Relau Villa
Relau Villa is a dilapidated mansion beside the Metropolitan Park of Relau. It was built for Chung Thye Phin, the wealthy tin miner who was the last Kapitan China of Perak and son of Kapitan China Chung Keng Kwee, who built Hai Kee Chan.
Some people incorrectly attributed Relau Villa to Chung Keng Kwee. This is highly unlikely, as the senior Chung lived at a time when pleasures of life has not yet taken hold. His son Thye Phin, while being as successful as Ah Quee (as the father was known), has a taste for the good life. His properties included a mansion in North Beach of Penang, on the plot of land that is today the site of No. 1 Persiaran Gurney condominiums.
Relau Villa was built as Kapitan China Chung Thye Phin's country villa. For this mansion, he envisioned a pool along the lines of the canals of Venice - he was one of the few Chinese of his time to have had the opportunity to travel extensively. The architect roped in to design his villa was Ung Ban Hoe, who was attached to the architectural firm of Stark & McNeil. Within Relau Villa is the first swimming pool on Penang Island. The villa was completed in the early 1930's. Sadly Chung Thye Phin passed away in 1935.
Today Chung Thye Phin is remembered with a road named after him in Taiping, a fountain which he donated to the Penang Turf Club, and the once elegant villa in Relau.
Nearby Sights
Adjacent to the Relau Villa is the Metropolitan Park.
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:
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
Ali's Ferringhi Guest House, from US$9.63
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.
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Jungle villa (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye
Swimming pool at Relau Villa (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye
Relau Villa, near Taman Desa Relau condominiums (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye
Another view of how close the villa is from the condo (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye
Idols probably added later by punters, at Relau Villa (7 July 2008)
© Timothy Tye
Relau Villa Location Map
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