Today passed by 1st Avenue, new shopping mall in town, and I saw the name is up. Seems like it’s getting ready very soon. It’s expected to open in August 2010, but a bit too late already! I will be going to Kuala Lumpur in end of July. OMG. Hopefully after I come out from NS and before I go to KL, it’s done and let me go in walk walk.
We are believers and such, we went to pray before SPM examination, and so we need to pay back another visit as thanksgiving to god. Last week, we went back to the temples we had visited before SPM examination last year, there’s 7 temples and there’s 11 of us from 5SA1 class of 2009.
Sadly, there’s seven people turned up only, Shi Jie is in UK, Hock Sheng was busy with his driving lesson, Yan Duan was busy with his driving lesson, Jun Ge was busy with don’t know what and Young Hean was busy with work. This is what happened after high school where people are always busy with their own stuff, and can’t stick together like in a classroom.
So I always, high school is the best, appreciate and enjoy it to the fullest! Anyway, I miss you guys a lot.
We missed a temple and also Juan Shong was in a hurry so we went to six temples only, Guleng Hood, Penang Buddhist Association, Wat Buppharam, Siamese temple (Wat Chaiyamangkalaram), Dhammikarama Burmese temple and lastly, Guan Yin Temple.
It was a hot hot day, we gathered in school in the morning, in the mean time, I went to certified my certificates copy at the school office while waiting for them. Then we started our temples journey in two cars.
Going back to the same place and taking photos again at the same spot was fun and sad too because there’s only 7 of us, include extra of Jin Sheng’s girlfriend, Doreen. Hope one day where everyone come home and can go out again.
Went back to the same pond with the spinning bowl where people throw coins into it for good luck. They brought a lot of coins because not satisfied with last performance before SPM examination, this time they wanted to throw in as much as they can. Haha.
I got two coins and I missed. Oops.
Chee Pherng.
Lastly, bought flowers and went to pray Confucius, Wen Chang Gong and Goddess of Mercy.
Why so many beggars outside the temple?
Life move on.
During the 15 days period of Chinese New Year, Penang most famous pagoda temple lighted up with lots of bulb and LED. It’s a good place to visit during Chinese New Year and a good spot of photography for amateur and pro. Well, I went there twice during CNY because the first time was not really in the mood, it’s just walkaround and simply shoot.
Then I decided to go again with Alvin for a serious shoot. I don’t want so many people to shoot together because shooting need to be relax, I feel stress when people is around, unless, they don’t mind waiting for me to wait for the shutter. Hehe.
It’s a nice place and super nice when the lights are on at night, but sadly, it’s only on during some Chinese occasion. Not on normal days though, this suck a bit. It was like day 13 of CNY, people has already got back to work but there’s still many people coming up there.
Luckily I was early, no traffic jam and found a nice parking spot. If we were to go up like at 8pm, then it’s bad already, it will be a long line on the winding road.
My purpose of going there was to shoot, sorry for didn’t really pray. =)
Since it’s early, we wait and wait and wait till 7.30pm like that, it’s lights on. Everything became different. Pagoda and surrounding changed from beautiful to more beautiful.
So there’s me and Alvin, two amateur, shooting here and there. He shoot his and I shoot mine. Met some nice pro photographer too who gave us some nice advice. Looking around, there’s like so many people have a DSLR nowadays. Last time, I was like the first who own a DSLR among my friends and now it’s not something special anymore, everyone can afford one, and everyone loves photography.
So many lights, so pretty!
We paid for the return trip of the lift this time. It’s RM4 for return and last time was RM2 for one way. Last time it was late, we only get to go up and not down. This time we were early, so it’s up and down. It’s even much nicer up there with the very huge giant Kuan Yin statue.
There’s like a little garden there too, this place is more crowded than below. It’s people everywhere! And with the nice windy surrounding, it doesn’t feel so warm up there. Temperature nowadays are so high in Penang! Mother Earth is dying?
Happy that I get to go as close as the Kuan Yin statue this time. Last tie was because that we were late and lights off, so nothing to see up there.
There’s like bowl surrounding the Kuan Yin statue and devotees and exchange RM11 into coins and put the coins into each bowl to wish for a good luck in everything. Interesting, all the money donated goes to the building fund of the Kuan Yin statue. This Kuan Yin statue has been in renovation and building for don’t know how many years already and till now, it’s still not done yet. No idea why. But something I know is that it’s almost done.
Super happening at there.
Sorry, it’s not for 56K. 512kbps broadband also is a problem for now I think. Hehe. Please wait slowly. Too many photos already.
Found a nice big wall at the back of the statue. Very cool, no idea what’s that wall means. It sure symbolize or have some kind of art message, but I don’t know. I just think it’s cool
Last photo before going home, it’s 1030pm that time. Yeah!
That day, a few days ago, I woke up very the early to fetch mom and dad to the airport. Then I was alone that time, no idea where to go, it’s so early and remembered that the tripod for my camera was in the car, so I went to Queensbay to take some photos and let the wind blow.
