent meals. If you experience frequent indigestion, eat smaller, more frequent meals to help ease the effects of stomach acid.
    Avoid irritating foods. Avoid foods that irritate your stomach, especially those that are spicy, acidic, fried or fatty.
    Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. Excessive use of alcohol can irritate the mucous lining of your stomach. Limit yourself to one drink per day if you're a woman or two drinks per day if you're a man.
    Consider switching pain relievers. If you use pain relievers regularly, ask your doctor whether acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) may be an option for you. This medication is less likely to aggravate your stomach problem.
    Manage stress. Stress may make your gastritis symptoms worse. Stress may be unavoidable, but you can learn to cope with it. If you have trouble relaxing, consider trying calming activities, such as meditation, yoga or tai chi.

Turmeric can be used fresh or dried

2011-05-24T23:11:00.000-07:00

Turmeric roots

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant of the ginger family. Turmeric is native to Asia. It is a hardy plant that doesn't need much care and can survive in a variety of climates, including sub-tropical climate.

Its leaf is aromatic and very useful as a herb in cooking, as it gives a distinctive flavour to food and it is medicinally useful as well, to prevent coughs and colds and aches and pains. Fresh turmeric leaves are widely used in Penang or Malaysia, India.

A Turmeric plant

It can be grown mainly along the coastal regions. you can also have it in your own backyard somewhere where sunlight can penetrate. City dwellers grow it in pots kept out in the sun, on window ledges.

Fresh turmeric leaves,these are available usually in spring months and are used as a tempering, paste or whole in various cuisines. Malaysia with tropical climate, it is grown all year round.

Dried turmeric leaves- In order to increase the shelf life, the tamarind leaves are dried under the sun or commercially with driers. They need to be soaked in water and the extract is then used for culinary preparations.

Achar Awak or mixed vegetable achar

How to select

Turmeric leaves are available in both fresh and dried form. The fresh ones should have light green colour and the leaves should not be wilted. One of the best describe is found in this site.

Culinary Uses

In Penang, the Nyonyas and Malays uses turmeric in their dishes. As fresh turmeric roots rhizome or leaves is available easily.

Some of the dishes are:

Nasi Ulam
Curry Kapitan
Otak Otak
Most curries have this rhizome

Achar Fish or Achar Hu in turmeric oil

In India, some favorites dishes are:

Patholi or Kadabu Made With Turmeric Leaves is a dish that is not only typical to Mangalore but a must during Gowri and Ganesha Festivals.

A few recipe with turmeric leaves are fish Baked in Turmeric Leaves, steamed fish wrapped in turmeric leaves, etc.

Nyonya fish Tumis or Kari Hu

The young tender turmeric leaves have a subtle tart flavour without being overly bitter or sour. You can add quite a lot of these exotic tender greens to the any recipe, increasing your nutrient intake and giving your taste buds a real treat at the same time.

Turmeric leaves are removed from the stalk and soaked in water to extract the sourness. The leaves are discarded and the water is used for culinary uses. Alternatively, the green leaves may be ground in to a paste and added to any preparation while cooking.

Nyonya Nasi Ulam using turmeric roots and leaves

Pickled turmeric leaves are common in India and are used as a flavoring in East Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine. It's used to season full flavored foods such as chutney, curry dishes and pickled fish.

How to store

Fresh leaves should be refrigerated and consumed within a week. While the dried ones can be stored in an air tight container and used for months.

Nyonya Sambal Udang using fresh turmeric

Health Benefits

" Turmeric leaves is cathartic, astringent and, antiseptic.
" In India Turmeric leaves is popular as a gentle laxative
" Folk medicine uses Turmeric leaves for sprains and swelling.
" The leaves are sometimes used in sub acid infusions, and a decoction is said to destroy worms in children, and is also useful for jaundice, and externally as a wash for sore eyes and ulcers
" In the Philippines, the leaves have been traditionally used in herbal tea for reducing malaria fever.

Nyonya Perut Ikan using turmeric root

Turmeric is widely used as a food coloring and gives Indian curry its distinctive flavor and yellow color. It is also used in mustard and to color butter and cheese. Turmeric has been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine as an anti-inflammatory, to treat digestive and liver problems, skin diseases, and wounds.

