Category: Festival

  • Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神 – Last Sunday, Penang has its first Taoist Float Procession with a spiritual route of 11.8km, and a length of 4km of more than 80 floats, representing different Taoist temple around Penang, and other state.

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    This Taoist float procession was organized in conjunction with the 115th Anniversary of the Lean Wah Thong Temple in Air Itam, Penang. It has attracted many locals and tourists to experience the float procession and also caused some traffic congestion in town.

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    I didn’t really know about it at first until my grandma told me about this event, only then I searched on the Internet and found out about it. It’s very cool, with many different Taoism god on the decorated float and many devotees join the procession. It’s a very happenings night, but I think the state tourism and culture authority should tell people more about it, so more people can experience the event as I know many didn’t know about this event.

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    I went to Pangkor Road and Jalan Dato Kramat to photograph the event. Hopefully, this kind of event will occur every year in Penang to attract more tourists and devotees to Penang.

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    Penang First Taoist Float Procession 槟城太上老君古庙游神

    More photos after the break.
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  • Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012 – Last year, I did not go to check out the Miao Hui in Penang because I was in Kuala Lumpur, studying. This year, I has a long holiday and I get a chance to visit this super happenings, crowded, fun cultural festival in George Town, Penang.

    庙会, Miao Hui is a Chinese New Year cultural event and festival that happens in Penang yearly. This introduces the Chinese culture to everyone, Chinese, non-Chinese, tourist, anybody. It’s fun because that you can find good food, have many opportunity to try out your photography skill, learn some Chinese culture that you don’t know, play games, see performance, join the crowds and more. It’s like a big carnival, at the same time can explore the old city of George Town. Most of the Chinese clan houses are open for free during that day.

    I have been there for a few years before during my high school time, but it still doesn’t feel bored to me. Hueisean, as a Penangite haven’t see the Miao Hui before, how can that be? So I brought her to check it out and she was excited.

    The zodiac for this year is Dragon and so the Miao Hui were dragon themed all over the place. The crowds were huge, newspaper reported there’s more than 100,000 visitors to the Miao Hui. That’s really a lot! I armed myself with Lumix LX5, Canon 60D + Sigma 30mm f1.4 + Sigma 8-16mm and a tripod, then I started shooting around at there.

    I went there at about 6.30pm, found a parking spot and started exploring around with Hueisean. Met some friends too. Although it’s almost the same every year, I felt it has become better, with more food, more games and better decorations too. We walked until about 9pm until our leg were tired, then we went back home. We didn’t really explore the whole Miao Hui as there’s too many activities and we were tired. There were a firework showcase at 12am too, but we missed it. Overall, that day was fun and tired. Good job to the organizer and Penang State Government.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Entrance to the central performance stage, a “red carpet” for VIP too. (Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Kids looking at Penang’s Chingay performance. Chingay is an activity that involve balancing a huge flag with hand, and head. (Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Chingay in action. (Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    The entrance to the main stage with red carpet. (Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    High school student dressed in traditional clothing leaded by VIP at the back to the main stage. (Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Look at the crowds! Hueisean and I were following the VIP on the red carpet. =D

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Look at the amount of camera!

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Tiger, the zodiac for 2010.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Hueisean biting on Taiwanese sausage.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Entrance of Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Clan House.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Clan House.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    “One for one dolar.”


    Students dressed in traditional clothing, selling food like herbal eggs, my favourite!

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Chinese-style alcohol container.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Chinese-style alcohol container. The word read as Jiu, which means alcohol.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    With the Chinese traditional funny face clown.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Entrance to Cheah Kongsi.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    There’s a stand-up comedy talk show by Penang’s stand-up comedian Kim Sir at Cheah Kongsi.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Girl checking out the “wishing-CD”. It’s just plain CD where you can write your wish, then stick on the dragon. It’s a way of decorating with recycle item. (Cheah Kongsi)

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng arrived and lousang.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Very funny. There’s a section which introduces you about Chinese festival. At the Cheng Beng section, there’s a Chinese grave, writing “someone’s grave”. Cheng Beng is a Chinese festival where people pay respect to their ancestor.


