Nick Chan Dot Net

Kek Lok Si Visit Number 1 During Chinese New Year

Written by Nicholas Chan on March 5, 2010 – 1:49 am -

Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang most famous pagoda temple, also very famous with big big Kuan Yin statue in South East Asia, perhaps Asia. During the past 15 days of Chinese New Year, the temple was lighted up with lamps and LED at night. The only problem is that they only light it up during the Chinese New Year and not during normal day, no idea why and don’t like not lighting up during normal days.

Road towards Kek Lok Si temple was jam with cars going up to the temple every day for the past 2 weeks. I wanted to go there to take photos for a long time already, and I have got chance. Why Visit Number 1 because that I went up twice, this was my first time, with the Leo Club people and I was there late, so didn’t take many photos.

Stupid traffic jam made me stuck in the car for almost an hour. It’s really that crazy, the road is so narrow and we were hanging there. Reached the temple at around 10pm and it’s late already. Didn’t really have the mood to shoot and there’s too many people, I don’t like people without camera waiting me to take photos, because they will be just standing there looking at me with the tripod. So, I thought of going there the other day.

More over, due to time constrain, I can’t shoot the whole Kek Lok Si, every corner of it.

KOKahKOK, user of Canon EOS 400D.

Alvin Yang, user of Nikon D90.

Him Keat, no camera.

Lion Ong Lai, user of Canon EOS 500D.

Wallace, no camera.

Kenny, user of Canon EOS 400D, most powerful with 17-40 F4/L Lens.

The Leo Club people was Lion Ong Lai, Kok Sheng, Tze Yang, Tee Jin, Him Keat, Kenny and Wallace. Some were there early already, so they get to shoot more, and for me, who were late, only get to shoot a little.

We took the lift up to the Kuan Yin statue there, unfortunately, it’s late and we only get to go up but not down. Paid RM2 for it and met a long-time-no-see friend, Ah Leng.

Got up but didn’t get the chance to go near to the foot of Kuan Yin statue and when I wanted go up, they closed the lights already. OMG, that’s why, I planned to go there again on the other.

Although lights closed, we took some group shot before walking down to the car park, in the dark! Stay tune for the post of my next visit. =)

Tags: cny 10, Friends, Leo Club, Lifelog, Light, Night, outing, Penang, photoshoot, Temple
Posted in Festival, Friends, Leo Club, Lifelog, Penang | Comments

Happy Chinese Tiger New Year 2010

Written by Nicholas Chan on February 15, 2010 – 10:48 pm -

Wow, I am back. When I am not studying right now, I am so so busy with the Chinese New Year celebration and preparation. Finally, at this moment, I get some time off to login to my blog and write something up. So here’s the main point, I want to wish everyone, Chinese or not-Chinese, a Happy and Lovely and Funny and Shioks and Bombastic and Wonderful Chinese New Year! =) All the best, good luck always, healthy and wealthy always. Rocks!

Tags: Chinese New Year, cny 10, video, Videos
Posted in Festival, Friends, Video Posts, Videos | Comments

Throw Coconut on Thaipusam Day at Datuk Keramat

Written by Nicholas Chan on February 13, 2010 – 2:52 am -

Oh hello, I am back again and now I am going to talk about the Indian’s big Thaipusam Day that happened two weeks ago. I am so lucky to be in one of the states that has big celebration for this big Indian/Tamil/Hindu festival. As far as I know, Penang and Kuala Lumpur are the two places here in Malaysia that have it big.

Last year, some friends did invite me to go to the festival to do some photoshooting, but because I couldn’t wake up so early in the morning, so I missed it. This year was different, I didn’t plan to go photo shooting too, but it’s just that on the day before, Thaipusam’s Eve, the procession has already started and I was going no where after the Chung Ling Memorial thing, so Chien Chern, my friend decided to go visit a friend at Datuk Keramat Road whose his dad’s shop is just right in front of the Thaipusam thing.

So what they had that afternoon was the coconut throwing and some procession take place and people pays respect to the Indian god by contributing prayers thing like fruits, candles.

Till now, I still remembered it’s a very hot day, the sun was hanging high in the sky, shinning down, with the heat radiating the ground. I didn’t care because I wanted to shoot the festival and share it up.

The coconuts were bought by people mostly have their business along the road, they throw the coconut on the ground, break it, is to clean the road for procession, as a respect to god, a prayer, for wealth and health. It’s said to be good luck to throw the coconut. I did try before long time ago when I was small, when my dad had a furniture shop at Datuk Keramat Road, it’s now moved to Gottlieb Road though.

Arron and his family.

At the time 2.30pm sharp, “piak piak piak” sound can be heard and coconuts were everywhere on the ground with the juice splashing out. The scene was epic. Try not to stand near to them because the coconut can be rebounded. Hehe, just like a basketball.

Part of the road was block for this thing and people who bought coconut were at the middle of the road while me and other people like me who see for fun and takes photo were on the other side, hoping that did not get hit by the coconut.

These coconuts although are hard, but it’s actually kinda easy to be squashed. At some time, some un-squashed will roll to my place and I will pick it up and join the fun too!

Chien Chern, Me and Arron.

The whole thing was like 15 minutes. The aftermath was cool with a wet coconut juiced road and coconut every where.

The MPPP people were very efficient, when everything stopped, they quickly come and swept the coconut to a side and let the real procession began and don’t want to stuck the road.

The next thing after the coconut throwing was the procession thing, with devotees paying respect and offerings.

They walk with their bare feet and I believed the road is not hot already because it had been juiced.

I don’t really know how to describe this, so I’ll let the photos speak. =)

Happy Thaipusam, super belated!

