 Loke Mansion, Gurney Drive, Penang
Loke Mansion is a handsome heritage villa in Gurney Drive, Penang. Loke Mansion was built by Alan Loke, the son of tycoon Loke Yew, around 1924-25. The northern seafront where it was located, which is today Gurney Drive, was then called North Beach.
Loke Mansion, seaward façade (4 June 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
For many years, Loke Mansion was occupied by Alan's brother Loke Wan Yat, who raised his family in its grand surrounding. After the family left Penang, Loke Mansion was left uninhabited, safe for its loyal caretaker who continued to maintain the building in as well a condition as could be expected. However, natural wear-and-tear manifested in the form of leaky roofs, broken gutters, and other general dilapidation. A restoration was carried out in 2003.
Loke Mansion is built on a plan like a butterfly, with two outstretched wings. Despite it looking big from the outside, it is actually quite small and cosy inside. The central foyer is where one of the two sets of staircase going upstairs is located. The living room and dining room are on the east wing, with a pantry and doorway to the kitchen quarters. The west wing is presently a storage area holding. Upstairs are a few bedrooms and bathrooms.
Photos of Loke Mansion
Loke Mansion, main gate to Gurney Drive (4 June 2006)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion, coach in the living room (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion, grandfather's clock, dining room (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion, dining room (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion, dining room (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion, pantry (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion, kitchen (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion, east wing (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion, pavilion (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Loke Mansion, gardener's outhouse (9 Oct 2009)
© Timothy Tye using this photo
Stretching your budget in Penang
If you are a prudent traveller, you can spend less than $20 per day in Penang, including your accommodation! Here's some useful tips for budget travellers to Penang, to help you manage your budget and have a great time.
Penang Tour Guides
If you're on a shoestring budget, you can explore Penang using the travel articles in Penang Travel Tips. You may print them out for your own personal non-commercial use. However, nothing compares to having a professional tour guide to show you around. If you need a tour guide, contact me and I'll arrange one for you, according to your schedule and interest. If I happen to be free, I would gladly show you around too. Just write to me at:
Finding Budget Accommodation in Penang
If you're coming to Penang on a budget, you'd be pleased to know that there's quite a number of places in George Town as well as in Batu Ferringhi that offers good clean accommodation without costing you an arm and a let. If I am allowed to be biased, I would recommend Hotel Mingood, which happens to belong to a friend of mine. If it is occupied, there are plenty of other places that cost less than US$12.00 per night. Here are some suggestions:
Hotel Mingood, from US$10.00
Hutton Lodge, from US$8.25
Baba Guesthouse, from US$7.57
E.T. Budget Guesthouse, from US$6.05
YMCA Penang, from US$6.53
Despite the best intentions to provide you information that is as accurate as possible, do be aware that prices may have changed and exchange rates fluctuated since I wrote this. So please personally and carefully screen through the available accommodation before making your booking, to avoid any disappointments.
|