    A gift shop at Armenian Street.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    An antique bike shop on Armenian Street.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    The uncle was playing on a Shanghai’s guitar which need to strum and press on the key.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Yummilicious deep fried street food. There’s my favourite fried siu mai.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Entrance of Tua Pek Kong Temple, Armenian Street.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Tua Pek Kong Temple, Armenian Street.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Exhibition of Baba Nyonya culture at Hock Teik Seah Tua Pek Kong temple.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Playing congkak, a traditional Malay/Baba Nyonya game.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012
    Showcase on how a Baba Nyonya wedding is like.

    Penang Dragon Chinese New Year Miao Hui 2012

    If you haven’t check out the Miao Hui before, come back next year during Chinese New Year season, it’s something that must not be missed in Penang. =)

  • Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公 – Pai Ti Kong literally means “pray sky god” is a very happenings festival during Chinese New Year in Malaysia, especially in Penang. It is also known as the Hokkien’s Chinese New Year where this day is celebrated by most Hokkien Chinese. It falls on the 8th day of Chinese New Year during the night throughout the midnight, where you can hear the sound of firecrackers and fireworks all over Penang, and place where people celebrate it.

    On this night, Hokkien Chinese set up a table full of food which are to serve to the “Sky God”. Although fireworks and firecrackers are prohibited in Malaysia, but then people still playing with them because it’s one of the Chinese culture.

    Penang is has the most people celebrated this day and it’s the most happenings place for Pai Ti Kong in Malaysia, especially at Chew Jetty.

    I am a Cantonese Chinese, so I don’t really celebrate the day, but then I do go to Chew Jetty every year to see people celebrating it and also to pray too. Last year, I didn’t get a chance but this year I have it. Chew Jetty was even more crowded this year. About 1km stretch of road were close for the Pai Ti Kong festival. As usual, a long table is set up on the road where people put food on the table which to be served to the god. Rich people will buy roasted pig to be dedicated to the god, of course, they will take back the roasted pig and eat with their family and friends after the praying ceremony at midnight.

    Chew Jetty was so happenings and crowded. Something different then last time is there’s a stage set up with performance and some performers hail all the way from China. Mini stalls selling gift and collectible product are set up in Chew Jetty too.

    The number of people that went into Chew Jetty was really a lot, a lot until that RELA had to restrict the number of people to go in as afraid that too many people will make the place collapse. Luckily, everything went nice, as they arrange people to go in batch by batch. Well, this is another must see in Penang, it’s something very different, very special, during Chinese New Year.

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公
    Traffic jam at Weld Quay.

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公
    Chinese lantern.


    Miku bread for the god.


    A girl putting food on the long table.

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公
    Roasted pork!

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公
    Big dragon joss stick.


    Interview by RTM Malaysia TV station.

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公
    Performance stage.

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公
    Tarrot card fortune telling.

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公
    RELA member arranging people to go in Chew Jetty batch by batch. Good job.

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Pai Ti Gong / Hokkien New Year At Chew Jetty 拜天公

    Have you been there before? Check out my post about Pai Ti Kong in 2010, 2009, 2008.

  • Happy Chinese Dragon New Year From Nick Chan

    Happy Chinese Dragon New Year From Nick Chan

    Happy Chinese Dragon New Year From Nick Chan – Woohoo, it’s the time of the year again, relaxing, exciting, reunion and red packet, it’s Chinese New Year! It’s the Dragon Year, I wish all of you have a prosperity, healthy, wealthy New Year ahead. Cheer!

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imNsl1HLTFM&w=640&h=360]

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bjjUm593v4&w=640&h=480]

  • 光明新春庙会 Guang Ming Daily’s Miao Hui 2012

    光明新春庙会 Guang Ming Daily’s Miao Hui 2012

    Untitled
    #1: Guang Ming Daily Press Centre.

    光明新春庙会 Guang Ming Daily’s Miao Hui 2012 – The press centre of Guang Ming Daily on Macalister Road turns into a happenings carnival on last Sunday night where thousands flocked into the compound of Guang Ming Daily and Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Centre. It’s the annual ‘temple fair’ by Guang Ming Daily which is a mini carnival that stages performance, dragon dance, lion dance, and a mini art-craft market in conjunction with the celebration of Chinese New Year.

    This ‘temple fair’ or known as Miao Hui to the Chinese is a smaller scale of Chinese New Year carnival celebration by the Penang State Goverment.

    Untitled
    #2: Performance stage.


    #3: Sun Yat-Sen Centre on Macalister Road, Penang.

