Cee Jay

Cee Jay

Founder and writer of heritasian.com, a website dedicated to historical travel and heritage. My background includes a diverse range of experiences, from hospitality and sales to writing and editing. Living in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the past 20 years. My mixed British and Straits Chinese heritage, has shaped my understanding of culture and history, which informs my writing.
Stamford Raffles points to land from a ship, likely Singapore. Tropical island scene.

Stamford Raffles: The Audacity of the Self-Made Man

Sir Stamford Raffles rose from a humble clerk to a self-taught polymath, reshaping Southeast Asia. He founded modern Singapore as a strategic free port, governed Java with radical reforms, and rediscovered Borobudur, leaving an enduring legacy of audacity and intellect.

Shophouse Chic vs. Colonial Grand Dame: Heritage architecture in Southeast Asia with vintage car and period-dressed couple.

Shophouse Chic vs. Colonial Grandeur

This guide compares Southeast Asia’s grand colonial hotels with trendy boutique shophouses. While one offers old-world luxury, the other feels cozy and local. Both styles are amazing examples of how we can save history while creating unique places to stay.

Elegant colonial heritage hotel veranda with arches, pillars, and tropical garden views.

Colonial Heritage Hotels in SouthEast Asia

Discover Southeast Asia’s colonial heritage hotels, from Singapore’s Raffles to Hanoi’s Metropole. These "living museums" blend European elegance with tropical architecture, preserving stories of literary giants, wartime resilience, and the region's complex journey toward independence.

DSLR camera for landscape photography with mountain views.