Saturday 9 March 2013

E&O Hotel

After First Galleria in Taiping, Affandi drove around a bit to find Nawab Din's shophouse. Then we headed for Penang via Jalan Ong Saik and followed the signboards towards Kedah. We arrived at my sister house at 3 p.m., prayed and had lunch before heading to the E&O Hotel. We parked on the multi-level carpark - its entry is near the bowling place. Parking was for RM6.00.

We attended Areca Books's book launch for Marcus Langdon's book, Penang: The Fourth Presidency of India, 1805-1830. The book covered the British East India Company in Penang.

Then we met the others who were there. It was our first book launch as usually we could not make it to any. Among those we met were Dato' Anwar Fazal Mohamed and his sister Rashidah. Rashidah had retired as a librarian from USM. We also met Khoo Salma Nasution and her husband Lubis for the first time. We met Prof Brandon of PMC. We also talked to a couple - I don't remember the husband's name but the wife said her name is Suri, she's from Kedah and has daughters in New York and UK.

Abdur-Razzaq Lubis, Affandi, and myself talked about my book, Biography of the Early Malay Doctors. His wife Khoo Salma Nasution joined us much later. We discussed everything pertaining to my book. We hope to get another better book out by Areca Books, insyaAllah.

Lubis and Salma are the owners of Areca Books. Both are prolific authors http://www.mbras.org.my/monograph35.html. Areca Books produces professionally edited elegant books with attractive covers. Marcus Langdon's book is a good example. I will update if we come out with a new book. It will be many years before it will materialise.


Rashidah Mohamed, Affandi and Marcus Langdon 
Affandi and Dato Anwar Fazal Mohamed
Myself, Khoo Salma Nasution and Abdur-Razzaq Lubis
Affandi, myself and Khoo Salma Nasution
Classic cup and saucer of the E&O Hotel. I think this is British measure.
Affandi is pleased with Marcus Langdon's book
Suri and husband discussing with Affandi
Dato Anwar Fazal Mohamed gifted my books to Suri and husband
Dato Anwar Fazal gifted my books to Prof Brandon of Penang Medical College (PMC). PMC is on Sepoy Lines Road. He asked how many Malay doctors in my book obtained their postgraduate degrees from Ireland - he meant the Royal College of Surgeons. I couldn't answer him right away. I have to do my homework and check again before I can give him an answer. Off hand I think only a few obtained their memberships of the RCS.
The E&O Hotel in Penang in February 2013.
New jetty in front of the E&O Hotel, Penang. It looks more like the jetty at Barrack St in Perth. I didn't see any ferries.
Esplanade of the E&O Hotel, Penang.
North Beach viewed from the E&O Hotel, Penang. No swimming is allowed on this beach.

First Galleria (2)

This was my second visit to First Galleria. I went back with Affandi the next day after the wedding to see the place again and where posters of The Early Malay Doctors would be displayed. The proposed months of the planned exhibition would be in July, August and September 2013, insyaAllah.

Anuar Isa had arrived on site and greeted us upon arrival. He then allowed us through the original heavy sliding front door and inside the main building. He guided us through the galleries. Every gallery had a purpose and the articles displayed related to the theme of the respective galleries. I then signed the guestbook at Kapitan Gallery and we headed for the souvenir shop in an adjacent building. Anuar Isa gifted me three of his books on Taiping. They were printed by his family's company in Kuala Lumpur. Affandi took all the photos.

Signing the guestbook at Kapitan Gallery. Kapitan is a Portuguese word and means headman or community leader. The word is hardly used nowadays.
Discussion at the souvenir shop
The iconic building that becomes the innovative logo for First Galleria
Street view of First Galleria

First Galleria (1)

This was my first visit to First Galleria. First Galleria is a restored colonial office. Insun Sony's father had worked here. Anuar Isa's grandfather had also worked here. There are many galleries within the main building. There is a reading room and a strong room. I saw some of the most precious photos here - Captain Speedy, Frank Swettenham, Gee Hin leader, Hai San leader, Ngah Ibrahim, etc. It tickles me that Captain Speedy is the pirate in Pirates of the Caribbean. Are they the same character?

Affandi and I attended the wedding of Anuar Isa's elder daughter. We met Insun Sony Mustapha Fenner and her husband Sepo and cousin Christina. Insun Sony is a relative of my late father. I had never met her till we met at First Galleria. Izaham Musa is also related to Insun Sony via the marriage of his cousin to Insun Sony's cousin. It is a small world indeed.

It was difficult taking night photos as Affandi was not used to my digital camera and I didn't know how to get the flash going on his digital camera. So I have to make do with mediocre photos for this post.


With Insun Sony Mustapha Fenner, youngest daughter of Mustapha Hussien - a Merdeka fighter in the same league as Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmy. She wrote books about her father's struggle to make the Malayan independence a reality. She won a prize and her portrait hangs in the Portraits Gallery at First Galleria. Insun is with the Jenaton Group in Facebook.
Captain Speedy in the bkgr. I like pirates and pirate tales.
Can you spot my two books? Bookshelf in the Reading Room at First Galleria. I like the bookshelf. At least the shelves here don't sag under so much weight.
What we saw of First Galleria when we first arrived in Taiping. I thought this was a Malay palace and told Affandi maybe we were in the wrong place. The restoration here runs in the millions but I think it is worth every sen. I have never seen anything like this restoration. It is well done and simply fantastic. Affandi also likes this place. We wished it was ours! LOL
Day time shot of the lovely First Galleria, after the morning rain, before the wedding at night
With Insun Sony and Christina
Newly weds. I like the red payung and the silver groom's baju Melayu. Looks very magical.
Very pretty and elegant designs. I thought I was in New York or some elite place overseas. This is the kind of artwork that Anuar Isa and his family do. They are a talented lot.
Affandi and Seppo Kangassalo
Affandi, Seppo, Anuar Isa and Insun Sony
Warisan plaque of First Galleria
http://www.facebook.com/FirstGalleria

Taiping Landmarks (3)

SMK King Edward VII, Taiping

Plaque at main entrance
Admin
Admin
Admin
Sheffield Hostel 1928
same as above
same as above
Surau at SMK King Edward VII, Taiping

Jalan Stesen old buildings
Rest House, Jalan Stesen, Taiping
Rest House on Jalan Stesen, Taiping
Middle white building, Jalan Stesen
Last building on Jalan Stesen
same as above
same as above

First Galleria
First Galleria on Jalan Ong Saik, viewed from Jalan Stesen


Nawab Din's shop
KIV. Please refer to the newspaper article 'From law enforcer to texttile tycoon' on page 228 in Biography of the Early Malay Doctors.

Possibly Nawab Din's shophouse in Taiping. The streetname was not stated in the NST article on page 228 in Biography of the Early Malay Doctors. KIV. I'm unsure whether this was Nawab Din's shophouse. The other location could be Bismillah restaurant near the clock tower and markets.
Esso (left) and (KIV) Nawab Din's shop (right)
Esso nearest Nawab Din's shop