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Hueisean At Masjid Kapitan Keling

I never know that we can visit the famous Masjid Kapitan Keling (Kapitan Keling Mosque) on Pitt Street just until recently I saw photos taken from that mosque, only then I know it’s actually open to everyone. Visit it not because of being religious, it’s just because of curious and want to check out the historical building and culture of it.

This is very famous mosque in Penang and is located in the UNESCO World Heritage City of George Town. I knew this mosque for quite some times as when I was a kid, I always played at the five foot path outside the mosque. My grandparents once lived near to the mosque.

I went there on one fine afternoon with my dear, Hueisean and she was the model for my camera that day. Haha. The day was rather sunny and cloudy, it’s just something in between where the big red Sun comes out in a while and hide behind the moon sometimes.

The mosque is built by the Indian Muslim in the 19th century and there’s locate the very famous Nasi Beratur (Queuing Rice) that operates after 10pm. Nasi Beratur is a Malay dishes stall that have people queuing up anxiously for their food every night. It had been there for more than 10 years and people are still queuing patiently for it everynight.

We didn’t really knew the Muslim culture well as girls actually need to wear something to cover up the whole body to go in. She has a sleeveless shirt and luckily she brought a jacket. I was all set with jeans and polo-tee. It’s a respect to the religion and culture.

In conjunction with the recent George Town Festival month, they have set up a huge poster of old-Penang in their compound, decorated with a little bit of sands and box of crates, which give a sense of back-to-the-days. It allows people to bring their mind back to the olden days and imagine about how Penang was like back then.

Actually, there’s nothing much to tour about inside, it’s just a short walk along the corridor and we are not allow to step into the hall. Shoes are of course not allow. Nevertheless, it’s a nice place to visit and good to learn about others culture.

August 5, 2011
Chinese Opera At Penang Kuan Yin Temple

It’s the Chinese Hungry Ghost Month now and you will see some ~~ghost~~ set-up stages around town. These stages are used for performing Chinese street concert (kotai) and performance like Chinese opera which is said as an entertainment for the “people” of afterlife.

Sounds eerie ya? No worry, it’s just another happenings celebration by the Chinese. Last month, there’s a 30 days-long Chinese opera show at the Penang’s famous Kuan Yin Temple on Pitt Street. It’s not for the hungry ghost festival but it’s for the birthday celebration of Kuan Yin Goddess – the Goddess Of Mercy.

The Chinese opera show was performs by a group of Chinese performers came directly from China. I wanted to check it out earlier already but it’s was not showing or finished every time I went to check it out. Last week, it was the last show of the Chinese opera and I was lucky to be there to catch the show.

Spent some times checking out the show. I think they are really cool, especially the make up and the setting. Even though I don’t know what they are talking about on the stage, it some sort of Chinese dialect, but I think it’s really nice to see. Unfortunately there wasn’t any LED display showing subtitles, some Chinese opera shows are quite high tech with LED display showing subtitle in Chinese which makes the show more understandable.

Combination of acting, cool make up, Chinese music instrument and setting give a sense of, CHINA.

The show was actually meant for the Goddess Of Mercy so there’s no chairs prepared. So you can see people brought their own chair to see the show.

What do you think about Chinese Opera?

August 3, 2011
MoonTree 47 – Nice Heritage Place And Cafe To Chill

Penang’s George Town has gained the UNESCO World Heritage title 3 years back and restoration work of old colonial houses and shop lots can be seen all over the town. Some of these old colonial houses turn into accommodation, cafe, shops, and of course an 3D art gallery. In fact, the whole architecture is a piece of art.

There are already some nice cafe and accommodation hotel which are restored from the old colonial houses and will soon increases more and more. I have been in search of this kind of place all over George Town to chill and enjoy the restored architecture. Muntri Street (Lebuh Muntri) is a nice street with many old colonial shophouses and it’s getting more and more famous to tourist as the increasing of the backpacker guesthouse.

MoonTree 47 is a cafe, art gallery cum homestay which is located on Muntri Street. It blue exterior attracted me to check out the place. I went there for lunch few days back and it was a fruitful meal.

Upon entering the place, I come across many antique art pieces like old door and furniture which spice up the place.

I was trilled and excited to see the antique-ish interior. The decoration of the heritage interiors give a sense of relaxing and throw my mind away. It made me want to sit down and surf the Internet all day long in MoonTree 47 and sip their homemade coffee.

