Yeahโผ๏ธ From the recent travel ๐๐ to Terengganu ๐ฒ๐พ, SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ป had an exclusive privilege to meet ๐๐ป & have a short chat ๐ฃ๐ค with the founder of Terrapuri Heritage Village, Mr Alex Leeย ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผย He is a Chinese Peranakan, born & grown up in Marang, Terengganu ๐ฒ๐พ
She ๐ฉ๐ป is gonna sharing ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ป๐โ๐ป here about all she ๐ฉ๐ป has learnt from her chat ๐ฃ๐ค with Mr Alex ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผaboutย the ups โฌ๏ธ & downs โฌ๏ธ in pursuing his passion โค๏ธ towards the conservation & restoration of Terengganu traditional Malay architecture ๐ก๐ He ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ has proudly told that he loves ๐ each old houses ๐ก๐ that he has collected thus far & each 1๏ธโฃ is unique to him with a story behind respectively ๐
Questionโ: Can you spot SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ป in below photos ๐ธ๐ธ album? She ๐ฉ๐ป was having a nice ๐๐ป pre-dinner chat ๐ฃ๐คwith Mr Alex @ Sesayap Courtyard, Terrapuri Heritage Village during her recent stay
Ha…Ha…She ๐ฉ๐ป actually thought that Mr Alex ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผwas anย architect by profession. Mr Alex has confirmed that he is a tourism industry player with own tourism businesses in guest house ๐ก , boutique hotel, dining ๐ฝ๐ด, cafe โ๏ธ, tours, souvenirs (batik) ๐๐ etc.
Guess whatโโ๏ธ
Mr Alex ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ1๏ธโฃst started to learn about guest house ๐ก renting (i.e. used his grandpa ๐ด๐ป ‘s 2๏ธโฃ shoplots ๐ข๐ข) at his young age ๐ง๐ป with initial intention to save for his education fund ๐จ๐ปโ๐He used to drawing โ๐ป๐จ๐own brochure to selling the rooms at bus stations ๐๐ & received great responses from many backpackers ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌback then. He ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผalso learnt how to package his room with simple breakfast โ๏ธ๐ฅช, yes โ , he can cookโผ๏ธ๐๐ป
Ended up he ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ continues his tourism business till now without further study โ๐จ๐ปโ๐despite in years between 2006 to 2008 with a cross road ๐ for his choice, whether IT vs heritage, nature & culture. Obviously he ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผhas chosen the later. Ha…Ha…He has shared in his IG (refer above ๐ธ) recently that he wants to be a Youtuber (IT) now (2019) being inspired by his youngest son ๐จโ๐ฆ, a famous gaming Youtuber
Also she ๐ฉ๐ป is gonna sharing ๐ฉ๐ปโ๐ป๐ about her wonderful overnight ๐ด๐ค๐ in Kubang Jela house ๐ก in this village.ย Hmm…A night ๐๐ stay just too short, personally she ๐ฉ๐ป recommends for a 3๏ธโฃD2๏ธโฃN to appreciating the layout of an inspired 17th century Terengganu Palace ๐ as an great ๐๐ป output of restoration the Terengganu Malay old houses ๐ก๐ of at least ๐ฏ years & above, as well as its peaceful village surrounding ๐
๐ฏ years meaning easily at least with 4๏ธโฃ generations before Mr Alex๐จ๐ปโ๐ผbought the old houses ๐ก๐ Some of the houses ๐ก๐ were once belong to the royal families ๐๐ Woowโผ๏ธ๐ฒ He ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผhas shared thatย 30 years ago, a full Terengganu old house ๐ each cost of RM30K to 40K approximately ๐
How about nowโโ๏ธ
He ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ estimates RM300K & above each old house ๐ at current. He ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ has no โย intention to resell any of his Terengganu Malay old houses ๐ก๐ collected, though he ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ was being offered with great ๐๐ป prices ๐ฑ๐ฐcouple of times in the past ๐
Hmm…Does Mr Alex ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผregretโโ๏ธ
Personally SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ปcan confidently said “No โ” from her observation, Mr Alex’s achievements from Terrapuri Heritage Village & chat with him๐ฃ๐ค about his journey
Whyโโ๏ธ
You will be impressed as Mr Alex ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผis very knowledgeable & passionate โค๏ธ in what he is doing for Terengganu old houses restoration & conservation ๐ก๐
