Explore the unique maritime cultural heritage of islanders off the coast of Johor in my latest article. Check out their island inspired food using locally sourced seeds, fruits and plants, cultural performances and traditional art including Zapin Pulau performances that mimic the movements of marine life, with costumes inspired by the colours of the sea…
Tag: Heritage
‘Notre Dame in the Jungle’
Read all about the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church (est. 1895) in the village of Pagar Tras on Penang’s mainland, the significant role it played in the growth and transformation of Hakka migrants, the contribution of French MEP priests to the community, and the reason this magnificient structure fell into ruins in later years.
Walking Tours: Klang, Selangor
Explore the Rich History & Heritage of Selangor’s Royal Town While many of us might be inclined to say that the oldest settlements in Peninsular Malaysia lay at the foothills of Guning Jerai on Lembah Bujang or even the ancient port city of Melaka, there seems to be some evidence of much earlier settlements in…
Down Memory Lane: Eastern Studio, Segamat
May 2024 was a busy month, which is why I was looking forward to a short escape and time-out with the extended family who were gathering in the town of Segamat in Johor for our uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary celebration. My last trip to the town that my mother’s side of the family called home,…
CNY 2024 Festivities at KL’s Hidden Gem
The cloistered Sin Sze Si Ya temple in Kuala Lumpur is a sanctuary in the heart of the city, known for its rich history and unique traditions. Its concealed location and beautiful architecture make it a hidden gem for locals and tourists to discover. The temple reflects the diverse and vibrant cultural fabric of Malaysia.
Urban Oasis: High Line Park NYC
This is a long overdue post of one of my favourite spot in New York City – the High Line Walk – a more than 2 km stretch of elevated walkway that crosses through several blocks in the city. Formerly known as the West Side Elevated Line, this disused elevated rail track used to service…
The Blue Mansion, Penang (Video Tour)
The Cheong Fatt Tze mansion in George Town, Penang Island is truly an attention seeker – with its colourful porcelain shard work and brilliant indigo blue walls, which earned it the moniker – the ‘Blue Mansion’. Featured in prestigious travel magazines, TV series, popular movies like ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and even on London buses, this…
Breaking The Pattern
Sign of the times – boxes and lines on the beautiful tiles of the late 19th century Cheong Fatt Tze (Blue) Mansion. The beautiful geometric patterns of the tiles imported from Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire, England have been marked with black tape to remind visitors to maintain social distancing as they visit the popular Heritage house,…
Gopeng’s Saucy Secret
Check out Gopeng’s famous and only surviving traditional soya sauce factory that has flavoured the town’s fare for 104 years and counting.
Stuff you take for granted …
Things you take for granted until it’s beyond your reach because of restricted movement. Our sweet treat just one month ago on a scorching hot afternoon along the streets of Georgetown – ‘Ais Bola’ drizzled with syrup, sarsaparilla and grape & Penang Heritage ais kacang. Ice bola is hard to come by nowadays, but it…
Our Fading Heritage: Jerejak Island
My next read! Waiting to dive into the pages to find out more about our very own Ellis Island here in Penang, Malaysia. Sadly, the spot where more than a million migrants to Malaya landed between 1877 and 1957 is earmarked for development of a theme park and resort. Heritage groups are fighting to preserve…
Hidden gem: Gua Musang’s 15th century temple
‘Tokong Swee Nyet’ in Kampug Pulai, Gua Musang, Kelantan has been a place of worship for Chinese settlers who moved to the area about 600-years ago. These settlers (mainly from the Hakka clan) were in search of fortune from gold deposits found in Sungai (river) Galas. Their descendants, who have over the centuries intermarried with…
Maria Dass the World 