Ignatius Visits Lausanne – The Chew’s Holiday Home On Penang Hill

Laisanne, the Chew's holiday home

One of the goals of Ignatius’ stay in Penang was to visit their holiday home, Lausanne, on Penang Hill.

The last time he had been there was over to 50 years ago. He remembered taking the train and having to get off at Viaduct Station then walking up to their bungalow with the other cousins.

The journey to Viaduct station ... 

 The visit that morning brought back memories but it was short lived. After disembarking at Viaduct Station and walking approximately 300 meters he found the road was cutoff due to a landslide.

........... cut short due to landslide 

Unable to proceed and being close to lunch Ignatius decided to proceed up to the Upper Station for a meal and take in the sights.

Pauline taking in the sights at the Bellvue Hotel

Penang Hill is a very relaxing place and after a light lunch and a siesta courtesy of the Bellevue Hotel he made enquiries about using the Jeep Track to access to Lausanne.

As luck would have it there was a driver who knew about Lausanne and how to ‘get there somewhat’ as he would introduce us to someone to take us there.

Taking the Jeep Track to meet Datuk Malek. 

The driver took the Jeep Track till he reached the Fairmont, the home of  Datuk Malek the neighbor to Lausanne.

Lausanne is located above the Fairmont. Malek gladly showed the way guiding us along the drain that took us up to the entrance of Lausanne to finally see the old holiday home.

"the way i remembered it" Ignatius Chew. The drain came out to the entrance of the driveway .... 

The climb up the drain came out at the entrance to the driveway leading to the front of the Lausanne. Ignatius said that the gate was just the way as he had remembered it.

There were changes to the front façade but the house was still intact though the grounds was overgrown. 

driveway ...that led to the front of the house.

the front of the house .......

...with the grounds overgrown.

After coming down and enjoying Malek' gracious hospitality he dropped us off at the station to catch our train.

....going down  ....

... on Datuk Malek's Fairmont verandah overlooking a panoramic view of George Town

then back at Viaduct Station.

Ignatius scheduled plans were all fulfilled and the trip to Penang was indeed very memorable.

JAG

Ignatius Visits Khaw Cheng Bor - The Oldest Cousin

(Front) Thomas Khaw Cheng Bor with wife Rose Lee Moi Kwee. (At back) Ignatius and Pauline Chew.

After visiting the younger cousins Ignatius now turned his attention to Khaw Cheng Bor, the oldest amongst the cousins.

Thomas Khaw Cheng Bor, was born in 1925 to Chew Gaik Tuan (Chew Boon Juan 1^st daughter) who married Khaw Bian Wan.

Cheng Bor' parents Chew Gaik Tuan and Khaw Bian Wan. (right pho
o, clockwise) Lily, Alice, Cheng Bor. Cheng Poe and Cheng Soo.

Being born so early his knowledge of the Chew family members was intimate, from his grand-parents right down to the 6 uncles and 10 aunts and their children.

Cheng Bor’ memory even at this age, 93, was good and he was able to remember from the 1930’s,  his school years at St.Xavier Institution, his account during the second world war and even covered his time when he came to work at Ban Hoe Seng in Ipoh.

The visit was a courtesy call cum fact finding visit and was very fruitful indeed as Cheng Bor was akin to a walking encyclopedia on the Chew clan.

Ignatius getting the real story of the Chew's from Cheng Bor

Before we left we asked for directions to Chew Boon Juan’s grave as it had been many years since Ignatius' last visit.

After lunch we made our way to Western Road Cemetery the largest Christian cemetery on Penang island.

Michael Tan with Pauline and Ignatius at their grandparents grave.

There in a quiet, cool and peaceful corner of the cemetery was Chew Boon Juan’s grave and lying beside him his beloved wife Goh Lean Kee.  

JAG

Chew’s Penang Get Together – Meets Cousin Peter Lo From New York.

(From left) Ignatius and Pauline Chew, Isaac Lim, Lim Gin Heng, Angeline and Michael Tan, Li Heng Hong and Peter Lo

It was in early in March when Ignatius Chew, the creator of the Chew Museum, received a call to visit Penang on a weekend to catch up with the his cousin Peter Lo who had arrived from the USA.
Peter Lo Sze Shun is the grandson of Chew Boon Juan’s from his 10^th daughter Chew Gaik Swee that married Lo Chung Liang. Peter came to Penang with his wife Li Heng Hong.

There were 2 reasons for him to come back this year, to visit his father’s grave and this year 2018 was the 50^th anniversary of his departure from Penang having left for New York, USA since March 1968.

Ignatius together with his wife Pauline and his sister Angeline and her husband Michael Tan met up with Peter for dinner at a leading Beach hotel in Tanjung Bungah. 

Lim Gin Heng, (another grand-daughter of Boon Juan’s from his 1^st daughter Chew Gaik Tuan and Khaw Bian Wan) and her son Isaac was present.

Angeline is a resident of Penang while Gin Heng lives in Singapore.

All cousins. Lim Gin Heng, Angeline Tan, Ignatius Chew and Peter Lo.

The conversation centered about updating each other with the latest news but ultimately touched on the good old days, their time spent in grandfather Chew Boon Juan’s house in Gurney drive and the hours of fun they had back then.

“It was a big piece of land before the sea front, bigger than what was shown in the photos” said Peter.

Chew Boon Juan's house on 4 Gurney Drive...'bigger than shown in photos"...

Peter remembers climbing jambu and chiku trees .....(pics from cousin Yeoh Poh See collection) 

Peter who was born in 1948 reminisced about his time at 4 Gurney Drive in the 50’s and climbing the jambu and chiku trees.

The next day Ignatius met more cousins over lunch held at the Penang Swimming Club.

(L-r) Yeoh Seng Keat, Grace Wong, Annie Choong, Toni Chew, Cornelia Tan and parents Angeline and Michael Tan, Ignatius and Pauline Chew.

They were Toni Chew Suat Eng, (the grand-daughter of Boon Juan’s 4^th son Chew Choon Hock and Khoo Gim Choo) and Grace Wong Onn Loo born to Chew Gaik Loo (Boon Juan’s 9^th daughter) and Wong Kim Bee.

A surprise acquaintance was Annie Choong, the grand-daughter of Chew Boon Hong by his first wife.  Annie lived at Gurney drive when young.

The lunch was delicious and with Grace and Annie contributing the majority of Chew heritage stories with help from the other cousins made for a wonderful afternoon of nostalgia.

JAG