Location: Kek Lok Si Temple, Air Itam
Contact: 04-8283317
Organizer: Kek Lok Si Temple

Schedule:
Feb 7th – 7pm – Opening Ceremony
Feb 8th to Feb 12th – temple open to public 8.30am to 5.30pm only
Feb 13th to Feb 15th – temple will be light up from 7pm to 7am
Feb 16th to Feb 28th – temple will be light up from 7pm to midnight
Feb 29th to March 13th – temple will be light up from 7pm to 10pm

Voted as no. 4 “Must visit places in Penang” by VisitPenang website readers, this 119 years old Temple of Supreme Bliss is the focal point of Chinese New Year fesival for the Chinese community in Penang.

During the Chinese New Year celebration, thousands of devotees turned up for the annual lighting ceremony at Kek Lok Si Temple in Air Itam.
Starting from Chinese New Year, Kek Lok Si Temple will be light up every night at 7pm until midnight to symbolize peace, luck and prosperity.

Approximately 230,000 light bulbs and 10,000 lanterns light up the temple every night for 33 days in conjunction with Chinese New Year. Making this 120 year old temple one of Asia’s most beautiful temple.

The Kek Lok Si Temple (Penang Hokkien for “Temple of Supreme Bliss”) is a Buddhist temple situated in Air Itam in Penang and is one of the best known temples on the island.

The temple is a focal point of festivals of the Chinese community in Penang. The Chinese New Year celebrations are particularly impressive: for 33 days following Chinese New Year, the temple remains open until late at night whilst thousands of lights turn the scenery into a sea of light.

Thaipusam Penang

Organizer: Penang Hindu Endowments Board
Contact: 04-6505136
Venue: Murugan Temple, Waterfall

This Hindu festival is usually celebrated in January or February, during the full moon of the 10th month in the Hindu calendar.

A pilgrimage procession takes place to bring the statue of Lord Muruga, who represents virtue, youth and power, on a silver chariot led by more then 60 Kavadis adorned with peacock feathers from Little India to the Nattukottai Chettiar Temple atop the hill of Waterfall Road.

On the day before (29th Jan 2010), old coconuts are smashed along the roads where the Chariot procession will pass for its spiritual journey.

During Thaipusam in Penang (30th Jan 2010), devotees go through a physical endurance of being skewered and pierced on the back and front of their bodies by hooks with miniature urns as an act of penance.

Majority of the devotees who go through this act are Indians but Chinese, Sikh and other visitors can also be seen taking part in this act of faith which leaves many devotees and observers alike, spiritually transformed.

In celebration, more than 100 beautifully-decorated make-shift stalls, are erected along Waterfall Road road where charitable Chinese and Indian families give out bottled water, fruits, sweet, buns and prepared sweetened and sour rice to devotees. Thunderous loud music, singing, dancing and the beating of drums of devotional songs by their supporters can be seen and heard far and wide throughout the entire vicinity of the festival.

Upon reaching the temple, devotees will fulfill their vows, offer thanksgiving prayers and penance to Lord Muruga. The chariot is then scheduled for a return trip to start from the temple (31st Jan 2010) on the same evening and reach Kovil Veedu before dawn the following day.

This festival of rich culture and deep tradition is an ‘out of this world’ experience which draws a massive crowd of tens of thousands to these streets in Penang yearly.

Queen Mary 2

Location: Swettenham Pier, Geroge Town, Penang

The luxury ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, will be docking Penang Swettenham Pier International Cruise Terminal on the 4th February 2010.

Queen Mary 2 is named “Best Luxury Cruise Ship” for the sixth consercutive year by the readers of Travel Weekly.

This grand ocean liner and it’s 6,500 including the crew will be arriving from Phuket. It has 15 restaurants and bars, 5 swimming pools, a casino, a ball-room, a theatre and a planetarium.

More than 3,000 passengers are expected to land on Penang shore and enjoy their day tour here in the heritage town.

We invite all Penangites to come together to show the guests the Penang hospitality and give them a warm welcome. If you are a cruise ship fan, don’t miss this opportunity to see what made this cruise so famous.

1. Junction of Armenian Street & Pitt Street ~ 27 December 2009, 8.15pm
2. Esplanade, Padang Kota Lama ~ 2 January 2010, 8.15pm
3. Air Itam, Reservoir Garden ~ 3 January 2010, 8.15pm

Organizer: Ombak Ombak Artstudio

Inquiry: 016-472 1132

Email: ombakombak@gmail.com

Free admission

Ko-Tai Penang

The presentation style of this musical brings to life Penang’s tradition of street performances such as Ko-tai, Chinese opera, storytelling and Ronggeng which have been enjoyed by various ethnic communities.

