Monday 31 January 2011

MCA open houses in Penang

MCA open houses in Penang

EIGHT MCA divisions in Penang will host Chinese New Year open houses between Feb 5 and Feb 13.

Penang MCA chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the Bukit Bendera MCA division would hold its open house on Feb 5 at 11am at its premises at 49-J, Lorong Sempadan 2 in Air Itam while the Bayan Baru division open house would be at 7pm at SRJK(C) Chung Shan.

She said the Tanjung division open house would be held on Feb 6 at 7.30pm at the Lee Sih Chong Soo Penang on Burmah Road while the Jelutong division open house would start at 7.30pm on Feb 7 at Desa Green Car Park in front of the Chin Poh Keong temple.

On Feb 8, the Bukit Gelugor division will hold its open house at 6pm at Wisma Indah Car Park in Paya Terubong. The Nibong Tebal division will hold its event on Feb 12 at 7pm at the Tapak Bola Keranjang Berbumbung in Kampung Jawi.

On Feb 13, the Bagan division open house at its premises at 4234, Jalan Kampung Benggali, Butterworth, will be at noon while the Tasek Gelugor division party will be at Dewan Besar in Sungai Dua, also at noon.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Sunday 30 January 2011

Concert

Concert

Penang Philharmonic will hold a concert tonight at 8.15pm at the Dewan Sri Pinang in Penang. Tickets are priced at RM20 and RM30, with special rates for students. Call Mdm Khor at 04-2622462 for details.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Performance

Performance

‘The Ceritera Carnarvon Street’ will be presented by Ombak-Ombark ARTStudio at the junction of Lebuh Acheh and Carnarvon Street in Penang at 8.45am and 10am today. The musical dance show will be about Carnarvon Street’s past and present. For details, call 017-4680653 or e-mail ombakombak@gmail.com.

Medical tourism hale and hearty

Medical tourism hale and hearty

Medical tourism raked in an estimated RM230mil in revenue for Penang last year.

State Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law said this was an increase from RM162mil in 2009.

He said the number of foreign patients who sought medical treatment in Penang increased from 202,000 in 2009 to 250,000 last year, adding that most of them were from Indonesia.

“This is due to the new air route introduced by AirAsia from Surabaya to Penang which has brought in new patients from Surabaya,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Law said 70% of revenue from medical tourism in the country was contributed by hospitals in Penang.

“This was mainly possible because of the co-operation between the seven hospitals which practise healthy competition and even work together during promotions overseas,” he added.

He said medical tourism had spurred the growth of related sectors such as taxi services, hotels and the food industry.

Law also said domestic and international tourist arrivals to Penang increased to 4.1 million last year from 3.3 million in 2009.

He said Indonesians topped the list of tourist arrivals to Penang last year followed by Singaporeans, Chinese nationals, Japanese and Americans.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Up the ante on festive cheer

Up the ante on festive cheer

THIS year’s Chinese New Year Cultural and Heritage Celebration in Penang on Feb 12 will be a much grander and festive cultural event compared to previous years, said Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Lim urged all races to attend the event at the heritage enclave in George Town if they wished to experience a unique, traditional Chinese New Year celebration.

“The 4,000 red lanterns, which is double that of last year’s, really create a festive mood,” he said after switching on the lanterns at the heritage enclave on Thursday night.

The lanterns along Armenian Street, Cannon Street, Ah Quee Street, Chulia Street, Acheh Street, Carnarvon Street, Kampung Kolam, Soo Hong Lane and Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, will be switched on nightly until at least Feb 12.

The event, which is jointly organised by the state government, Penang Chinese Clan Council and Clan Associations Youth Committee, will be held from 3pm to midnight. It is expected to attract some 100,000 people.

Lim claimed that there was nowhere else that a person would experience a celebration of such a scale to welcome the Year of the Rabbit.

He also said the annual event was a major tourist attraction in Penang.

He said it was important for Penang to create new attractions while upgrading existing ones if the state wanted to boost its tourism sector.