Look at the chair and table used, it’s so classic and sweet.

It gives me a feel of not belonging to Penang, it’s like out of the busy city, slow, steady and chilling.

MoonTree 47 houses a variety of vintage antique collection. Vintage classic furniture, photos, camera, radio, photos and more. It’s a nice little museum that have other functions e.g. cafe, homestay. =)

A little bit of green sparks up the place too as you know it’s the “Go Green” era. How can a place full of art pieces be complete without green arts? It truely blended a fresh and sense of nature into a vintage space.

How I wish I could spend time online and forget about all the misery and the coming stressful days.

Look at how they decorate the washing area. They are just old items reused and decorated with some colours, mirror and green. It’s just so perfect in match.

If got a chance, I’m gonna visit it again and relax myself at there with some nice coffee and MacBook. =D Forgot to mention, free wifi is available. Hehe.

August 3, 2011
#smcpg5 Penang Heritage Mobile Photography Walk @smcpg

@smcpg is actually the Social Media Club Penang and #smcpg5 is their 5th outing and gathering. It’s my first time joining SMCPG as previously, I was not in and busy for their outing. I am glad that I was invited CJ who was part of SMCPG to join their 5th outing on last Saturday which was a mobile photography walk in the Penang UNESCO Heritage zone.

#1: Old man looking boringly on the five foot path, Campbell Street.

It’s really fun walking in the lovely George Town of Penang, it doesn’t feel bored walking and walking for so many times. And what’s so special on that day was a mobile photography walk. I have been using DSLR and digital camera for all the time and have not really went for a photoshoot which uses mobile phone for all the time.

iPhone 3GS and Instagram application were my companion of that day. Here are some shots that I like and shoot during that day. Enjoy. =)

#2: A lorong at Lorong Chulia.

#3: They are making Penang bicycle friendly, but I believe there’s still a long way to go. Though, the popularity of bicycle is increasing.

#4: A very old kopitiam on Chulia Street.

#5: I believe this is Chulia Lane.

#6: A heritage hotel in construction, Rope Walk.

#7: Mini store, Rope Walk.

#8: Cintra Street.

#9: Somewhere at Muntri Street.

#10: Kopicine, Bon Ton The Shop, known as an expensive coffee shop on Muntri Street.

#11: Fence, Muntri Street.

#12: 3D wall art on Muntri Street.

#13: Windows, Muntri Street.

#14: A flashpacker hotel, the MoonTree 47.

#15: Dirty yet got feel walkway, Muntri Street.

#16: Stick no bills.

#17: Lovely Tian Hou Gong temple on Muntri Street.

#18: Found a new hideout at Sri Bahari Road – LA BOHEME – a heritage house serving French pastry and coffee.

#19: Lazy cat at LA BOHEME ends my post. =)

You can find more photos of mine here or theirs here.

July 11, 2011
Kuan Yin Teng – Temple Of The Goddess Of Mercy, Penang

On a find Tuesday afternoon, I was feeling bored and I went to Pitt Street alone to the famous Kuan Yin Teng (Kuan Yin Temple/Temple Of The Goddess Of Mercy) to walkaround, take some photos and pray a little bit. It was a hot day, yet it’s nice to go there to take photos.

As you know, this temple is one of the oldest temple in Penang and have been serving the Taoist devotees well over the century. It’s one of the building in the listing of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and people still going there to pray everyday and it’s get crowded during the first and the 15th day of the Lunar calendar.

The temple houses several God and Goddess of the Toaism. It was constructed in the early 1800s by the Chinese immigrant. My grandma is a frequent visitor of the temple too.

Outside the temple, there’s many stalls selling praying material like joss sticks and candle and they will be touting you to buy their stuff when you passes by. Actually, it’s all the same, what’s matter is the heart and sincerity of praying.

There’s actually Chinese opera outside the temple, serving the God and Goddess for a spiritual entertainment show, however the opera show was off during that time.

As you know, I have some nice feel towards holy places like temple and church because these place give me a sense of peace and quiet. They all features nice artwork and architecture too especially old Chinese temple and old churches in the European countries.

I heard that there’s plan of revamping the praying experience at the temple which is that no joss stick will be allow to go bring in into the inner hall. Praying will be done outside the temple, just like the Wong Tai Sin temple in Hong Kong. This is to preserve and maintain a clean and holy environment in the temple. Somehow, I don’t know whether it will be implemented or not.

