Rumah Seri Banai aka Rumah Tok Penghulu

After visiting "Rumah Tok Su', we visited its' neighbour - "Rumah Seri Banai" or the "Tok Penghulu's" house. It was a lot smaller but just as impressive. This house was given to UUM and the university presented it to the state when they heard about this project of preserving old, authentic and original Kedah houses. There were only 2 houses at this public park. This house had more intricate carvings and just as beautiful. Yet, personally, "Rumah Tok Su" had attached itself to my heart because it resembled so much of the old house in Peringgit. Zin was impressed with these 2 houses and was impatient to start drafting the model. I was deeply impressed with these two houses especially "Rumah Tok Su".

The plaque that stated the origin and history of Rumah Seri Banai

A view of the house

A section of the house - I love the concept of open windows and letting in the sun

Zin with the mannequin to add a homely touch to the house...:-)) Zin commented that they were of the same height

Zin explaining the "tupai-tupai" - a special feature that attached the supporting beams

One opens the main door and leads straight to the bed chambers - there are no rooms in this house

The side view of the house

After these two impressive houses, I took Zin to visit "Rumah Merdeka" i.e. the house or mansion of the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, our first Prime Minister. It had been upgraded and he had modified it that it resembled much of an English colonial house. Tunku was deeply influenced by English structure. Yet, the house was magnificent in its own way.

Finally, the last house we visited was "Rumah Kelahiran Mahathir" - our ex-Prime Minister. It was a humble kampung house and retained much of its originality. I liked its simplicity yet it was impressive in its own way.

Every house has a story to tell. Where we lived, grew up, faced lives ups and downs ... left a lasting impression on us. It is up to us to make the house a home. Home is where the heart is .... otherwise it will just be a ... house.