Creative Team

Drama Director: Ho Sheau Fung

Sheau Fung is a versatile actress, theatre director and traditional performing arts documentor who favors devising issue-oriented performances with a ‘Penang Flavor’. She was chosen as one of the youth directors representing Malaysia at the International Exchange project entitled Contacting the World 2004 in Manchester, England. She is also known for her mixed media compositions in the Mandarin theater scene.

Musical Director: Tan Sooi Beng

Tan is Professor of Ethnomusicology at Universiti Sains Malaysia. An accomplished musician on traditional instruments, her music is unique for the way in which traditional rhythms and sounds are reconstructed and transformed into contemporary compositions with topical themes. Tan has attempted to bring a new Malaysian identity to gamelan music through compositions such as Perubahan (CD Rhythm in Bronze, Five Arts Centre, 2002) and Saling Berpelukan (Rhythm in Bronze at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, 2004). She was the musical director and initiator for Kisah Pulau Pinang (2006) and Ronggeng Merdeka (2007).

Choreographer: Aida Redza

Aida is an international choreographer on the move. She is actively promoting alternative approaches that invite interdisciplinary mediums of performance to intervene with choreography so as to create New Dance Installations. She is better known for her solo work. Her latest performances include Asia Europe Meeting Festival (2002), Images of Asia Festival (2003) in Copenhagen, Asia Europe Young Choreographer’s Festival (2004) in Berlin, Les Urbanisme Festival in Lausanne, Switzerland (2005), Test Portal Festival in Amsterdam (2005), Colours of Dance Festival in Amsterdam (2005), Dance Unlimited Festival (2006) in Rotterdam and Amsterdam, Vision2020 Denmark Festival (2007).

Come celebrate

Venue: Gurney Plaza’s Alfresco area

This New Year’s Eve head on over to Gurney Plaza to kick-start the VisitPenang Year 2010-2012 with a BANG!

From 7.30pm till midnight, join us as we usher in the new year’s and celebrate the launch of VisitPenang Year 2010-2012 and an enticing firework display to usher in the new year!

The Honourable Chief Minister of Penang, Y.A.B Tuan Lim Guan Eng will be present to launch the VisitPenang Year 2010-2012, a 3-year tourism campaign in initiative of the State Government to further promote Penang to the world!

So come join us in celebration with a series of captivating Malay, Chinese and Indian cultural performances and followed by a rocking good time for new year’s eve at Gurney Plaza with three different live bands to celebrate Penang’s further rise in tourism.

Lion Dance

Date (1): 27th Dec 2009 In Penang

Penang Venue: Padang Brown to City Hall, Esplanade

Date (2): 30th Dec 2009 in Butterworth

Butterworh: Padang MPSP to Tow Boo Kong Temple, Raja Uda

Organizer: Penang State Government

Tel: 604-6505136

Time: 7.30pm to 11pm

The year-end party mood in Penang has set in with Chingay and Lion Dance troupe members displaying their skills in balancing the stilt poles for the annual performance.

This Parade is an annual street parade held in Penang. Today, the parade has evolved into a massive multi-cultural and international event.
The procession will be held in 2 different locations and dates.

Friday December 19, 2008

The Star Online

GEORGE TOWN: The year-end party mood in Penang has set in with chingay troupe members busy honing their skills in balancing the towering flag poles for the annual performance this Sunday.

Although there will not be any competition following the controversial contest last year, the 10 teams taking part in the event promise to give their best.

Penangites have a reason to party and rejoice this year’s parade following George Town’s listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Sunday’s parade will start at Datuk Keramat’s Padang Brown at 7.30pm and pass through Datuk Keramat Road, Penang Road, Burma Road, Transfer Road, Sri Bahari Road, Chulia Street, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling and Light Street before ending at the Esplanade at 8.30pm.

It will be followed by a three-hour cultural performance there.

Caught rehearsing in front of the historic City Hall at Esplanade on Wednesday was the North Malaysia Chingay Association which is sending the biggest team.

Its chief coach Lee Kok Keong said the members had been training throughout the year to sharpen their skills in balancing the flag poles weighing some 15kg each.

The members performed stunts like tossing the pole with their feet, catching it with their chins or foreheads, and balancing the pole while walking.

The organisers decided to hold the parade on a Sunday at the request of many groups who complained about traffic jams in George Town in past years on Christmas Day due to the event.

Most Penangites look forward to the parade which marks the start of the year-end party as the mood will continue right up to the New Year countdown.

Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championships

Location: Esplanade, Penang

The Penang Esplanade is back as a venue of a motor-racing event – the final round of the Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championships from Dec 19-20.

Penang, as a historic location, is the perfect site to end this year’s Cub Prix Championships — making it a one of a kind race, unlike any other.

Wednesday November 4, 2009
The Star Online

Penang Esplanade picked as venue for National Cub Prix final round
PETALING JAYA: The Penang Esplanade is back as a venue of a motor-racing event – the final round of the Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix Championships from Dec 19-20.

The event promoters, Safe Aim Mutual Sdn Bhd (SAM), have also changed the dates for the penultimate round of the 10-leg championships, from Nov 14-15 to Dec 5-6.

Promotions director Ron Hogg said that the changes were made in the interest of the Cub Prix contingent.

“The ninth round was initially planned for the second week of November but we pushed the date forward to December in the Sepang South Circuit. Therefore, the final round has to be moved to the third week of December, the week before Christmas.”

Ron added that it would not be such a bad timing to run the race in Penang as it was a perfect venue to draw the curtains on the season in conjunction with the Penang Pesta.

“Penang, as a historic location, would be the perfect site to end this year’s Cub Prix Championships — making it a one of a kind race, unlike any other,” he said.

“We expect the final round to draw a massive crowd, both locals and tourists. Furthermore, it is the school holidays and just around the corner for Christmas and New Year.”

Ron added that it would be the first time that the Cub Prix races will be held on the island.

“We have organised races all over Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak. It will be the first on an island and we are all looking forward to it. I believe the teams, riders and fans will feel the same way too,” he said.

Penang Open Dragon Boat Race

Location: Bandar Sri Pinang, Jelutong Expressway.

For the first time in our 30 years history, our Penang Dragon Boat Race will be held at Bandar Sri Pinang, Jelutong Expressway.

27 teams from Singapore, Hong Kong, India and Malaysia will be taking part in the Men, Women & Junior races for 200 meter, 500 meter and 1,000 meter categories.

Do join us at the promenade and enjoy 2 days of thrill and suspense as we expect this race to be a close race among the teams.

Location: Komtar Dome, Penang

Organizer: Penang State Government

Contact: 604-6505136

Penang will hold a Lion Dance On Stilts competition at Komtar Dome this September. National level competition on 26th September. International level competition on 27th September 2009.

Admission is free.

Lion Dance

You may read my earlier post on the Lion Dance on stilts @ Penang Esplanade for some more photos.

Location: Hard Rock Hotel, Batu Ferringhi, Penang

Tel : +60 4 8811 711
Fax: +60 4 8812 155
Email: betty.lim@hardrockhotels.net
Hard Rock Hotel website

We are ready to ROCK !
Hard Rock Hotel Penang, the first Hard Rock Hotel in Malaysia, is hitting the high notes with fabulous packages to celebrate its opening come 19 September 2009.

Take a break and soak in the sun during the day, watch live band performances and party during the night as Hard Rock Hotel Penang promises the ultimate fun-filled vacation for holiday goers by infusing elements of Rock ‘n’ Roll music and entertainment.

Hard Rock Hotel

Fronting the beautiful beaches of Batu Ferringhi, Hard Rock Hotel Penang will offer 249 rooms, with most configured as deluxe rooms with hill, sea and garden views. The lagoon view rooms come with direct pool access. There will also be 15 studio suites, 1 Rock Star suite and 1 Presidential suite.

All rooms will feature facilities such as Wi-Fi connections, flat screen TVs, DVD/CD player, in-room safe, hairdryer, minibar, radio, coffee/tea making facilities, IDD, air-con and even iPod docking stations. On top of that, Hard Rock Hotel Penang boasts exciting facilities such as an incredible oversized free-form swimming pool, totaling 26,000 square feet, replete with sand islands and water slides, and luxurious poolside cabanas. There will also be a Lil’ Rock Kids Club, Teens Club, a full-service luxury spa – offering various services including Soft Rock Massages, a well- equipped Body Rock Gym and 2 Hard Rock merchandise stores.

Other services and facilities include the world famous Hard Rock Café, an all-day dining restaurant known as Starz Diner, The Shack swim-up Pool Bar, a pizza counter beside the pool and a lobby bar attached to the Reception counter.

The Hard Rock Hotel Penang also offers facilities for the MICE market and its meeting and banquet space total up to 5,700 square feet. These include a Hall of Fame Ballroom, a Pre-Function Garden area, 3 Meeting Rooms and a Business Centre.