Cage Mercy

We were at the Beow Hiang Lim Temple, for Ching Ming (prayers for my ancestors) just a few day back and at a certain corner of the Temple Grounds, I could see Kek Lok Si, or Temple of the Supreme Bliss, with its Kuan Yin Statue, which is undergoing works.

The Kuan Yin Statue or Goddess of Mercy Statue, looks like it is being enclose in a cage! Which lead to to entitle this Photo "Cage Mercy".

@Penang & Malaysia

Introducing @ Penang & Malaysia at http://www.penangandmalaysia.blogspot.com/

.

@Penang & Malaysia is my new blog, on Penang Attractions, It will concentrate more on the Off the Beaten Path, Attractions, that most tourist do not get a chance to visit, or do not even know of the place. The Normal Attractions will also be covered by with a different view point.

.

.

The will be photos, etc, the first post is on a place call Bukit Panchor State Park, or Taman Negeri Bukit Panchor, located near Nibong Tebal, right at the southen part of Penang Mainland

.

.

Please look at my Previous Post, Waiting for a Bus? That picture was taken at the State Park and its actually a resting hut built for the covenience of the tourist. Please feel free to explore, suggest attractions, contribute articals and photograph as well as comments, especially in filling in the blanks, or what has change from the time of my visit.

Waiting for a Bus?

A Bus Stop? In the Jungle? . Nope! Sure Look like one though ! Watch this Blog, as details will be reveal soon.

Butterworth Lorong Kulit / Taman Selat Day Market

Location : Taman Selat is located, as you head North along Butterworth Main Road, it on the Left before the Town Padang (Field), the market is near Public Bank, CIMB Bank etc, turn in as soon as you see CIMB Bank, there is a big car park which charge RM2 per entry which make it convenient to Park The Taman Selat Day Market, is Butterworth answer to Penang Island Lorong Kulit, Smaller but without the Fruits Stalls and Plants Stall, and with much more of a Malay Flavour. As such those looking for Malay products should come here. And come early, They also close after lunch.

This Day Market is unlike the one at Lorong Kulit. It is located along the five foot way of a row of shops. What do we have here, basically what you will get at Lorong Kulit, cloths, leather goods, perfume, vcds, kris etc. Located here is a pretty good electronic toy shop.

By the way, are these instrument legelly able to be sold in Malaysia? I have notice these in Malay Pasar Malam especially in the Northern States.

Queensbay Mall, Penang

My last visit to this place was around april 07, when it was still being open. After much bugging by my wife, I decided to ignore the Silly Season on going, and pop in just after 5pm, yesterday, a Monday. .

.

.

Picture taken while going in

.

Picture taken while going out!

.

. It was a Good Choice for us, its was very quite day here, and I decided to park at the open air carpark near the south entrance. As such after paying the RM1, fee for per entry we entered the complex from the south side. The Main concourse was still has the Chinese New Year Decorations.

.

.

.

.

Well after all this months, more shops have came in, and as such we were window shopping from one end to the other end, which is quite taxing to our feet. There must be more seats for us to rest.

.

.

Jaya Jusco, the anchor have some interesting items under its Jusco Selection brand, I hope to try out some of their items to see it they are of restaurant quality.

.

.

We went back too the same Pizza Hut that we had dinner last time to try out their special, but that the next post. Well Queensbay Mall is improving and I am beginning to like Jusco.

Penang Ferry Ride

Now a day a trip on the Penang Ferry is not a common occurrence as most prefer to use the Penang Bridge. On this fine day with time at hand, I decided to take the ferry over, from Penang to Butterworth, due to my destination which was near the ferry terminal at Butterworth.

A Penang Ferry

.

.

The Penang Ferry, operates between George Town, The Main City which is located on the Island and Butterworth which is located on the Main Land. As far as I know the Penang Ferry is a unique vehicle.

Departing Penang Island

.

.

As noted in Wikipedia : Penang Ferry Service is the Oldest Ferry Service in Malaysia starting in 1920's.

View In Side the Ferry (Lower Deck)

The Weather was not too good today, General View of the Main Land

View of the Island (George Town) from middle of the channel

Note: Komtar, The Tallest Building in Northern Malaysia & In The State.

If you get lost in Penang, Just look for Komtar, that will lead you to City Center.

View of the Penang Bridge from Middle of the Channel

View of the Island (towards South & the Bridge)

Ferry Terminal (Island)

Marina next to the Ferry Terminal

Marina next to the Ferry Terminal, Photo Taken from Ferry Just before Departure

View of George Town from a departing Ferry

View from Ferry (On Arrival at Butterworth)

View of Main Land (Port, & Ferry Terminal)

View of Penang Port & Ferry Terminal, This is where Penang Central is to be located, the Propose Transportation Hub.