    It happened on the Saturday night that I was free and have got nothing to do, curiously, I went to check out the Guang Ming Miao Hui on Macalister Road, armed with my photography gear. My friend Min Xiang, Kok Sheng, Sammy and Stanley were there too, I went there to meet them up.


    #4: Kaka Art Market.

    The whole carnival occupied two addresses on Macalister Road, the Guang Ming Daily & Sinchew Daily Press Centre and the Sun Yat-Sen Museum. There’s a mini art market (Kaka Art Market) at there which sells plenty of cute and cool handicraft. All the handmade were pretty impressive and nice. I bought something at there too.


    #5: Cute handmade bunnies.


    #6: Some handmade.


    #7: More handmade.


    #8: Figurine.


    #9: A shit head figure.

    The Miao Hui is mainly about the mini art market, stage performance which includes local artists, dragon dance, wushu demostration, magic show, dance performance and a special appearance of traditional dragon dance – Ban Deng Long 板凳龙, which the long dragon is made of wooden plank and then decorated with colourful Chinese lanterns.


    #10: Wooded dragon – Ban Deng Long.


    #11.


    #12: The dragon is now flying.


    #13: Happy boy.


    #14.


    #15.

    Untitled
    #16: Min Xiang.


    #17


    #18.

    I spent about 2 hours at there photographing and chatting with friends and home I went. Chinese New Year mood is coming very early this year with these Miao Hui carnival. Happy early Chinese New Year my friends and everyone! =)

  • Merry Christmas To You And Everyone

    Merry Christmas To You And Everyone

    Merry Christmas To You And Everyone

    Merry Christmas To You And Everyone – Hello everyone! I want to wish you have a Merry Christmas! Ding dong bell ding dong bell! =D No idea what to do on Christmas day? Read my blog! =D I also don’t really know what to do on Christmas’ day. Haha. I don’t celebrate with my family because it’s not part of my culture here. Nevertheless, Merry Christmas again. Good night!

  • Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang


    #1: On the way to Ampang, and saw the city of Kuala Lumpur from the car. The skyline looks quite nice at night.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang – Two weeks ago, I went to Ampang with my friends from Penang – Arron and Tee Jin to go check out the Nine Emperor Gods Festival here in Kuala Lumpur and also to pray. In Penang, it’s a very happenings festival which attracts lots of tourist and devotees to join the procession and praying and I would like to see how the festival is celebrated here.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #2: Looks like pasar malam and the temple is ahead.

    The location of the temple is at Ampang and it’s the place I know that’s famous for this Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Kuala Lumpur. GPS was our guide to the location it took about half an hour from Kelana Jaya to there. Traffic was pretty smooth that night. Everything went smooth.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #3: Burning ground for burning gold paper for the god.

    The temple is located in a Chinese village, and it’s kinda cool that there’s still village located so close to city.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #4: The stall says that he know your surname and your luck, sort of like fortune teller, but after checking out how he did it, it’s actually works like a formula. He shows people a series of card with a number of Chinese’ surname in it, you will be asked with question of whether your surname is in the card or not. After a few times of asking, he will then tell you your surname. Then he will pass you a paper writing your fortune. HAHAHA. RM10 for per “game”.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #5: A Toaist sifu giving a sort of like a talk show, telling people to see some number and stuff, but after 5 minutes of seeing him, I have no idea what he was trying to sell.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #6: Arron on the left. It’s like night market in there, just like a carnival, instead of a festival like in Penang.

    Well, upon arriving, I got to say, it looked totally different from the festival in Penang. There’s many people, it’s very happening at there, people kept flocking in, there’s people praying in the temple, but what’s difference is it’s like a night market, there’s many stall selling stuff like DVDs, cloth, street food (vegetarian), toys, collectibles and more! It’s more like a carnival to me.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #7: Selling vegetarian street food.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #8: Mini auction selling collectible, all started from RM5. It’s an eye opening day because I never see this kind of auction before and the seller claim that their collectible worth few hundred bucks which I don’t really believe, I think it’s just another “MIC (Made In China)” stuff.

    The night market thingy had been there for nine days and it was the last day. In Penang, you will only see yellow banner vegetarian food stalls for nine days and all the Nine Emperor Gods Temple lighted up for nine days, but you won’t find carnival stalls like this at there.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #9: Another auction stall at there. This one started at RM2 with smaller item and I think there’s people of them hiding themselves among the public to try to raise the price. We did try to raise our hand for fun with the maximum bid of RM10 for 3 of us. And we actually bought ourselves a mini Fu Lu Shou. HAHA.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #10: There’s cute cartoon balloons too!

