Street Celebrations on 7th July Streets Come Alive – Unforgettable George Town!

Date : 11 July 2010

Time : 8am-11pm

Venue : George Town Heritage Zone

Ticket Price : FOC

Enquiries : George Town Festival, 016-4644211

Indulge yourself in the colourful street cultural shows performed by the multicultural community of Penang: Malay, Indian, Chinese, Burmese, Thai, Punjabi etc. Also don't miss the chance to learn and get your hands on a variety of traditional crafts and foods from the numerous street stalls.

Special Program

1. Open House - Public and Private Heritage Buildings 

Time: 9.00am-5.00pm

Location: Penang Islamic museum, Konsenih Building (Equator Academy of Art), Segara Ninda Residence, Wisma Kastam, Penang Tourist Guide Association, Tan Kongsi, Ong Kongsi, Han Jiang Ancestral Temple (Penang Teochew Ass.), Lee Sih Chong Soo, Town Hall, Fort Cornwallis Lighthouse, World Heritage Office, Anak-anak Kota, Penang Heritage Trust-PAPA, mosques in George Town, Indian and Chinese Temples, churches, tombs, shrines and many more.

About the program:

Welcome to the built jewels of George Town! Come visit George Town’sheritage buildings and sites which are normally restricted to visitors on other days, all for free.

2. George Town Shophouse Trail

Time: 9.00am-10.30am / 11.00am-12.30pm

About the program:

Visit some of the finest residential and commercial shophouses in town and learn more about this unique built heritage of Penang. We have 2 routes available for each time slot. Register for one route and participate in a rare guided tour of 6 shophouses. Even better, register for 2 routes and see all 12 shophouses!

Tours available in Chinese and English.

Ticket prices: RM10 per route, limited to 20 persons per route.

Enquiries: Fidel Ho, Tel: 012-4565867

Email : fidelhoho@gmail.com

2. “Jom Naiki Sampan di Perairan Laut Clan Jetties!” – Boat Rides at the Clan Jetties!

Time: 8.30am-11.30am

Location: Yeoh Jetty, Pengkalan Weld, 10300 George Town

About the program: Come enjoy the scenery of the clan jetties by boat (“sampan-sampan”) and get to know more about their history at the same time!

The clan jetties community will also be reenacting live for you parts of its pre-1970 community’s daily works and activities.

Rest assured life jackets will be provided so you can enjoy your boat ride in safety!

Ticket prices: FREE – Register on the spot.

Enquiries: George Town Festival

Tel: 016 – 4644211

E-mail: info@georgetownfestival.com

3. Heritage “Trea-Shaw” Hunt

Time: 8.00am-1.00pm

Location: Flag-off: Town Hall / Esplanade

About the program: Hop on a trishaw! Experience this fun and exciting way of searching and scouting for our rich heritage treasures ranging from foods, costumes, trades, to local personalities and heritage buildings.

Participants may enter as a two-person team. Look for sponsors like hotels or tour companies. Each team will be assigned a trishaw rider and given clues to guide them along the treasure hunt. At each checkpoint, teams will be required to search for answers or complete simple challenges/tasks.

Ticket prices: RM388 – the hunt is limited to 50 trishaws.

Closing date for registration – 28 June 2010 (Monday)

E-mail for entry forms/ download HERE!

Enquiries: Ederic Low

Tel: 012-4092539

E-mail: treashawhunt2010@gmail.com

4. Indian-Muslim Culture Celebration

Time: 10.00am - 11.00pm

Location: Dewan Makam Noordin @ Masjid Kapitan Keling

About the program: Exhibition on previous mosques and mosque antiques

Time: 2.00pm-11.00pm

Location: Masjid Kapitan Keling

About the program: 

• Interactive Indian-Muslim traditional food demonstration including Nasi kandar, Nonbu Kanji, Kolkate, Somosa & vadai, Idyiyappom, Passembor. Free porridge!

• “Golden of Dates” Exhibition – History, pictures, information on types, nutritious information

Time: 5.00pm – 7.00pm

Location: Masjid Kapitan Keling

About the Program: 

• Demonstration of traditional Muslim games like “pallaguli”, “pamberem”

• Tour of Masjid Kapitan Keling

Time: 5.00pm – 8.00pm

Location: Front of Masjid Kapitan Keling

About the Program: 

• Teh Tarik Demonstration - Come watch, learn and try it out! Free flow of Teh Tarik.