“Only then will you get tourists returning. Manufacturing and tourism are the two top economic drivers for the state now but by 2020, the latter will be the main income generator.

“Tourism is a revenue earner with direct multiplier effects.

“Look at Florida in the US. Its main economic activity is the electronics industry yet tourism contributes more than 50% of its gross domestic product,” Lim said.

Event organising chairman Ang Yee Shyuan said a massive gateway on Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling was built to welcome visitors.

“The oval archway is symbolic of success and togetherness.

“The cherry blossoms and lanterns represent wealth, good fortune, happiness and a brighter future for everyone,” she explained.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Friday 28 January 2011

Spring comes early to Penang

Spring comes early to Penang

The start of an early ‘spring’ is in the air as plants have started to bloom in the Penang Botanic Gardens.

The flowering season, that usually occurs in February to March, has appeared to have gotten a head start this year with buds of some trees peeking out in early January.

A visit to the park showed the 71-year-old Pride of India at the park’s entrance was already covered in light purple flowers while joggers were also seen to have taken a liking to several blooming Yellow Saraca trees on the path.

“Malaysia’s weather does not have seasons, but in Penang, we seem to have a clear period when flowers start blooming.

“We noticed that the flowering trees that come from a temperate climate usually start blooming in February to March, but things have started early this year,” said Penang Botanic Gardens chief controller Datuk Tengku Idaura Tengku Ibrahim.

She said the flowering season for these plants were usually in the dry months at the beginning of the year which followed the monsoon rains in November and December.

“Normally, we would expect to see the flowers coming out in February. However, our Lagerstroemia speciosa (Pride of India) tree at the park’s entrance is already covered with flowers.

“The yellow flowers of the Saraca cauliflora (commonly known as Yellow Saraca or Gapis in Malay) are also in bloom after they started budding at the beginning of the month,” she said, adding that other flowering species were expected to start blooming over the next two months.

Prof Dr Mashhor Mansor from Universiti Sains Malaysia’s School of Biological Sciences said the dry weather probably triggered the bloom at the gardens.

“The dry months in the northern parts of Peninsular Malaysia are late January, February and early March.

“Generally, this dry season in tropical rainforests can result in plants undergoing physiological stress and therefore start to flower and bloom,” he said.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Japanese twist to festive feasts

Japanese twist to festive feasts

SAKAE Sushi invites patrons in Penang to usher in Chinese New Year with two enticing promotions.

The first offer, themed ‘Eat 80 Get 80’, rewards customers every time they dine at Sakae Sushi’s many outlets. With a minimum of RM80 spent, diners are rewarded with a free pack of Sakae angpow vouchers totalling RM80.

These vouchers, in denominations of RM8 each, make good gifts for friends and families. As a bonus, Citibank Cardholders are entitled to receive two packs of the vouchers.

Welcome the Year of the Rabbit with Sakae’s Japanese Yee Sang of salmon, jellyfish, scallops and vegetarian shark’s fin. It is an interesting twist to the traditional delicacy.

For diners’ convenience, the yee sang comes in two set options, available until Feb 17. The first is the Sakura Set for one or two pax, available for dine-in only.

The other option, the Hanami Celebration Set, is suitable for six pax or more, available for both dine-in and takeaway.

Other sumptuous offerings are the Ebi Tempura and Cheese Arare Maki which is a savoury prawn tempura dish and the Mango and Soft Shell Crab Maki.

Sashimi fans, try the Hana Maki (raw salmon and roe complemented with fresh mango and avocado).

Seafood lovers will enjoy the Hotate Mentaiyaki (scallops grilled with codfish roe and luxurious mayonnaise).

Sakae Sushi’s marketing manager Yew June said: “Every year, we try to give customers unique new tastes that are bound to make them come back for more.”

For reservations, call 04-2295930 (Gurney Plaza), 04-6430015 (Queensbay Mall), 04-3803368 (Sunway Carnival Mall) or 04-5080268 (Juru Auto City).

-News courtesy of The Star-

Serving up New Year joy

Serving up New Year joy

WITH so many venues and options for Chinese New Year feasting in Penang, deciding on a suitable one is never easy.