Curcumin is also a powerful antioxidant; antioxidants scavenge particles in the body known as free radicals, which damage cell membranes, tamper with DNA, and even cause cell death. Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals and may reduce or even help prevent some of the damage they cause.

In addition, curcumin reduces inflammation by lowering levels of two inflammatory enzymes (called COX-2 and LOX) in the body and stops platelets from clumping together to form blood clots.

All dishes using turmeric is shared in my cooking classes in Penang. For more details or registration write to me here:

Making Pineapple Jam with Thermomix, the world smallest kitchen

2010-02-08T01:01:00.000-08:00

I really had much fun making Pineapple Jam Tarts with Thermomix.

It is not for nothing it is called "the world smallest kitchen".

Traditionally cooking jam in a pan, kuali or wok is messy. When it boils, it splatters all over your stove and it is sticky.

Lots of cleaning to do. With Thermomix, it can be done in a jiff, within seconds, it liquidize the pineapple for you. And you need not have to transfer to a pan,wok or kuali.

Here is what I do last weekend it is no joke cooking 10 pineapples.

After cleaning the pineapple, just cut into chunks as Thermomix can do the rest.

Recipe and ingredients I use:
1 kilo Ripe Pineapple
350 grams Caster Sugar
3 Passion Fruits, scoop the pulp. It is not much so add 4 tablespoon of water to get more juice. Drain off the seeds, use only the juice.

Pour passion fruit or buah makisa as it is an Indonesian fruit. I happened to grow 2 plants and I got 30 fruits to my 10 pineapples.

Once you have added all the ingredients like Pineapples, Sugar and passion fruit or lime, close the lid. Set the timer to Varoma, add the steamer tray. Set to speed 1 and time you need is 30 mins. In the steamer tray, you can steam something, I choose to steam Man tou or dumplings which only takes 15 mins to cook. So I reset the time to 15 mins to remind me to remove the dumplings.

Now you can leave it and do other stuffs. Once another 15 mins is up, it will ring and you just have to turn it off.

Walaa, the Pineapple jam is ready for use.. Appearance is lovely, creamy and still yelowish because of controlled 100 deg C temperature. Check out how make prepare the pastry for pineapple tart

Enjoy!

Interesting facts on Hungry Ghost Fest

2008-08-29T23:04:00.000-07:00

The Hungry Ghosts Festival is one of the most misunderstood Chinese celebrations. It’s also much less spooky and much more remarkable than you think.

If you, like most Malaysians, think that the Hungry Ghosts Festival is all about starving ghouls roaming the earth and not much else, don’t let Dr Ong Seng Huat know — he’ll smack you on the head.

The chief executive director of Xiao En Cultural Foundation — a non-profit, charity-based organisation that promotes academic research and cultural exchange in Asia — Dr Ong doesn’t really believe in ghosts. Or at least, he doesn’t think that the Hungry Ghosts Festival has a whole lot to do with ghosts.

Strange?

“The term ‘hungry ghost’ was coined by the British when they first set foot in the Far East,” Dr Ong says.
“But they misinterpreted the Chinese rituals to be something scary and absurd. Decades may have passed since then, but it’s still being defined this way. That’s colonialism at its best.”

Dr Ong has spent the past few years trying to fix this misconception. He’s even got a book out on the subject. Nevertheless, it’s a long road ahead for this free-thinking maverick, especially when it comes to battling cultural and religious ideas that have held sway for so long.

The truth about ghosts

“The Chinese never had a solid concept of festival. We don’t go out and party the way Westerners do. For us, festivals are very family-oriented. It’s always a time to go home to our families and remember those who have passed on. This tradition dates back centuries, when our ancestors from China used to gather after the harvest season was over,” Dr Ong says.

He believes that the same goes for the Hungry Ghosts Festival, or Zhong Yuan Jie, as the Chinese call it. The rituals, as far as he’s concerned, grew out of society’s need to resolve a social concern that was then plaguing a particular era.

“In China, Zhong Yuan Jie marked a dramatic shift in the seasons,” he adds.

“There was a sharp spike in the number of deaths and fatal illnesses during this period due to the shortage of food and sub-zero temperatures. The villagers believed that a person’s spirit would be restless if he died tragically, and had therefore prayed for these departed souls.”

