Japanese touch to street market
THE Japanese expatriate community will be showcasing their homeland’s traditional arts, craft and food at the Little Penang Street Market (LPSM) in Upper Penang Road on March 25.
There will also be a cosplay competition and a photography exhibition on the earthquake and tsunami tragedy that hit Japan last year on March 11.
Japanese pottery will be on sale and visitors will also be treated to a demonstration on how to make udon noodles.
The cosplay competition, which is limited to 15 participants, will see the winner walk away with RM500.
The LPSM that day is in remembrance of the first year anniversary of the tsunami tragedy, held in the spirit of ‘kizuna’, which means bond of friendship in Japanese.
The LPSM will be held from 10am to 5pm.
For more information, contact 017-4290806 or e-mail www.littlepenang.com.my
~News courtesy of The Star~
Monday, 19 March 2012
Friday, 16 March 2012
Flood woes at airport will be over soon
Flood woes at airport will be over soon
THE flood problems at the Penang International Airport will soon be over once work on the main terminal’s water discharge point is completed.
An airport spokesman said expansion work of the discharge point was expected to be completed in a month’s time.
He said underground pipes and electrical cables needed to be moved before the expansion work could be carried out.
The spokesman said the current discharge outlet was too narrow and was causing the level of rainwater in the area to rise each time it rained heavily.
“Besides that, the location of the airport which is at a low-lying area, is also a contributing factor to the flood problems,” he said.
The spokesman also said a report was submitted to the Transport Ministry about the situation.
Slight delay: The expansion work at the Penang International Airport is 3% behind schedule
He was responding to an online portal report that the airport is in a ‘state of distress’.
In the report, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng claimed that it ‘flooded’ up to one inch at the airport terminal each time it rained heavily due to ‘defective’ expansion project that was being carried out at the airport.
Lim had also sent a letter together with photographs of the situation to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.
On the progress of the airport’s expansion work, the spokesman said it was 3% behind schedule.
“However, we believe we can still catch up as it is only a slight delay,” he said
He added that the delay was due to ongoing renovation works at the main terminal.
“We want to ensure that airport operations remain smooth and will not cause inconvenience to the passengers,” he added.
~News courtesy of The Star~
THE flood problems at the Penang International Airport will soon be over once work on the main terminal’s water discharge point is completed.
An airport spokesman said expansion work of the discharge point was expected to be completed in a month’s time.
He said underground pipes and electrical cables needed to be moved before the expansion work could be carried out.
The spokesman said the current discharge outlet was too narrow and was causing the level of rainwater in the area to rise each time it rained heavily.
“Besides that, the location of the airport which is at a low-lying area, is also a contributing factor to the flood problems,” he said.
The spokesman also said a report was submitted to the Transport Ministry about the situation.
Slight delay: The expansion work at the Penang International Airport is 3% behind schedule
He was responding to an online portal report that the airport is in a ‘state of distress’.
In the report, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng claimed that it ‘flooded’ up to one inch at the airport terminal each time it rained heavily due to ‘defective’ expansion project that was being carried out at the airport.
Lim had also sent a letter together with photographs of the situation to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha.
On the progress of the airport’s expansion work, the spokesman said it was 3% behind schedule.
“However, we believe we can still catch up as it is only a slight delay,” he said
He added that the delay was due to ongoing renovation works at the main terminal.
“We want to ensure that airport operations remain smooth and will not cause inconvenience to the passengers,” he added.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Fest aiming for the high notes
Fest aiming for the high notes
THE Plenitude World Music Festival 2012 (PWMF) is set to break new ground on its return after a three-year hiatus.
Highlight of this year’s extravaganza will be the Orang Temuan troupe who will be out to promote their cultural songs and dances using traditional handmade instruments.
Hailing from Negri Sembilan, the group known as Rentak Balai is one of the five Malay-sian groups that will be performing at the Quarry Recreational Park, Botanic Gardens, from March 30.
The other groups are Aseana Percussions Unit, Geng Wak Long, Didit Dinai, and Penang Dhol Blasters.
Also look out for Mongolian folk rock band Altan Urag who will perform traditional tunes infused with contemporary influences.
Their music has been featured in Mongolian movies such as ‘Khadak’ in 2006 and ‘Mongol’ in 2007.
They will be out to serenade the crowd with their traditional instruments such as the morin khuur (horse head fiddle), ikh khuur (grand horse head fiddle), bishguur (traditional horn) and yoochin (a type of hammered dulcimer).
The band will also give music lovers a basic idea of what khoomii (throat) singing is all about.
