Tour Penang Part 3

Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi

ITs quite shameful, i am from Penang but i have never stepped foot into Khoo Kongsi and its said to be one of the more amazing buildings in Penang. I didnt even have a clue where it was. We somehow made our way there because Keng is a better Penangite than i am. Parking our car on this little alley road lined with pre-war houses was nice. We who hardly venture into the town area always forgets that there are many of this small little alleyways which were then considered proper roads. We walked towards Cannon Square which is where the temple is, walking there you find a restaurant modeled after old school China and there were prayers going on since it was CNY.Huge joss sticks ash flying everywhere and preparations for a big celebration the day after were going on.

As you enter Cannon Square, you see old pre-war houses lining the driveway entering into the square and once inside you see houses on your left and when you walk in more to your right.

Outside in the open square there is a stage where in the olden days old Chinese Opera must have been performed. The stage is still used for performances during occasions and celbrations.

Going into the temple is a wonder. You actually stop in wonderment to look at the intricate stone carvings on the walls and pillars....3D carvings. Then as you enter each "hall" its amazing as you can picture the place as it was many years ago. The temple is quite perfectly preserved together with some artifacts that have been donated by various Khoo families. It woyld have been nice it there was a proper mini guide book or panflet that tells you the stories behind the carvings and paintings and what each hall stood for. There isnt much information on where to attain a guide either so you kinda fumble your way through this little historical place to discover what you can about it.

Khoo Kongsi

Stage

Main Hall

Painting on the Wall in the Main Hall

Walkway

Wall Carving

Pillar Carving

The story of the smiling Buddha - at the entrance steps before walking up to the main area, there are 2 Buddhas. The Buddha on your left facing is smilling and the one on the right is frowning. If you look at the ledge of the stairs going up on the left, you will find a gold coin in between a crack, hence why this statue is smiling and the other is not.

This little fact i would not have noticed or known if ihad not overheard the trishawman telling the tourist who he brought over.

Frowning Statue

Genealogy book?

Keng telling me the story of how filial children should be to their parents.

In the Panel, there are carvings of 6 scenarios

whereby the Child should sacrifice himself for his mother

[maybe he is trying to tell me something...hmm :p ]

Keng being Keng pretending that the dragon is biting his head off. He wasnt posing, i actually caught him on camera doing this!