The lighting of joss sticks evolved from this era because it served two purposes: firstly, to provide some relief from the freezing cold, and secondly, to get rid of the flies and diseases that were spreading.

“The joss sticks were nothing like the ones you have today,” he claims.

“They contained medicinal properties and benefited anyone who caught a whiff of it, since it was made by the village doctors. Meanwhile, we’ve got the capitalists to thank for the modern versions, which contain enough poison to pollute the earth and everything in it.”

This festival, however, wasn’t made official until the Zhou dynasty (1122BC-256BC), when a special treatise called the Record of Rites was compiled by a Confucianist student who thought it was a fundamental doctrine for every human being.

“It tells you to pay respect to those before you and to thank them for the sacrifices they have made. After all, without them, you wouldn’t be here, and the world wouldn’t be where it is now. This is the most basic concept of filial piety, or xiao tao.”

Resurrecting the past

The story, according to Dr Ong, began like this: Confucius was in a class with his students when he asked for the definition of “xiao tao”.

A student raised his hand and answered, “It means providing your parents with shelter and food, and taking care of them if they’re ill.”

Confucius roared with laughter upon hearing the reply.

“You’ve not learned anything from my classes, have you, boy?” he said. “You speak of your parents as if they’re on equal footing with the chickens and pigs from the farm. Filial piety goes beyond obligations. What about respect or deep honour?”

These two main elements, says Dr Ong, would be constantly emphasized throughout Confucius’ lifetime because the concept of filial piety was believed to be the root of all virtues. It is also a fragile one, and easily forgotten in a world like today.

“In other words, the world doesn’t revolve around you,” Dr Ong says.

“Both parent and child are shaped by others, especially their families, and that’s why they should always show their appreciation by respecting the elders and caring for the young. Confucius believed that doing this could help to cultivate your heart and soul. Just imagine, if everyone were this way, the world would be a far better place.”

The Chinese government was so impressed with this plan that every dynasty since the Zhou period had a scholar specially appointed to interpret the Record of Rites according to their needs and limitations.

Word about this amazing doctrine spread so widely that even the Koreans and Japanese adopted it for the benefit of their own people. The teachings were later perfected by the Buddhists, who believed that a person could only be upgraded spiritually if they were to put others before themselves.

“What annoys me is that all the other societies still practise this, except the Chinese,” Dr Ong reveals.

“I went to a conference the other day, and this Korean chap smugly told me that the Record of Rites is being translated into contemporary context by the Korean government till this very day. We, on the other hand, are forgetting our past.”

Not surprisingly, Dr Ong is a stickler for the past.

The past, he claims, is trying to teach us something. Any beliefs and rituals that we have today were, in fact, created long ago as a form of symbolism and social education.

“Take the recent Enlightenment Ceremony at Nilai Memorial Park,” he says. “The fact that there are families folding and burning paper lotuses all over the place would stump an average man with little or no understanding of history.”

The paper lotuses, as it turns out, is a symbol for spiritual purity because these flowers retain their pristine quality despite growing from the mud. When it’s set alight, these lotuses signify spiritual transformation, or a release from the physical being, a process that is necessary for enlightenment.

“This metaphorical richness applies to everything else,” Dr Ong says, referring to other practices during the Hungry Ghosts Festival.

“I suppose you can call the Chinese an imaginative bunch. Unfortunately, they can drive you insane with their complaints, too. They whine about the amount of superstitions the older generation have, and how some people are silly enough to believe them. But it’s not a matter of believing, but rather, of remembering your roots.

“After all, we Chinese have got 8,000 years of history behind us.”

Source: The Star
http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2008/8/30/lifefocus/1860622&sec=lifefocus

HUMAN RIGHTS AND INTEGRITY: Public Perception in Malaysia

2008-07-18T21:53:00.000-07:00

In Malaysia, between the two terms, it was 'integrity' that was given constant attention since a long time ago. Although the term itself was seldom used in the past, the two words which convey the same meaning - 'honesty' and 'ethics' - were repeatedly emphasized in schools and during talks on religions.
In the English-medium schools in particular, the children were constantly reminded of the saying: "Honesty is the best policy". Even in the University of Malaya (Singapore) where Philosophy was one of the disciplines taught in the early years of its existence, the two main aspects of the subject made compulsory were Logic and Ethics.

