Magazine Circus, George Town, Penang

Magazine Circus? Ever wonder what is that? Before that, have you ever heard of it? I only knew about it when I was in high school. That time I was helping out with Penang Heritage Trust and involved with Anak-Anak Kota.

Now let’s guess. Do you know which part of George Town is this? This is the junction in front of Komtar where 5 major roads in George Town meet namely Penang Road, Magazine Road, Gurdwara Road (formerly known as Brick Kiln Road), Dato Keramat Road and Macalister Road.

At this very junction which formerly known as Magazine Circus, there used to be a roundabout to 6 roads before the present Komtar was built. The road that was taken off from the map was Gladstone Road.

Magazine Circus was known as Simpang Enam to the Malays and Goh Pha Teng (Five Lanterns) to the Hokkiens.

Anyway it was a tough job to do a panorama shot here as these are busy roads. Vehicles flowing non stop. People walking here and there. And the weather was superbly sunny and hot in the afternoon. I got sunburn for standing there waiting for the right moments eventhough it was only for 15 minutes.

But it’s all worth it to see the result. I found myself addicted to panorama shot nowadays. Ahhh.. Let’s document Penang in panorama. =p

For more info about Magazine Circus, go to http://www.penang-traveltips.com/magazine-circus.htm and http://anilnetto.com/society/public-transport/old-penang-magazine-circus/#more-32175

For more info about Gladstone Road, go to http://www.penang-traveltips.com/gladstone-road.htm

Interior of Leaning Tower in Teluk Intan (panorama)

Have you guys been to this Malaysian version of Eiffel Tower in Perak? This leaning tower is located at Teluk Intan. It's worth to pay a visit there. For those of you who never been up there, this is how it looks like at the top floor. The wall is made from bricks and it's visible clearly. The leaning tower is open everyday for visit except Monday. Entrance is free. 

Date: 16/10/2011

Time: 2.14pm

Venue: Teluk Intan, Perak, Malaysia

Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association, Kuala Lumpur

Date: 16/8/2011

Time: 6.32pm

Venue: Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association, No. 51, Jalan Sultan, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This building is actually at the corner of Jalan Hang Jebat and Jalan Sultan. The entrance is from both sides.

There are few shops in the building such as tailor shop and chinese bookstore. On the second floor, there's a budget hostel for backpackers.

If Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (Prasarana) continues with its plan to demolish houses along Jalan Sultan for its MRT Project, this building will have to make way for it.

I wana thank Ai Loon for telling me that this is the oldest building along Jalan Sultan. If not, i won't pay notice to it.  

True enough, Yan Keng Benevolent Dramatic Association was founded in 1920. It's 101-year old already.

According to Badan Warisan Malaysia, it is one of the oldest Chinese opera clubs in Kuala Lumpur. It raises money for charity by performances of Chinese opera and choral singing. The money is mainly donated to the old folks' homes, hospitals and schools. As membership decreased, part of the premises is now sublet for extra revenue. The tall parapet wall, facing Jalan Hang Jebat, with the name of the Association on it, replaces the original balustrades typical of the period. Beautiful classical arches line the five-foot way.

There are so much stories to tell from the building alone. What more along Jalan Sultan and the houses here. Put aside heritage, put aside history, what about the residents here, what about the businesses here?

We are losing heritage over development.