If you still haven’t finalised your plans, it’s worth giving the Corner Club Restaurant on Gurney Drive a try.

The seafront outlet which recently underwent a facelift has a reputation for dishing up delicious fare.

Conveniently located and with ample parking space, it’s a popular haunt for both locals and tourists on the hunt for Chinese offerings at reasonable prices.

For Chinese New Year, the restaurant is offering two special eight-course dinners priced at RM468+ and RM588+ per table of 10 pax. Although both menus start off with Prosperity Yee Sang as the first course, the remaining dishes vary.

Some of the notable ones are Braised Superior Sharks Fin Soup with Dried Scallop or Seafood, Braised Pig Trotter with Waxed Meat, Roasted Suckling Piglet, Steamed Grouper Fish, Prawns in Two Preparations and Braised Sea Cucumber with Black Mushrooms and Dried Oyster.

In addition, there’s also the popular ala carte menu with over 100 items, each available in small, medium or large servings according to diners’ needs.

Though the menu is set to be revamped after Chinese New Year, most of the crowd favourites are set to remain.

One of the star items is the Steamed Fish in Chef’s Specialty Sauce. The savoury gravy has a mellow garlic flavour which nicely accents the neutral flavours of the steamed fish.

Another seafood offering, the Thai-style Buttered Prawns, should appeal to many. After all, what’s not to like about chunky prawns coated in a spicy and tangy sauce?

The Marmite Chicken is another popular dish that children and adults can enjoy.

Other offerings are Homemade Beancurd with Dry Scallops, Shrimps and Mushrooms; Brinjal in Kam Heong Sauce and Bitter Gourd with Black Bean Sauce and Minced Pork. There’s also Sliced Chicken with Lemon Grass Sauce.

Those looking for a satisfying breakfast or lunch can head to the restaurant for dim sum from 7.30am to 2pm daily. Patrons will be spoilt for choice with over 40 items on the pushcarts to choose from.

On weekends from 3pm to 5pm, take a break for afternoon hi- tea with up to 50% discounts on selected dim sum items.

Currently, there’s a limited time Year End Appreciation Menu priced at RM338+ and RM518+ that comes with a complimentary bottle of red wine per table.

Those getting married can choose from three wedding dinner menus starting from RM338+.

The restaurant can cater for banquets up to 25 tables.

Corner Club Restaurant is located at 55, Gurney Drive (beside Ever-green Laurel Hotel), and opens daily from 7.30am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm.

For reservations, call 04-2282888 or 04-2275764.

-News courtesy of The Star-

All set to dazzle

All set to dazzle

BRIGHTLY-LIT giant ‘rabbit’ decorations are set to lead visitors from the foothill to the 120-year-old Kek Lok Si temple in Penang to celebrate the coming Chinese New Year.

Framed with LED bulb wirings on lamp posts, they will burst into an array of rainbow colours when they are switched on during the annual lighting ceremony at 7pm tomorrow to usher in the Lunar Year of the Rabbit.

The ‘rabbit’ fixtures — along with 12,000 red and yellow lanterns and some 250,000 decoratives bulbs — will be a sight to behold at night as they will remain lighted up until March 2.

Temple trustee Datuk Steven Ooi said they were using LED bulb decorations for the first time to enhance the overall effects.

“We have made some changes by switching from normal light bulbs to LED bulbs to follow the trend,” he said in an interview.

Visitors to the temple will, however, have to wait until Feb 2 — the eve of Chinese New Year — for the lighting up of the 20-storey octagonal pavilion which shelters the 30.2m bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue.

Ooi said the pavilion would be lighted up for three days only.

He also reminded visitors not to go to the temple at night before Chinese New Year to admire the lightings as the temple would only be opened to visitors from the first day onwards.

“Please bear that in mind because we don’t want visitors to be disappointed.

“As usual, the whole temple would be illuminated from 7pm to 7am during the three nights from Chinese New Year’s eve,” he said.

