TNT Novelty House – The passion of a remarkable Lady

25/09/2012, Tuesday(Day 1)

It’s been months since Madam Tan Her Chu, the owner of TnT Novelty House extended her sincere invitation to me for a visit to her humble establishment. I was in the notion that it is just any other home-stay kind of environment and doesn't really look forward to take up the invitation. However, I make her a promise that I’ll definitely drop by when time permit.

That was nearly 3 months ago. Finally, I manage to adjust my work schedule and sounded to her that I’m ready to redeem her invitation. She and her husband drove from Teluk Intan to Ipoh for some errands and thereafter came to fetch me at my house. Our journey was smooth with ongoing conversation to catch up with the happening. We stop halfway for dinner and reach the premise at around 9pm. My first impression was, “well it’s just a double storey Semi-D house, I suppose”, staring at the entrance gate through the car window while Mr. Teh(Madam Tan Husband) alighted from his car and opened the entrance gate. He return to his car and drove to park at the car porch.

TnT Novelty House Signate

Overview

Car Porch

As I step out from the car, I was greeted with glowing amber light from the crystal stones. Though I sense the place is spacious, it was dimmed so I unable to make any out of it. Then Madam Tan instructed her staff to switch on all the lighting. I froze for a while as my heart sank with great amazement and admiration. The ambience of the ‘olden days’ and serenity enveloped me. Getting excited, I scrutinized every bit of the wall, decorations, benches, tables, elevated platform, aquarium, fountain, so on and so forth and swiftly move my steps to roam the interior of the premise. Even beach benches easily available for pure relaxing at secluded spot with ongoing water fountain splashes. “Truly astounding”, I said to myself. Tranquility naturally flows here!

Crystal Stone Light

Entrance Walk

Side Walk

Without much delay, Madam Tan took me around to view all the rooms. A Single Queen Size Bed Room(RM50), Two Single Bed Room(RM55), Family room(RM60), Dormitory Room(accommodate up to 25 pax at RM300) and a room that could accommodate 8 pax that has Jacuzzi (RM250). All have attached bathroom. Only during CNY the first three types of the rooms are fixed at RM60 per night. On other days, the rates remain unchanged. The various leisure hall comprise of games, laze ourselves or  merely chat at those halls are flawless and suitable for any age. As for me, I took the single Queen Size Room for the night.

 

Single Queen Size Bed Room with attached Bathroom ~ RM50.00 per night.

Then Madam Tan started describing her passion toward the design and layout of the interior. The wall and ceiling were plastered with her own hands. The Cengal woods benches and tables are her creation and manufactured In-house. Those interested could also purchase them from her. The decoration, the aquarium, the elevated platform and so on are all her design. I was stunned with her detail description on each of the items as if they are all a separate story being told.

We adjourned to her office and continued with our conversation. A passionate and willful lady is what I conclude about Madam Tan Her Chu. Often clad with T-Shirt, Jean, a pair of slipper and a sling bag over her shoulder, reflect her simplicity even though her  background speak otherwise. Before I came to the premise, I was in the mind that she is just another businesswoman who wanted to squeeze something out of nothing in order to earn extra bucks. How wrong is my perception about her? When I asked, why the name TnT was chosen. Immediately she replied, “you are referring to the bomb, is it”. I sheepishly admitted.

She explained TnT stood for Tan and Teh (She and her husband family name). Even the company logo derived from it but shape like a house. The establishment has been in operation for 11 years. She said it was her personal doctor that suggested the name Novelty House as to reflect her story telling in the likeness of a novel for each of her unique design. There are eight virtues that sustain the establishment. To name some, passionate, respect, persistency, interest and believes. Every furniture, semi-circle walls plastering that form a fanlike pattern, tiles flooring, elevated platform, compartments, bookstand, wall holder(she called it aeroplane), halls, decoration, aquarium, fountain and interior garden has its own story to tell as they are specifically improvised, crafted and designed by her personal touch.

"Keep it simple. In due time people will appreciate it". That's her motto to create a simple interior design as her signature and simply by her own style in which she hopes any guest would feel the homelike atmosphere and experience the harmonious aura. Speaking from experience, she believes that every mistake has a lesson in it to allow a person to compose an idea to create something new and transform it into a unique story.

I commented that the surprise element from Cengal woods design and placement definitely astound any first time guest as it emulates the ‘olden days’ ambience. The walk on the wooden platform and mesmerized crystal stone glow could easily melt any stress or tension. Madam Tan pointed out that there are 83 crystals stone light being strategically place throughout the premise; which, I find it soothing to the eyes of anyone who appreciate its presence. As for the Cengal wood benches and tables, they are painted with coated paint which is not mixed with any type of thinner to ensure higher water resilience and lasting appearance. That’s why even though the furniture are 11 years of age, it still looks brand new. She humbly continues to say that, “the 1Malaysia concept is still her ultimate goal for the homestay” as the premise is still undergoing continuous improvement to bring forth the ‘olden days’ ambience to greater height to reflect Malaysia multicultural race.

