I almost gave the Khoo Kongsi a miss. I came up with excuses like "it's raining" and that there was time constraint as I was catching a flight home but Erick Khoo wouldn't take NO for an answer.
When I stepped into the Khoo Kongsi, a Chinese clanhouse that marks the dominant presence of the Chinese in Penang, I was immediately awed by the intricate carvings and mural paintings, magnificent ornaments and grandiose architecture.
I am not a history buff. But this place is a must see if you ever set foot in Penang.
Look at the 3D images on the walls. And there are plenty of such images everywhere.
For the chronology of Khoo Kongsi, please click here.
This is Erick Khoo, who is turning 60 this August 31, showing me around. Khoo Kongsi has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since July 2008. Fire had razed the original building in 1901 but it was rebuilt. Between 1999 and 2001, the temple was restored to the tune of RM4.2 million.
The clan house serves as an example of heritage conservation and restoration.
Erick is the chairman of the Toon Keng Tong, a sub clan of the Khoo Kongsi.
Some scenes of the 1999 movie "Anna and the King" were filmed here.
The restoration works were done by artists from India.
The steps that lead you to the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi.
This is the genealogy of the Khoo clan beginning from the 8th generation who were from the Sin Kang village in Fujian province, China.
Do not come up with any excuses to not visit this place. Its detailed craftsmanship from a bygone era is a feast for the senses and the soul.
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