The old colonial port of George Town, Penang here in Malaysia is full of architectural and cultural reminders its British-Chinese past.  The Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion is a brilliant example of the fusion between European and Chinese architecture that pops up all over the city.  Not coincidentally, it’s also the hotel where my friends and I stayed during our trip last month.

The house, painted a vibrant blue, belonged to a wealthy Chinese businessman whose life is a classic “rags-to-riches” tale.  The house has inner courtyards typical of Chinese homes back in the day, yet also has European accents throughout, such as art nouveau stained-glass windows, European-style tiled floors, and Impressionist paintings.

Upstairs from the courtyard, intricate ironwork surrounds the banquet and larger meeting rooms.  Staying at the mansion felt like going back to a fancier, more ornate time, back when I might have enjoyed a refreshing mint julep with the Governor of Penang in the blazing hot Southeast Asian sun.

Elsewhere in the city, patches of George Town’s once beautiful colonial buildings are evident everywhere, even when gazing out from inside a breakfast noodle restaurant.

The odd storefront here and there still has the European style tiling greeting customers at each entrance.  Maybe the signage is from an earlier time, too?  I’d like to imagine so.