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #11: Penang’s Muar Chee. It’s good to see the word “Penang” at there which makes me think about home.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #12: You can even find bubble tea there too!

    We traveled through the seas of people to check out what’s there. Quite many street food in vegetarian style, there’s toys, there’s pirated DVD, there’s fortune teller, there’s clothing, there’s Chinese opera, and there’s lots of people.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #13: There’s a performing stage for Chinese Opera.


    #14: The three Penangites – Tee Jin, Me and Arron wandering around the temple in Ampang, Selangor.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #15: Somewhere within the temple. Two beautiful pagodas can be seen here. Lighted up too.

    After checking out the “pasar malam”, we went to the temple area to pray. We was actually waiting for procession but I wondered where could the procession goes. Normally, at this time of time, about 10pm, in Penang, there would be a procession of sending the Nine Emperor Gods back to the sea, but at this place, Ampang, sea is so far away.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #16: It’s quite warm at here because of the burning, but luckily it rained before we came so the temperature around wasn’t that warm at there.

    So we asked the people around and found out that there’s no sending the god back to the sea, but there’s actually sending the god back, at about midnight 3am, which we didn’t really get to see.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #17: One of the pagoda.


    #18: Ceiling in the temple. Filled with beautiful Chinese ornaments and decoration. It reflects the grandness of the god with the blend of golden and red colour.


    #19: In the temple, it’s very crowded and smoky with all the smoke of the joss stick filling the air. It’s quite irritating for eyes.

    We bought the set of joss stick and candles and we prayed. It was really crowded, the smoke was really very heavy, it’s not easy to walk around the temple, it’s best to wear a goggles around.


    #20: The sifus working out at the altar area.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #21: Lighting up the joss stick for praying and serving to the Nine Emperor Gods.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #22: The luck paper.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #23: Praying.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #24: More people lighting up the joss sticks.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #25: More praying.

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival At Ampang
    #26: More praying.


    #27: Photo at the road sign before we went home.

    After praying, we went back. I’ve got to say, the festival of Nine Emperor Gods in Ampang and Penang are totally two different thing. At Ampang, you stuck on one place, you only buy and pray, whereas in Penang, you follow the procession, you snap photograph, you see the Chinese-style Thaipusam and you walk. You should check out my post on the Penang’s one and you will see the difference. Weeeeee.

     

  • Nine Emperor Gods Festival And Temple Location

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival And Temple Location

    Nine Emperor Gods Festival And Temple Location – Since I’ll be visiting the Nine Emperor Gods Festival at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang, so I would like to share with you the location of the temple in Ampang so you can visit it too! It’s my first time going there, so I don’t really know the way, GPS will be my guide that night. I will also share with you the location in Penang where you can check out the happenings Nine Emperors (Kau Ong Yah) Festival too!

    Ampang / Kuala Lumpur (Selangor)

    [googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Nine+Emperor+God+Temple+Jalan+Merdeka+Kampung+Baru+Ampang+Ampang,+Selangor&aq=1&sll=4.109495,109.101269&sspn=29.94179,20.170898&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=Nine+Emperor+God+Temple&hnear=Jalan+Merdeka,+Ampang+New+Village,+Ampang,+Selangor&t=h&cid=14613028377567853560&ll=3.141228,101.765024&spn=0.001286,0.001717&z=19&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

    Address: Nine Emperor Gods Temple, Jalan Merdeka, Ampang New Village, 68000 Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia.

    GPS Coordinates: N3 08.493 E101 45.888

    Penang Island (Penang)

    [googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=carnavon+street+penang&aq=&sll=5.440307,100.388335&sspn=0.007124,0.004925&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Lebuh+Carnarvon,+George+Town,+Penang&t=h&ll=5.416061,100.335227&spn=0.005127,0.006866&z=17&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

    Location: Carnavon Street

    GPS Coordinates: N5 24.863 E100 20.034 (Famous Koay Teow Thng shop, but it’s just right in front of it)

    Raja Uda, Butterworth (Penang)

    [googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=nine+emperor+god+raja+uda&aq=&sll=3.140982,101.765&sspn=0.003701,0.002462&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=nine+emperor+god+raja+uda&hnear=&radius=15000&t=h&cid=16840676952222818449&ll=5.440723,100.387584&spn=0.005127,0.006866&z=17&iwloc=A&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

    Location: Tow Boo Kong, Jalan Raja Uda, 12300 Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia.