A check at the temple showed that workers were busy fixing cables to put up the lanterns and colourful decorations.

Like in previous years, devotees can donate between RM50 and RM150 per lantern which are for the temple’s upkeep. For details, call 04-828 3317.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Monday 17 January 2011

Town hall to host open house on Feb 4

Town hall to host open house on Feb 4

THE Penang Chinese Town Hall’s (PCTH) Chinese New Year Open House in George Town is set to be a grand affair this year with myriad cultural activities and food for the public.

PCTH deputy chairman Datuk Lam Wu Chong (pic) said the two-hour event to be held on Feb 4 (the second day of the first lunar month), would start at 9.30am.

“All races are welcome to share in this joyful celebration. There will be a buffet and even halal Malay food for the public,” he told a press conference on Friday.

He said the open house was an important annual activity for the PCTH to strengthen the relationship with the community and to foster better mutual understanding between all races.

The event will include a lion dance, an appearance by the God of Prosperity to give away candy, Chingay, Chinese orchestra, festive songs by a choir and a colourful cultural performance.

Among the dignitaries expected are Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas and Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-

Sunday 2 January 2011

Bookshops

Books

* Popular Book Co., Komtar. Also has stores at Gurney Plaza, Queensbay Mall and Prai Megamall.

* Borders, Queensbay Mall.

* Tan Mark Book Centre, 283 Jalan Burma.

* MPH Book Store, Gurney Plaza.

Free Shuttle Bus

Municipal Council of Penang Island (MPPP) provides a free shuttle bus service in Georgetown which runs approximately between the Pengkalan Weld ferry terminal and KOMTAR every 20 minutes Mon-Fri 6AM-11.40PM, plus Saturdays 7:00am-2:00pm(no service on Sundays or public holidays).

Info courtesy of Wikitravel

Everyone’s favourite food paradise

Everyone’s favourite food paradise

From hawker food to fine dining, you can find everything your tummy desires and more in our very own foodie heaven Penang.

I HOPE you’ve been having a ho ho ho time these past few weeks, although being a foodie, I personally prefer ho ho ho chiak things if truth be told! And where else can you get that but in Penang? Whether it’s for turkey and mince pies or Char Kuey Teow and Mee Goreng, the island has been packed with cars as visitors from all over the country hunt for tasty food.

It’s good to see that many of our popular hawker stalls are going just as strongly as ever.

During the mornings, the Genting Coffee Shop near Island Glades serves up a particularly popular Chee Chiong Fun, full of peanut-flavour prawn paste, unique even in Penang.

Ah Choo, who cooks and sells one of my favourite Hokkien Mees, is still dishing out piping-hot bowls of her delicious, prawn-based stock and noodles topped with plenty of home-made Eu Chang (onion fritters) in the Sin Lee Hin Coffee Shop near the Tanjung Bungah market.

Morning markets are often a source of good hawker food, and the Hokkien Mee and Kuey Teow T’ng at the Perak Road Market are also pretty authentic.

In the afternoon, pop into the Batu Lanchang Market where the hawker centre buzzes from 11 in the morning to five or six in the evening, serving up all kinds of famous Penang food, particularly their Nyonya kueh, Mee Rebus and Ice Kacang.

Just a little further away is the Taman Free School Hawker Centre, another place you can get Penang food in the afternoon, as well as at the Taman Brown Hawker Complex in Perak Road, where you can find some famous Char Kuey Teow, Pasembur and more Nyonya kueh.

Every afternoon, Raja still sets up his mobile stall, complete with gas burner, at the entrance to Prima Tanjung in Tanjung Tokong, and, from the back of his motorbike, dispenses both colourful, sweet Nyonya kueh and Nyonya Assam Laksa. It’s just like old times as you stand there slurping a bowl of this sour, fishy soup which is kept at boiling temperature.

Of course at night a myriad hawker centres and food courts keep hunger pangs away, from the CF in Weld Quay to Red Garden in town; from Viva in Tanjung Bungah to Long Beach in Batu Ferringhi.

