Rayn Amrillah - Vintage Style & Historical Places

Home
Rayn Amrillah - Vintage Style & Historical Places

Hello I'm Rayn! I love exploring Heritage building and posing with my vintage clothes 🏛️🌺

📍Now based in Penang 🇲🇾

📧Collaboration?

send e-mail to lionraynn[at] gmail[dot]com

16/09/2026

Salam Hari Malaysia dari Tanjong Penaga 🏝️🇲🇾

13/09/2026

Is this what it feels like to have coffee in a rich man’s house? ☕️

During my recent trip to Taiping, I returned to one of my favorite coffee spots in town, Peace Hotel and Restaurant. It’s housed inside a stunning 1920s building that was once the residence of a wealthy businessman, which was later in 1959 converted into a hotel and restaurant. Although the hotel upstairs is no longer operating, the ground floor is alive with several local food stalls, particularly Chinese eateries.

What makes this place so special is the colorful Majolica tilework decorating the interior, showcasing everything from bird motifs to beautiful floral patterns. It’s quite rare to see this level of artistry in a traditional kopitiam, where you would usually just find simpler tiles.

Sitting here almost feels like enjoying a drink inside a tycoon’s mansion rather than an ordinary coffee shop, but of course, in a much more humble atmosphere.

These Majolica tiles are said to have been used in Malaya since the early 1900s. They were highly prized by wealthy Chinese families, who initially imported them from Europe and later from Japan.

If you’re a fan of heritage architecture, this spot will definitely be a treat for your eyes 🏛️✨

11/09/2026

For anyone who grew up in Taiping, this bookstore is a slice of childhood history and it might be gone soon.

During my visit to Taiping, I randomly stopped by the Nan Hwa Book Store on Jalan Panggung Wayang. It’s a tiny place, but it has almost everything you need for studying. The shop is said to have started its business in 1961, which is proven by the gorgeous, hand-painted sign it has

I got to chat with the shopkeeper, Auntie Loo (who isn’t related to the owner but runs the counter). She shared how tough it is for old heritage shops to survive in Taiping, especially with modern bookstores drawing the crowds away and leaving heritage shops forgotten. Sadly, the owners are considering closing down, but they’re stuck because they still have so much unsold stock to clear.

I bought a few things as souvenirs, and Auntie Loo was sweet enough to throw in a few freebies! She didn’t want to be on camera, but she was genuinely thrilled to have a visitor.

If you ever find yourself in Taiping, please drop by and support this lovely old shop!

10/09/2026

Most of us might never have heard of it before, but ear picking used to be common back in the day and could be found in most Asian barbershops. Even though the demand for the service is low, there are still local barbers in Malaysia that offer it.

I was scared at first trying this, but it was such a fun and unique experience!

Tag your friends who you think might be scared to do this 🤫

07/09/2026

You might have never seen this side of Penang before, or maybe you have? 🏝️

On a recent bus journey, I discovered a small coastal area called Teluk Kumbar, right near Balik Pulau. I’d always been aware of the area because it was marked on the bus map, but I’d never actually visited until this past weekend.

The atmosphere here is calm. Since it’s a fishing village, many locals still work as fishermen. There are old timber kopitiams, beautiful sunsets, and barely any tourists around, as it’s mostly a residential neighbourhood.

When I met some of the locals, they literally asked me, “Why are you here?” But honestly, it turned out to be the perfect spot to just chill by the beach, enjoy the sunset, and watch the fishermen go about their day.

03/09/2026

Known as a sleepy town, Kampar’s Old Town has this beautiful old-world charm, dating back to the late 19th century. The best way to experience it is to wake up early, when the traditional markets and old-school coffee shops come alive. Because once the sun goes down, the whole town goes quiet, and you’ll barely see anyone walking around 🌚

What I love most is that many of the old buildings are still occupied by locals running their businesses, so you can still see everyday life happening around these old streets. But after a certain time, the town gets pretty quiet, which is probably why Kampar is often described as a “sleepy town” 😴

Have you been to Kampar?? 👀

31/08/2026

If there’s one thing that makes old eating spots special, it’s the diversity of communities they bring together. Just like this one in Kuala Lumpur, Capital Café.

Established in 1956 as a Hockchew Chinese kopitiam, this two-storey shophouse has remained in the Lin family for generations. Over the decades, different food stalls joined under the same roof, from Hainanese-style noodles and toast to nasi padang, Indian-Muslim rojak and satay.

The old menu, with dishes written in Jawi, is another reminder of how this place has long catered to a diverse crowd.

With Chinese, Malay/Indonesian and Indian-Muslim food all under one roof, Capital Café has brought people from different backgrounds together over a shared table for decades, and it continues to do so today.

Have you been to Capital Café before? What’s your favorite old-school eating spot in KL that brings different communities together? 👀

23/08/2026

Before modern malls, standalone shops relied on bold, eye-catching typography in various styles to draw in passersby.

In Penang, Campbell Street was a premier shopping hub during the postwar era and today has become an open-air archive of vintage lettering, preserving signs from fabric stores, traditional medicine halls, and shoe shops alike.

While modernization has repurposed many of these buildings, several shopfronts thankfully still retain their original vintage lettering.

Have you noticed any vintage signs around where you live?

20/08/2026

If there’s one thing I never skip on a short trip, it’s the art of slowing down to notice the little things, and Kampar gave me so many details worth stopping for! ❤️

That brings us to the end of my 8-part Kampar short series. Thanks a ton to everyone who followed along! I’ll definitely be back soon, but for now, off to find the next small town to discover.

Any recommendations on which small towns in Malaysia I should explore next? 👋

Address

Website

http://buymeacoffee.com/parisintherayn

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rayn Amrillah - Vintage Style & Historical Places posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your business to be the top-listed Media Company?

Country:

City: