13-7-2010
Travel to a world of Toys, closest to fantasy a child or a young at hearts can be. The cartoons we ever watched on TV. The characters, good or evil, who became an integral part of our growing up memory, The childhood wish and longing of owning our favourite heroe figurines so that we can play with them all day and tuck them to bed next to us every night but those dreams never came through. The disappointment of seeing them on the supermarket toy shelves and holding them in their toy boxes but going home empty handed each time.
Till today, these bittersweet childhood memories refuse to die. And they're all (almost) reanimated in front of me on this day in this place, like a nightmare before Christmas. Descending to a not so distant time in the past, i found myself walking through memory lane, evoked of things that could or might have been.
Nevertheless, welcome to Penang's Toy Museum. The 1 and only in Malaysia. With more than 110,000 toys, dolls and other collectible items, it is believed to be the largest toy museum in the world. Started in 2005 and recognized by the Malaysian Books of Records as the first toy museum in the country, the museum is visited by an estimated 100,000 visitors each year.
The museum was founded by an engineer, Mr. Loh Lean Cheng, who got his inspiration while visiting the London Toy and Model Museum. The first toy that he bought back was a Popeye doll back in 1973 and since then his collection started expanding. These exclusive toys were reportedly self- obtained from Hollywood hence none can be found on sale locally.
As you can see, these human size figurines are the few examples of Hollywood products being displayed here. Most of them are "Stars" in their on movies which even expands to 3-4 sequels. Interestingly they traveled all the way to Malaysia to meet their adoring fans. If only they could come out from their glass casket to sign autographs.
This, boys and girls, could be Madame Tussauds Wax Museum of Toys.
Further info on the museum, its located at Jalan Tanjung Bungah, the road linking Gurney Drive and Batu Feringghi. Planted in some kind of warehouse, the massive toy collections might be experiencing a little crampiness and overpopulation. Traffic is just nice during non-school holidays and i had enough room to admire and snap pictures.
I think i might have spent an hour plus in the museum. Going from cubicles to cubicles, carrying Nana with me. She was still too young to appreciate soft toys let alone Barbie doll. Case in point Jabberwocke feels very lonely at home. I introduced her to few of my childhood friends like Doraemon, Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wolverine and co.,etc. Maybe next time she would be further acquainted to them, after i restart my own toy collection when i have the resources.
The toys include characters from TV cartoons, Disney movies, Japanese manga & anime, Hollywood movies, US comics and even popular computer games. I take it that the founder is an avid movie-goer, comic reader and gamer. There is enough toys here to make every orphans in Malaysia happy. It sure made me green with envy, but Nana is my baby toy now, and she has proven to be a handful to keep me occupied.
Penang Toy Museum opens daily from 9am-6pm. Fee is only RM 10 per person. The best part was photographing was not prohibited. Truly recommended for a family outing, as the toy displays belong to both past and latest generations.
Concurrently this trip has also evoked me my family and early school memories, periodic gush of bittersweet events, for me to ponder and reflect, what could have been if i had known better....
Now God is my shepherd, i shall not be in want. And i choose to learn and move on.
Toys, what can i say, will always remain a child's best companion, and they.never.get.old.
Its the time of the day again, though in Malaysia everyone eats around the clock. We drove around town in search for food, got lost somewhere in the process. Then followed the crowd and finally landed in this busy Chinese Hawker Center selling a variety of yummy Penang hawker food. So we continued with our food indulgence and "experiment" with some new stuffs, with varying results.
Among them, the Penang Hokkien Mee, also known as Prawn Mee. Ok, nice. Char Koay Tiew again (its a must have every meal in Penang), checked. Then this slimmy sea snails, hmmm, we both agreed to disagree. Followed by this noodle dish served along crab meat which we were seeing for the 1st time, not bad. We walloped two of that.
After dinner, we passed by gurney drive and...decided to stop for desert. Gurney drive was still buzzing at 11pm and majority of the food stalls were still in business.
This time it was dessert indulgence session. Introducing..AIS BATU CAMPUR, known as ABC in short, also known as Ais Kacang. This cold dessert dish consist of grinded fine ice prepared with red beans and other ingredients that has varied throughout the years. A scoop of vanilla ice-cream on top is an optional addition hard to resist. A must try.
Not forgetting, Penang Rojak Buah. A delicious mix of fresh fruits and vegetables like pineapples, cucumber and water apples (jambu air) with cuttlefish slices. Generously topped with a local prawn paste dressing with peanut crumbs. Believe me, one is usually not enough.
Tomorrow, George Town: Unesco World Heritage City. .And some more food reviews..
