This is my first time in a Living Museum. Due to COVID-19 precautions, they have disabled all curated tours with guides and replaced them with self-guided tour using booklets instead. There’s only so much that a booklet can tell you so I’ll be back for a guided tour once they are available.

The museum is a bit on the ‘smaller side’ but does offer a tremendously immersive experience for guests and enthusiasts alike. Its easily spotted from its trademark soft pink colors and white-tiled façade.

Once you step inside, you are warmly welcomed by the curators who will guide you through a (very) brief history and some rules. Photographs are allowed but no flash. The booklet is very clear on the flow of the tour but I found some rooms on the property not open for public. The artifacts are rarely enclosed in glass or ropes so there is ample opportunity to look closely at the items (but not to touch!). There are many ornamental chairs around the house but regrettably none are reserved for guests. Except for one under the stairs.

Certain areas have very dim lighting such as the front bedroom on the second floor where the bridal garments and decorations were showcased. Other rooms towards the back are not air conditioned and some of the collections are kept behind cabinets with intricate patterns making some artifacts a bit hard to look at. Perhaps the curators have kept these in order to maintain the ambience as realistic as possible.

In terms of visitors experience, I enjoyed how the information was organized. As you transverse from room to room, the theme also changes. The booklet was very kind to provide details on this. We are first introduced to the history of the home followed by ‘Baba’ & ‘Nyonya’ culture. I wished they had included the current manifestation of these cultural elements and how they are adapted for modern use.

I would highly recommended this for both Solo travelers and families. I would allocate a good 2 hours to allow enough time to appreciate the entire collection. There’s really not so much to ‘read’ but there is a whole lot to ‘see’—if you know what I mean. Admission fee is RM 20 which is arguably a bit on the high side but still worth every penny.

I ended my visit feeling very satisfied and more informed then I initially expected to be. I never thought learning about the origins of the Peranakan culture and its assimilation into Malay society could be so much fun!