Penang State Museum

A trip to Penang is always looked-forward to by us.  We normally don't visit shopping malls.  Penang is all about history and culture to us and we love every nook and cranny of Penang.

This time we decided to take Zoey to the Penang State Museum.  The last time she was there was when she was about 3 or 4 years old.

The entrance fee is cheap - RM1 per person.  Ok, I'm too tired and too busy to arrange the pictures in the chronological order.  So, whatever comes first.

Cheap! Despite the restrictions, people took pictures all the same.

It's Nina's job to queue up and buy the tickets.

Meanwhile, Zoey's been busy posing outside.

The Japanese dollar used during the Japanese Occupation in the early 1940s (World War II).

Imitation at its best.  The facial expressions bear the same resemblance.

Another better imitation

Posing with the English Empire's emblem

A long hallway.

I love hallways.  Here, with pictures of old Penang hanging on both walls.

A Japanese samurai sword used during the Japanese Occupation.

I think this was the famous Japanese General Yamashita.

A section on old cafes in old Penang.

The philatelly section.

Imitating the lion and the unicorn.

An old agreement signed by, among others, Stanford Raffles.  I lurve the cursive handwriting.

One of the early rides in the city.

Resting while waiting for the girls.

 Authentic tiffin carrier. The Malay language printed sounds like Baba and Nyonya dialect.

Once practiced by the rich Chinese families.

 Musical instruments in the Indian hall.

The barber cutting hair.  Check out the barber's own hair! He braided his hair and wound it around his head.

 An old globe.

The explanation on the globe.

Used by the cigarette peddlar - Rokok Chap Kuching.

Pictures of the early days' Governors of Penang.

Inside the Malay Hall.

A Malay wedding.  I think this couple came from rich families because only the rich could afford to have their photos taken during those times.

Check out also the jewellery with the rings on almost all fingers.  Jewellery (especially gold) plays an important and integral part in the Malay society.  They tell people of your social status in society.  They are (Yup! Still  being practiced today) normally worn during festivals and most especially during weddings where families, relatives and friends gather together to celebrate the newlyweds (and to show off new jewellery items and try to outdo one another).

It's not openly talked about (and people don't normally openly praise you if you have beautiful or new jewellery items) but families and friends would quickly take a look at whatever items you're wearing (the size, the designs, the number of necklace hanging from your neck, the number of bracelets and bangles on your wrist - sometimes both wrists - including the rings - gold? diamond? Ruby? Emerald? etc...)  and then go on in search of close confidants to gossip about you.

Those being gossiped about would normally feel proud (oh yeah! They ARE aware of people gossipping about them because that's the purpose of wearing those jewellery in the first place) to be the talk of the day.  Crazy!
 

Outside the Chinese Hall - a display of many historical items related to the Chinese history in Penang.

In an adjoining area next to the Chinese Hall, there were displays of a few beautiful Opium Beds - beds used by the rich Chinese to smoke opium with family and friends.

A very large cooking urn.  Behind Nina and Zoey was a bathtub.  There were also a few Corinthian columns on display which I'm not sure of their significance to the history of Penang.  These were displayed outside the building - facing the main road.

Giving their last salute before we left the place.

There were many other interesting pictures and items in the museum.  Luckily, there were also not too many tourists which helped eased our movement.

We'll visit it again in the next few years and see whether or not there are differences - maybe new items etc.