Over the years, he ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผhopes to continue & enhancing his project as a tourism products, currently he ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผis running this Terrapuri Heritage Village as a boutique hotel resort space ๐ก๐ Owned a museum cafe dining ๐ฝ๐ด (with advanced booking ๐โ๏ธ๐ฑfor event etc.) & an upcoming Terramalai, a collection of traditional Malay houses ๐ก๐ from all over the states in Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ &ย will be based in Batu Rakit, Kuala Nerus district of Terengganu ๐
After bought each houses ๐ก๐, all will be dismantled & then rebuilt. All Terengganu old houses ๐ก๐ were built without โ a single nail ๐จ, it’s using the traditional “tebukย pasak” aka peg & joint technique with theย help from the professional skillful Malay carpenters aka “tukang rumah” in Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ ‘s national language ๐
He ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผemphasised few times in his sharing “We have to always go back to our own root. Culture is so beautiful & unique not to be shared to next generations ๐ถ๐ป๐ง๐ป๐ง๐ป๐ฆ๐ป๐ง๐ป“
He ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผhas shared that he was struggled ๐ขโน๏ธ๐to communicate, convince the house owners ๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ to sell ๐ฑ๐ฐtheir houses ๐ก๐ to him when he 1๏ธโฃst started his heritage collection. Reason being he is a Chinese Peranakan, not a Muslim โโช๏ธ He also proudly shared that he speaks fluent Terengganu Malay & this has helped a lot ๐
Once he ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผhas indentified โ the old house ๐ that he is interested, he willย slowly get to know the local house owner 1๏ธโฃst. He is very persevere in his collection passion, he patiently kept visiting, communicating ๐ฃ๐ค Then, after knowing him better & appreciate his passion โค๏ธtowards the Terengganu Malay old houses ๐ก๐, the house owner will sell their old house to him ๐ฑ๐ฐ eventually
Guess whatโโ๏ธ
There was an old house ๐ that actually took him 15 years โ ๐กย after many many communications with the owner ๐ฃ๐คย Wowโผ๏ธ๐ฒ It’s named as Rumah Pulau Bahagia in Terrapuri Heritage Village & yet to be ready as guest villa currently โบ๏ธ
Mr Alex ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผhas actually collected the old houses ๐ก๐ for 18 years (all being dismantled & stored at the backyard of his parents ๐ต๐ป๐ด๐ปhouse, on top of stones & covered with zinc to protect the chengal wood) before he bought this 4 ha land in 2005 which surrounding with islands ๐๐ด & Setiu mangroves wetlands (Safe from tsunami ๐ & chance to view fireflies ๐ซโจat night) in Kg. Mangkuk
He ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผwas discouraged ๐๐ปby family members & friends ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ at the beginning that he shoud invest in other investment & not โ in restoration project. Also not in Terengganu as the location ๐that he has chosenย โ ๐
Restoration requires for a long time frame & huge sum of money ๐ฐ๐ต to maintain. He actuallyย ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผsold off his luxury cars ๐๐ & properties before just to continue this restoration project. No anyย โ bank loan/ Government grant has obtained becasue this is a non profit/ business investment ๐ก๐
His passion โค๏ธ in Terengganu old houses ๐ก๐restoration that motivates him to continue his journey till now, future & never end ๐
Questionโ: Do you spot a smiling ๐ craving in below photo๐ธโโ๏ธ
Terengganu Traditional Malay Old Houses ๐ก๐
From her chat ๐ฃ๐ค with Mr Alex, she ๐ฉ๐ป has learnt that the balance โ๏ธ is important in Malay belief, hence the height & wide of each house ๐ก is required to have good ๐๐ป ukiran rumah aka house ๐ measurement as it also meant for good ๐๐ป feng sui. To Mr Alex ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ, life is a balance too, not just about making money ๐ฐ๐ต
The houses ๐ก๐ built with high legs to protect from flood & with aims to scard away the animals ๐๐ฆ๐
The stairs (i.e. “tangga” in Malaysia ๐ฒ๐พ ‘s national language) to each Malay house ๐ must with an odd numbers eg. 3๏ธโฃ, 5๏ธโฃ, 7๏ธโฃ etc.
