Time Tunnel (museum)
| TIME TUNNEL | |
|---|---|
|
Malaysia's first memorabilia museum. | |
| Established | 2007 |
| Location |
UT/MR/F-255, Jalan Sungei Burung, 39100, Brinchang, the Cameron Highlands, Pahang, West Malaysia 4°29′41″N 101°23′32″E / 4.49472°N 101.39222°E |
| Type | Collectibles and Memorabilia |
| Collection size | 4,000+ objects/photographs. Exhibition area: 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m2) |
| Curator | See Kok Shan |
The TIME TUNNEL is Malaysia’s first memorabilia museum. Located in Brinchang, it is recognised as one of the main attractions of the Cameron Highlands. It is approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) from Ipoh or about 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Kuala Lumpur.[1]
The complex is unlike any other in Peninsular Malaysia — it is filled with collectibles and memorabilia that serve as a reminder of what life was like in Malaysia during the pre-War years.[2]
The outfit was established in January 2007. Since then, it has continued to grow at a measured pace. Situated at the basement of Kok Lim Strawberry Farm, the split-level unit occupies a passageway that stretches for more than 80 meters. There are more than 4,000 objects and photographs on display here. They are showcased in eight galleries covering an area of approximately 14,000 square feet.
The museum can be reached via public or private transport. It is less than two kilometres from Brinchang town or about seven kilometres from Tanah Rata.[3] It is open daily from 9am to 6pm. There are no restrictions to photography at this place.
Collection highlights
The Aborigine Section
The lifestyle of the resort’s natives (Orang Asli) is captured in this area. Their tools, traps and handicrafts are exhibited on the floor and on the walls.
The Barber Shop
This outlet is equipped with a barber chair, barber’s pole, mirrors, straight razors, colorants, scissors, hair sprays, shavers, hair dryers, clippers, curlers and a broad range of combs. The walls are plastered with a set of posters that was once used to promote barbering. The showpiece of this "shop" is the barber chair. It is more than 50 years old.
The Children’s Corner
This section is filled with blackboards, school uniforms, furniture, counting aids and a wide variety of toys. Nearby is a showcase that displays memorabilia like school badges, erasers, pencil sharpeners, fountain pens, rulers, pencils and a set of textbooks that was commonly used in the past,
The ‘Coffee Shop’
Resembling an old eatery (’kopi tiam’), this setup comes complete with a cashier’s counter, wooden chairs, stools, tables, mirrors, clocks, mechanical fans, ashtrays, matchboxes, counting frames, chopsticks, chopstick holders, drinking straws, spittoons, bottle openers, serving trays, coffee cups, ice grinders and a variety of soft drinks.
The café occupies an area of about 90 square feet. It is situated close to the barbershop. Its walls are a mirror of the past: they are covered with poster advertisements for Milo, BOH tea, Horlicks, Ovaltine, Gold Dollar tea, Ajinomoto, KISCO, F&N Orange Crush, Coca-Cola, 7 Up, Fanta, RC Cola, Sinalco, Pepsi-Cola, Green Spot and Kickapoo Joy Juice.
The soft drinks exhibited here are not for sale. Their display is only meant to highlight what a "coffee shop" looked like in the past.
Collectibles & Memorabilia
The list is endless. It includes an assortment of old banknotes, coins, postage stamps, envelopes, books, clocks, analogue telephones, baby bottles, transistor radios, monochrome televisions, mechanical fans, sewing machines, window blinds, counting frames, wooden screens, picture frames, cameras, mugs, signboards, magazines, newspapers, radiograms, gramophones, gramophone records, postcards, record players, posters, lampshades, ceiling lights, weighing scales, wall tiles, maps, calendars, luggage bags, ashtrays, matchboxes, motorcycles, bicycles, tricycles, rubber stamps, letters, flags, safes, sports caps, road signs, kerosene lamps, paintings, phone cards, comics, clothes irons, manual typewriters, musical instruments, paper umbrellas, hats, T-shirts, notebooks, bottle caps, paper bags, sports equipment, keychains, silverware and jewellery pieces.
“We intend to double our inventory before the end of 2015,” said See Kok Shan, the curator. “If we don’t, we’ll be left behind”.
The Jim Thompson Corner
The niche is tucked at the midpoint of the museum. It covers an area of approximately 50 square feet. Most of the exhibits here are a reminiscence of Jim Thompson who disappeared from the Cameron Highlands on Sunday, 26 March 1967.
The Kitchen Area
Located along the ledge of the unit’s second level is the kitchen section. This is a place where time virtually comes to a stand still.[4] Here you will find an oddball mix of kerosene stoves, frying pans, woks, porcelain bowls, chili pounders, plates, cutlery, firewood, meat safes, charcoal stoves, meat grinders, ladles, vacuum flasks and tiffin carriers.
The Photo Gallery
The museum is known for its collection of old photographs. It has an inventory of more than 1,000 images. It includes photographs of:
- Lee Kuan Yew and Lee Hsien Loong when they visited the Cameron Highlands in 1954;
- P. Ramlee’s identification card;
- S.K. Convent (when it was a British Military Hospital in the 1950s);
- Jim Thompson, the Thai silk king;
- All Soul’s Church (undated);
- Ye Olde Smokehouse (1950s);
- "Moonlight" bungalow (undated);
- "Sunlight" bungalow (undated);
- the bridge over the Sultan Abu Bakar dam (1960s);
- the Government Rest House at Tanah Rata (1950s);
- the 2nd hole of the Cameron Highlands Golf Course (1930s);
- Brinchang (1950s);
- Tanah Rata (1940s);
- Cluny Lodge (1960s);
- Father's House (1950s);
- Lutheran Mission bungalow (undated);
- Tanah Rata post office (1950s);
- the Cameron Highlands Home Guard (1950s); and
- the then Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation when it moved to Tanah Rata in 1947.
Gallery
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Facilities
The museum has a cafe that serves western and local delights. It is open daily from 9am to 6pm.
Milestones
The museum was visited by Miss Hong Kong (Ms Edelweiss Cheung), 1st and 2nd runners-up (Ms Skye Chan and Ms Sia Ma) during their tour of Malaysia in August 2008. The trio was at the complex for more than an hour. Their goodwill tour was organised by Hong Kong’s Television Broadcasts Limited, Tourism Malaysia and Hong Thai Travel Services.
See also
References
Notes
- ↑ "Driving directions to Tanah Rata, Pahang, West Malaysia, Google map". Google Inc. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ↑ De Souza, Edward Roy (2010). SOLVED! The "Mysterious" Disappearance of Jim Thompson, the Legendary Thai Silk King (2nd ed). Word Association Publishers. p. 134. ISBN 978-1-59571-505-0. LCCN 2009944204.
- ↑ "Driving directions to Tanah Rata, Pahang, Malaysia, Google map". Google Inc. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
- ↑ "Enter the time tunnel, The Star, Friday, 31 August 2012". p. L4.
News articles
- "Stepping back into time". New Straits Times. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2010.
- "Enter the time tunnel". The Star. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
- "Up the highlands, window down". The Malay Mail. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
- "Cameron Highlands: Malaysia's enduring 'Little England'". CNN Travel. 27 June 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- "Beat the heat in Cameron Highlands". The Financial Express. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2014.
External links
Media related to TIME TUNNEL (museum) at Wikimedia Commons