Filed under: Travel, Wedding Locations | Tags: Blue Mansion, cheong fatt tze, malaysia, malaysia boleh, Mansion, penang, Travel, Wedding Locations
It’s been a couple of weeks since we were last in Penang, but we still can’t quite forget the Blue Mansion!
- Awesome room messed up by not so awesome guests
You can’t blame us though, after continuous nights of tossing and turning in Singapore, yearning for those plush beds once more. One night was enough to spoil us!
In our earlier entry, we didn’t quite elaborate much on the mansion, so this will be the focus of this entry.
So who was this eponymous Cheong Fatt Tze? From what we know, Ah Fatt was in short, China’s 19th Century version of JP Morgan. This man used his wealth to help fund the construction of roads, railways and buildings amongst other businesses he ran within South East Asia.
- Key to awesome room
When he wasn’t busy playing tycoon, he was often found in the blue mansion. We have the 7th of his 8 wives to thank for our most comfortable stay because it was built specially for her.
As we mentioned previously, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion has been designated as a UNESCO heritage site.
Now what’s so special about this mansion for it to be conferred such a lofty and honourable title that immunizes it from the bulldozer’s hungry jaws that spares not the lesser buildings?
Well, at this present moment, the Blue Mansion, which took 7 years and a team of master craftsmen from China to complete, is only one third of its kind left, which makes it exceedingly rare. It’s also Penang’s only relic to show case the best of 18th and 19th century Chinese home architecture.
Although it’s more than a century old, it is not the decrepit liver spotted edifice that people might expect of a structure of such age. In fact, it kept to the times and under went the knife – so to speak – and has been restored to its former glory.
One thing we love about this place is that there’s this really old world charm to it. It felt as if we were on some Shanghainese film noir set directed by Wong Kar Wai.
In fact, we think it would be the perfect place to have a themed wedding, where everyone dresses up in something Shanghainese for example. The bride could be the roguish detective, and the bride the foxy and mysterious client. Or the other way round if it floats your boat!
There’s no need to worry about accommodations because there are rooms within the mansion, obviously, that you could rent out for your guests. Each room not only comes with an extremely comfy bed, but is also individually themed. (There are also hotels next door for the guests who aren’t close to you have no wish of giving the honour of staying in the mansion with you)
- 2nd Floor
The banquet hall is of sufficient space to hold your dinner for about 10 to 15 tables. When you’re done feasting, you and your guests can adjourn to either the inner or outer courtyards to begin pretending to be the God(dess) of gambling.
It is a thought for those of you who want to have a different wedding that is away from home, yet not too far away.
For those who are interested, feel free to contact us to find out more and we can see how we can get the good friends we made at the mansion to help!
Amazing time we had at Changi, filming the couple and their lovely guests. It really brought out what it means to be having a garden wedding reception here in Singapore. While shooting, we made friends with the bride and groom and really had a blast that day. Oh and do check out the wedding singer, he’s an awesome singer with a mean shred on the guitar. Enjoy!
Filed under: Experimental, Photography | Tags: art, creative, creative arts, culturepush, low, lying down, media, national, national stadium, oddoneout, Photography, relaxing, stadium, timber, wooden photography, youjin
Hi guys!
Oddoneout has done it again! This time, by our resident photographer, Youjin. His work was featured on culturepush.com. Do read up more yeah?
Here you go!
Youjin Featured on Culturepush.com
Perhaps it was the Bali sunset, or the gentle lapping of the waves on the sandy shores that evoked nostalgia for both Zi Wei and Jelaine as they reminsce about a relationship a decade in the making. They share with us how their serendipitous meeting in church ignited a friendship that blossomed into romance and ultimately culminated in marriage.
Check it out! Joseph and Emily take fun to the next level with awesome sabos and crazy brothers doing mad stuff!
Filed under: Experimental, Garage Sessions, Music, Videography | Tags: bloody rain, class act, experimental videos, Garage Sessions, Music, music videos, oxley road, singapore music, Videography
RAIN!?
You know the saying it doesn’t rain, but pours? Definitely true. Just the day before we were going to shoot, bad luck just seemed to keep on coming.
The photographer stepped on a nail, our PA’s mum had a mild stroke, the driver had stupidly gotten the van (which had no power steering) badly scratched and the band was getting pretty nervous.
Did I mention it rained? Everything was set up so nicely, the lights were in position, the instruments in place and the band was ready to go. Then the heavens opened up and cried. What did we do wrong? Who did we anger? Maybe Arnold, our sound guy, because his new keyboard which he bought for this was thoroughly soaked, thanks to a leaky canvas.
Oxley in the evening before the rain
Feng checking the monitors
Setting Up
Amazingly, everyone was in a good mood. Even Arnold, though at that point he had yet to discover what had happened to his keyboard. We waited out the rain, attempting to take abstract photos/videos of it and each other, playing UNO and then trying to throw the bloody producer into it.