This is a must visit place in Penang. =)

Photos taken with Canon EOS 60D and Sigma 8-16mm + Tamron 17-50mm f2.8.

July 2, 2011
A Short Walk In Heritage Site, Muntri Street

Penang gained the UNESCO Heritage status few years back and the local tourism business is blooming. There’s many restoration work going around in the city and there’s still stubborn owner or heritage building doesn’t want to restore and beautify their property. OMG.

Recently, I passed by Muntri Street and saw some cool cafes and some stylish hostel for tourist and backpackers. Curiousity made me stopped and went to check out the place for a while.

I didn’t really know that there’s so many restoration and heritage stuff on Muntri Street last time. When talked about Muntri Street, I thought about the Teo Chew Porridge shop and the Chinese Thean Hou Temple, that’s all.

But now, my perception towards the street change, it is a very old street, a very heritage streets fill with arts, culture and history, so do hostel, cafes and mini accommodation.

Being a Penangite, I want to appreciate the Penang’s heritage site more and being an interior design student, I have strong feel on heritage architecture, they are really very pretty.

Penang can be one of the top heritage city in the world like in Europe, fill with nice old building architecture, yet the people in Penang have to take up the responsibilities to preserve and restore the old building.

Having an organized and clean city is awesome. Investment comes into the state, better facilities and better lifestyle too! I just love my own hometown so much. It’s so pretty and proud to be a Penangite.

I have trust in the current state government led by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng. Looking forward to see Penang in the future where it will transform into the best city in Malaysia. =D

June 11, 2011
Somewhere Around Buckingham Street and Campbell Street, Penang

You know, I really wish that there’s more shops to walk around in downtown, the George Town, the capital city of Penang. There’s full of old and classical and beautiful heritage building and architecture which makes people feels good, just like me. I wonder why there’s no developer make a shopping street in town so that people can appreciate the UNESCO status of Penang more.

People prefer to go walk at the shopping mall rather than travel around the city. The city is like a place more to the tourist then the local. Hmm.

There’s one street in Penang that has a great potential to develop into a shopping street like the Campbell Street connecting to the Buckingham Street at the end. It was a glory back in 80’s where Chinese pioneered the shops here with friendly people and shoplots. But as years goes on, shop owner moves away to other place as they don’t really own the shop.

Grandpa had a furniture shop here 10 years back but it’s no more right now as the owner stop renting the place. If plan well, this street can be a great place for the local to hang out with cool heritage architecture. Let it be cafes, fashion boutique and restaurants, it will be so awesome.

If I am rich, I’ll buy and develop this place, but too bad I am not rich. HAHA. Penang State Government and Penang Development Corp., please do something to bring back the glory of Campbell Street. =D

June 5, 2011
Visited Chew Jetty Spontaneously with Yiphing

That day, I’ve forgotten which day it was. I went to Prangin Mall to print out my photo, then met up with Yiphing who was on NS holiday. Then while waiting for my photo to be printed out, we went somewhere else to let the time passed. I actually didn’t have the idea of where to go and suddenly, spontaneously thought of checking out Chew Jetty for fun.

I was not ready for it yet, so it’s actually a fun trip and I bet I will go back there again for a real trip which I take lots of photos at there. Waiting for a blue sky which is the green light for me to go there, and also a bunch of crazy friends. =D

Chew Jetty is a place/water house/livings/tourist place at Weld Quay, Penang. Every year, the famous Pai Ti Kong festival is celebrated at there.

I actually wanted to check out this place, pre-look around before bringing my NS friend to this place to see see. But somehow, the Penang trip that I had with them recently did not include this, the girls insisted to go to shopping instead.

I went here before, almost I came here every year but it was during the night, during the Pai Ti Kong festival. It’s my first time going during daylight, not very sunny on that day, a little bit cloudy and it was late afternoon.

The place was pretty quiet. There’s a little tourist touring the place and photographers taking photos at there. Not many residents around too, perhaps they’re still at work.

The place is peaceful, I wonder is any unit at there up for sale, so I can buy it in the future, and revamp it into the most beautiful home on the sea at that area, haha.

Sea water at there is dirty though. Sea water by the shore of Penang is always dirty, it’s not close to big ocean, and so much of development around the city, there’s no turquoise clear water.

Nice place. Everyday can get a good view of Penang and I wanna park a yacht here. Haha.