During the past few years, Penang has seen its fair share of changes, not just on the political front. Shopping malls have either recently opened or undergone renovation, and new centres and hotels have been popping up here, there and everywhere.

Which of course definitely means one thing: new eateries, and it is a sign of the changing tastes of Malaysians whose palates are getting more sophisticated, that we have many which offer Penangites more dining experiences.

Apart from those already mentioned in previous articles, there’s Cassis in Pulau Tikus, which is run by local Chef Beh, where you can indulge in fixed course menus which include foie gras and grain-fed beef tenderloin.

Another is Kopicine, part of the successful Langkawi Bon Ton Group, based in Stewart Lane in Penang’s heritage district. This pleasant little corner café is starting to make a name for itself among locals and expatriates, with a carefully thought-out menu of mainly western dishes with a touch of local. Their vegetarian Pasta with Ginger Bud Pesto is cleverly-concocted to combine the best of both worlds, and their ice creams are home made.

Wine bars are also starting to make an appearance, with The Wine Shop in Lintang Burmah where you can purchase a bottle of wine at shop prices and partake of it in their elegant restaurant next door, and the chic That Little Wine Bar in Jalan Chow Thye, where they run wine classes and serve “traditional, clean, European food”.

According to Chef Tommes, who spent five years working in Shanghai with a 3-Michelin-star chefL: “Everything is made fresh from scratch, even our stocks and mayonnaise.”

The ingredients, he assures us, are the best he can get. Their Beef Carpaccio, raw beef sliced so thinly you can see the plate underneath, is served dribbled with extra virgin olive oil.

Experience some fine dining where the founding of Singapore was discussed - the newly-restored Suffolk House, built on the site of Captain Francis Light’s pepper plantation just off Jalan Air Itam.

Whichever tickles your fancy, you’ll probably find it here in Penang. I wish you and your family a fantastic 2011.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Saturday 1 January 2011

Art that transcends boundaries

Art that transcends boundaries

A SHOWCASE of local colour integrating the cultures of all races is ample evidence of how art can transcend boundaries and bring people of all races and social backgrounds together.

The Painters Destiny exhibition at the Penang Chinese Town Hall (PCTH), which ends today, sees 25 contemporary local artists of various races unite under a common passion and exhibit their works of various genres to art lovers.

The exhibition is open from 10.30am to 8.30pm.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, PCTH chairman Datuk Lam Wu Chong said that through mutual understanding and appreciation of diverse cultural experiences, closer ties can be forged.

“In Malaysia, different ethnic groups have different ways of life and different ways of painting subjects.

“But nevertheless, in the field of art, there is no distinction of race and religion,” he said.

Lam added that although art was a profession which required much talent, there was little prospect of lucrative returns, with most artists simply living within their means.

He also pointed out that most did not rely on proceeds from their artworks as a primary source of income.

Lam believed there should be better commercialisation of art.

In a technologically advanced era like today, he felt the setting up of an art sales network would be a great tool in publicising and promoting paintings through the Internet.

This would open up the global market demand and provide good prospects for Malaysian artists.

Among the highlights of the four-day exhibition are demonstrations of brush paintings, portrait sketches and sculptures.

Lam said these activities allowed art lovers as well as the public, ample opportunities to observe, study and communicate with the artists, making for an enriching and enlightening art experience.

The 25 participating artists are Ang Swee Hin, Ang Tin Kean, A. Rashid A. Razak, Chong Hip Seng, Cheung Pooi Yip, Cheng Yeow Chye, Chow Chin Chuan, Choh Kok Kheong, Chew Keong Soo, Fong Kim Sing, Jennifer Loo Moh See, Kang Ah Sim, Keng Seng Choo, Lee Hoi Har, Lee Shu Nee, Ong Guik Joo, Oh Chow Moy, Shamsul Bahari, Tean Wei Gin, Tham Peng Choon,Woon Hung Heong, Yeap Goay Hwa, Yeoh Seow Ping, Yong Look Lam and Ong Wah Pheng.

-News courtesy of The Star-

Happy New Year 2011!

Wishing everyone a happy new year!