A couple from Inner Mongolia flew to Penang just for heritage stamps.
Bank manager Winston Wang, 32, and his wife Serene Zhang, 31, were in Sarawak for the Rainforest World Music Festival when they heard Penang was celebrating Heritage Day. They changed their plans and headed to George Town.
“We have travelled to several countries, including Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia to get commemorative stamps for our journal,” Wang said. “Each stamp tells a story about the place and the occasion. When we add them to our journal, they become more than souvenirs; they preserve our travel memories.”
The couple was among junk journal enthusiasts who gathered at 12 heritage buildings across George Town for the Historical Buildings Open House. The four-day celebration marks the 18th anniversary of George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is a state public holiday.
Wang said the event offered a rare opportunity to obtain limited-edition stamps that reflected Penang’s rich history and cultural identity.
“It is not just about collecting stamps. We also enjoy learning about the heritage behind each design and meeting people who share the same interest,” he said.
The couple was met at Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh, one of 12 heritage buildings featured in the programme.
Local enthusiasts shared the same passion. Zahirah Eizzaty Zamri, 27, from Bayan Lepas, said commemorative stamps collected during heritage events held sentimental value.
“These stamps are more than decorations. Every one tells a story and reminds me where I collected it. That’s what makes a junk journal unique,” she said.
College students Jolyn Yeap, 22, and her friend Joee Yean, 22, arrived early at the heritage area to spend their break. They had so far visited the Datuk Koyah tomb, Nam Hooi Wooi Koon and the George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) building to collect stamps.
“We have learned a lot about history, which we really love,” Yeap said.
Designer Chong Jian Xiong, 27, said he had travelled from Tanjung Tokong to attend the celebrations after learning about the exclusive stamp designs through social media.
“These are limited edition pieces that cannot be replicated. They become part of the journal and capture the spirit of the event,” he said.
Junk journaling is a creative hobby combining scrapbooking, diary writing and memory keeping using vintage paper, tickets, stamps and other ephemera. The pastime has surged in popularity in recent years.
The Historical Buildings Open House programme, which ran from 5 to 7 JULY, was a highlight of the celebrations, giving the public rare access to 12 heritage buildings across the city. Organised by GTWHI, the four-day celebration marks the 18th anniversary of George Town’s inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Credit: CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