• Crafts Demonstration and Exhibition including “Poo Malai” a Muslim tradition that originates from India and the Muslim “Kopiah”

• Original spices exhibition - Interactive exhibition as well as preparation and cooking demonstration on spices in Indian-Muslim cooking

Enquiries: George Town Festival

Tel: 016 – 4644211

E-mail: info@georgetownfestival.com

5. Street Celebrations

Time: 5.00pm - 9.00pm

Location: Armenian Street, Jalan Kapitan Keling

About the program: “Little Penang Street Market Rejoicing, Reviving and Romancing Our Heritage”

Showcase of the traditional, cultural heritage food and crafts of Penang.

1. Chinese Lantern making

2. Preparation of Putu Mayom

3. Wayang Kulit

4. Batik Demonstration

5. Henna

6. Antiques

7. Shoe Painting, T-shirt printing, Chinese calligraphy

8. Beaded crafts

9. Rattan and bamboo items

10. Nyonya Manik Shoes

11. Chinese Frog Buttons

12. Nyonya Cooking with Rosie Yew

13. Nyonya Cooking with Rumah Nur women

14. Michael Cheah’s Baba Nyonya collection

15. Penang & Malaysia postcards

16. Handmade crafts

17. Fresh Nutmeg juice

18. Thai Laksa

19. Traditional Eye Massage

20. Little Penang t-shirts

21. Eurasian treats

Time: 5.00pm – 10.00pm

Location: Meng Eng Soo, Jalan Pintal Tali

About the program: Meng Eng Soo Open Day

Indoor: Exhibition on Meng Eng Soo history, tea presentation (games);

Outdoor: “Peddlers Court”, Cultural performances – wushu, Tai Chi, street artists, Chinese Orchestra

Time: 5.00pm – 10.00pm

Location: Cheah Kongsi, Armenian Street

About the Program: Lion Dance Performance on High Poles

Time: 5.00pm – 10.30pm

Location: Penang Teochew Association, Chulia Street

About the Program: Chinese Cultural Performance and Demonstration Traditional Teochew Opera performance, Lion and Dragon Dance, Chinese Kungfu Performance, Traditional craft skills of cane weaving and batik design, Chinese Tanglung craftworks as well as multiracial cultural dances and singing.

Ticket prices: FOC

Enquiries: George Town Festival

Tel: 016 – 4644211

E-mail: info@georgetownfestival.com

6. Muslim Cultural Showcase

Time: 5.00pm-12.00am

Location: Penang Islamic Museum, Armenian Street

About the program: The Acheen Street Mosque (Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh), KoperasiPelancongan, Islamic Museum, Boyanese community and other Malay groups will be showcasing traditional Malay performances including Nasyid, Marhaban, Kompang, Silat, Khat, Boria, Ghazal Parti, Sketches and Traditional Malay music and dance. Also on exhibition will be traditional Malay kuih-muih, bunga telur, hantaran and a historical exhibition of Masjid Melayu.

Ticket prices: FREE

Enquiries: George Town Festival

Tel: 016 – 4644211

E-mail: info@georgetownfestival.com

7. Cultural Performances

Time: 5.00pm-9.00pm

Location: Khoo Kongsi

About the program: Cultural performances from the different ethnic communities of George Town, Penang as well as international acts!

Featuring: Ghaffar Pourazar performing Beijing opera, Batak singers from Indonesia, traditional Punjabi Vidda dance, Punjabi drumming, Indian cultural performances including Baratha Natyam, folk dances, stick dance, Kavadi dance, Silambam, fire eating and juggling as well as cultural performances from Penang’s Malayali, Hindu Sangam, Thai, Penang Baba Nyonya and Eurasian communities.

Ticket prices: FREE

Enquiries: George Town Festival

Tel: 016 – 4644211

E-mail: info@georgetownfestival.com

Enquiries

George Town Festival

Tel : 016 – 4644211

E-mail : info@georgetownfestival.com

http://www.georgetownfestival.com/

Langkawi is big enough for all of us

Attracting more than 2 million tourists a year, Langkawi has become one of the main destination magnets in Malaysia. There is much to love about this archipelago of 99 islands - 104 at low tide, according to some sources - thanks to its duty-free shopping status (cheap beer and chocolates!), the UNESCO Geopark recognition for its unique geological heritage, and the fascinating legends of how the whole island came to be.

