Our Heritage Home In Argyll Road

Dearest Jade , Today I am going to tell you about the warm heritage house which Kong Kong stayed when I was young . I am going to bring you to the early fifties, the period that Kong Kong could remember well. This was where fond memories of Kong Kong's teenage days were spent.In here I shall endeavour to bring to light recollections of the days in Argyll Road , to be exact in 215B Argyll Road, Penang. It is where history started for most of us . This historical abode has stood the test of time and is still in existence today although we left it about more than thirty years ago. It's a very big house , with the front of it facing Argyll Road and the back of it extending to Hutton lane. The popular amusement park of the fifties and sixties, New World Park, was just opposite it . This was the park that Kong Kong used to frequent together with some of our friends from the neighbourhood. This amusement park had all the entertainment centres of the time; two cinemas, two theatres where 'wayangs' ( or stage shows, namely Chinese operas ) were held. These wayangs which staged Cantonese , Peking, Teochew and sometimes shows were a hit with the young as well as the old folks. Many famous artistes had made their debut here , including the late Rose Chan and her ever tantalizing strip tease performances. Trade Fairs and Boxing as well as Wrestling live shows were also held now and then in this park. Entrance fee was just 20 sen. For this you get to patronise the game stalls, as well as to see some of the stage shows standing from the outside, including watching a movie in the Globe Cinema, as the sides were not covered. To get a seat inside patrons paid ringgit or two . For live operas a ticket cost about $5 ( rm 5) for a special reserved seat. My granduncle, Mr Goh Hong Beng worked for a renowned philanthropist Mr. Lim Lean Teng and he was the owner of the park. Hence we got free passes for entrance to the park as well to the reserved seats of cinema halls, including Rex Theatre. At the amusement stalls patrons got to try their luck at throwing the hooks, or rubber balls at the specially assembled targets. New World Park may be in ruins now but today many food stalls in and around had stood the test of time and still remain the most sought-after haunts ; notably the famous "ice kacang stall that also sells fruits and rojak. I still remember the friendly "chow tow kia "with his push cart parked opposite the park . I specially liked the ice balls , a concoction of red beans , brown and red sugar syrup. It cost only 5cent ! Then there was also the popular kopitiam opposite the park that served the ever -aromatic and delectable char koay teow ( teoh chew style ) with cockles , eggs , Chinese sausages and prawns. One serving cost only 30 cents. Wow ! I still remember the Mamak ( Indian Muslim ) style "mee rebus" sold by my classmate, Mydin's family. He had his push cart starting from his place of stay in Hutton lane and ending at at lane beside Metropole Hotel in Northam Road . That's the rendezvous for "mee rebus' lovers. Talking about food, we never had a chance to go hungry in Argyll Road. At any time of the day there `would be hawkers passing by. In the mornings there was the "chee cheong fun" the lady also selling yew char koay that tasted best when dipped into almond tea. In the evenings there was the much awaited peddler of the residents there , the popular A Yaa ( Shorty for Hokkien ) who sold the best prawn mee ( Hokkien mee ) in town. Talking about peddler reminds me of the bean curd ( Tow chooi ) served with brown sugar . There was also the 'klangtong 'man in his mobile cart of haberdasheries and other household accessories. Late at night, for supper, there was the porridge man selling the delicious chicken or mixed pig intestines porridge ( 'chee chap choke' in Cantonese ) worth staying up for. Just next to our house was Savoy Hotel. It had an open –air garden restaurant that served both western and local food. Oh yes, each time I hear some Chinese oldies being played it will unfold memories of the good old Argyll Road days. The house , 215B Argyll Road, will always have a special place in my heart. It has all the credentials that make it unique. It once housed a dynasty! It was the homestead of the GOHs, the BEHs, the LOW , me the only OOI and later the TEH s and the Ngs. It was in this heritage home that I spent most of my childhood days under the wings of my beloved grandmother . In the 50's and 60's I was the youngest member there and hence was well pampered by a few of my maternal aunties who were still single at that time.Through some unexplained reasons ( best let it be ) I