Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photowalk - August 23rd, Georgetown, Penang.
We meet in front of the Kapitan Keling Mosque at 5:00pm, brief by Matthew Brandon,our walk leader... than we walk up Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling, by the Chinese Temple and then up to St George's Church then back down through Little India and all meet at Kasim Mustafa Nasi Kandar for Teh Tarik at 7:00pm. Visit my gallery for more photo.
The breathtaking indigo of its exterior walls harmonizing perfectly
with the cerulean blue of the sky behind it might seem to some to
be 'feng shui perfection.' The observation is not far from the truth,
because indeed many other feng shui symbols are to be found meticulously
incorporated into the architecture of this courtyard mansion, if you
know where to look.
Built by Cheong Fatt Tze in the 1880s, the stately mansion (located
in present day Leith Street) was built by master craftsmen from China
using building materials imported from the West. Tour guides will
be pleased to tell you about the building's 38 rooms, five granite-paved
courtyards, seven staircases and 220 windows. The mansion fell from
grace a few years after the passing of its owner and was for a while
even used as a tenement house.It wasn't until 1990 when a group of
heritage preservationists rushed to its rescue. Ten years later, restoration
of the Cheong Fatt Tze mansion deservedly won the UNESCO Asia Pacific
Heritage Award 2000.
You are invited to participate in a fully conducted tour at 11.00
am or 3.00 pm Monday to Friday and 11.00 am every Saturday and Sunday.
Tours for educational purposes - schools, colleges, companies etc.
may be privately arranged at special prices.
Price : RM 10.00 per person. Tickets may be purchased
at the Mansion or contacting this number : 6-04-262
5289 or email:
St George's Church Oldest Anglican church in Malaysia
Saint George Church, is reportedly the oldest Anglican church in Malaysia. Built by convicts, at the corner of Lebuh Farquhar and Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling, it has been faithfully holding services since its conception in 1818. The grand Francis Light memorial that rests in front of the church is a reflection of Penang's tribute to Francis Light, who established the island in 1786. Stroll through the grounds and if you are lucky, you might just hear sweet strains of the church choir practising. Services in English are held on Sundays at 8.30am.
Penang will host the 26th Penang International Dragon Boat Festival 2005 at the Teluk Bahang dam from June 10 to 12.
OVERVIEW
Dragon boat racing is a sport that has existed for centuries. Founded in China, it combines the power, speed and endurance of 12 or 20 people. Manned by paddlers, steerers and a drummer, the exquisite dragon boats surge towards the finish line, accompanied by the thunder of drums and roar of the crowd.
Outside of China, Malaysia was the first country to hold dragon boat races. In 1934, dragon boat racing was first introduced as a sporting activity in Penang.
In 1956, Penang’s first dragon boat race was held to commemorate the Georgetown Municipal Council’s 100th anniversary. 10 years later, the sport was revived as part of Pesta Pulau Pinang (Penang Festival).
In those early years, the races saw only local participation from teams including government departments, associations and commercial establishments. But, the sport gained popularity and in 1979, the first Penang International Dragon Boat Festival took place with 2 teams from overseas, Singapore and Hong Kong.
The Penang International Dragon Boat Festival is a state government project and supported by the Penang State Tourism Division, Tourism Malaysia and the Penang State Water Authority.
Today, the festival is a hotly contested competition with teams from many countries fighting for the coveted grand prize.
The 25th Penang International Dragon Boat Festival was a tremendous success. It was the biggest & greatest dragon boat festival event in the history of Penang. Hopefully the 26th Penang International Dragon Boat 2005 will be even better.
Penang's northern shoreline is famous for its beautiful beaches
of golden sand and deep blue seas. The Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi
and Teluk Bahang beaches offer expansive stretches of glittering
sand interspersed with secluded coves within the shelter of gigantic
rocks. It is along this famous coastline that resorts of international
standard have sprouted up, offering a host of water-based recreational
facilities.
If you crave for privacy, head for Teluk Duyung, Monkey Beach, Pantai
Keracut and Pantai Mas accessible via the trails in the Pantai Acheh
Forest Reserve from Teluk Bahang. The Pasir Panjang Beach at the
southwestern tip of the island is a good clean stretch for swimming
and can be reached after a 25-minute hike over hilly land from Betong.
With a population of more than one million, Penang is a melting pot of culture. Apart from the three main racial communities of Malaysia - Malay, Chinese and Indian - there are Arabs and Eurasians, the latter being a result of inter-racial marriages. As it is, one is exposed to a variety of cultural experiences which give the island an added touch of colour.
At the first sign of dusk, the city reveals another facade of its exciting life. As the night sets in and the city lights come on, the evening pulsates with promise. For those who have brought their dancing shoes, there are numerous night spots throughout the city to dance away the night. Most hotels have discotheques and/or live bands to liven up the evening for their guest. On occasion, concerts and cultural shows are staged at various public places in the city. Bars and pubs are open till late in the night.