Waiting out the rain
Then rain ceased and we were back in action, quickly moving everything into place and draining the water from the Arnold’s keyboard. If he was angry, he made a commendable effort of not showing it.
Arnold inspecting his keyboard
Arnold drying off his keyboard
Oddly enough, our debut band for GS, Class Act, seemed less comfortable in front of the non judgmental gaze of the camera lenses than in front of a live audience. Maybe the whole atmosphere was too cold and impersonal for them Or maybe they were thinking of their A levels chemistry practical test the following afternoon.
Lead singer Sharifa getting her make up done
(From Left) Glenn (keyboardist), Sharifa (vocalist) & Fengheng (guitarist)
Cue Michael and his intense 650W lights. On they came and brightly they shone through the darkness of the night as if the sun had never set. Soon enough they were warming up and we were rolling.
Michael and his bright ideas. Hur hur
Feng searching for his epiphany in a pink hued wall
- “Sing, baby!”
Edwin, the overseer in his control room (or lot)
Kim trying out Arnold's semi-water drained keyboard
Considering it was already quite late and we were playing near the estate of the esteemed Lee-der, it was surprisingly no Gurkhas stormed the set. At least none within view of one our crazy guys who climbed the roof. (In retrospect if they did, it would have made for some great footage. Provided we survived the shock encounter)
Best seat in the house
Perhaps it was Sharifa’s (the lead singer) awesome vocals – beautiful, and haunting. All the more so when she started playing her er-hu. The slow gentle strains of her bow formed a poignant melody which echoed throughout Oxley that was hard to forget more than ever when she started singing. Maybe that’s why the Old Man didn’t send his guys after us because he too had fallen in love with the voice that we had.
Sharifa and Fengheng talking about their chem prac
Lilthe, nimble fingers
Not easy commiting lyrics to memory
The face to the voice we all love
Getting into positions
The crew having a preview
Well, thanks Old Man for letting us carry on. It won’t be in vain, you sacrificing your sleep if you did, because we will bring Garage Sessions @ Oxley to all of you soon for your aural and visual pleasure. Akan datang.
Filed under: Photography, Travel, Wedding Videos | Tags: 35mm film, black and white photography, cheong fatt tze, malaysia, malaysia boleh, penang, Photography, the blue mansion, Travel, wedding
We had a real fun time in Penang. Pity the ride up there wasn’t all that enjoyable though, seated behind two overwhelmingly chatty old women. Still, it was worth the ride and if they’re reading this now, we would like to say a great big thank you to Yvette and Barney for inviting us over to cover your wedding.
- Barney And Yvette
Honestly, we’ve never attended anything like this before. No offence to Singaporean couples, but it’s always the same old thing – waking up early in the morning, the gate crashing, the sabo-ing and then the dinner. Come on, how many of the guests do you guys really know?
What happened to your dream weddings? Why must there always be a need to follow tradition or what our parents want? If I had my own wedding, it definitely wouldn’t be anything traditional. I haven’t really thought about what it’s going to be like exactly because I’m not even attached. But still, you get my drift.
I know I’m starting to sound like an ungrateful son, but it’s going to be my wedding after all, and it’s going to be a once in a life time event (hopefully) so why should I have one that is similar to everyone else?
Of course there should still be some must dos like the solemnization and the tea ceremony for the parents and in-laws (I will be marrying their daughter whom I haven’t met yet after all, so no point cheesing them off so early)
It should be unique, not uniquely Singaporean. And the people who grace it, I would rather they be the ones closest to me that I speak to often than the ones I see once in a long blue moon.
Now these two love birds, they had something different going on! It’s one thing to visit a UNESCO heritage site, and another to be staying and partying in one! 
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, or more popularly known as, The Blue Mansion
It was a real grand and charming place, rich in history and had one of the most comfortable beds I had ever slept on. Best sleep I had since I can’t remember when!
- Pastel coloured walls
Inner Courtyard
Barney And Yvette standing at the entrance of Cheong Fatt Tze on the banquet night
The bride herself was really something different too. A director by day and priestess of Isis by night! Okay la, not really night, but you get the idea.
Yvette waiting for the ceremonies to begin at the Hindu temple
In this day and age, everyone rides in shiny cars, what more for their big day. Yvette and Barney? No pimped out turbo charged rides for them, no sir. Cows and chariots, man. Respect.
On the way to the temple
It was long ride for a short distance
Guests awaiting the arrival of Barney
It was pretty darn hot and humid in Penang
And so begins the ceremony with the first beat of the drumView this Post
This was the most memorable, most surreal and the most fun wedding I had ever attended. Thanks a lot guys, wishing you two many good years ahead!
We’ll also be adding the wedding video soon, so you’ll be able to see the wedding in colour plus what else went on within the Blue Mansion. We would love to have shot more photos, but unfortunately that meant us not doing our job 
Would have also loved to have shot in colour, but someone’s DSLR died and we had to rely on old school 35mm TMAX 400.
