Little Penang , Pearl Of Oriental, An island in Malaysia: Toy Museum in Penang

With a seemingly endless selection to choose from, one can say that Penang is not short on recreational activities that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Cineplexes, bookstores, nature walks, beaches, aquariums, swimming pools, concerts and such like.
And just when you thought that you've tried all there is to savour, along comes a totally new and unique (at least in Penang) concept – the Penang Toy Museum. With over 100,000 toys, dolls, models and other fun collectibles, it's a haven for toy and movie aficionados. "It's also the largest in the world and the first such museum in Asia" says proud owner Loh Lean Cheng of his baby.

How did it all began?
Loh explained that his passion for toys started way back when he was 19, while visiting the London Toy and Model Museum.
It was there that he developed an appreciation for toys and started his collection that subsequently grew and grew - from his first collectible Popeye toy (bought in 1973) for which he paid about 50p (RM3.30) to the 1.8m-tall Gundam robot from Japan costing about RM9,000. With over 30 years of dedication and the help from his family members, Loh's collection today numbers over 100,000 items, including toys, models, collectibles, and detailed doll houses furnished with wardrobes, accessories and make-up parlors.

The current Toy Museum
The 650 sq m. museum is divided into different categories beginning with the Chamber of Horror and going on to the Chamber of Monsters, Fields of Combat, Cave of Dinosaurs, Hall of Virtual Reality, Chamber of Fantasy, Hall of Rock Legends, Hall of Celebrities, Halls of Cartoons, Chamber of Comic Book Heroes and Hall of Beauties. A special section on Star Wars collectibles and memorabilia featuring Princess Leia, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, all placed strategically to enact different scenes from the movies, will thrill fans of the Star Wars series. Other favourite movie characters include those from the Peter Jackson version of The Lord of the Rings. One can also experience voice-overs, sounds and motion effects triggered by hidden sensors in certain sections of the museum.

Consisting of 560 showcases (4ft x 2ft x 2ft), visitors will also come 'face-to-face' with the stars of Hong Kong moviedom, like the late Bruce Lee, Andy Lau and Jackie Chan, and pop stars like The Beatles, Kiss, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Michael Jackson.

The other toys displayed in the museum are characters found in famous stories, comics and movies. They include Spiderman, Batman, the Power Rangers, X-Men, X-Files, Tarzan, The Simpsons, Winnie the Pooh, Barney, Snoopy, Bananas in Pyjamas, Dalmations, Toy Story, Garfield, and the list goes on and on. And what is a toy museum without leggy American 'icon' Barbie?

Some of the toys and figures on display are rare limited editions accquired from around the world. Most of the toys were purchased during his travels, some through friends and some even through the Internet. He continues to acquire more toys to boost the already spend between money every month on toys to better his already impressive collection. In recognition of his achievement, the Malaysian Book of Records had certified Loh's Toy Museum as the first of its kind in the country and with the largest toy and figurine collection in the world.
The museum is open to the public from 9.00am to 9.00pm daily, with the last entry at 8.30pm. Admission fees are RM10 for adults and RM6 for children.