Nice Sarongs & Shoes

Manage to capture these beautiful sarongs and beaded shoes.

Malayan Tobacco Company

This picture was taken in 1962, when the president of the Pan-Malayan Coffee shops' Association, Mr. Lim Jew Siang and his representatives visited the Malayan Tobacco Company. Mr. D. Brisden was then the chairman of the Malayan Tobacco Company. What interest me in this photo was that I did not know there was a so-called Coffee shops' Association and I wonder whether this association still exists today? Also the people portray in this picture has all the same kind of hairstyle, which are typically chinese! Cute.

Really old photos

Saw this photo and it suddenly gives me a nostalgic feeling. This photo does not show any sign of happiness although it is a wedding photograph. Those days all the marriages were pre-arrange by family members.

Sulam @ Embroidery

I love these intricate embroidery... so fine and delicate. Of course, this is solely hand made with the old domestic sewing machine whereby you get to pedal your way through. These intricate embroidery are mostly seen in Kebaya. The traditional costumes for the Nyonya, peranakan culture.

Chingay!

The term Chingay itself originated in Penang, Malaysia, which is a phonetic equivalent of the Chinese words "妆艺", which means "a decorated miniature stage" or float. Chingay is quite a rare scene in Penang these days, only when there's a festival or Pesta (The Penang Annual Holiday Fair), then you will see them parading with spectacular balancing act.

Penang Chingay Association has been in Penang for over a hundred years now. In the past, Chingay procession was held in celebration with the birthdays of the Chinese deities or the procession of the Goddess of Mercy ( Guanyin ), its purpose was to worship and enjoy with the deity. Chingay is about balancing the flag pole (bamboo pole) and the flag are the main materials for Chingay. The length of the flag pole ranges from 25 ft to 32 ft, the length of the flag is around 25 ft, the total weight of these materials is around 60 pounds. Awesome!

Ikebana

I know this Ikebana is originally from Japan. I went to the exhibition organised by the Japanese Women Society in Penang and they have Beautiful Japanese Ikebana flower show. I am throughly impress by the use of colours, textures and harmony feeling I felt during the show.

The Babas & Nyonyas

I have been featuring some Peranakan's buildings and stuff but not the people. So, here's a glimpse of what the original Babas and Nyonyas look like when they are wearing the traditional costumes. Well most of these petite ladies are still wearing those clothes day in and out like some Japanese wearing Kimonos. They will be wearing the "Kebaya" and "Sarong". From head to toe, attention to the details of embroideries and beads (manik); very fascinating.

Actors

Well, you don't see this often... well now is the Hungry Ghost's month. So you may find lots of streets setting up shows like the Chinese Opera along the streets to celebrate the Hungry Ghost festival.

Chinese Opera in Hokkien Dialect

I manage to took some of these photos during the public performance in front of the Goddess of Mercy Temple. Love the Vibrant colours and make-up. Most of the props and headgears come from Hong Kong, but all the actors and actress are local.

The Magnificent Silver Chariot.

In conjuction with all the celebrations, the Indians/ Hindus has exhibited this magnificent Silver Chariot along Penang Street. Most of the Penangites will have no clue of its importance among the Indians community. This particular Silver Chariot will parade once every year during "Thaipusam" festival. This lighted display of the Silver Chariot has not been done all this while; this is the first time that it is displayed to all the Penangites and tourists. Indeed, it a rare occasion.

This Silver Chariot is owned by the Registered trustees of Nattukkottai Nagarathar Temples, Penang. It was shipped to Penang on the Jan 1894. It was made in Karalkudi, South India. It is also almost about two storey high. Very impressive huh!

The Celebration!

This is the opening cerebration from the Teochew Association at Chulia Street. These kids are from Han Chiang High School. They were quite professional in their performances of the Chinese drums. Here are the Indians and Sikhs celebrating the Unesco listing by performing the Nadaswaram, Peacock dance, Horse dance, Urumi Melam Kolattam and Sikh Bhangra.

The Celebration Harmony Walk

Well often we hear all sorts of people gathering around for a protest or so.... but here we see this Harmony walk by all the different races in Malaysia. We have the Malays, Chinese and Indians whereby we all visited Churches, Hindu Temples, Chinese Temples and Mosques; regardless of individual beliefs. Here we are at the Harmony walk to say thanks and prayers to the individual gods that we have been listed.

Basket for sale?

All these old bamboo/rattan carrier baskets are not for sale, in fact it is a display of a variaties of baskets where people use when they shop for things in the wet market. As in the old days plastics bags has not even been introduced. The silver carrier are of common use during those days too.

Antique Chair

An impressive Mother-of-Pearl inlay antique chair with Marble. Guess it's made in the 19th century. These kinds of chairs are still own by a lot of Penangites and place it in their house. Normally they will not sell but will pass it on from generation t o generation; unless if one of the generation are broke then they might sell off to potential buyers.

Peek-a-boo

Peeping through the door use to be a norm for the ladies inside the house when there's a visitor visiting the house. As women were not allowed to explose themsleves.

The Pinang Peranakan Museum is located at 29 church Street.

Church of Assumption

It's a sunny day! This church has been here for a real long time now.

The Cathedral was first founded in 1786, originally, it was named Church of the Assumption as the Roman Catholic Eurasians from Kedah landed in Penang that year on the eve of the Feast of the Assumption. The present building, erected by Father Manisol, was opened in 1861. In 1955 the church became known as the Cathedral of the Assumption. English services are held at 11am and 6.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays only. At other times, the church is closed off to visitors.

Car Number Plates...

It is bizarre to know that Penangites tend to go crazy over car number plates! They always look for lucky numbers like no.1,2,5,6,8,9... etc. All the numbers has to do with the culture, in this part of Malaysia, where mostly are of Chinese origin, they tend to love numbers. Accordingly, it brings them luck! All these lucky number plates aren't cheap as well, they cost the owner at least RM500-3000 or more if you were to book a particular number plate. As you can see most of the vehicles here are luxury cars, some family actually have 10 cars with the same number! Incredible huh!

The Five Lanterns

This unique Five Lanterns are placed at the front of a Chinese Temple. It is unique because the older generation in Penang used to named it "Goh Pa Teng" which signifies the location and the street. It is located near Armenian Street in Penang, in front of "Poh Hock Siah" in Hokkien dialect; Chinese temple.

Well, history notes that the early chinese settlements in Penang used to form societies /clans / gangs. This is one of the Landmark whereby they speak of and gather at the temple to discuss social issues and problems. Like say, you watch the Chinese mafia movie whereby they gather and talk and negociate......... so this is the place!

The Guardians

The Happy and Sad monks.... Found these at the entrance of the "Khoo Kongsi Temple", Penang. It is a clan temple where all the ancestors of the "Khoo" family 'stays'.
These are also the guardians of the temples. You can see that they are actually facing outside the temple and holding a riffle! Ages ago, the "Singhs" are highly acknowledge for their guarding skills. They are the most hired bodyguards of the rich tycoons. That's why we are seeing these guardians statues in a chinese clan temple.