QUEEN VICTORIA MEMORIAL CLOCK TOWER IN GEORGETOWN

  17TH DECEMBER 2022  ~ Near the entrance of Fort Cornwallis, stood another historical landmark of Georgetown: Queen Victoria Clock Tower.

The Clock Tower at King Edward Place is a permanent memorial erected to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. At the height of 60 feet, each foot signifying one year of the Queen's reign up to the year 1897. It was presented by Mr. Cheah Chen Eok, a local philanthropist for a cost of Straits $35000.

Born in the year 1852, Mr. Cheah was a millionaire of the island who made his fortune from tin mines. The only son of a local dealer, he received his education at Penang Free School and was known for his generosity and modesty.

~ THE TEXT FROM THE SIGN FOUND AT THE TOWER ~

I, on the other hand, was thinking of something else when Mr. Cheah was being too generous with the British.

You could spend just a short time here, admiring the sturdy tower that was still standing strong, I just wish visitors were allowed to climb up the tower to have a better view of the surrounding.

THE HISTORICAL LABUAN CLOCK TOWER

4TH JUNE 2022 ~ Right opposite Labuan Sea Sport Complex, there was this historical Clock Tower. Definitely a must see, we just crossed the road to get a closer look at this prominent landmark of Labuan.

WHY IS THE TOWER HISTORICAL?

The Labuan Clock Tower is an exact replica of the original clock tower built in 1906 by Strait's Settlement businessman Chee Swee Cheng from Malacca. It was one of the four standing structures that survived WWll. Intense naval bombardments by the Allied forces completely devastated Victoria town [Labuan town] except for the clock tower and three other structures namely the Chimney, the hospital and the lighthouses on Papan Island and Kuraman Island. The British administration demolished the clock tower in 1948 but failed to rebuild. Half a century later in 2002, Labuan Corporation restructured this historical Clock Tower using funds provided by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia.

~ the writing on the stone signage ~

Been there, done that. We now had to make our way as it was getting hotter and I started to feel hungry. Another place to hang around in Labuan when the weather is suitable, definitely not in the middle of the day.

MY LABUAN TRIP MAIN PAGE

THE CLOCK TOWER OF CHIANG RAI

This is a prominent landmark in Chiang Rai town. People came here to get themselves photographed with the Clock Tower painted in gold, and that was all. Under the bright sun, it sparkled from afar and foreigners would be amused by its beauty.

Once, on my way walking back to the hotel at 9:00 p.m., I suddenly saw the tower was much brighter, being lit up with different colourful lights accompanied by a loud music. Some people were busy recording the light-and-music display and I spontaneously did the same. I guess I was lucky to be there at the right time to observe this special moment which should be one of the attractions of the town.

[MY CHIANG RAI TRIP MAIN PAGE]