The other bands that will also be performing at the festival are Beoga (Ireland), Grace Nono and Bob Aves Group (Philippines), Kalja Riddim Clan (Vanuatu), Will Crummers & The Rarotonga (New Zealand), Tor Ensemble (South Korea), Gus Teja World Music (Indonesia), Griff Trio (Belgium), Phong Nguyen Ensemble (Vietnam), Loyko (Russia) and Beoga (Ireland).
Tickets to the festival are now available online at www.ticketxpress.com.my and at both the Penang State Tourism Development and Culture and the Discovery Overland Holidays offices nationwide.
The one-day tickets cost RM90 (adults) and RM45 (children five to 12) while three-day passes are RM220 (adults) and RM120 (children five to 12).
There will also be a daily musical workshop from 2pm to 5pm and the Kidzworld workshop from 5pm to 6pm. The night concert will kick off at 7pm with six bands taking to the stage each night.
Two previews will be held, the first at Hard Rock Hotel on March 28 and the second at Straits Quay on March 29, both at 8pm.
Some 12,000 people are expected to attend the PWMF from March 30 to April 1.
~News courtesy of The Star~
THE Plenitude World Music Festival 2012 (PWMF) is set to break new ground on its return after a three-year hiatus.
Highlight of this year’s extravaganza will be the Orang Temuan troupe who will be out to promote their cultural songs and dances using traditional handmade instruments.
Hailing from Negri Sembilan, the group known as Rentak Balai is one of the five Malay-sian groups that will be performing at the Quarry Recreational Park, Botanic Gardens, from March 30.
The other groups are Aseana Percussions Unit, Geng Wak Long, Didit Dinai, and Penang Dhol Blasters.
Also look out for Mongolian folk rock band Altan Urag who will perform traditional tunes infused with contemporary influences.
Their music has been featured in Mongolian movies such as ‘Khadak’ in 2006 and ‘Mongol’ in 2007.
They will be out to serenade the crowd with their traditional instruments such as the morin khuur (horse head fiddle), ikh khuur (grand horse head fiddle), bishguur (traditional horn) and yoochin (a type of hammered dulcimer).
The band will also give music lovers a basic idea of what khoomii (throat) singing is all about.
The other bands that will also be performing at the festival are Beoga (Ireland), Grace Nono and Bob Aves Group (Philippines), Kalja Riddim Clan (Vanuatu), Will Crummers & The Rarotonga (New Zealand), Tor Ensemble (South Korea), Gus Teja World Music (Indonesia), Griff Trio (Belgium), Phong Nguyen Ensemble (Vietnam), Loyko (Russia) and Beoga (Ireland).
Tickets to the festival are now available online at www.ticketxpress.com.my and at both the Penang State Tourism Development and Culture and the Discovery Overland Holidays offices nationwide.
The one-day tickets cost RM90 (adults) and RM45 (children five to 12) while three-day passes are RM220 (adults) and RM120 (children five to 12).
There will also be a daily musical workshop from 2pm to 5pm and the Kidzworld workshop from 5pm to 6pm. The night concert will kick off at 7pm with six bands taking to the stage each night.
Two previews will be held, the first at Hard Rock Hotel on March 28 and the second at Straits Quay on March 29, both at 8pm.
Some 12,000 people are expected to attend the PWMF from March 30 to April 1.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Monday, 5 March 2012
Sizzling carnival to hit Penang shores again
Sizzling carnival to hit Penang shores again
FOLLOWING its success last year, Braille On The Beach will be back in Penang again on March 10.
Co-organised by St Nicholas Home Penang and Disted College Penang, the event will be held at the Teluk Bahang beach from 7.30am to 5pm.
Visitors will enjoy a host of beach games such as sandcastle building, seashell colouring and tug-of-war.
But the highlight of the event will be the forming of words with large dots in the sand in specified sizes at the inter-tidal zone (the area between high and low tides) along the beach.
Unlike in the previous year, participants will be free to sculpt a five- word sentence of their choice.
Points will be given on the accuracy of the translation from the words to Braille and its originality.
Participants in the main event need to be teams of 10 people with a donation of RM1,000 or more per team.
Besides the Challenge Trophy, there will prizes such as medals and cash up for grabs.
Meanwhile, participation for the beach games is RM12 for those 13 years and above and RM6 for children up to 12 years.
St Nicholas Home executive director Daniel Soon said the event had a good con-cept, which was promoting knowledge about Braille.
“Sighted people who have very little understanding of Braille can learn more through this activity,” he said.
The head of Disted College’s Business School Dr Liew Yueah Cin also said that the college encouraged staff and students to reach out to the community through its initiative, Disted Connect.
