Bus and ferry companies go extra mile

Bus and ferry companies go extra mile for passengers

RAPID Penang will be extending its operation hours for certain routes until 2am tomorrow, in view of the various New Year’s Eve countdown celebrations tonight.

Its commercial and communications manager Mohd Tajudin Mohd Kassim said the extension of the operation hours till after midnight was to cater to the needs of the public, who will be attending various events all over the state to celebrate the New Year.

He said 17 bus routes on the island and mainland would be extended until 1.30am or 2am.

Buses that will operate until 1.30am are plying these routes:

202 (Weld Quay to Paya Terubong) and 203 (Weld Quay to Air Itam);

301 (Weld Quay to Relau) and 303 (Weld Quay to Bukit Gedong);

401 (Weld Quay to Balik Pulau via Bayan Baru);

601 (Penang Sentral to Kepala Batas);

801 (Penang Sentral to Nibong Tebal) and 802 (Bukit Mertajam to Nibong Tebal).

Buses that will operate until 2am are:

101 (Weld Quay to Teluk Bahang);

302 (Weld Quay to Batu Maung via Jalan Bukit Gambir), 304 (Gurney to Bukit Gedong) and 307 (Weld Quay to Batu Maung via Bayan Baru);

401E (Weld Quay to Balik Pulau via Queensbay);

502 (Weld Quay to Balik Pulau via Paya Terubong);

701 (Penang Sentral to Bukit Mertajam via Megamal), 702 (Pe-nang Sentral to Bukit Mertajam via Ampang Jajar) and 703 (Penang Sentral to Seberang Jaya).

For the timetable, visit http://www.rapidpg.com.my/ or its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/rapidpgfans.

Penang Port Sdn Bhd has decided to provide ferry services for over 43 hours from 5.20am today.

Its ferry services unit head Fisnol Mahmud said the ferry services would start at the normal operation hour of 5.20am from the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth today.

“We anticipate a huge crowd on Dec 31, hence we are extending our operation hours until the last ferry departs from the Pengkalan Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal in Weld Quay at 1am on Jan 2,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He added that the extension of the operation hours would depend on the traffic volume of those using the ferry services.

~News courtesy of The Star~

All set to welcome Snake Year

All set to welcome Snake Year

PENANG plans to usher in the New Year with a splash. The Penang Chinese New Year Cultural and Heritage Celebration 2013 promises to be a colourful event.

State Town and Country Planning, Housing and Arts Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said the event would be held on Feb 16 from 3pm until midnight and it was estimated to attract more than 100,000 locals and foreigners alike.

“It will be organised by the Penang Chinese Clan Council and Clan Association Youth Committee Penang.

“The state government fully supports the celebration as a platform for the young to understand olden traditions.

“There will be 13 stage and cultural performances that will be held at the George Town Unesco World Heritage Site including Armenian Street, Ah Quee Street, Chulia Street, Masjid Kapitan Keling, Poh Hock Seah, Yap Kongsi, Khoo Kongsi and Dr Sun Yat Sen Penang Base,” he said.

During the press conference, Wong added that several performances had been incorporated into the celebration to mark the Year of the Snake.

“Visitors can check out a stage show telling the famous Chinese tale ‘Legend of the White Snake’ plus a snake show,” he explained.

Other highlights are handicraft demonstrations, calligraphy and Chinese martial arts.

Wong said that with the event less than a month away, the organisers had beefed up online publicity via http://www.facebook.com/penangcny and http://penangclan.blogspot.com/.

~News courtesy of The Star~

A merry musical countdown

A merry musical countdown

FANS of Taiwanese music are in for a treat as a host of superstars from Taipei will help usher in the New Year at Penang Times Square in style.

The Chin Ho Plaza will welcome some big hitters in the Taiwan music industry including popular Taiwanese singer/ actor/ host and leader of the 5566 music group, Tony Sun, Chang Chieh and Cheng Po Fu as well as music groups Mars and Xiao Yu Zhou (Little Space in English).

The event will kick off at 8.30pm on Dec 31 with M2Club singer Prince serenading the audience.

Then comes the Zumbathon session to keep the crowd pumping before European superstars Daniela and Jacob take over the mike.

It will be a non-stop flow of music in the run-up to the countdown as Soju Room resident band Crush Crew Project will appear in their striking New Year outfits to entertain the crowd.

A few lucky shoppers will also be selected on stage to play some games and win mystery prizes during intervals.

The highlight of the night will be at the stroke of midnight when all performers, together with the invited guests, take to the stage for a 10-second countdown to ring in the New Year.

A firework display is also scheduled.

For details, call 04-2109020, or visit www.penangtimessquare.com or www.facebook.com/penangtimessquare.