She ๐ฉ๐ป has learnt that there is meaning for Terengganu house ๐ gate. She was told if you have bad intention (e.g. to rob the house owner) when you step ๐ฃ into the house ๐ , you may end up unable to see the house gate to exit then๐ช
Generally, the Terengganu Malay old houses ๐ก๐ are with beautiful ๐๐ wall craving, Islamic โช๏ธ influences, more to flora designs, some stupa are more towards Buddhism โฉ No โ devil craving motives
There are 29 houses ๐ก๐ in this Terrapuri Heritage Village since 2012 i.e. 20 houses ๐ก๐ have been restored as guest villas & the remaining 9 houses serve as the resort reception, courtyard, spa, meeting room, library etc. โบ๏ธ
Actually he ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ has bought ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฏ over houses ๐ก๐, only 29 units in this village while the rest serves as spare parts as most houses ๐ก๐ bought are only 70% able to be used due to extensively damaged & had rotting wood
Read more via ๐ http://www.terrapuri.com/terengganu_classic_house.htm
Stay @ Kubang Jela House ๐ก
As promised, SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ป is gonna sharing her awesome 1๏ธโฃ night stay ๐ด๐ค๐ in this house ๐ก
It’s 1๏ธโฃ of the biggest house ๐ก (Super Grand Deluxe) with RM1.2K/night for 2๏ธโฃ pax (RM106/extra pax). This house ๐ก is named with its place name i.e. Kubang Jela
Read more via ๐ http://www.terrapuri.com/rooms_villas_rumah_kubang_jela.htm
Do click in to her IG photos ๐ธ๐ธย album posted above to view the beauty of Kubang Jela house ๐ก
Kubang Jela house ๐ก was built withย chengal wood & with 2๏ธโฃ big roofs. However, Mr Alex only maintained 1๏ธโฃ roof due to another was damaged
This house ๐ก is meant for triple 3๏ธโฃ stay with beds ๐๐๐ & mosquitoes net, ceiling fan & air conditioning ๐ฌ๐จ
It’s fully equipped with writing โ๐ป desk, toilet ๐ฝ , hot & cold shower ๐ฟ , a wooden bathtub ๐๐ป , towels, batik sarong, Pandanus slippers ๐ก, fridge, hair dryer, indoor electric mosquito killer, umbrella ๐
Also with complimentary ๐ toiletries (soap, shampoo & shower gel) & mineral water bottles.ย You may request for iron & iron board from the reception counter upon of availability โ
She ๐ฉ๐ป loves ๐ her back to nature stay ๐๐ณ๐กwithout โ tv ๐บ , radio ๐ป , IDD phone ๐ & wifi connection ๐ถ
It belongs to the head of the village ๐ณ๐ฝโโ๏ธ where used to host lots of ceremonies e.g. “Pelepas” meaning a traditional ceremony to to let go bad spirits before the stay of a house ๐
Not just that, it also hosted for many performances, similarily to langkasuka tradition from the old kingdom ๐ i.e. with lots of cultures to influencing both Malay & Chinese communities including the Malay healing ๐
Ohh ya…She ๐ฉ๐ป also has learnt from her stay here to fry fish ๐ crackers with sand, not โ cooking oil
Yes โ ,ย ancient heritage cooking style ~ so healthy๐๐ป
Do enjoy a vlog ๐น๐ฅ captured for sharing ya
Advanced booking ๐โ๏ธ๐ฑis advisable especially in the months of July & Aug as lots of foreign guests ya ๐ซ๐ญ๐ฌ
She ๐ฉ๐ป loves ๐ the beautiful beach ๐๐ with tall coconut trees ๐ด๐ด right opposite the entrance of this resort ๐ก๐
You may opt for visit with a RM22/ pax (min. 2๏ธโฃ pax) entrance fee with guided tour, refreshment, coffee โ๏ธ / tea ๐ต 10.30am or 3.30pm to visit this beautiful ๐ heritage village ๐ก๐
Highly recommended ๐๐ป๐๐ปfor 3.30pm, so that you can end your day with a beautiful ๐ sunset ๐ @ coconut trees ๐ด๐ด beachside ๐๐ย of Kg. Mangkuk
SiennyLovesDrawing ๐ฉ๐ปย wishes to revisit this villageย ๐ก๐ย again to learn more about the Terengganu traditional Malay architecture ๐ก๐ย from Mr Alex ๐จ๐ปโ๐ผ, it’s a pleasure to have a chat with him ๐ฃ๐คย , he loves to share ๐
Address๐: Terrapuri Heritage Village, Kg. Mangkuk, Penarik, 22120 Setiu, Terengganu, West Malaysia
Website๐: http://www.terrapuri.com/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Terrapuri/
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