never got to live with my parents , your great grandparents. Perhaps it's God's willing, my destiny too, and hence I should never complain for I had had a good life nurtured by love and care by granny, my aunties singling out my fifth aunt who I fondly addressed as Ee Ee ( nicknamed Aunt Agatha by cousins after the Enid Blython character ). Then there were also the other grandaunties, aunties and uncles who will always have special seats in my heart.. They have so graciously filled the vacuum with love and care ! The uniqueness of it was that all twenty one residents were able to live under one roof in unity. There is no institution more essential to man than the family. In it, we learn to be human , to love and be loved , and to prosper and grow. One very invaluable characteristic of this heritage home is its architecture and its intricate carvings on the antique pedestal and pillars. My granny has a rich collection of Chinese antique crockery which matches well with nyonya cuisine served at weddings and special occasions There was also a set of antique mother-of –pearl tables and chairs set. They make elegant exhibits when draped in specially embroidered gold-threaded intricately designed cushion covers and displayed in halls and lounges on special occasions like weddings and Chinese New Year. Then there was the antique bridal chamber furniture stocked with peranakan apparels. Jade, there were also the hair-loom for the peranakan-style 'sanggul'- a special hairstyle of the ladies that was in fashion then. You bet the ladies would bear all the agony of having their hair curled up in a firm "sanggul" using hot iron rod and long sharp hairpins to keep the hair in place. This hair creation matched well with the long kebaya. The heart of the family lies in the behaviour of individual members toward one another. Though the heritage home was made up of many people with different surnames, they all stemmed from the main root of the GOH family comprising of the master ( icon ) of the house Goh Hong Beng , his two widow sisters , his late brother's wife and their children. Hats off to him in salutation, he held the families together under one roof when they lost their spouses, leaving them to care for their children single-handedly. There was the spirit of sharing and co-operation among us that reigned over the house that had made it a warm home for us. There was team spirit among the members in any jobs that needed to be done. I remember very well when it came to spring-cleaning before the new year, no one was spared. We, the younger ones not only helped in the washing but also cleaned the mother-of- pearl furniture, going through every gap of the design and then polishing it with kerosene using a toothbrush. Many of my cousins would endorse that we had a fun time helping inmaking cookies for Chinese New Year. We would sit on the floor of the kitchen helping to make 'kuih tapik', kuih bangkit' or kuih bulu'. Grand-aunty (Granny's sister ) was a great chef ; She made great dishes for home celebrations.Together with Granny their pork dumplings ( bak chang ) wrapped with bamboo leaves were the most sought- after delicacy of relatives and close friends. Her curry concoction of fish and chicken were the best ; not to mention also the "kiam chai "( salted vegetable ) duck soup. When it came to special occasions like full moon , or festivals , be it cultural or religious all the kuihs ( cakes ) like 'ang koo" , "mee koos " ( dumplings ) "kuih yees" ( rice balls ) or"nasi kunyit" ( yellow glutinous rice ) they were all home made by the ladies with the two elderly ones supervising. We really had a wonderful time and mind you we always looked forward to those busy days too. At least we had our share of work , our share of fun and our share of success. Words can show a man's wit, but action shows his meaning. Jade, by the time you are able to read and understand what's written here, most of your relatives living in that heritage home in Argyll Road would either be gone or too old to tell you about the rich history of their homestead . Most of us may be gone, the building may or may not be there but fond memories of the place and it's residents will live on with the march of time. As each generation traces its root with pride 215B Argyll Road will have a special place in the family chronicles of the Gohs, the Behs, the Lows, the Oois, the Tehs, the Ngs and spreading on to their extended families No matter where they are , I am sure any surviving ones who had lived there will have fond memories of the wonderful time they had had there ingrained deeply in their heart and soul. Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.