Market attraction

Market attraction

THE spirit of Christmas permeated the Little Penang Street Market on Sunday with a series of seasonally-themed activities contributing to the festive atmosphere.

While some were busy browsing through the many stalls selling Christmas ornaments and figurines, others were taking in several live musical and drama performances at The Space, the market’s performing arts stage.

The International School of Penang’s (Uplands) drama students showcased two short sketches, including a short preview of their upcoming play, Best Christmas Pageant Ever, to be held at Wawasan Open University on Dec 4 to 6.

Also gracing the stage were the Penang Free School Jazz Band and Lisa Theunissen & the Spunk Unit, resident singer and band of G Hotel’s G Spot. The IWA Choir also serenaded the public with some delightful Christmas carols.

Santa Claus then made an appearance for the day’s highlight, the Christmas tree lighting ceremony, greeting visitors with his customary “ho-ho-ho!” and posing for pictures with visitors, although it was still a little early to be giving out presents.

The Little Penang Street Market returns on Dec 27 with more performances and activities to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

-News courtesy of The Star Online-

Musical Concert

10,000 lamps, candles to be lit at concert

THE Penang International Sports Arena will be brightly lit with 10,000 lamps and candles during a grand musical concert on Dec 26.

The 2009 Annual Blessing Ceremony titled ‘Purity, Great Love, Innumerable Meanings, Musical Sign Language Performance Concert’ will feature 1,108 of performers during the two-hour concert.

Buddhist Tzu-Chi Merits Society Malaysia president Koay Chiew Poh said 500 people would be performing sign language, 500 on choir and another 108 performing drama.

“The lighting up of the lamps and candles signifies the world to be free of disasters and for peace. We’ve chosen Dec 25 as it’s public holiday which makes it convenient for members from outstation to join us. On Dec 26, the concert will be open for members from Penang,” he said.

Their charitable work include community service like emergency relief work for fire or flood victims, free dialysis service and interest-free study loan programmes.

-News courtesy of The Star Online-

Time to be merry

Time to be merry

WITH Christmas around the corner, business premises in Penang are setting the festive mood by putting up Christmas trees decked with shiny and colourful decorations.

The Gurney Plaza has placed a 7.6m tree, which is believed to be one of the tallest in the state, to greet visitors in conjunction with its ‘Christmas Sparkles’ celebration.

Gurney Plaza marketing communications manager Sharley Ooi said the highlight of the celebration would be the Dragon Ball Z-Heroic Christmas show.

She said it would be held from Dec 11 to Dec 20 at the central atrium with a photo session opportunity with its characters namely Goku, Vegeta, Piccolo and Buu.

She added that the show times would be start at 2pm and 4pm on weekdays and 2pm, 4pm and 6pm on weekends.

-News courtesy of The Star Online-

Jetstar doubles flights from Singapore

Jetstar doubles flights from Singapore to Penang

Jetstar Asia recently doubled the frequency of its Singapore-Penang flights to twice a day.

The route was launched on July 1 and marked the 17th destination for the low-cost airline that serves four Malaysian cities – Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Penang.

“The Jetstar service on the Singapore-Penang route will expand to double daily or 14 times weekly,” said Jetstar Asia chief executive officer Chong Phit Lian in a media statement.

News courtesy of the Star

Penang trishaws makeover

Penang trishaws due for makeover soon

Good news for trishaw riders in the state — they will not only be “re-branded” but will soon have a place to take a shower or a short nap during the day.

State Tourism Development and Culture Committee chairman Danny Law Heng Kiang said 90 trishaws from two organisations would also be overhauled and repaired by the end of the year.

He said the exercise was made possible by the joint initiative of the state government and DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd.

On the venue for riders to rest or take a shower, he said several sites in Victoria Street and Kimberley Street were being considered.

“There is only one shop in the state that does such repairs, which means it will take time to repair all the 90 trishaws.”

Currently, it costs RM30 for an hour-long tour.

News courtesy of the Star

Penang War Museum

Penang War Museum

It was at Bukit Batu Maung, on the southern part of Pulau Pinang that the battle against the invading Japanese army was lost. In the 1930, a formidable fortress was built by the British army atop Bukit Maung, to protect the island against the enemy. Manned by not only British soldiers, but also Malay and Sikh soldiers, Bukit Maung fell during an attack in which the Japanese army approached from inland, rather than from sea, as was expected by the British army.

From that day onwards, the fortress at Bukit Maung transformed into a Japanese army base with a dark history, filled with narrations of how prisoners were tortured for information to help forward the advancement of the Japanese army into Malaya. As a result, Bukit Maung, in the years following the fall of the Japanese army in 1945, the locals in the area kept well away of Bukit Maung for fear of its reputation as a place of hauntings by ghosts of dead soldiers.

The fortress was constructed over 20 acres of land, complete with underground military tunnels and ventilation shafts, ammunition bunkers, logistic centre, canon firing bays, sleeping quarters, cook houses and medical infirmary. After several years of restoration and clearing the fortress area that was covered by shrubs and growths after so many years of abandonment, the fortress was turned into the War Museum by a local Penangite, Johari Shafie three decades later.

Today, a slow walk through the fortress will fire the imagination on what once was. From the canon firing bay the Straits of Melaka is clearly visible. Although the original canons are no longer on site, it is not difficult to imagine how British, Malay and Sikh soldiers once took turn manning the canon bays day and night, guarding against enemy attach from sea. A simple, but no less remarkable section of underground tunnels – one even leads all the way to the sea, acting as an access tunnel to get to submarines – forces one to walk, or even crawl through very narrow, confined places.

Opening Hour : 9.00am to 6.00pm daily
War Museum Address: No Lot 1350 Mukim 12, Batu Maung 11960， Pulau Pinang
Tel: 04-626 5142
Rapid Penang Bus Route No: U302 / U305 / U307

-Information courtesy of Penang Online-

Penang Bridge International Marathon

Penang Bridge International Marathon 2009

Date: 22nd November 2009
Official Website: www.penangmarathon.gov.my
Contact: +604-650 5136
E-mail: admin@penangmarathon.gov.my