City Hall, Penang

Photo taken on 4/10/2012 at 11.57am. =p

*no editing ok. the skies are real. yes i noe it's sexy!*

Junction of Lorong Chulia - Lorong Pasar, Penang

Photo taken at 4.37pm on Friday 14/9/2012.

Do you know where is this?

I think this must be the first time the rain suddenly poured when I attempted to make a panorama shot. Fuh the moment you was rushing to complete your shot was so chikek!

Memories of Lebuh Farquhar, Penang

Does this street in the middle looks familiar to you, especially Penangites?

This is Lebuh Farquhar where St. George's Church (left) and the Penang High Court (right) are.

It's also the street where I had my education in SK Hutchings (age 7-12), SMK Hutchings SMH (age 13-17) and St Xavier's Institution SXI (age 18-19) all at the same road. 

In my primary school years, my mum sent me to school by her old C70 Honda motorbike. My grandpa use his bicycle to fetched me to school too. Then in secondary school, I took school bus before I went to school with public transport myself. I cycled to school too. If my memory is still good, there was a free Shuttle Bus service in year 2002. Oh i always had free ride around George Town before and after my co-curriculum activities. Hehehe. In Form 4, at the age of 16, I use scooter after I got my driving license.

Not to forget, this is the street where I got to know the girls from Convent Light Street (CLS). HOHOHO. Eh, I didn't spy on them at the bus stop la ok. Students from SMH, SXI and CLS always involved together in school activities.

I remember there used to be more huge trees in front of the church but it has been chopped down. The court wasn't that big until they extend it few years ago.

So do you remember some of your childhood memories?

charm of Penang

Date: 25/4/2012

Time: 11.02am 

Venue: Junction of Lebuh Victoria and Gat Lebuh China

Chowrasta Market

Chowrasta Market is actually located at Jalan Kuala Kangsar. It's accessible from Jalan Campbell, Jalan Penang and Jalan Kimberley as well. This is one of the busiest wet markets in the town. The local Hokkiens call it 'kennabansan'.

Date: 12/4/2012

Time: 9.35pm

Venue: Chowrasta Market, Jalan Kuala Kangsar, Penang.

Lim Jetty Panorama

Date: 13/4/2012

Time: 12.25pm

Venue: Lim Jetty, Weld Quay, Penang

China Street of Penang

It feels good to do things that you like to do.. again. =p

This is China Street, a street facing directly to Kuan Im Teng or Goddess of Mercy Temple.

Take a walk down the street on the weekends when there's not much vehicles la. 

Trust me, mark my words.

After few months, the façade or the exterior of these buildings will be different. =p 

Ok, eyes are so sticky, forcing itself to open up widely.

I'm done with today. Good night. 

Date: 25/3/2012

Time: 6.19pm

Venue: China Street, Penang. 

Acheen Street Mosque (Masjid Lebuh Acheh) Penang

Date: 22/2/2012

Time: 3.18pm

Venue: Acheen/Acheh Street, Penang

*this is the result for standing exactly in the middle of the tiny road and got honked by vehicles that turned either to the right or left.*

*well, this enclave or the surrounding area is where i used to play and hang out when i was a kid. it was so laujuak and happening last time. but now as we grown up, we moved away. but that's not the reason the area is quiet now. It's because of the high rental after the repeal of Rent Control Act.*

*i wish not to see George Town is only occupied by the rich foreigners or expatriates but the own local Penangites. This might be materialised if the government once again 'activate' Rent Control Act.*

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

Campbell Street Market, Penang (panorama)

Campbell Street Market at night. This market is one of the earliest markets in the UNESCO World Heritage City of George Town. Although many George Town people have moved out and the youngsters prefer to go to the malls to buy raw food, this market is still as crowded as it used to be. Penangites still choose this old market besides than the nearby Chowrasta Market. This market which was built in around 1900 does not only served as a market but also as a melting pot of the multi-culturalism and symbol of unity and harmony in Penang. It's a good thing that it's being preserved and it should remain that way. Heritage and development can co-exist.

This market is also known as 'Sin Keh' in the local Hokkien dialect.

Date: 8/10/2011

Time: 2.52am

Venue: Campbell Street / Lebuh Campbell, George Town, Penang

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.

Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Date: 16/8/2011

Time: 5.50pm

Venue: Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

 I'm glad i made it to Jalan Sultan today. It's my off day and for the first time i went out just to take pictures. It's so hard to take panorama shots in Kuala Lumpur. The cars and the people just won't stop moving. aduih.. I stood there to get this shot for about 15 minutes. I stood still at one point with my tripod ok. I couldn't move my camera, if not the angle sure lari. Everyone were like staring at me..

Anyway, we might not have the chance to see this view again in the future. Jalan Sultan is just next to Petaling Street. The entire stretch of the century old shophouses in this Chinese community enclave will be demolished to make way for underground LRT project at the end of the year.

It's such a sad thing when history and living heritage is being wipe out from our eyes.

The residents are against the project but i find it hard for them to fight the case. They will be compensated. Let's see whether the buildings and the landscape here can be preserved for the generations to come.

I'm sad heritage buildings will be demolished.

I don't wish to see a concrete jungle in Malaysia.

Don't sacrifice so many people's livinghood, heritage, living culture, history, identity and sense of belonging in the name of rapid development. All these elements can work together..

View from SMK Hutchings

Date: 11/5/2011

Time: 2.48pm

Venue: SMK Hutchings, Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 Penang