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.
Entrance to the central performance stage, a “red carpet” for VIP too. (Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)
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)
Chingay in action. (Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)
The entrance to the main stage with red carpet. (Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)
High school student dressed in traditional clothing leaded by VIP at the back to the main stage. (Pitt Street / Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling)
Look at the crowds! Hueisean and I were following the VIP on the red carpet. =D
Look at the amount of camera!
Tiger, the zodiac for 2010.
Hueisean biting on Taiwanese sausage.
Entrance of Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi.
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Clan House.
Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi Clan House.
“One for one dolar.”
Students dressed in traditional clothing, selling food like herbal eggs, my favourite!
Chinese-style alcohol container.
Chinese-style alcohol container. The word read as Jiu, which means alcohol.
With the Chinese traditional funny face clown.
Entrance to Cheah Kongsi.
There’s a stand-up comedy talk show by Penang’s stand-up comedian Kim Sir at Cheah Kongsi.
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 Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng arrived and lousang.
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.
An antique bike shop on Armenian Street.
The uncle was playing on a Shanghai’s guitar which need to strum and press on the key.
Yummilicious deep fried street food. There’s my favourite fried siu mai.
Entrance of Tua Pek Kong Temple, Armenian Street.
Tua Pek Kong Temple, Armenian Street.
Exhibition of Baba Nyonya culture at Hock Teik Seah Tua Pek Kong temple.
Playing congkak, a traditional Malay/Baba Nyonya game.
Showcase on how a Baba Nyonya wedding is like.
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. =)