In short, morality was considered one of the main principles governing human relationships. Between two persons or for that matter two parties or more, there was need for transparent conduct to ensure harmony and enhance happiness. Where friendships developed, it was expected that one should be able to trust one's friend or friends implicitly.

However, in past Asian societies in general, between the ruling class and the subject class, the same principle did not really apply for while the subject class was not allowed to tell lies, the ruling class enjoyed almost total power. It could not be penalised if it did not tell the truth because it performed the functions of 'judge, jury and executioner". The move against unjust rulers and governments occurred very gradually. Even in the Malay Peninsula, although a ruler was assassinated in Johor as early as 1699, no move was made then to change the system of government. Absolute monarchy continued to exist.

In other words, the values governing the relationship between one individual and another or between two groups were very different in the days of the ancient regime. The situation began to change in the Malay Peninsula only after Western systems and values were progressively introduced to the local people. The subject class was gradually, and rather indirectly, encouraged to ask questions and to speak up for themselves when councils at the local and state levels were introduced towards the latter part of the 19th century. Some of these values were subsequently consistently disseminated in local schools after modern education had been introduced. Equally effective as agents of change was the media - newspapers (increasingly since 1806) and cinematography (beginning from about 1930). But it was not the society as a whole that benefited. The more educated did; the less educated did not always manage to grasp ideas and ideals disseminated directly or indirectly.
Still, undeniably, the coming of the West unavoidably led to more radical social change. The process in general took a long time; it differed greatly from one ethnic group to another. Educated leaders in India had acquired sufficient Western ideas and legal system to challenge British colonialism by 1857. Indian political activists had appeared in this country by the time of World War I. Japan too had begun to convulse socially before the end of the 19th century. The Meiji Restoration witnessed the beginnings of modernization. When Japan defeated China in a war in the 1890s, it inspired a part of the Malay society to work towards modernization as well. But China was then still in the throes of Manchurian hegemony. But the onslaught of modern ideas eventually led to the end of monarchy and republicanism has remained to this day.

In Malaysia, change began at a faster pace on the fringe of the Malay Peninsula where the British had established the Straits Settlements in 1826. English education was about half a century later introduced in the Malay states. Also after the British had begun to interfere with the administration in the Malay kingdoms, the Straits population steadily moved into the western part of the Peninsula attracted by the opportunities to seek employment as the English language became increasingly important in all aspects of administration.

However, although English education exposed the younger generation to modern socio-political developments, Western ideas were not quickly accepted with open arms. There was always the call to preserve traditional values. Socialist and communist ideas arrived after World War I, but leftist ideas were critical of Western domination although it preached egalitarianism which was itself a Western idea. The result was that leftist ideas managed to penetrate, surreptitiously, even the Malay community. It gave rise to a conflict between those who steadfastly defended the status quo and those who wanted change. This was particularly evident after World War II when two Malay political parties, with ideologically different views, emerged - the Malay Nationalist Party (in late 1945) and UMNO (in early 1946).

Britain meanwhile, following trends set by the United States which called for decolonization - by first freeing its own colony (the Philippines) in 1946 - began to encourage the formation of nation-states among territories which it had previously colonized or extended Protection to. A policy of liberalization ensued in what was then called Malaya after 1945. Political parties were allowed to be formed, also trade unions. The first major constitutional change - the introduction of the Malayan Union - was to introduce democracy after a nation-state (Malaya) had been formed. The process was besieged with problems as the existing political structures that existed were very complex, not the least important of which was the need to merge the nine sovereign Malay kingdoms with the British Crown Colony comprising Penang and Malacca.

The idea of human rights ingrained in the concept of democracy - "government of the people, by the people, for the people" - was primary in the minds of the educated British subjects who were residing in Penang and Malacca. But Britain had also, over several decades, by treaties, undertaken to preserve the sanctity of the Malay kingdoms. Trying to find a win-win situation was more than doubly difficult. The local leaders felt that they could perhaps solve the problem progressively once Malaya had become a nation-state. But they were mistaken. The subject is debated even today.

But it has gone beyond the need to provide fairly among the citizens of the country irrespective of race, religion and creed. Since becoming a member of the United Nations after Malaya became a nation-state, Malaya (then Malaysia) has had to observe the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations in 1948.