If you are a tourist, you can check out the Homestay at there. There’s a house with rooms for rent, include breakfast too. Pretty cool. Perhaps I can go there with friends some times. =D Try a bit of the life at there for a day or two. See some sunrise and sunset. Shiok!

We went to collect photo after that, then home! Yeah.

June 15, 2010
Quick Dropby at Eng Chuan Tong Tan Kongsi (Tan Clan House)

One day, I was driving, on the way to Beach Street from Prangin Mall, then I simply turned into a street, no idea where it was, some where on Beach Street I guess, then I looked around and accidentally found the Tan Clan House & Temple also known as Tan Kongsi to the local.

Alright, Tan is a Chinese surname, Tan is known to Hokkien people and my surname Chan is known to Cantonese people and we share the same ancestor thousands of years ago I believe. Tan, Chan, Chen, it’s all the same.

Found a parking space and parked the car. Then I went down to look around for fun because I’ve never been there before and it’s my first time knowing this place. The temple was close and I guess I may find names of my ancestor who first came to Penang many many years back.

This place is small compare to Khoo Kongsi, this can said that the Khoo has more families. This kongsi-kongsi was where all the people of the same surname live together when they first arrive in Penang island. Later then when the island is modernized, everyone spreaded out.

Pretty cool. Gonna go here again when it’s open.

June 9, 2010
Away to PLKN (Day 43): Pai Ti Kong, Pray Sky God At Weld Quay

It’s the yearly Pai Ti Kong festival again, but this happened like in February. Long time ago already, sorry but nevermind, I am posting my photos up again. This is 3rd years going to Weld Quay to take photos. Every year also go there, won’t boring one meh? I feel not.

I think it’s fun with many people around, fireworks and friends, but I don’t like to take photo of the same thing again. Very boring and I feel stress as I’ve no idea what to shoot. I always try my best to shoot the best thing, the best shot to share with you guys and here are they.

So during the ninth day of Chinese New Year, I went there with Alvin, Kooi Jin, Min Xiang and Kok Sheng to shoot photos. Very fun because there’s friend. Last two years, there’s mama, papa and me only.

Photographers and DSLR users are getting more and more. So many people go there, arming with a DSLR, shoot here and shoot there. I didn’t want to join them again because I’ve went there before. I brought tripod for the first time so I tried slow shutter that day.

Pork rocks!

One thing, I am still not good at flash. I still prefer natural lighting.

Now Miku also got LED, very high tech already.

At first, there’s me only. Later then found Kooi Jin, Alvin, Min Xiang and Kok Sheng. Kooi Jin, my junior had became my assistant and helped me carrying my tripod because he wanted me to fetch him home. Haha, but thank you a lot.

This year was different a bit for me, because I went there on my own, I could stay longer and shoot anything I want, I even go further intor Chew Jetty where I did not last time. Interesting!

The wooden house on the water are so cool, there’s people staying at there and some houses were open for visit at that time. Pretty nice man.

It’s people mountain people sea, that’s a Chinese idiom saying people here and there, very happenings, very crowded. Want to move around also hard.

I waited for fireworks, then I waited for the arrival of beloved Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Kooi Jin on the left.

CM came to pray.

I went to close to CM Lim Guan Eng just to take photos of him. He is favourite of everyone. Everyone like him here in Penang. Yeah! Rocks. He came to give some speech, lou sang and go away already. This is what they call, give face.

After CM lou sang, the people there join in to lou for fun.

There this photographer from Oriental Daily. He complained me of having a big lens which block him from taking photograph. WTH.

CM Lim Guan Eng shake hand with everyone.

I love Ti Kong! But I am not Hokkien so I was not involve in the praying process. =)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHAN YIK HUNG, MY BROTHER!

=========WORLD CUP FEVER=========

FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010 is getting so so so closer, counting down still got 33 days. Are you ready for it? I am so supporting England for now, don’t know why, no idea, the feeling, the support. Woo. The world cup is heating up, I can feel the heat here in Malaysia, everywhere. Shopping mall got world cup discount somemore.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NDTxaxdp48&w=500&h=350]

Celcom even have Blue Bear for World Cup, very cute and very cool. They’re blue and they’re bear. Haha. [ADV] World Cup fever mascot in Malaysia. Woo! Check out some free downloads of Bearigamy, ringtones, wallpaper, online games and promotion at Celcom VS. It’s once in a four year only, those promotion are tempting, faster go go go check it out!

May 9, 2010

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