Event with a twist
THE Lions Club of George Town Perdana, Region 1 Leo Clubs, Penang Sports Council and St Nicholas Home are jointly organising the Walk for Sight 2010 on April 11.
The 3.8km walk will be flagged off at Padang Polo on Jalan Sepoy Lines in Penang by Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at 8am.
Organising chairperson Beatrice Lam said a sighted person would lead another sighted walker who would be blindfolded during the walk.
“We hope to get 3,000 participants and raise RM100,000 which will be channelled to St Nicholas Home,” she said.
The route will take walkers along Jalan Utama, Jalan Brown, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Cantonment, Jalan Macalister and Jalan Residensi before finishing back at Jalan Sepoy Lines.
The fee is RM15 per person. To participate or donate, call Lam at 012-4889289 or St Nicholas Home at 04-2290800.
Airline increases Penang-Guangzhou flights
CHINA Southern Airlines is increasing its number of flights for the Penang-Guangzhou route and vice versa from four per week to daily flights, effective April 1.
Its general manager Terry Deng told a press conference yesterday that the rationale for increasing the number of flights was because of the region’s improved economy.
“We believe it is possible now to increase passenger traffic to Penang from Guangzhou and vice versa. Our move will also enable us to attract more passengers from Indonesia and Thailand,” he said.
Also present at the press conference were Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and state Tourism Development, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Danny Law.
Deng said the airline was targeting to fly 2,000 passengers daily on the Penang-Guangzhou route, compared to over 1,000 presently.
He also said the new arrival time in Penang, starting next month, would be 8.35pm instead of the present 11pm.
“The change is to allow our passengers time to travel out of Penang.
“The new arrival time in Guangzhou is being shifted to 12.55pm instead of noon presently to cut short the transit time for our passengers,” he said.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Colouring competition
The Kuntum-McDonald’s Colouring Com-petition will be held from 8am to 1pm at the D’Piazza Mall in Bayan Baru, Penang, on Saturday. The competition is for primary school pupils and divided into two categories. For details, call Kam at 04-6473399.
Buddha relics
The Maitreya Relics Tour will be held at Chokyi Gyaltsen Centre (CGC), 37-Y Lorong Zoo 1, off Zoo Road, Air Itam, Penang, this weekend. The exhibition is open free to the public daily from 10am to 7pm on both days. The relics are those of Shakyamuni Buddha and other Buddhist masters. The relics resemble beautiful, pearl-like crystals. For details, call Chew at 012-5379389 or Daniel Yeoh at 012-3810622.
KDU roadshow
SPM school leavers who are interested in pursuing a career in design are invited to attend a KDU College roadshow at Gurney Plaza from Friday to Sunday (10am to 10pm. For details, call 04-2266368.
CSR seminar
Universiti Sains Malaysia’s communication students are holding a two-day seminar on ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Efforts by University for the Environment’ from Saturday at the School of Communi-cation (C10 Building). For details, call project director Rajeswary at 014-6170746 or email nemgrads10rajes@gmail.com.
Career path
There will be a talk on career and further education for SPM and STPM leavers at Dewan Sri Pinang on Sunday. It is open to students and parents. Admission is free. For details, call Premila at 012-4073164, Shanmugam (012-4502225) or Sivakumar (012-4052306).
Meet-the-people session
The Penang Municipal Council will hold its monthly meet-the-people session on March 19 from 3pm to 5pm at Komtar Level Four (Bilik Minda). For details, call 04-2637637.
Computer class
YWCA Penang is organising a two-month-long computer class for senior citizens from April 3 (11am to noon) at its 8A Jalan Masjid Negri premises. The fee is RM20 per person. For registration, call 04-8281855/04-8280741.
Charity walk
A blind folded charity walk will be held on April 11 at Padang Polo to raise funds for St Nicholas Home. Lucky draw prizes include a motorcycle, LCD television and a laptop. For details, call 04-2290800 or log on to www.walkforsight.com.
English workshop
Wawasan Open University (WOU) will hold a two-day workshop for teachers on the teaching of second cycle of literary texts for KBSM English Language at WOU Penang on Saturday (Form One texts) and Sunday (Form Four texts) from 9am to 5pm. For details, call Mohan (03-92817323).
Flea market
The Malaysian-German Society Penang will hold its annual open day together with a flea market from 3pm onwards on March 20 at its premises at 250B Jalan Air Itam. There will be lots of German food, homemade cakes and bargains at the flea market. All are welcome. Those interested to set up a stall can call Caryn at 04-2296853.