Travel to a world of Toys, closest to fantasy a child or a young at hearts can be. The cartoons we ever watched on TV. The characters, good or evil, who became an integral part of our growing up memory, The childhood wish and longing of owning our favourite heroe figurines so that we can play with them all day and tuck them to bed next to us every night but those dreams never came through. The disappointment of seeing them on the supermarket toy shelves and holding them in their toy boxes but going home empty handed each time.
 |
| Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas |
Till today, these bittersweet childhood memories refuse to die. And they're all (almost) reanimated in front of me on this day in this place, like a nightmare before Christmas. Descending to a not so distant time in the past, i found myself walking through memory lane, evoked of things that could or might have been.
 |
| Bloody and gory segment of the museum. Nana doesn't look quite please. |
Nevertheless, welcome to Penang's Toy Museum. The 1 and only in Malaysia. With more than 110,000 toys, dolls and other collectible items, it is believed to be the largest toy museum in the world. Started in 2005 and recognized by the Malaysian Books of Records as the first toy museum in the country, the museum is visited by an estimated 100,000 visitors each year.
 |
| The epic battle between Freddy and Jason resumes in this new place. |
The museum was founded by an engineer, Mr. Loh Lean Cheng, who got his inspiration while visiting the London Toy and Model Museum. The first toy that he bought back was a Popeye doll back in 1973 and since then his collection started expanding. These exclusive toys were reportedly self- obtained from Hollywood hence none can be found on sale locally.
 |
| "Anyone seen Mary Jane and Aunt May?" |
 |
| Night Elve from World of Warcarft. |
As you can see, these human size figurines are the few examples of Hollywood products being displayed here. Most of them are "Stars" in their on movies which even expands to 3-4 sequels. Interestingly they traveled all the way to Malaysia to meet their adoring fans. If only they could come out from their glass casket to sign autographs.
This, boys and girls, could be Madame Tussauds Wax Museum of Toys.
 |
| Monster Inc's BFF never gets lonely. |
 |
| Captain Jack Sparrow on vacation in tropical island Penang. |
 |
| Lara Croft couldn't find any tomb to raid here. |
Further info on the museum, its located at Jalan Tanjung Bungah, the road linking Gurney Drive and Batu Feringghi. Planted in some kind of warehouse, the massive toy collections might be experiencing a little crampiness and overpopulation. Traffic is just nice during non-school holidays and i had enough room to admire and snap pictures.
 |
| Pirates of Caribbeans found the pearl of Orient - Penang. |
 |
| Fierce Battle of Middle Earth. |
I think i might have spent an hour plus in the museum. Going from cubicles to cubicles, carrying Nana with me. She was still too young to appreciate soft toys let alone Barbie doll. Case in point Jabberwocke feels very lonely at home. I introduced her to few of my childhood friends like Doraemon, Power Rangers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Wolverine and co.,etc. Maybe next time she would be further acquainted to them, after i restart my own toy collection when i have the resources.
 |
| Some not so friendly toys. |
 |
| Others are animal-friendly |
The toys include characters from TV cartoons, Disney movies, Japanese manga & anime, Hollywood movies, US comics and even popular computer games. I take it that the founder is an avid movie-goer, comic reader and gamer. There is enough toys here to make every orphans in Malaysia happy. It sure made me green with envy, but Nana is my baby toy now, and she has proven to be a handful to keep me occupied.
 |
| The most popular blonde head from Japan. |
 |
| "Spawns" of nothing good. |
Penang Toy Museum opens daily from 9am-6pm. Fee is only RM 10 per person. The best part was photographing was not prohibited. Truly recommended for a family outing, as the toy displays belong to both past and latest generations.
Concurrently this trip has also evoked me my family and early school memories, periodic gush of bittersweet events, for me to ponder and reflect, what could have been if i had known better....
Now God is my shepherd, i shall not be in want. And i choose to learn and move on.
Toys, what can i say, will always remain a child's best companion, and they.never.get.old.
 |
| Thank you for the wonderful Toy Story. |
 |
| Ponder and reflect. |
Its the time of the day again, though in Malaysia everyone eats around the clock. We drove around town in search for food, got lost somewhere in the process. Then followed the crowd and finally landed in this busy Chinese Hawker Center selling a variety of yummy Penang hawker food. So we continued with our food indulgence and "experiment" with some new stuffs, with varying results.
 |
| Penang prawn mee |
 |
| Cockleshells |
Among them, the Penang Hokkien Mee, also known as Prawn Mee. Ok, nice. Char Koay Tiew again (its a must have every meal in Penang), checked. Then this slimmy sea snails, hmmm, we both agreed to disagree. Followed by this noodle dish served along crab meat which we were seeing for the 1st time, not bad. We walloped two of that.
 |
| Fried noodle with crab meat |
 |
| Nana's disapproving look. |
After dinner, we passed by gurney drive and...decided to stop for desert. Gurney drive was still buzzing at 11pm and majority of the food stalls were still in business.
This time it was dessert indulgence session. Introducing..AIS BATU CAMPUR, known as ABC in short, also known as Ais Kacang. This cold dessert dish consist of grinded fine ice prepared with red beans and other ingredients that has varied throughout the years. A scoop of vanilla ice-cream on top is an optional addition hard to resist. A must try.
 |
| Ais Kacang aka ABC |
Not forgetting, Penang Rojak Buah. A delicious mix of fresh fruits and vegetables like pineapples, cucumber and water apples (jambu air) with cuttlefish slices. Generously topped with a local prawn paste dressing with peanut crumbs. Believe me, one is usually not enough.
Tomorrow, George Town: Unesco World Heritage City. .And some more food reviews..
 |
| Rojak Buah-buahan |
 | |
| Someone once said in Penang half Penangnites are gluttons, the other half are hawkers. |
