Brilio.net/en - Malang is a city in East Java popular as a more laidback, cooler travel destination from Surabaya. If you happen to be in town and staying at Tugu Hotel, this beautiful portrait of a lady is likely to raise some curious questions if not chills.
So before you start with crazy theories, let's try to answer that question. Her name is Oei Hui Lan, born in 1889 in Semarang, Central Java. She is the second child of Oei Tiong Ham, a sugar businessman known as the richest person in Southeast Asia during his time.
Lanwas considered by many as a fortunate woman, with a wealth family to support her and a beautiful face. She was raised in a 9.2-hectare house that draws inspiration from European and Chinese architecture and has 200 rooms, a kitchen, a private villa, and two big pavilions. Her family even had their very own private zoo.
Unfortunately, based on her book No Feast Lasts Forever", she admitted beingunhappy and that the wealth her family had only teared them apart.
She eventually married Wellington Koo, a Chinese politician, but find herself no more happy until passing away in the US in 1992.
Sometimes, it helps to know the real-life stories of people in portraits; they remind you that they are just humans.
(brl/red)
