Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi, Penang
Cheah Kongsi is the first of Penang’s five great Hokkien clan houses. We reached here in the evening but unfortunately for us the main gate was shut so we could only steal the above view. Surely would have loved to explore this clan house in its entirety. Located near Khoo Kongsi, it resembles the grand temples and palaces usually seen in China. We later learned that this is the only clan house in Penang that fuses Malay, traditional Straits Chinese and European designs. The sudden sight of this magnificent building made us stop in our steps. Within the grandiose of the outer structure, what mesmerized us were the columns topped with British-style ‘lion head’ statues that support a large balcony with intricate iron railings and the sweeping roof topped with exquisite Chinese and Dutch porcelain and stucco carvings of dogs and lions.
Adrift Couple 