“We are looking to cultivate a sense of belonging and caring in the Penang society,” he said.
Those who wish to participate in the main event can obtain and submit entry forms at St Nicholas Home.
Closing date for registration is March 7.
For more details, visit www.snh.org.my or call Mary at 04-2290800.
~News courtesy of The Star~
FOLLOWING its success last year, Braille On The Beach will be back in Penang again on March 10.
Co-organised by St Nicholas Home Penang and Disted College Penang, the event will be held at the Teluk Bahang beach from 7.30am to 5pm.
Visitors will enjoy a host of beach games such as sandcastle building, seashell colouring and tug-of-war.
But the highlight of the event will be the forming of words with large dots in the sand in specified sizes at the inter-tidal zone (the area between high and low tides) along the beach.
Unlike in the previous year, participants will be free to sculpt a five- word sentence of their choice.
Points will be given on the accuracy of the translation from the words to Braille and its originality.
Participants in the main event need to be teams of 10 people with a donation of RM1,000 or more per team.
Besides the Challenge Trophy, there will prizes such as medals and cash up for grabs.
Meanwhile, participation for the beach games is RM12 for those 13 years and above and RM6 for children up to 12 years.
St Nicholas Home executive director Daniel Soon said the event had a good con-cept, which was promoting knowledge about Braille.
“Sighted people who have very little understanding of Braille can learn more through this activity,” he said.
The head of Disted College’s Business School Dr Liew Yueah Cin also said that the college encouraged staff and students to reach out to the community through its initiative, Disted Connect.
“We are looking to cultivate a sense of belonging and caring in the Penang society,” he said.
Those who wish to participate in the main event can obtain and submit entry forms at St Nicholas Home.
Closing date for registration is March 7.
For more details, visit www.snh.org.my or call Mary at 04-2290800.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Friday, 2 March 2012
New green attraction
New green attraction
NATURE lovers will get a chance to enjoy a new green attraction at the Penang Botanic Gardens when a bamboo appreciation centre is constructed this year.
State Botanic Gardens department assistant director Salasiah Yusop said the environmental-friendly structure in the bambusetum would be built entirely out of bamboo.
“An officer from the National Landscape Department will visit the bambusetum on March 9 and subsequently prepare a Bill of Quantity (BQ) for the project.
“The BQ will outline the work scope and once that is done, we can engage a contractor,” she said, adding that a souvenir shop selling items made of bamboo would be part of the structure.
Growing well: (above) A gardener carrying out maintenance work at the bambusetum
NATURE lovers will get a chance to enjoy a new green attraction at the Penang Botanic Gardens when a bamboo appreciation centre is constructed this year.
State Botanic Gardens department assistant director Salasiah Yusop said the environmental-friendly structure in the bambusetum would be built entirely out of bamboo.
“An officer from the National Landscape Department will visit the bambusetum on March 9 and subsequently prepare a Bill of Quantity (BQ) for the project.
“The BQ will outline the work scope and once that is done, we can engage a contractor,” she said, adding that a souvenir shop selling items made of bamboo would be part of the structure.
Growing well: (above) A gardener carrying out maintenance work at the bambusetum The cost of the bamboo appreciation centre would be borne by the state government.
On when the bambusetum would be officially launched and opened to the public, Salasiah said the procurement and planting of the bamboo plants began in November last year and was completed on Feb 15.
“Now, the plants are being nurtured so that they can grow and flourish — a lot of what’s going on is maintenance work.
“A proper opening ceremony will only be held at the end of the year as we want to make sure that the centre is ready and everything is perfect.
“However, the public is free to visit the bambusetum anytime, as we’ve never fenced it up,” she said when met at the gardens yesterday.
Close to 40 different bamboo species from all over the country have been planted at the bambusetum.
Salasiah said the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) had provided invaluable guidance to the department in selecting and caring for the plants.
The bambusetum is part of the Tourism Ministry’s RM7mil Botanic Gardens expansion project which also comprised a new visitors’ pavilion, facade and eco-stream walkway.
The project was completed in early 2011.
The Tourism Ministry had allocated an additional RM450,000 to enhance and maintain the bambusetum collection after criticisms by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that the attraction was devoid of bamboo plants.
The ministry’s Penang office director Jamie Yeoh said the bambusetum was progressing well.
“We have been monitoring the project closely and are excited to showcase it to the public.
“We are planning an event called the ‘Bamboo Symphony’ to highlight research on the plants as well as its traditional usage in everyday life and music.
“It will be interesting,” she said, adding that the event was slated for the fourth quarter of the year.
~News courtesy of The Star~
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