Unforgettable Cultural Experiences at Masjid Kapitan Keling

Introduction

• The Kapitan Keling Mosque is arguably the best known mosque in Penang.
• Situated on Jalan Kapitan Keling, formerly Pitt Street, it is the largest historic mosque in George Town.
• The Kapitan Keling Mosque is named after Caudeer Mohudeen, the head of the Indian Muslim community credited to have built it around 1800.
• The name "kapitan keling" is used to denote the headman or leader of the South Indian Muslim community.
• In the 1910s, the mosque was given a major facelift in the British Moghul Revival style, with the addition of Mughal domes and turrets, a large minaret and a madrasah, completed around 1916.
• Another renovation in 1930 gave the Kapitan Keling Mosque its present appearance after the previous design was deemed impractical.

My Experience

I went to Masjid Kapitan Keling at about 9.30pm after visting the Meng Eng Soo.

My first impression was it was impressive and I was right.

The mosque is big and has remarkable architectural designs.

I also had the chance to go up a minaret.

It was my first time going up one and it was new experience for me.

Masjid Kapitan Keling:

Here are some pictures of the mosque.

Masjid Kapitan Keling Photos:

These are the photos that I have taken of the mosque.

It is kinda dark as it was taken at night.

This photo is taken from the front entrance

The minaret

Photo of the prayer hall

Another photo of the prayer hall

Another picture of the minaret

Photo of mosque taken from one of the floors of the minaret

Another photo of mosque taken from another floor higher in the minaret

View from the top of the minaret

Another view from the top of the minaret

Photo taken at the top of the minaret

Photo of me taken at the minaret

Informational board (sorry about the poor visibility)

Conclusion:
The experience of visiting Masjid Kapitan Keling was great.
I had managed to see a great historical place with beautiful architectural designs.
Moreover, I was able to go up a minaret which was a new experience for me.
Although the journey up the minaret was pretty high, the view was from the top was spectacular.
I was able to see the surrounding places with clarity.

Meng Eng Soo Open Day

Introduction

• Meng Eng Soo or Ghee Hin Memorial Hall of Heroes is the base of the infamous Ghee Hin Secret Society of the 19th century.
• The Meng Eng Soo acts as a clan temple for the Ghee Hins who are mostly of the Teochew and Cantonese dialect groups.
• They are a spin-off from the Hung League triad group in China and in the Malay peninsula they had their branches in Penang, Taiping, Ipoh and Singapore.
• When the British outlawed secret societies, it compelled the Ghee Hin Society towards dissolution.
• The property previously known as Hong Eng Tong (or in Mandarin Hong Ying Tang) at 48 Jalan Pintal Tali had to be registered to new trustees.
• The Meng Eng Soo was then set up as a legitimate society with the purpose of offering prayers to noted deceased Ghee Hin members numbering 165 in all.

My Experience

Now, I would like to share my experience of visiting the Meng Eng Soo. 

I went there at night so the photos that I post might be a little dark.

I visited that place at about 9pm.

Previously, I had seen that place before but it was only from the exterior.

I never had the opportunity to enter that building before until on that day.

The feeling of entering it gave me an adrenaline rush as I believe it would provide me with an unforgettable experience and I was proven right.

The place was simply amazing.

It is not exactly a big place but the treasures within it will take you by surprise.

Without further ado, let's explore the wonders in that place.

Main entrance:

This is the only picture that I had taken of the main entrance.

Inside the building:

There are 3 things that I would to highlight. 
They are as follows.

This is the God that they pray to, Kuan Kong.

This is the altar which they use to pray to the early founding members.

These are the photos of those who have contributed to this new building replacing the old dilapidated one. 

Exhibits:

The following photos are the exhibits that I had seen in the building.

They are really amazing and it had captured my attention fully.

Let's have a look at them.

Informational boards:

These are the 4 informational boards that I had found in the building.

Do read to obtain more info.

Informational Board 1

Informational Board 2

Informational Board 3

Informational Board 4

Conclusion:

The entire experience of visiting the Meng Eng Soo was great.

The exhibits were amazing and the informational boards were very helpful.

It was a truly meaningful and memorable experience.

I had not only gained new experience but also managed to widen my scope of knowledge.