Penang-World-Music-Festival-2012

The 3 days Penang world music festival 2012 event recently held at the quarry recreational park, Botanic Garden Penang. It was a great treat for music lovers to enjoy various bands around the world.

Bands from Mongolia - Altan Urag, Bali - Gus Teja, Vanuatu - Kalja Riddim Klan, Ireland - Beoga, Russia - Loyko, Colombia - Maite Hontele, Afrika - Guinee Percussions, Kelantan - Geng Wak Long and many more came to perform and introduce their unique musical talent to locals and visitors.

Personally, I truly enjoyed the event especially from the Gus Teja and Altan Urag bands. Gus Teja music rendition injected lots of traditional elements and their musical choice delivered a very soothing feel to the environment. Whereas the Altan Urag band was quite unique in the sense that they were using their throat to produce unique sounds to the music.
Gus Teja
Gus Teja
Altan Urag

A moment of darkness with only candle lights during earth hour ...

Performance from Tori Ensemble from Korea
Kalja Riddim Klan from Vanuatu
Kalja Riddim Klan from Vanuatu
Entertaining performance from Guinee Percussions Afrika
Guinee Percussions Beoga Ireland
Solid and well experience performance from Maite Hontele Columbia
Maite Hontele Columbia

Penang Heritage Celebration

This was held on 25 & 26 july 2009 to celebrate George Town's first anniversary listing as UNESCO world heritage sites. There were many events happening throughout the whole Georgetown i.e Teochew Opera at Goddess of Mercy temple, Hokkien Puppet show in Cheah Kongsi, Chingay, Islamic culture at Acheen St Mosque, Indian dance etc.

Cheah Kongsi was the first 5 great Hokkien clans (Cheah, Khoo, Yap, Lim & Tan) to be established in Penang. It is located at Armenien Street, George Town. The crescent moon blended nicely behind the temple.

Mirror showing the entrance to Cheah Kongsi.

A very distinctive Chinese sculpture and architecture at the interior of the temple. There was a Hokkien Puppet theatre show just in front of the temple.

This traditional show was in Hokkien dialect and the puppet was controlled by hand. Many tourist be it locally or oversea came to see the show. It was good to bring this show in such event as this art is dying with the younger generation are not being exposed or having no interest to inherit this traditional show.

On my way to Khoo Kongsi(walking distance from Cheah Kongsi), I came across a shop selling various antiques. I remember that my grand uncle did carry me using this similar olden days bicycle. Khoo Kongsi is the grandest clan temple in Malaysia and located at Cannon Square, Georgetown. It is a must visit place for tourist in Penang. Usually, this place can be visited between 9-5pm daily and for this special event, I was fortunate enough to view the temple at night. Our new Penang Chief Minister, Mr Lim Guan Eng, came to visit this place as well. Some of my friends took photos with him.

It was a great experience to visit these heritage sites and support such event to shore more tourist to come to Penang. The Pearl of the Orient, not only offers such historical spots but also popular for its food.