Wednesday October 21, 2009
Former miner opens crystal museum
Story and photos by SIMON KHOO
KUANTAN: Visitors to the former mining town of Sungai Lembing near here should not miss the opportunity to visit a crystal museum, located at the farthest end of Kampung Sungai Rimau.
The museum is actually the residence of 68-year-old Lee Yon and his wife Lim Sam Mooi, 58.
Magnificent: Children admiring the crystal collection. The couple’s house is home to over 3,000 crystalline stones of various shapes and sizes.
In an interview with The Star, Lee said it started out as a hobby when he was working in a quarry in Panching, Pahang.
“I used to collect these beautiful and unique stones which appear transparent when the sun shines on them.
“For 19 years, I kept bringing these stones home because I find them fascinating,” he said while showing his collection, some displayed in glass cases and others stacked neatly on shelves including samples of tin and copper ore.
Untouchables: Lee’s collection of crystal stones. Lee said that in 1995, a geologist who dropped by for a visit told him that his personal collection were crystalline stones.
He said it was then that he decided to open up his house to visitors.
“For maintenance and as a side income, I charge a minimal fee for entry.
Valuable: Lee Yon showing a sample of tin and copper. “I am no longer working and spend time beautifying my premises to attract more visitors,” said Lee, who has three children aged 38, 32 and 28.
Besides the stones in every nook and corner, Lee has built a crystal pond filled with fish and two replica tunnels.
He said he constructed the tunnels single-handedly, during his free time.
“I want to show the younger generation what a mine looks like, the working environment and as a reminder for me of my 29 years as a miner.
“The first tunnel took me four-and-a-half years to complete,” he said, adding he had spent one year digging the second tunnel so far.
Lee said he kept a guest registration book at the entrance for visitors to give their feedback.
He said that among the visitors were Sungai Lembing assemblyman Datuk Md Sohaimi Mohamed Shah and Paya Besar MCA division chief and senator Ng Fook Heng.
“Both leaders had helped a lot in promoting my museum and upgrading the road leading into the village, for which I am grateful.
Eerie: A replica of a mining tunnel at Lee Yon’s residence. “There are also tourists from Japan, Thailand, Australia and the United Kingdom coming here after being told about it by residents around here,” he said, adding that some of them even wanted to buy the stones.
“Sorry, my stones are my life and they are not for sale, but you can take photographs for keepsake,” he quipped.
Lee added that the collection would be passed on to his three children and two grandchildren.
The museum is open to the public daily from 10 am to 6pm. Entrance fees are RM2 (adult) and RM1 (child).
Source:
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