 Living
in the Tropics: An Evening At Jimmy Lim's provided members the opportunity
to hear his design philosophy and to also see it manifested. His slide
show took us through the building of his home step by step. We witnessed
first hand his implementation of his conservation ideals and his use of
recycled material. Many thanks to the host, Jimmy Lim, for making this
enjoyable evening possible.
The next Badan outing was Henry Barlow's Genting Tea Estate. The
lush gardens surrounding his plantation afforded walkers a rare occasion
to view a tremendous variety of birds and wildlife. The stone house with
its wooden guest house and cook's quarters and dining room encloses a
courtyard seemingly untouched by progress. Following lunch, the group
toured Waveney Jenkin's 'rumah rojak', to see how she combined the original
building with a traditional Malay house. Thank you Henry and Waveney for
sharing your homes.
In April, a busload of members and guests spent a day visiting many historic
sites in Melaka. The first stop was Cheng Hoon Teng, the oldest
Chinese temple in Malaysia. The temple dates back to 1600s and reflects
the architecture of the Southern provinces of China. We are grateful to
Josephine Chua for an informative tour. Rosli bin Haji Nor led the tour
through the Jasin area where we viewed various examples of Melaka-style
Malay timber houses. There was a lunch and stopover at Rumah Penghulu
Abdul Ghani in Kampung Merlimau. Built in 1894, this house reflects
a beautiful integration of Malay and Chinese culture in its design, embellishments
and decorations.
A day trip to Sri Menanti was the last expedition. Members toured
Istana Besar, the State ruler's official residence. The tour included
a visit to the grand ceremonial hall where royal titles are conferred.
After lunch, the group explored Istana Lama, the timber palace considered
one of the finest examples of Minangkabau architecture. Inside the palace
there was an exhibition of the State's royal regalia, a bersanding room
and a museum. Thanks are owed to Judy Phoon for efforts in coordinating
this trip. |