-Info courtesy of The Star-
DESPITE the shutdown of the Penang Hill funicular train service up to the hill, tourists and locals wishing to admire the magnificent views of the island from atop can still do so by taking 4WD rides to the peak.
Jeep rides are available next to the entrance of the Botanic Gardens in Jalan Kebun Bunga.
Tourists won’t miss it as there is a ‘Penang Hill 4X4 Jeep Service” banner strung up prominently.
The funicular train, which had been running since 1923, ceased operations on Feb 22.
The 87-year-old funicular railway will be closed for at least seven months to make way for a RM63mil system complete with a new Swiss-made coach, cable, control panel, electrical switch box, gear and haul cable.
Penang Hill Residents Association secretary Beh Chin Siang said the jeep service is priced at RM15 per person for a return trip.
“Each 4WD is able to take four persons but if the tourists do not want to wait until the seats are filled, we can also provide the service at RM60 per jeep.
“There are about 10 to 12 jeeps on stand by daily.
“The ride will take less than 30 minutes and other than lush greenery, tourists will be in awe of the island’s panoramic view from 830m above sea level,” he said.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Enlightening tale
PENANGITES are in for a treat when The Siddhartha Musical Show makes its debut at Dewan Sri Pinang from March 19 to 21.
The proceeds from ticket sales of the musical show will go to Phor Tay Private School, Pu Ai Building Fund of Medicine Buddha Hall and Community Hall and CGC Buddhist Study Centre Building Fund.
Fundraising committee chairman Datin Goh Suat Guat said The Musical On Stage Productions (MOSP), a musical group from Kuala Lumpur, had brought the show to various cities including Singapore, Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Jakarta.
She said the three-hour show, with a 15-minute interval, would be presented in two acts and 19 scenes.
“More than 200 costume pieces, headgears and accessories have been made according to the ethnic styles and flavour of the ancient Indian period,” she said.
The story revolves around Prince Siddhartha, who was born in B.C. 464 in ancient India where people were divided by a caste system.
Once, he chanced upon the sights of birth, aging, sickness and death, and was awakened to the suffering of mankind.
With a determination to end all suffering, he went on a poignant sojourn in search of truth in life and the universe.
After years of practice, he finally attained enlightenment and became The Buddha.
The three-day show will start at 8pm, with an extra show to be slotted in on the last day at 2pm. Tickets are priced at RM50, RM70 and RM100.
For details on ticket sales, call 04-2271469, 04-6414822, 012-4076490 or 012-4386228.
More information can be found at www.musicalonstage.com.
-News courtesy of The Star-
9 - 11 APRIL 2010
(11:00am - 9:00pm) Penang International Sports Arena (PISA), Penang
Kek Lok Si TempleTHE 119-year-old Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang has become a night attraction during this Chinese New Year festive season with visitors thronging its grounds to snap photos of themselves amidst a backdrop of over 10,000 lanterns and 230,000 decorative bulbs that adorn the temple complex.
Photographic Society of Penang adviser Song Jin Teik, 72, said the temple had always been a haven for enthusiastic shutterbugs during this time of the year as it was only then that it would be so beautifully lit up.
“My friends from other states and countries always ask me to bring them to our ‘secret spot’ to capture the best view of the colourful pagodas and ornate rooftops in dazzling multi-coloured lights,” he said.
Temple trustee Datuk Steven Ooi said the crowd visiting the temple complex had doubled this year compared to the Chinese New Year season last year.
“Many of them came with the purpose of enjoying the night view, especially following the completion of the 20-storey pavilion housing the Goddess of Mercy (Kuan Yin) statue,” he said when contacted recently.
Among the visitors were couple Janet Tan and Bryan Moh, both 25, who would make it an annual affair to visit the temple during the Chinese New Year season.
“It is always a must-do thing during Chinese New Year to come here and snap some beautiful photos.
“This year is definitely more worthwhile since we also get to take photos with the pavilion,” said graphic artist Moh.
The temple had recently earned three entries in the Malaysia Book of Records — the tallest pavilion at 89.23m, the tallest bronze Goddess of Mercy statue at 33.67m, and the tallest granite pillars at 42.24m.
Night visits are allowed only during the first 28 days of the new lunar year which started on Feb 14.
From now till March 13, the festive lights will be switched on from 7pm to 10pm.
-News courtesy of The Star-
