BY CK Lam
Travellers tend to want to seek unforgettable experience, be it discovering a new place to stay or even dining. One such place with personality and charm is 29 Ceylon Lane.
Ceylon Lane (四十間 Sì-tsap-keng) is located midway between Hutton Lane and Argyll Road, in George Town, Penang, an UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
Invited guest gets to enjoy unique indulgent ‘home’ lodging at this private property. Spanning 3.7m by 18m, the fully air-conditioned two storey pre-war house offers the opportunity to step back in time with its decor.
Owned by a private entity, the property showcased the lifestyle and traditions of the Penang people with a mixture of vintage and modern furniture pieces.Ten years were needed to restore the place with family atmosphere using architectural salvage items besides renewing the plumbing and electrical.
A custom-made mirror stands tall in the living room
A welcoming ambience greets you at the small well kept front yard decorated with greens in earthenware jars.
pot adds to the retro feel.
The living room is divided into two sections by a pair of Chinese lattice panels.
The second section with a mother-of-pearl bench, a wall brightened by colorful porcelain koi fishes and a water feature is a welcoming space. Its relaxed ambience with a tall standing Buddha makes it a cozy seating place for reading.
The third section of the house incorporates a kitchen which also serves as the dining room. The place is kept simple, with its centre furnished with a black granite top round dining table and comfy chairs. A charming bright green bowl makes a decorative centerpiece for the dining table.
A Buddha idol sits at the far end of a kitchen counter while the opposite food preparation counter has everything neatly arranged, including a microwave oven, coffee machine and a refrigerator.
The kitchen cum dining room is a pleasant place for meal
A step away from the kitchen is the bathroom with cabinet displaying glassware, a collection of decorative shells and toiletries.
A side wall next from the study which leads up to the second storey is adorned with a host of framed artifacts and artwork.
The upper floor is nicely laid out with an edgy vintage feel. Interesting ceramic and glass pieces, figurines, selection of artworks and quirky knick-knacks are found on this floor.
The front portion is partitioned off to create a guest bedroom while the master bedroom is located at the rear portion of the house. Both rooms come with everything you need for your stay. The master bedroom is fitted with a 60s teak wardrobe, dresser, queen-size bed and flat screen TV. The Balinese style bathroom with modern bath facilities welcomes you with a warm shower.
The mid-section is a relaxing lounge with a displayed cabinet showcasing a collection of decorative tableware with pieces of unusual design.
Things To Do
29 Ceylon Lane is close to many major attractions that you must see. You can opt to walk or jump on a bicycle which is for rent in many places. The touristy center of George Town is about 15 minutes walking distance.
This is the best place to soak up the street art, murals and 3D paintings. Adding diversity are the nearby historic places of worship, museum, art galleries, Chinatown and Little India whereby decorative items and garbs are plenty.
Curios and antiques are available at the shops along the busy Chulia Street. Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (張弼士) located on Leith Street is one of the must visit places. Popularly known as The Blue Mansion, this century old restored courtyard house with its blue facade had been bestowed with numerous heritage awards.
Explore the majestic Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi on Cannon Square. Better known as Khoo Kongsi (邱公司), this historic attraction with elaborate architecture is not to be missed.
Places to Eat
Here are some places on where and what to eat during your stay. It is important to savour the food when visiting Penang. The property is walking distance to many kopitiam (local coffee shop), refurbished cafes, road side hawker stalls and restaurants.
A short stroll away from Ceylon Lane is Hutton Lane. This lane is lined with old residences besides eating places. The well-known New World Park Food Court is the perfect lunch and teatime eating and drinking place for foodies, with twenty over stalls serving local delights. Enjoy a leisurely meal with choices of Hokkien Mee, Pasembur, Curry Mee, Bachang (Chinese meat dumpling), Char Koay Teow and Assam Laksa which Penang is known for. The food court also offers local coffee, cendul and icy cold ice kacang which are great for a hot day. There are also a few restaurants, the Passions of Kerala which is famous for its variety of Indian cuisine is worth checking out.
Conveniently close to the property is Fook Cheow cafe. Here you can enjoy bowls of koay teow th’ng: flat rice noodles topped with bouncy fish balls and slices of meat in a hearty warm clear soup. The dish is available from early morning till lunch time. A nice chicken rice lunch can be taken at the neighbouring Nam Seng coffee shop. The stall delivers some of the best Hainanese chicken rice in town. The poached chicken is tenderly prepared, with firm smooth skin and a layer of gelatin. How about lunch at the nearby Yi Bin Tea House? There are plenty of home-cooked Nyonya and local Chinese style dishes with favourites including Assam Pedas, stir-fried jiu hu char and lor bak (pork roll). You will be amaze by the wide variety display of Chinese tea leaves and pottery. Enjoy the Chinese tea with the food in the court yard, with pleasant views of the greenery air-well.
A few minutes walk to Transfer Road and Argyll Road lands you in Kedai Kopi Toon Leong. Located in this coffee shop is Deen Nasi Kandar which offers an excellent fare of nasi kandar. This stall has a variety of well-spiced dishes which include its signature catfish fish head curry (ikan Keli). Located four shops away from Deen is the famous Nasi Padang Minang.
Penang cafe scene is growing rapidly in recent years. Wander by foot through the narrow streets and lanes in the heritage enclave of George Town and chill-out all day in the quaint cafes which offer a plethora of food options and freshly brewed coffee.
View 29 Ceylon Lane, Penang in a larger map
A private parking lot with 24 hours surveillance is available at the nearby Zurich building on Argyll Road.
29 Ceylon Lane
George Town
10050 Penang
Malaysia
E-mail: hello@29ceylonlane.com
Fax No: +604 6552591
* This is a reproduction of my article for 29 Ceylon Lane
This place is very beautiful. The architect has design it amazingly. Interior designers have designs amazing wood work with plush types carpets. Wall are amazing with frames and colors.
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