Penang is malaysia’s island melting pot, a rich and varied palette of cultural colours spanning the recent centuries. As Petra O’Neill discovers first-hand, to her great delight, the influence of the Peranakans in Penang simply cannot be overstated.
There is still so much to see,” exclaimed Pearly Kee, as I showed obvious signs of fading fast. It was close to midnight, and on meeting her, I found myself being whisked away on a private tour of George Town to explore its Peranakan influences from an insider’s perspective.
Across George Town, there is no shortage of antique and curio stores, where among dusty teacups and fading photos of solemn Chinese couples, I had often sighted brightly coloured containers decorated with peonies and phoenix patterns that are Peranakan, and while the Penang Museum informatively displays Penang’s cultural heritage, the Peranakan influence was something I knew little about.
Peranakans, also referred to as Straits Chinese or Baba Nyonya, are descendants of mainly Hokkien Chinese traders from Fujian Province who settled in Melaka and coastal areas of Java and Sumatra as early as the 15th century. They married into local Southeast Asian communities, as Chinese women were then not legally able to leave China. During the 19th century, many Peranakans relocated to the thriving ports of Penang and Singapore during British colonial expansion. Highly enterprising, many were successful as merchants involved in the spice trade, rubber, and tin mining, or as professionals. They were also cosmopolitan, drawing upon Chinese, Southeast Asian, and European influences to create a unique cultural aesthetic distinct from the southern Chinese immigrants who migrated to Southeast Asia in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Those with sufficient wealth built palatial mansions during the late 1800s and early 1900s, some of which remain along Millionaire’s Row, as Northam Road (now Jalan Sultan Ahmed Shah) was known alongside the mansions of wealthy English and Chinese families.
Esta historia es de la edición Oct/Nov/Dec 2017 de Senses of Malaysia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición Oct/Nov/Dec 2017 de Senses of Malaysia.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
5 Ride The Rails: Sights Of The Peninsula
Malaysia’s new ETS train operating northwards on double-tracking from Kuala Lumpur and to the border with Thailand at Padang Besar opens up many possibilities for travel.
Peranakan Penang
Penang is malaysia’s island melting pot, a rich and varied palette of cultural colours spanning the recent centuries. As Petra O’Neill discovers first-hand, to her great delight, the influence of the Peranakans in Penang simply cannot be overstated.
Malaysia's Orphaned Orang Utans
The Orang Utan Is an Endangered Species, but as David Bowden Discovers, Two Sanctuaries in East Malaysia Are Doing All They Can to Ensure They Don’t Become Extinct.
East Malaysian Adventures
The world’s third-largest island of Borneo has always been seen as a destination for wild adventures.
Mystical Mulu & Miri
East Malaysia Is a Natural Paradise That Is Closer Than Many Think. David Bowden Explores Sarawak’s Gunung Mulu National Park and Nearby Coastal Miri.
Island Gems In East Malaysia
The quickest way to get you out of the rat race and right back on your feet is a short island getaway.
Music Without Borders
Frequent Festival-goer David Bowden Recaps His Experiences From the Eclectic the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak as It Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary This Year.
Capturing the Beauty of Malaysia
Malaysia’s Natural Beauty Is Oftentimes So Beguiling That It Inspires Photographer Ezy Azhar Time and Time Again to Strive to Capture the Best Photos of It. Sharuna Segaren Chats With Him on What Makes a Good Photo.
Advocating Through Theatre
Malaysian director Kee Thuan Chye has the ability to connect the past to the present in his perceptive plays. Sharuna Segaren chats with him in the midst of preparing for his latest play, Swordfish + Concubine.
Ipoh Springs To Life
More than a town of white coffee and great noodles, Ipoh is increasingly flexing its modern muscle as a legitimate tourist destination. Travel photojournalist David Bowden visits the Perak capital city once again and finds the tourism evolution in full swing.