Greetings to all of you.

Although I do not have many followers, I notice that some of you come from countries far away from Malaysia. I do not know who you are but I want to wish you a happy 2013. If possible, do drop me a line and tell me a bit about yourself.

Suffolk House Penang

The Suffolk House of Penang (more information in the link HERE) is a good example of how a heritage building can be made wheelchair friendly. Notably a lift was installed at this building so that mobility impaired people can go to the first floor of the building.

The disabled people’s toilet that is located away from the mainly building is beautifully designed. The passage way to the toilet and the lift is completely wheelchair friendly. Ask if you cannot find the lift or the toilet.

However, I do not like the pathway that leads visitors from the gate to the wooden ramp at the entrance. This pathway is made up of small granite stones and it is difficult for the small front wheels of my wheelchair to negotiate. I had to move “back to front” to reach the wooden ramp. (According to a friend, the building owner made the pathway in this manner to reflect the original path of the building. Apparently when Suffolk House was built some 200 years ago, there were no such thing as tar road then. So granite pathway was the norm at that time.) I was told later by the guard that mobility impaired visitors can drive their cars near to the wooden ramp so as to avoid the problems of negotiating the pathway. (I visited the place on the 3rd Dec.2012)

Macalister Manson

I took a quick look at the Macalister Manson (www.macalistermansion.com) last week. I only managed to take photos of its disabled friendly toilet as I was in a hurry.

It was raining when I arrived but luckily the main entrance was fully shaded. A car park for disabled people was clearly marked and visible. The hotel is wheelchair friendly at the ground floor but NOT the first floor where all the rooms are located. So you can go there for lunch, tea or dinner only.

The toilet for disabled people is spacious and beautifully designed. The only thing I don’t like is the mirror. You can't see yourself clearly if you are sitting on a wheelchair.