    GPS Coordinates: N 5 44.125 E100 38.552

  • Nine Emperors God Festival 2011 Is Coming

    Nine Emperors God Festival 2011 Is Coming
    Nine Emperors God Festival in 2009 at Carnavon Street, Penang.

    Nine Emperors God Festival 2011 Is Coming – The yearly Taoist’s festival, the Nine Emperors God Festival (九皇爺) is coming soon and the real parade of sending the god falls on this Wednesday till midnight which is also the ninth day of the ninth lunar month.


    Madras Lane, the vegetarian food stalls.


    You can find bubble tea too!

    Every year, at this time of the year, devotees will turn on their vegetarian mood, which most sincere one eating vegetarian for nine days, and some will eat on the ninth day itself. It is believed that the Nine Emperors God will bring good luck and blessing to them.


    End of Madras Lane where you meet the intersection of Burma Road. Opposite is a Kuan Yin Temple and the Nine Emperor Gods Temple.

    To simplify, it’s another religious and happenings festival in Malaysia for the believer of Nine Emperor Gods. I missed the festival last year but I think I will not be missing it again this year as I would like to see how’s the festival is at here in Kuala Lumpur. In Penang, it is a very happenings night on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month where thousands will gather to send the gods in the procession. I have been to the procession in Penang in 2008 and 2009.


    Devotees praying for blessing on the Nine Emperor Gods Festival.

     

    In Kuala Lumpur, the procession is located in Ampang and I am planning to visit the temple. In order to visit the procession, I have to eat vegetarian on the day itself.


    A plate of vegetarian bee hoon costs RM1.50.

    In Penang, you will see lots of yellow flags hanging around which is actually telling you that the festival is going on and don’t be surprise to see many temporary set up stalls by the roadside selling vegetarian food. It’s pretty interesting to eat the vegetarian food, they are cheap in price, and some are quite delicious.


    Vegetarian Pizza.


    Chinese tangyuan.


    Lobak in vegetarian version, which means they’re halal.

    Not to forget, they have lots of variety too. You can even find lots of local delicacies like laksa, hokkien prawn mee, curry mee in vegetarian version, as well as western food like pizza, burger and more in vegetarian.


    Fish burger ala vegetarian style.


    Even the not-halal bak kut teh has a vegetarian version.

    You should visit Madras Lane if you are in Penang because there are a row of food stalls selling vegetarian. If you are interested in checking out the event, you can visit Hong Kong Street / Carnavon Street in Penang Island on Wednesday night and Tou Bu Kong at Raja Uda. Do respect the god by eating vegetarian before you come.

  • Awesome Hindu’s Thaipusam Festival At Batu Caves

    Awesome Hindu’s Thaipusam Festival At Batu Caves


    Jam at MRR2 near to Batu Caves.

    Thaipusam o Thaipusam. Last time, friends always invited me to go photoshoot at Thaipusam but I always didn’t go with them. Last year, I got to see a little part of Thaipusam happened at Dato Keramat of Penang where people throw coconut for praying and I got to join in with my friend Arron and Chien Chern.

    When I was back in Penang few weeks ago, I thought “OMG, I am gonna miss Thaipusam this year because I will not be in Penang at that time”. Then I thought again, “I can celebrate and check it out in KL!”.


    Parking by the roadside like 2KM before Batu Caves. Really crazy man. Clap for us as we parked close. Hehe.

    Yeah, KL, Kuala Lumpur is one of the place that celebrate Thaipusam too, besides Penang. So on the day itself, I didn’t go there as early as those photography enthusiast does, I went there after lunch in the afternoon with Arron again, but this time not Chien Chern, instead is a girl, Carmen from Penang too! Both of them residing far at Sepang and only get to come down to town during holidays and went to check out the Thaipusam festival at Batu Caves.

    At first we thought of not going there because was afraid of traffic congestion and hard to find parking but after checking through the net about the traffic, it was just all clear only until near to Batu Caves. Really surprise that the traffic was super duper smooth all the way from Bandar Sunway to MRR2 near Batu Caves, there’s not even a little jam, really weird. LDP is an expressway that is always jam or slow but that day was just an exception.