As it was quite late, we call it a day and she said she will take me around to visit all her 4 nurseries and some of her clients premise that bought  her furniture and homestay design.

26/09/2012, Wednesday(Day 2) ~ Outdoor visit to Nursery and Clients

After breakfast, we went to Nursery A where the furniture is manufactured. I was taken by surprise when she said the flower pots are her handmade. I pause and gaze at her with great surprise. She is a small size person yet able to create such gigantic pots. Then after gaining my posture, I jokingly said to her, “These need molding skill and strength and patience. You sure they are yours”. With boldness she replied, "Yes. It is my hand that moulded them with passion. Just to let you know, all my nurseries flowers pots are made by me". I am out of word on her reply. She further explained that all the nurseries landscape plants are improvised by her in according to her view. She will plant hundreds of plants and flowers. Then with patience nurtures them with great passion. Every plant is unique to her and has a story behind each of them. One of her favorite is the Passion fruit plant as it represent who she is. At the material time of my visit, only at Nursery C, the plant bear fruit.

Nursery A 

Many times she couldn’t withheld the  tears that swelled at her eyelids and flow down her cheeks whenever she spoke of the hurts and ill-intend by those who misinterpret her good intention. She asked my opinion. “Is it wrong to fully use up my own land?” “Why the neighboring residences at my nurseries abuse my land by using it as dumping ground or trespass them?” "Why am I being deprived from developing my land with nice landscape and structure?". I have no absolute answer to her predicament except to say that these are merely handful of people that doesn’t know how to appreciate her effort in beautifying a place. In my opinion there are not much 'green' in Teluk Intan anymore due to extensive development. She is actually creating a clean air for the surrounding residences with the landscape. Therefore, I encourage her that she need to put her best to nurture the nurseries and create a landscape that goes along with her passion.

Nursery B

Nursery C

( The building that trespass her land. Even debris of stones fell down from the five storey building which threathen the safety while tending the landscape.)

Nursery D

(Hundreds of  trees (left) will be planted in due time.)

There was once while touring Nursery A, she just bend down and start pulling out the tiny grass shot and count them one by one. After the count of fifty, she stood up and exclaimed, “This is the money I had earned today”. Her action through my perspective is, “So much passion and love she showered over these plants so that they can flourist in healthy way and thereafter give return to her". That's what I called being compassionate towards the plant and her handiwork before return are yield! One thing for sure, she is very particular with tidyness and cleanliness of her homestay and nurseries.

After the nurseries visit, we proceed to her client place that bought the benches, chairs, tables and plant. Though it was more than 5 years, the furniture still looks new. Then we went to another client of her. This time it was renovation project that was completed. From the look of the design, lighting and appearance, it does emulate her homestay interior signature. I said to myself, “this Madam Tan has gain a great achievement here. She puts her passion in action by creating her own identity and signature outside her comfort zone.”

Passion Fruit

(Left-passion plant, Right-passion fruit)

During lunch, she share her experience on the planning, design and her plastering work on the wall for the renovation which were very challenging. How she stood firm that the owner need to follow her design once the contract has been given to her even though disagreement arise. When the renovation was completed, the owner began to appreciate her good intention and boldness to stick to her design and details when their customers gave good commendation toward the renovation.

We’re back to the homestay after lunch. Madam Tan was very kind to take some snapshot of me at places where I like most in the premise. She told me she also does that for her client if time permited. Though she persuaded me to extend my stay, I apologically decline her sincerity due to my appointment. However, this time I told her that if I come back to her homestay, it will definitely be more than two days as I wanted to savour the ambience of this unique place at my own pace and leisure.

The snapshop transpose into canvas like sketch

Two days spent with Madam Tan Her Chu opens my eyes about life perspective at another angle. She willingly adjusted her own tight schedule to give me a tour to learn and understand about her passion and how it evolve into a business. She gave a fresh perspective that anything created by God has its story to tell. Only by comprehending the story, a person is able to allow their passion to inspired them to create new things.  She also told me, on various occasions(as long as it is within her means and ability), she uses flower therapy to assist disunited family  to regain their bond, those with physical ailment were encouraged and healed, and many more.

To me, this is the best place where serenity and peace exist that only this lady creates through her passion. A place of retreat where we can clear off our mind from the hustle and bustle of the city life. A place like a resort style though with simple setting yet enchanting, but with affordable rate. I give my respect and admiration to this remarkable lady who has proven that with passionate mind, a person is able to succeed in business and on the other hand not losing their creativity.

There will be more photos in my Facebook of my trip to her homestay and nurseries. To know more of this unique place and nurseries, you may reach Madam Tan Her Chu at :-

A simple lady yet has unconfine passion in her heart 

Review about TnT Novelty House Sdn Bhd

and Madam Tan Her Chu

on 01 October 2012, Monday

by Ling Chin Hing

May it give another life perspective about our passion at work.