More Information on Nibong Tebal Tourism Sites

Update to the Nibong Tebal Tourism Sites and Contact Numbers Post

.

.

Talking to a few locals gave me some further information on the following items

.

.

a. Octopus Catching :

Price: cost RM88 per person

Maximum: 10 persons to a boat.

Recommendation: During Low Tide Only

Departure Time : 4pm

Return Time: 9pm

.

.

b. Firefly (Nibong Tebal Firefly)

Price: cost RM12 per person

Maximum: 15 persons to a boat.

Recommendation: Departure Time

Departure Time : 8pm

Return Time: Approx One Hour

.

.

c. Kwong Hock Keong Temple (Number 1 on Map)

It seems that "there is a tortoise statue at the Temple that people go there to touch for Luck" and that "Locals traditionally go to this temple for prayers on the 29th or 30th Day after Chinese New Year".

I will have to give this temple a visit to give that tortoise a good rub as it seem that there is much that I have to improve in that department.

More Penang Buildings

A row of shop house upgraded, but retaining a more or less a "olden" look, it has been converted into a furniture showroom, Main Road Dato Keramat, Next to the Police Station, at the cross road.

An Old, unmodified Mansion along the Ayer Itam Main Road near the Maybank Building. How long will retain it original Look?

Tourist Map of Nibong Tebal

The original photo of the tourist map in the earlier post seem to have some problem, i cannot click to enlarge so i will post it again.

Nibong Tebal Tourism Sites and Contact Numbers

This is a Public Service announcement,

It is not repeat not a sponsored post.

I notice that a good number of hit to my blog were looking for Nibong Tebal Firefly or Sungai Kelian Firefly, so I decided to do a bit of research on this subject. This lead me to a flyer from what is know as the Seberang Prai Eco-Tourism Development Council, which highlighted among others, the Nibong Tebal Railway Station Tosai I have blog about, the firefly of Sungai Kelian, Octopus catching, a 100 year old wooden church, among others.

.

.

Now, I have snap a photo of their Map and it is in this post further down. I have not been to this places yet, (maybe soon) nor do I verify that these activities mention here are safe.

.

.

Firstly, Nibong Tebal is the South most Town of Penang State, and is accessible via the North South Highway via Jawi Toll.

.

.

Secondly, surprisingly you will have a choice of a First Class Hotel to stay here if you wish. Bukit Jawi Golf Resort have 66 international rooms and 2 penthouse, 36 hole golf course (the largest in Penang), the largest swimming pool in Seberang Prai, Penang Mainland, a extensive sport facilities like squash, badminton hall, and the Largest fully aircon Ballroom in Seberang Prai.

.

.

Thirdly Contact in formation listed on the flyer are

Bukit Jawi Golf Resort, 04 – 5820759

Seri Jawi Inn 04 – 5822280

Seberang Prai Eco-Tourism Development Council ppesps@gmail.com which is also the contact for Telok Ipil Home Stay.

.

.

The List of Tourist Sites and Activities as listed on the Flyer are (note: The Flyer is mostly in Mandarin, I do not speak or write mandarin so I will only give you the English parts which is basically the title.) Please match my number to the ones in the photo.

1) Kwong Hock Keong Temple

2) Hong San See Temple

3) Pasar Lam Natokgong Temple

4) Heritage House

5) More then 100 year old (wooden) church

6) St Anthony Church

7) Sri Sanglang Recreation Park

8) Antique Railway Bridge 9) Taman Hibong Tebal Jaya Night Market, Sunday 6pm till 11pm

10) Changkat Vegetable Farm

11) Hutan Lipor

12) 99 Door Mansion

13) Octopus Catching

14) Firefly Watching

15) Byram Fishing Paradise

16)

17)

18)

19) Sg Udang Market Places

20) Cockle

21) Fish Cage Farm

This flyer concentrate only on the Nibong Tebal area of the Seberang Prai Area. I will make attempts to visit this place and take their photos.

.

.

As I understand there is a annual water festival “The Sungai Kerian Festival” is held in this area hosted in turns by Kedah, Perak & Penang as this is the place where the three state meet.

Goddess of Mercy Temple in Penang

My wife requested me to bring her to the Goddess of Mercy Temple at Pitt Street, George Town, Penang for her to perform some prayers. So this fine Monday after breakfast at Tanjung Bungah Market we drove to George Town to drop by at the Temple for prayers.