Tags: datuk keramat, Festival, fun, Happenings, Hot, Lifelog, Many People, Penang, sunny, thaipusam
Posted in Festival, Friends, Lifelog, Penang | Comments

Christmas Eve Potluck at Boon Yan’s Apartment

Written by Nicholas Chan on January 2, 2010 – 12:23 am -

Thinking back for Christmas’ Eve in 2008, I was having steamboat with Leo Club’s friend and in 2009’s Christmas’ Eve, I went to Boon Yan’s house for potluck dinner and they are also my Leo Club’s friend, with a few extra of my friends followed along and they were Arron, Chien Chern, Zez Chien, Chen Yuan and Ammerlynn. We didn’t know where to go and what to do, and Boon Yan invited me to her place for potluck so I brought them along.

Potluck is where everyone bring some food and eat together. I bought lobak. Forgot to introduce, Boon Yan is the current president for Leo Club of Union High School.

There’s lots of pizza, lots of french fries, lots of lobak, lots of sparkling juice and some snacks. My friend very lame, they brought banana, loaf and potatoes.

Wallace the beatboxer.

Fiona.

The girls.

The whole night was about eating and playing the two Nintendo Wii game, Wii Sports and Bleach. I had the most fun on Bleach because the game is silly, it’s just keep swinging the Wiimote in the air and felt very lame.

Me and friends that I brought along. Arron, Ammerlynn, Tee Jin, Chien Chern, Chen Yuan.

Boney came all the way back from New Zealand.

Lester who got 8As in PMR that day, with Boney and Min Xiang.

Me, Lester, Tict Chyn and Hui Jen.

Then we took photos, we talked, we jokes. Wallace even did a few seconds of beatbox.

Min Xiang and his Sammy.

This look gay. Chien Chern and Zez with the Wiimote.

Boon Yan has got a nice place there, quite spacious with nice view and lots of home entertainment.

This is Boon Yan, the host and organizer.

Thanks for inviting me over! =)

 

Tags: Celebration, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Friends, fun, Leo Club, potluck
Posted in Festival, Friends, Leo Club, Lifelog | Comments

Christmas Eve Morning at Mall and Afternoon at Red Box

Written by Nicholas Chan on December 27, 2009 – 11:18 pm -

Let’s talk about Christmas’ Eve. This year’s Christmas Eve was a little bit tired for me because I woke up early in the morning and out until midnight. In Malaysia, or my place, Penang, Christmas’ Eve is more happenings than Christmas Day. People here like countdown and they have all their Christmas party on the Christmas’ Eve.

Yiphing and Arron.

I woke up early morning that day to join my friends for a dim sum breakfast in town. Later then went to Prangin Mall with Arron, Zhen Yuan, Zez and Yiphing to buy Christmas present.

Zhen Yuan, Arron.

Prangin Mall was pretty quiet in the morning, close to noon. I bought some books and DVD at there then just walk around with them. I didn’t want to go home and just sit in front of the computer.

Boon Hooi.

While walking around the mall, we met our very cool friend, Boon Hooi who is now working at SUB boutique. He’s getting so much cooler now with a coloured hair and working at a cool fashion shop. We teased him then we went home.

Acting cute.

Arron and Zez Chien came to my place to take a shower before going to the next place which was karaoke at Red Box. It seems like every year’s Christmas’ Eve, I was at Karaoke, last year was, the year before was too and this year.

Ming Li, Yiwen, Caster, Him Keat, Min Xiang, Zhang Ying.

Zhang Ying and Boon Yan.

Zez Chien.

Chien Ming.

Only that this time Red Box was with different gang.

Tags: Christmas, eve, Friends, Karaoke, leo, red box
Posted in Festival, Friends, Lifelog | Comments

Bigger crowds at this year’s Nine Emperor God Festival at Carnavon St

Written by Nicholas Chan on November 5, 2009 – 11:31 pm -

Last year, I was that at Carnavon St to see the so-called parade of the Nine Emperor God Festival and I didn’t miss it this year too. I went to the same place, to join the fun and took more photos than before. The crowds grows this year. There’s like more photographers than before and came up a group of videographer too. Wonder is it for personal use or work.

This year’s was different because I was alone. As for last year, I went there with my parents and met Ah Kok, but for this year, I met no one. I was alone all the time with my camera.

I went early this year, at around 9pm. People of locals and tourists were already standby for the thing to take place.

The crowds were really big, mostly photographer and I had to squeeze myself in to take shots too.

Something cool was that I got to see how they insert or poke through these steel into one’s mouth. It wasn’t really disgusting because there’s actually no blood coming out, or I couldn’t see it. But it’s very fast, I am sure it’s pain but for a while I guess.

It was just like Thaipusam but this is in the Taoist way. A kind of belief and a kind of tradition. Hoping to get bless.

I went on walking along the street for photos and there’s all these very cool “god-possessed” waiting for the “parade” to start. I am superstitious a little bit, I believe there’s god and ghost hanging around us. What do you think? Do you believe?

Don’t really know how it works but they “it” does works.

When the procession started, the street was filled with all the devotees. I was walking along with them too.

The price of a DSLR is getting lower and lower, competition among brands made it that like a lot of people are their hands on a DSLR, which made more and more amateur photographers appear at event like this. Good thing or bad thing? Very hard to comment on that.

I had fun with the photos, I had fun walking at there. I guess will be changing a new location next year. There’s one at Butterworth which is very happenings and there’s one at Hatyai, Thailand which is more happenings than here. Wow!

Tags: carnavon st, Chinese, Festival, Happenings, lebuh, nine emperor god, Penang, taoist
Posted in Event, Festival, Penang | Comments