Maybe it rained a bit during midnight, it’s so chilly and windy that morning. Cold… and I like!
It’s very quiet early in the morning. The sun hasn’t got up yet and it’s only a little brightness from far. Forgotten that I was only in a short pants and t-shirt, waiting the sun come up to warm me up.
No people at Queensbay, only like 6-7 people, one people sweep the floor and some were like me letting the wind blow and got people go morning walk too!
Some more got boat pass by! By the way, the sea at Queensbay is so much nicer than Gurney Plaza, there’s no ugly muddy seaside. Gurney Drive is so geli (ugly) during low tide.
Got aeroplane also! Flights are always early. Check out my dust spot on my camera sensor, so cool.
Waited for like 45 minutes, the sun has got up in the end, it’s time to pack up and go home.
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. =)
Last time I introduced before the Fried Rice at Lebuh Presgrave or more known as Sa Tiao Lor 三条路 to the locals. Last night, I went there for supper and I ordered the Char Koay Teow from the same stall that does the nice fried rice.
The char koay teow quite delicious which I likey it. Just a bit sad that there’s only 2 not very big shrimp and a little bit spicy. If the shrimp gets bigger like at Lorong Selamat, and juicy, then it will be very very good.
[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&moduleurl=http:%2F%2Fmaps.google.com.my%2Fhelp%2Fmaps%2Flocal_search%2Fmapplet.html&mapclient=google&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100073510666181549549.000469feb8850ec72b675&ll=5.410272,100.332191&spn=0.003471,0.005354&z=17&output=embed&w=500&h=325]
This was my first time eating the koay teow thng at Lebuh Kimberley a few days night ago. Dad says the stall at the corner of junction of Lebuh Kimberley and Lebuh Chulia existed there a long time ago. It sounds famous so we went to try it out.
It’s called Ah Hai’s Instant Cooked Kaoy Teow Thng. I got to know about this name from the little signboard at the corner of the five foot path.
It’s not duck meat like at 7 Road but it’s pork. There’s also tur kua (pig’s liver) in it which I dislike it a lot. I did actually ask for extra ingredient but I didn’t know that it’s so many. It’s a big bowl of koay teow thng and I felt so full after eating everything. Not to mention the extra fish ball soup that dad’s ordered.
The soup is clearer than the one at 7 Road but I prefer duck meat more. This is not a bad one too but the fish ball lose out a little bit comparing to the one at Armenian Street.
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!
The initial plan was Chien Chern come to my house to fetch me go to Penang Hill Tram Station to fetch Arron, Chen Yuen, Yiphing and Sher Reen to Botanical Garden, then hike up to Penang Hill and eat some ice kacang, then take the tram down and sit Arron’s car back to Botanical Garden for Chien Chern’s car. But FAILED because the tram service was down for repair work. So sad man.
While at the tram station, while waiting for Arron them to come, Chien Chern and I got no place to go and simply drove around the area and found a temple. So we went in to take a look and I prayed.
The temple was pretty cool and it’s quiet in the morning. I saw monks at there.
In the end, all two car drove to Youth Park and hike up to Moon Gate and come back down. It’s still exercise afterall but we were quite late at that time, it’s almost mid-morning already.
Moon Gate is a stop at the hill for resting. The trail up to the place where I always go hiking with my mom. It’s pretty fun and sometime can see monkey at there.
I did check how long the trail was before, it’s about 2km and it’s not very tall, around 230m above sea level and took us like half and hour. Wonder how long will it takes for us to climb the Mount. Kinabalu tallest in South East Asia.
Sher Reen, Yiphing.
I have got no food up there and at that kind of time, there’s no water service too, so I drank tap water up there, hopefully it’s clean. =) Feeling a little bit of hungry, Arron gave me a bite of his prepared sandwich. Thank you.
Spent like 30 minutes up there, crapping and shouting after other people went down, so at a moment, it’s only us up there. Very not quiet but a bit creepy. But soon, there’s hiker came up again and we turned our voice down. If you go hiking during the evening, there’s nice kopi-o to drink, music and many people up there, quite happenings.
Stim look with Arron.
There’s my respectful Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s photo. Rocks.
We wanted to go Penang Hill still, but no luck connecting it to there. There’s still a route at the back of Moon Gate, but no sure where it leads to. A little bit scary. Haha.
Nice view from some part of the hill.
We then went down under the hot sun. Very surprise and now only I know there’s still people go hiking almost noon. It’s like peopl
e go there at anytime of the day, don’t know night got or not.
Some friend must be thinking, “isn’t my new year’s eves are always in Penang (my hometown)?” Pretty wrong, last year I spent my New Year’s Eve at a cold and people-not-enjoying-new-years-eve place and that’s Guangzhou.
