Hunting for heritage values of Pulau Tikus

Story by Victor Seow
Pix by Law Suun Ting

THE more than 200 participants who took part in the Pulau Tikus Heritage Hunt 2015 on Oct 10 had loads of fun and the winners took home lucky draw prizes.

Organised by the office of Pulau Tikus assemblymember Yap Soo Huey and in collaboration with a number of businesses and associations in the constituency, the hunt provided its participants, who needed to compete in teams rather than as individuals, an opportunity to explore different facets of Pulau Tikus on foot guided by a map.

The aim of the hunt was for the competing teams to complete as many stations as possible while having fun exploring Pulau Tikus.

Yap, who arrived at the Pulau Tikus Community Hall upon the completion of the heritage hunt, was more than elated with the success of the event and shared her aspirations for the community she grew up in.

As someone who grew up in Pulau Tikus, I feel we have a lot to offer. If we do not tell the people stories of these places, the heritage value would be gone. I want people to know about all these stories,” Yap said.

Also present was Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari.

Located a short distance away from the heart of George Town, Pulau Tikus (named after a rocky outcropping off the coast – a tiny island with sand dunes that look like a trail of mice marching towards the main island of Penang) is an upscale suburb of stately residential houses with its own busy commercial district set amongst pre-war buildings and its distinctly diverse culture.

Within the Pulau Tikus commercial district, one will find the well-known Swee Kong Hokkien mee, Burmese laksa, Sin Hwa char koay teow and Bangkok Lane Mee Goreng within a stone’s throw of each other. As a little cosmopolitan, Pulau Tikus is a mélange of posh restaurants, chic cafes, down-to-earth coffee shops and bustling hawkers’ paradise.