KUL-PENANG-KUL
View more photos at http://fotologue.jp/huojin
INTRO
Last Friday (23/03/07), I picked my friends up right after work and headed straight to Penang. It was pretty impromptu, but I managed to do a little research prior to departure. The most promising hotel I found online was Good Hope Inn, located around Gurney. And 2 very captivating destinations I felt excited for were Khoo Kongsi and the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (commonly known as the blue mansion).
Doing 140kmph and arriving in Penang 3.5 hours later, we took our dinner in Gurney Drive. What I realised about the food there was that no matter how bad it tasted, it never dropped below average. That’s Penang fact No. 1. I can’t say the same about their fashion sense though, which brings us to Penang fact No. 2 - zero fashion sense.
Anyway, we checked out Good Hope Inn after dinner. It was late.. about 11pm I think. There were no rooms left. We ended up in the Continental Hotel which sounded cool… a double bed room with breakfast and a pool for RM85. Well, it’ll be the last time we’re staying there. The rooms are old (not in a charming manner). We had our breakfast and checked out by noon, then checked into our prebooked rooms at the lovely Good Hope Inn!
KHOO KONGSI
We left our bags and headed to the grand Khoo Kongsi. Located at Cannon Square (Lebuh Cannon), Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi, or Khoo Kongsi for short, is one of the most distinctive Chinese clan associations in Malaysia. It is well known worldwide for its extensive lineage that can be traced back 650 years.
Some say that its close resemblance to the emperor’s palace in china had upsetted the gods and caused lightning to strike, which had burnt the structure to the ground. It was later rebuilt in a smaller scale, but with the same amazing craftsmanship of the finest artists from china. The entrance fee is RM5 and its location can be found here: http://www.khookongsi.com.my/contact.html
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01> The Leong San Tong clanhouse, highlight of the Khoo Kongsi complex. Other sections include an administrative building with a meeting hall and offices, an opera stage, and 62 units of terrace houses and shophouses.
02> Patron Saint Tua Sai Yah, the famous General Cheah Hean of the Jin Dynasty, is enshrined in the main hall of Khoo Kongsi. If you notice, there’s a divider/bar at the door steps of most temples and some chinese homes. It’s purpose is this: when you look down to avoid stumbling over, you are actually indirectly bowing to the altar placed right ahead of you.
03> "The 9 Old Men". There are 9 of them, but I’ve only focused on the 5 of them who are observing the "twin fish chart" which represents two spheres regulating yin and yang between heaven and earth. Learn more about "the 9 old men" at: http://www.khookongsi.com.my/tour_murals.html
04> Pop, Yenn, Jacq and Shen Z at the entrance of the Leong San Tong clanhouse.
05> Beautiful lanterns and murals within.
06> Happy me and happy male stone lion guarding the main hall’s entrance.
07> I’ll stick this up your ass if you fuck with me 
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CHEONG FATT TZE MANSION
Then we headed straight for Penang’s next historical splendour, the fengshui perfect Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion (blue mansion), located on Leith Street. Daily tours begin at 11am and 3pm. We skipped lunch and arrived at 2.45pm. The entrance fee is RM12 and photo shooting is prohibitted inside the mansion.
Built in the 1880’s, this crumbling home of "the last Mandarin" and "first capitalist of China" - Cheong Fatt Tze, was restored in 1990 by a group of heritage preservationists, led by architect Laurence Loh. The painstaking effort costed RM7 million and deservedly won the UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Award 2000.
Cheong Fatt Tze, a Hakka, left Guandong in 1856 at the age of 16 to pursue wealth in South East Asia, known as "Nanyang" or land of opportunity. He worked as a waterboy for a wealthy family and married one of their daughters. With his father in law’s financial backing and merchant experience, he established himself much greater than anyone thought possible - he was a financier, tycoon, diplomat, politician, philanthropist and minister. More on Cheong Fatt Tze at: http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/article.cfm?id=36
A fraction of the blue mansion’s fengshui features: Rainwater was brought into the house through large pipes in the walls, and kept inside as long as possible before flowing out again (preserving wealth). The front door still faces the sea and the building, with hills behind for protection, is on an incline, a position called "riding the dragon’s back". There are also 28 steps on the staircase, for 28 in cantonese means "yee fatt" or "easy to success", bluntly put. There are no nails or bolts used in the window panels. These wooden panels lock into a yinyang shape when shut.
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01> This mansion is also reknowned as La Maison Bleue (the blue mansion), because early French travellers couldn’t pronounce its chinese name. It’s trademark indigo-blue paint is produced from Indian Indigo mixed with lime and cartilage.
02> This mansion has 38 rooms, 5 courtyards, 7 staircases and 220 windows.
03> Very fragile trishaws, preserved since the 1800’s.
04> If you think the outside is pretty, wait till you see the rooms that are available for stay inside. Prices range from RM250 to RM750 a night. Check out http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/
05> Saya tak guna meter. 40 boleh lah… nanti balik takde orang
QUICK DETAILS AND LINKS
LEONG SAN TONG KHOO KONGSI, 18 Cannon Square, 10200 Penang. Tel: +604-261 4609
Opening Hours: Daily, including Sundays and Public Holidays: 9am to 5pm.
Web: http://khookongsi.com.my/
CHEONG FATT TZE MANSION, 14 Leith Street, 10200 Penang. Tel: +604-262 0006
Opening Hours: Daily, including Sundays and Public Holidays: 9am and 3pm Tours.
Web: http://www.cheongfatttzemansion.com/
GOOD HOPE INN, RM85 a night for Double Bed Room, no pool/breakfast. Walking distance to Gurney Plaza and Gurney Drive. Tel: 042290111
CATHAY HOTEL, RM79 a night for a room with 2 (yes, TWO) Double Beds, no pool/breakfast. This is an elegant heritage hotel right opposite the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. Tel: +604-2626271-2