Human rights cover a very broad range of subjects among the most basic of which are that human beings are born equal and they have certain god-given rights such as the right to education, basic amenities and the choice of who should be entrusted with the responsibility of running the country.

Elections in fact had been introduced in Malaya beginning from late 1951 - the Penang Municipal Elections were held then - and the first nation-wide elections were held in 1955. Since then Parliament, established in 1957, was suspended only once in 1969. Like many other countries, this country has had to balance between democracy and national security. While the government has not openly dispensed with democracy, in most instances when faced with a choice between observing the principle of human rights as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ensuring national security, it is the latter that consistently gains priority.

But ultimately to uphold human rights, there must be integrity in the management of the country, from the upper echelon of the society to the grass roots level. Stability in a society and progress can become a reality only when each person behaves correctly rather deviously. Every action must be transparent and the old adage of "Love thy Neighbour as Thyself" is not out-dated. Then and only then can it be expected that a nation will always give priority to the interests of the people irrespective of race, creed or religion. Few people realize that the Penang Free School was founded in 1816 with that in mind for "Free" meant that the school would not be encumbered by "race, creed or religion".

Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Kim, Commissioner of Human Rights Commission of Malaysia
Source: http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Friday/Columns/20080718173241/Article/index_html

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) will be hosting the Thirteenth Annual Meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions starting from 28-31 July 2008, at the Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Japanese Consulate Residence

2008-06-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

This use to be the old house Allan Lee Winthrop lived when he was young. Allan has kindly send some old photos to trace back the house his family used to lived. Actually I should say it used to be the house of Richard Winthrop who had an architect firm in 39 Beach Street.

It is now the residence of the Japanese Consulate. Can you imagine how happy Allan was when he found that out? Allan has been following my site http://www.my-island-penang.com about the Penang he knows.

The Japanese Consulate Residence is a beautiful house in Tanjung Bungah. Really it is the starting point of Batu Ferringhi. Some of you may remember, this is the place we used to come and have our ice cream from Swensen,ya! It is just round the corner.

Previously, the address is 259 Tanjung Bungah but to our surprise when researching for Mr Allan Lee of Uk, we found the address changed to Batu Ferringhi.

This house 259A is Baiduri and is presently up for sale. I am not able to find out who lived here but I know it used to belong to Jimmy Yeap of Ban Hin Lee Bank. This area must be great Feng Shui in the past, i think. Loh Boon Siew has a house round the corner too called Boon Siew Villa.

Here are some great shots taken on the house and its surrounding. And an excerpts from Allan mail to me.

Allan says:

My father was an Architect in Beach Street (I think it was No 39, there was a doctors practice on a first floor and he was on the top floor). A big white building on left looking towards the sea.

(Allan, this is the beaches called Sunshine Bay opposite your 259 house) It is still a beautiful beaches, unspoilt. The only addition is an Indian shrine down the beach.)

His business was Richard Winthrop Architects from early 1950's to 1968.
He did domestic houses, schools, churches, factories in Penang and also Malaya.

He built a number of houses. There was a prestigious house he built going down to the sea, after you passed the Penang Swimming Pool , driving out from Georgetown. I believe it was called Sock Finn and had something to do with a tin mining company. It has the most expensive of ceramic roof tiles in cobolt green/blue, shipped from Europe. I think there are probably hotels now on the site. Their garden used to lead down to the other side of the Penang Swimming Club boat club and was full of seedling grown Frangipani.

(This apartment is just opposite the Mt Pleasure complex in Jalan Low Yat) Allan, the boulders, a huge one is just in front of the filtration plant and apartment. I enclosed the Google Map.)

He also build houses furthur on the road, beyond Batu Ferringhi Beach, with views over the sea from up the hillsides. There were two isolated ones I remember
.....above each other and one of the owners kept an otter!

If you ever used the Chinese Swimming Pool, my father was the architect who built the
long club house. I believe that this swimming pool is now closed. (No Allan, the swimming club is still in use but under different ownership).

View Larger Map

Thank you Allan for tracing your roots and as for us, my husband Chandra and I are revisiting many parts of Penang Island and growing to love it day by day.

We are so glad to be able to help Allan in his quest.

Pearly
http://www.my-island-penang.com