..

The Roof of the Temple, click to enlarge and zoom in to see details of the roof ornaments.

.

.

"Now for a bit of history. Goddess of Mercy Temple Also called the Kwan Yin Teng, it is one of the oldest Chinese temples in Penang. Built in 1801 by early immigrant settlers from China, the building is decorated with intricately crafted dragons and a pair of stone sculptured lions which are said to be its guardians. "

Source Intenet web sites.....

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

"Undoubtedly the most popular Chinese temple in Penang, the Kuan Yin Teng, is flocked by pilgrims and followers all year round, particularly on the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month. There is a lovely square where puppet shows and Chinese operas are staged on the Goddess of Mercy's feast days. The square is always a centre of bustling activity, and there is an octagonal well in one corner, which was once a public well for the Chinese community."

.

.

.

.

Source Internet website.

.

.

.

My wife perform the Prayers with me taking care of our Number 2 daughter. I took the opportunity to take a few snapshots of the Temple, however it is a bit difficult in taking photos while taking care of a 2 year old.

.

.

.

.

Offerings to the Goddess, Lotus Shape Candles .

The Main Altar

.

.

.

On this same street as the temple there is a church, a mosque, and a temple, all located in George Town, Penang, This temple is one of the Main Tourist Site in Penang Island.

Penang Buildings

Here are some snapshots of Refurbish “Heritage”Building or Cultural Buildings around Grand Paradise Hotel. Some of them are a bit off the beaten track. First off is the Gee Hiang Show room. Penang famous Tambun Biscuit is available here. A must for any Malaysian to show he/she came to Penang or for a penangite to bring along when going outstation as a gift for friends, relatives or business associates. Anson Road, Macalister Road junction.

Next are two building on the road behind Grand Paradise Hotel, a Shop lot modified in to A Chinese Temple and a Unique Office......

New World Park revisited 2.

It was time for us to revisit New World Park for the Penang Street Food there. It look like the other parts of New World Park will be open quite soon looking at the activities going on there.

What i like about this place is it's clean toilet, and easy parking and decent food (in general).

This time i decided to give the Char Koey Teow a try. Well what good about it is Large Prawns, Banana Leaf under liner and it was fragrant. Give it a 90% rating. What i did not like is the current trend of less salt and the guy did not get it done my way, but that is personal taste.

To cool myself down, I took the ice kachang, lots of goodies in it.

Batu Ferringhi Market

You are looking at a picture of the Batu Ferringhi General Market, This fast growing town or village which is the main area on Penang Island where most 80% of the actual tourist stay and a premier Malaysia My Second Home location with around 3000+ units apartments, and houses has a open air market which is open daily from 7am till around 10pm. Those of you in the area and want to see some local colour not too far from your hotel room, drop by, it is located just behind the Mutiara Apartments which is opposite Golden Sands.

Picture taken with My K750i, from the belcony of my inlaw appartment during my last visit there.

Penang Flee Market

At Lorong Kulit Flee Market you find Old and New Side By Side. This Flee Market use to operate at Rope Walk at Downtown George Town, Penang Capital, were move to the Penang State Stadium(Island) main carpark a number of years back. This Open Air Market is open daily from 8am + to around Midday, where most of the Stalls will close. It draws a large crowd daily which will double during the week end.

Here you can find all sorts of stuffs, as i said Old stuffs or Junk or New Items such as replica watch, electronic gadgets, cloths, etc and in my humble opinion is a good place to bring the tourist to, except you will not find any here.

I will let my Camera Phone do the talking except for a few comments here and there.

Cheaper Cloths for sale! Don't forget to Bargain!

Bonsai and Plants for Sale!

Hardware, Electronic Items and stuffs!

Fruits! and they are Cheep!! Load up on Grapes and other fruits.

Junk?, Antiques and such, The main Stay of Lorong Kulit! See that Esso signage.

Odd and Ends, Old Electrical Stuffs and such.

Brass Items!

Worn out Electrical and other Goods.

More antiques!

Pets to take home.

Thief Market?

New Handphones, and Goodies, MP3 Players as well.

More Junk?

Money Changer? Nope, Money Collector, Coins, Notes, Stamps etc ........

To me this is the Unique Equivalent of KL Petaling Street! that the MPPP is trying to create at Campbell Street at night! I will finish this Post off with a saying, One man Poison is another man Meat, One man Junk is another man Treasure! See you there.....

Comment: SE K750i, camera seem to work better in the daytime then night.