Collection flown in from Canada

After almost a month long of waiting, finally Elisha's parcel arrived from Canada.

Winter, spring, summer, autumn...we have different activities for all seasons

My new four seasons badges

all 18 badges

other badges...love the Girl Guides Cookies

11 steel badges ... Canadian Friendship, Spark Enrolment Pin, Canada GG volunteer pin, brown owl pin and tawny owl pin and ...

colar pins

steel pins

My new collection from Canada...Thank you, Elisha!

This is my guiding story...what about yours?

Happenings in Penang in this few weeks

This is for those in Penang and for those who are interested. There are lots of activities in Penang in this few weeks and I will be attending most :D

April

• 25 April 2009 - Vasakhi Open House 2009 (Sikh food and culture waiting for you to discover. I missed my meals in India...yummy yummy!)
• 26 April 2009 - Little Penang Street Market. It has been there for years ready but I as Penang lang also have not been.

May

• 2 May 2009 - Wesak Celebration. There will be a parade in the evening. Very happening in Penang
• 27 to 28 May 2009 - Break Out - Extreme Dance Comedy *will go if not too pricy
• 31 May 2009 - Komtar Tower Run 2009 (Registration form). I have already filed them up. Now waiting to submit :D
• 31 May to 7 June 2009 - Penang Floral Festival 2009...can play around with my camera macro mode

Coming in June and July

• 5 to 7 June 2009 - The annual Horse Show.
• 5 July 2009 - Penang Hill Climb 2009 (Registration form). I have filed up this as well now waiting to register. *FYI there are motor up in the lucky draw =,<

If interested, drop me a msg...

Georgetown Heritage Walk II & Grand Mazu Parade

Yes another round of heritage walk round Georgetown.

Started our trip after work on this Friday night. First, we have dinner at Lebuh Presgrave or commonly known as 三條路. I love the Hokkien Mee and especially the ice kacang topped with homemade peanut ice cream there so much. And this was my second serving this week :D

Too hungry till have totally forgoten to catch a shot of the Hokkien Mee. :X This place is also famous for their wan tan mee

also famous for 'oh chien'

Yummy ice cream...the uncle was very generous with topping...I love the ice cream, softand mashy kidney beans and of course the atap chi. I bet this will surely be better than what Mr Phuah quoted as 'best in Sg and JB and some say Batam'.

Then we drove straight into C. Y. Choy road into Beach Street. We could see the Grand Mazu Parade far away while we passed the Chulia Street. So we drove straight to Esplanade expecting to be able to catch them there and still have no problem in looking for a parking place. But later to find out that my guess was wrong. I have predicted the wrong parade route. Anyway we enjoyed our time cathing some photos at Esplanade area and hunt round Penang :P

sunset at esplanade :D
great place to date...
Penang City Hall
love the purple sky
the dark side of Penang High Court...hmmm
Dewan Sri Pinang
love the pinang... but not the LHDN...still a good shot with great lightning
the pinang and Queen V tower

Then we drove straight into Muntri Street at about 9.30pm. We thought most probably the parade have ended and everyone were back in the temple since we were told that the parade passed jetty area before 9. This was my first time in Muntri Street and my first encounter with Thean Hou Temple which house Goddess of Mazu.

the gate into Thean Hou Temple on Muntri Street

The temple was astonishing. I have never expected such a grand and finely decorated temple since it wasn't known to me. I have proudly claim that I know Penang landmark well and can surely be 'the guide in Penang' but this proves that I still have lots to discover in Penang. Will make more walking trip in Georgetown.

complex carving and new traditional looking lantern

So back on the temple, it was nicely lid, the burning scent gave the sacret feel and not the stuffy and choking environment for the ventilation of the temple was good. It has high roof and openings around and with many fans running. The wall panel and it's carving was so detailed with dragons and men.

the wall panel

soaring lion guarding the temple

After lighting some lamps and joss sticks, we decided to move on to catch up with the parade. We made around to Komtar. Yes we saw the parade passingby but we were diverted away from the police traffic on duty, forcing us to go another round along those one way streets.

Luckily enough we still managed to caught up with them right before they made their move into Muntri Street. This completed our trip. :D

Here was my long waiting ChingGay performance..my frist time witnessing this

goddess mascot...wasn't him cute with the 'V'...
another cute post..'ang gu gu'
this Jeneral or Mazu's Guardian was so tall...
Jenerals with fierce and strong outlooks
hmmm...flower car by Lims..has holy water fountain on it
Mazu's flower car
Mazu, the heroine of many fishermen. Being worshipped over thousand years. This parade was to celebrate her 1049th birthday

Georgetown Heritage Walk

2 weeks ago, I went for a heritage walk cum shooting session in Georgetown area with Anne, Gan, Shiu In and Kian Sian.

It was a long walk on Sunday morning. We began our day with breakfast at Gurney Drive. Then we drove straight and parked our car along Campbell Street. We began our walk along Campbell Street passing by the famous lots of goldsmith and jeweller. These shops have been operating for decades and were famous among the older generation.

well paved walkway welcoming 金龟婿 and 富太太... :P

here 金, there 金, everywhere 金金...

At the Campbell Street Market junction we turned into Carnavon Street. There were lots of stalls along this road, turning it into a Sunday morning market. At the end of the road, we crossed over Chulia Street and arrived at Love Lane. This was the 2nd time I was actually on foot here.

narrow walkway at Love Lane

a well preserve heritage building along Love Lane

This round we discovered the Penang Carpenter's Guild. This was one of the oldest trades association in Penang and have history of more than a century. Chinese association regardless of what it was based on has the same architecture concept. Most turned up to be a place of worship.

brave 猊, guarding the guild

So from the exterior, it looked much like a chinese temple but behind the main altar, there were lots of great master pieces being put up for exhibitions. Marble top chairs with complex carving, altar place and nailless and boltless tables were among their great collections.

the smoke from the burning joss stick turning the gold paint into rich brown colour

hand made hard wood chair decorated with marble

high roof...a common archi in all temple

this piece of 前 was most probably older than you and me

Then we headed to the Penang State Museum. The collections were good and we were in time to visit the Kokeshi, Japanese Doll exhibitions. Those dolls were adorable. We managed to take a few photos of them before being told told off by the guard. Anyway really appreciate the hard work of the craftsmen.

me at Penang State Museum

complex exterior of Penang State Museum. This building was formerly Penang Free School

Kokeshi doll

After chilling out in the museum, we continued our journey down Lebuh Farquhar, passing by the St. George's Church and the High Court into Jalan Masjid Kapitan. Took a few shots at Goddess of Mercy Temple before we walked into Little India to hunt for food and drinks. But we were disappointing to learn that my favourite Samosa stall was closed.

St. George's Church...blue sky and green grass

the newly renovated Penang High Court

Oldest temple in Penang, Goddess of Mercy Temple

It was too bright to take this shot but thanks to my sunglass for filtering of the excess ray

hot sunny day at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling

Masjid Kapitan Keling from Chulia Street

So walked back toward Campbell Street and passing by the Lebuh Cintra in hope to find some food to fill our stomach and again we were let down. We wanted to have Bak Chang at Kim Maou Cafe, cakes and tarts at Ng Kee Cafe, eiu char koay at an unknow stall there but all were closed...hungry and desperate, I recalled reading about Ecco Cafe situated along Chulia Street. So we took our chance and walked over to discover that it was close as well...finally we gave up.

Headed to Pengkalan Weld to have my favourite prawn fritters and okio...recharged after 2 serving of iccy okio...yummy!