~News courtesy of The Star~

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

6 new retailers adding to Gurney Paragon Mall

Six new retailers to be added to Gurney Paragon Mall

Gurney Paragon Mall is bringing in six new retailers to Penang which will be added to their three-storey retail podium and St Jo’s. These new retailers include Ben’s, Lunarich Pizza & Pasta, Angus House Japanese Charcoal Steak, JK Plastic Surgery Consultation Centre, My Dream Wedding and Dragon-i Signature.

Ben’s, Angus House Japanese Charcoal Steak, My Dream Wedding and Dragon-i Signature are opening their first stores in Northern region, whereas Lunarich Pizza & Pasta and JK Plastic Surgery Consultation Centre are operating their maiden Malaysian stores in Gurney Paragon.

Especially popular in Kuala Lumpur, Ben’s by the BIG Group is occupying more than 8,000 square foot of space spread over two levels of St Jo’s and is expected to open for business on 12 December 2012. The concept behind Ben’s brand is that great memories are shared over meals, thus to eat is to love. Ben’s is designed to evoke the warm, inviting kitchens and dining rooms of Ben’s family homes. From rustic-chic country clapboard to sophisticated city loft; each ‘home’ is unique in its style and personality.

Concentrating on international cuisine, the menu ranges from refreshing appetisers and salads, hearty East and West main courses, delicious snacks and luscious desserts. For more information on the restaurant, visit http://www.thebiggroup.co/bens/ .

Lunarich Pizza & Pasta has been opened since 23 November 2013. Originating from Korea, it is an Italian restaurant chain specializing in fire-pot pizzas as well as pastas and risottos. Its signature dishes include varieties of fire pot pizza such as Margherita, Gorgonzola and Luna Special; pastas such as Spaghetti Con Cozze e Pomodoro and Spaghetti alla Pescatore Cream; and Salads such, as Pollo and Salmon salads. For more information on the restaurant, visit www.lunarich.com.my.

Angus House Japanese Charcoal Steak offers and serves American and Italian cuisines delicately infused with Japanese flavours and style. It prides itself in serving the finest quality of imported beef. It is famous for the Charcoal Grilled Black Angus Beef Steak, Spaghetti with Salmon Roe & Abalone, Wagyu Beef Steak, Master KOBE and Tiramisu. Its menu also includes pastas, grilled or baked seafood platters and a list of wines, sakes and Japanese beers.

JK Plastic Surgery Consultation Centre at Gurney Paragon serves as a pre-treatment contact point where patient’s plastic surgery needs and travel arrangements are attended to before the actual treatment takes place in Korea. It provides consultation on facial contouring surgery, orthognathic or corrective jaw surgery, anti-aging, autologous, PRP fat grafting, breast augmentation, body contouring, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, hair grafting, and bone marrow stem-cell treatment and more. Visit http://english.jkplastic.com/index.html for more information.

My Dream Wedding is Malaysia’s first bridal house specialising in sending couples to top bridal houses overseas such as Hong Kong, Paris , Japan , Korea , Singapore , Macau , Taiwan and New Zealand to take their wedding photos. They also provide an exclusive collection of couture wedding gown, and services such as bridal bouquet, emcee/ DJ, flower decorations, live band performance, wedding day photography and videography. Visit www.mydreamweddinghouse.com for more information.

Dragon-i Signature serves authentic Shanghainese delicacies, and stands apart from other Dragon-i outlets with its fine-dining setting and an exclusive premium menu. Each delicacy is prepared by skilled chefs from mainland China and using high quality ingredients. Aside from catering to casual diners, Dragon-i Signature is also able to host corporate or private banquets.

~News courtesy of Visit Penang~

Majestic glow of a goddess

Majestic glow of a goddess

All lighted up: The Goddess of Mercy statue at Kek Lok Si in Air Itam. 

Those driving around Air Itam in Penang have a sight to behold.

The 30.2 metre-high bronze Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue at the Kek Lok Si Temple is now beautifully illuminated in the evenings.

After it was lighted up, even more tourists started flocking to the tourist attraction at night.

In the daytime, hundreds of visitors also headed to the temple to see it beside the pagoda.

When asked why the lights were up, temple trustee Datuk Steven Ooi said: “We are testing the lights (on a dry run) to ensure everything runs smoothly.”

According to him, the temple’s area is scheduled to be transformed into a fairyland of lights from Feb 6 until March 9 next year.

“We will turn on the lights at the Kuan Yin only on Feb 9, the eve of the Lunar New Year.”

Workers and staff at the temple are now beginning to install colourful lamps and lanterns to gear up for the official lighting-up ceremony next year.

Ooi also said that there were plans to decorate the temple in accordance with the Year of the Snake next year.

Earlier this year, a total of four dragon figurines were assembled at the temple in conjunction with the Year of the Dragon.

~News courtesy of The Star~