    While our vehicle getting close to Batu Caves, there’s already vehicle parking by the roadside as far as 2KM from Batu Caves. We didn’t want to park there as it was hot and we kept on believe that there will be parking space for us at a nearer spot.

    There’s even illegal parking collector collecting a fee of RM10. Being a stingy person, we didn’t want to park there and we got moving and we found a nice place, just less than 500m from Batu Caves, according to the GPS. Haha.


    Me, Arron and Carmen. All Penang-kia.


    We should have take the KTM to Batu Caves as the station was just right beside it. But one thing, KTM sucks! Slow and dirty.

    Yay, we reached Batu Caves safely and I was pretty excited because I got to take photos. I should have bring my DSLR with me but then this trip to Batu Caves was quite spontaneous as we didn’t really plan the trip. Luckily I have my Panasonic with me and it served me well all the time.

    The weather was pretty hot and sunny. Perhaps it’s Thaipusam. Anyway, since we were here, so it’s nothing good of hiding under the shade, so we just keep walking where everyone was walking to, the cave, the Batu Caves.


    Well, Tzu-Chi went there to remind people not to throw rubbish on the floor but…

    In case you don’t know, Thaipusam is a religious festival of the Hindu. According to Wikipedia, Thaipusam is a Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February).

    Rocks is that Malaysia is a multi-racial country where I can join the fun too! =)


    Outside the famous Sri Subramaniar Swamy temple.

    Frankly, I felt I was in Indian when I was there. Haha. It’s Indian anywhere! And they are friendly too. =)


    Your current Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib. Haha. He is real big.


    I say peace as it’s awesome. =)


    Red Air Asia clowns. Cute.

    Saw many sponsor booths at there and one of which is Air Asia which attracted me as the booth had the most crowds. Though, I didn’t get close because I didn’t know what was speaking on the speaker, it’s all tamil and I knew nothing, except “nan-de-ri” or something which means thank you.


    Slums of Batu Caves.

    Well, what you see is Malaysia, not India. It’s just not good with the trash management where trash are everywhere. I was actually keen to see Indian poking mouths and body but instead, I only saw them carrying the heavy kawadee up hill to the cave. As for poking stuff, I saw it in Penang last time.


    Us before going out and was trying to capture the statue behind but failed.


    Well, I have no idea what the people standing by the rail were looking at, it sounds as if we were supe
    rstar, just without the red carpet.


    Awesome art craft.

    The cave wasn’t very tall or high after all, like about 5-6 storeys high but then the stairs up there was very steep. I really salute the people who carry the kawadee up, and kawadee is the thing that they carry on the back with their god statue on it.


    Here we go. Up and down.

    Another thing I saw was, the Indian devotees went up the stairs barefooted! It was a hot day and they walked barefooted. Really power.

    Since there’s so many people on the stairs, we walked slowly and carefully, about 15 minutes, we reached the top. Many medical helpers were on standby there as some were almost fainted due to the heat.


    Beautiful huge cave. I like it.

    It was my first time being a nature cave and it is pretty. I love caves now. It’s not just a hole in the hill but it’s really a big caves which can house many people in there and there’s also a hole on top overlooking the sky. It would be creepy during full moon where moon shines in and a werewolf or vampire turned up. Haha.


    Monkeys!


    Smiling Indian kid.


    Can you see the crowds? They just keep flowing in the cave.

    Spent about 10 minutes in there, walking around and take a little photos then we went back down. It was just too crowded in there and a little bit smelly, no idea what smell was that..


    It wasn’t that traffic jam when we was there, it was after we came. Really powerful.


    And again, they were standing by the rail and looking at us. Hmm. Superstar?


    Yummy juicy coconut!

    The weather turned a little bit hotter after we came down and it was just burning all over our skins. How I wish I could get into an air-conditioned place as soon as possible and then we found coconut stalls. Bought a coconut for each of us then we drank, really quenching and the coconut meat was so awesome, young and juicy. Rocks. Only downside was that it’s not cold. It’s warm!

    And so, I concluded my trip to Batu Caves and we all said it was real awesome. Another place is visited in Kuala Lumpur, time to go for the next place. =D Any recommendation of place to go in Selangor area?

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