But what if you didn't want to jostle with the crowds at Pantai Cenang, Langkawi's most famous stretch of beach? Or swim with schools of fish - and snorkelers - at Pulau Payar, the island's popular marine park? Or queue up for the cable car ride up Gunung Mat Cincang?

Fortunately, Langkawi is big enough for all of us, and there are places where you can enjoy the scenic landscapes and peaceful island life without elbowing for space with a fellow camera-toting tourist:

7 to 11 am: Early morning dip at Pantai Pasir Tengkorak

Start off your day with an early morning dip at the beach - and we don't mean Pantai Cenang (which must be said, though, is best enjoyed at sunset and beyond, despite the crowd!). Drive along the road towards Datai Bay to reach Pantai Pasir Tengkorak (loosely translated into The Beach of Skulls). Like a pirate's den, this small stretch of beach, flanked on either side by rocky boulders, is eerily quiet in the early hours of the morning. 

The waves are beautiful, the beach is soft and sandy, and the entire place is shaded by lush trees like umbrellas overhead. The area has some wakaf or wooden gazebos to relax in, and there are restroom and bathing facilities as well. Have a breakfast picnic, explore the rock pools and discover some really weird-looking sea creatures, swim in the sea...and leave by 11:00 am when the first bus-loads of tourists usually arrive!

11 am to 12 pm: Art education

Before you leave the area, though, pop by the Ibrahim Hussein Museum and Cultural Foundation (http://ihmcf.org) just next door for an arty-farty afternoon tour of the spacious gallery. The building itself commands beautiful views of the Andaman Sea, thanks to its perch on higher ground just by the sea. Featuring the art works of one of Malaysia's iconic artists, the late Ibrahim Hussein, the gallery offers visitors a quiet and peaceful setting in which to appreciate the beautiful art works and artistic vision of one of Malaysia's own. His huge works capture historic moments - the September 11 bombings, the Hong Kong handover; his peace messages - "One day man will rule with tenderness"; and significant people who have touched his life - Aung San Su Kyi, the Bandit Queen, and his very own muse, his wife, Sim.

12 to 3 pm: Lunch and heritage tour

Enjoy a leisurely lunch at Bon Ton Resort's Nam Restaurant  http://www.bontonresort.com by a freshwater lagoon fringed with coconut trees. 

As you put in your lunch order, enquire about a guided tour of their latest luxury boutique resort, Temple Tree (http://www.templetree.com.my). Usually reserved only for in-house guests, the tour does oblige walk-in visitors on a walk-through of the Temple Tree collection of authentic antique homes that range in age between 70 and 110 years old. 

The collection within the property includes a double story Chinese farmhouse from Johor, a black and white Malay house from Negeri Sembilan, and colonial bungalows and estate homes from various parts of Malaysia. Each house reveals beautiful traditional architecture with a mix of modern and vintage chic interiors, and fascinating stories of its previous occupants and history.

3 to 4:30 pm: Tea with the buffaloes

Langkawi has breath-taking views of the rainforest, the mountains and the countryside. One of the best ways to take it all in is with a drive through the quiet countryside roads of Kampung Nyior Chabang. Coconut groves, paddy fields, the Gunung Raya and Gunung Mat Cincang peaks and the lush rainforest contribute to this scenic kampong landscape. 

You can stop for tea and ice creams at Buffalo Park (www.buffaloparklangkawi.com), an agrotourist farm and café run by the Veterinary Services Department of Langkawi. The Buffalo Park rears over 100 Murrah and swamp buffaloes for milk production, and produces its own flavoured milk, yoghurt, ice cream and cheese, which is served to guests at a little outdoor café. Visitors can even try buffalo rides or watch the process of making mozzarella.

4:30 - 6:30 pm: A walk in the garden

End your evening with a private tour of Dr. Ghani's herbal home garden (herbwalk@herwalk-langkawi.com). Dr. Ghani is a medical practitioner who is passionate about the natural healing properties of local plants and herbs. His home garden has a collection of more than 500 different species of medicinal plants and herbs. 

During the two-hour tour, Dr. Ghani himself briefs visitors about natural healing, the medicinal properties of certain plants and the benefits of each. As a treat, guests are served local snacks in a traditional wooden balai at the end of the tour.

2009 LIMA Langkawi Air Show Photos (Part 2)