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.

The Orang Minyak | The Oily Man of Malaysia

Orang Minyak, the Oily Man of Malaysia, crouches under a crescent moon with red eyes.

The Orang Minyak, or "Oily Man," is a notorious figure in Malay folklore. Covered in slippery black grease to evade capture, this supernatural predator stalks the night, targeting young women and symbolizing a terrifying blend of black magic and moral panic.

The History of Hoi An

Vintage collage of Hoi An, Vietnam, showcasing its historic streets, river, boats, and lantern shop. History of Hoi An.

Hoi An once served as a bustling global trade hub known as Faifo. Japanese, Chinese, and European merchants shaped its unique architecture. When the river silted up, the city froze in time. Today, this preserved UNESCO site offers a rare window into Asia's maritime past.

The Blue Mansion Penang

Woman in traditional dress at The Blue Mansion Penang, a heritage building.

Step back in time at The Blue Mansion in Penang, a masterfully restored 19th-century courtyard house. Renowned for its distinctive indigo walls and intricate Peranakan craftsmanship, this architectural gem offers a window into the opulent lifestyle of legendary tycoon Cheong Fatt Tze.

Stamford Raffles: The Audacity of the Self-Made Man

Stamford Raffles points to land from a ship, likely Singapore. Tropical island scene.

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.

DSLR camera for landscape photography with mountain views.