People at there don’t really interest in New Year or New Year eve, Chinese there are more to Chinese New Year, but so New Year Day is still a national public holiday. Still remember that I spent my day touring Guangzhou and at night counting down in the hotel room, watching Hong Kong’s great fireworks from the idiot box. It’s still fun though, because I was traveling. =D
Same thing as Christmas Eve’s morning, I woke up then went for dim sum at the same dim sum house. I don’t know whose idea it was, it’s just “IT’S DIM SUM AGAIN!”.
They as in Yiphing, Chai Wei, Chien Chern and Chen Yuen went back to their places and would be meet in the afternoon. As for me, I went for college hunting to ask info about studies. Went to The One, Disted and Equator and still I’ve got no decision in my mind. I am going to wait for my result in March already. I think I’ll go to a college whichever needed to pay the less.
Then went to meet Anthony, my tuition teacher at his new place, big renovation was going on because he wanted to remove all the wall in his new house. Seems interesting and just stayed there for a while and listen to his ideas on the interior design.
After college hunting, I actually got no place to go. I was supposed to go meet my friends at her house and I was in the middle of her house and my house, thinking should I go home for a rest or not. After thinking for a little bit, decided to spend the whole day out and only go back home at midnight. Save petrol by not going back and out. Hehe.
Very lame, we were suppose to think what to do and where to go at Yiphing’s house but in the end, we spent the whole afternoon at her house, crapping mostly and eat instant noodle. Thank you Yiphing for the instant noodle. At one time, I don’t know what we were screaming and shouting until the neighbour came complain, it means seriously that the place need better noise insulation. =D
Shit, act gay.
6pm came and in one car, I was the driver, we went to Queensbay Mall to check out the countdown concert. Unfortunately, there’s no Yiphing here, it’s only me, Chien Chern, Chen Yuen and Chai Wei. Mom keep telling me that it would be very jam around the area but what I saw was smooth traffic, just like the Chinese always says One Road Smooth Wind, which means move smoothly all the way.
The concert was starting at 8 and it was like 6.30pm when we arrived. It seems like there’s no crazy fans waiting at the front line, since there’s nothing to see yet, we went into Queensbay Mall and roam around, without sense of direction and shops to go or things to buy.
My favourite thing to do is standing in front of any of the Mac, iMac biggest screen 27″ preferably, turn on Photo Booth program and make fun, then bluetooth all the photo for self-storage. =D Very lame right? It’s a form of my entertainment when I found Apple’s computer at the store. We spent like half an hour at there and took quite many photos. Hopefully no one were laughing at us and the Apple people didn’t even want to bother us.
Accidentally bumped up with Mxdoing Min Xiang and his friend Sammy, they were going for a movie instead.
Very sad that after playing so long at the Photo Booth and walking the whole mall, the concert still not yet started. The MC were just interacting with the people. I don’t have the Rock’s Zone ticket, so I didn’t bother to go in early.
Very lame, we went into the mall again. I went to get my camera batteries because I was scared that my camera will run die if I keep on shooting useless stuff.
It’s dinner time after that. Almost all restaurant in Queensbay Mall are not very low priced, so we went out of Queensbay Mall and found Mommy Wang at the opposite. Not very low priced too, but do serves not-bad Taiwanese food.
After dinner for sure would be the concert time! Since we have got no ticket, we stand pretty far from the stage and only can see from the screen. I didn’t have a zoom lens, so not thinking of photo shooting that time. Just enjoying the crowds and music.
It’s a Chinese concert, organized by local Chinese commercial radio 988, there’s 2 Taiwanese singer (Tank and Power Station) and many local artists and what I was waiting for was the Taiwanese singer only. =D They came out at the very end of the concert for countdown of new year.
Met Alvin there.
Then P1 Wimax were giving out a lot of air banger but it’s lousy, it goes airless after a few bangs.
Cheong Kin were there too!
After Tank came out on stage and sang many many song, I really meant many, maybe he is popular so the whole half and hour was given to him, then we went somewhere near backstage to wait for the fireworks. Power Station took the stage on after that, and they were counting down for it. Found no where to sit, it’s everyone, and since the road was block, we sat on the floor. ^^
5-4-3-2-1. Yoyoyo, happy new year!
Didn’t have a tripod with me so I can’t shoot nice fireworks photo. I took them handheld at a slow speed. The fireworks was not very awesome, it’s like 10 minutes long only.
Amanda the blogger was there too!
And met Lester, Emily and Jameson.
The night had not end yet, the most shitty thing was queuing up to pay parking ticket, the line was half and hour long and after paying, the whole carpark was a massive jam, takes another half and hour to get out. Scary. I was thinking that won’t I have to repay my parking ticket because I exceeded the time limit after paying the parking ticket and not out of the mall, but it’s not a problem already because there’s guard collecting ticket and need not insert into the barrier machine again.
It’s only jam at Queensbay Mall carpark, the road outside was smooth. The night then ended with a supper at Upper Penang Road. Then it’s home everyone. Happy Chinese New Year for now! Haha.
