Big Prayer

A man holds a big burning joss stick outside the Guan Yin Temple, Penang, Malaysia. Every festive season, worshipers travel to this temple to pray to gods and deities.

About To

 Sunset in Penang

Shih Chung School Branch

The ruined Shih Chung School Branch holds pride in an abandoned area.

Impending Freedom

Fishing boats at the shore of Butterworth, Penang.  At the background is industrial area.

Grand

Jade Emperor's Birthday

The Jade Emperor's Birthday is a major celebration among the Hokkien people in Penang. It is known in Hokkien as Thee Kong Seh while the rites are known as Pai Thee Kong, translates simply as "worshipping the Jade Emperor". In Penang Hokkien, the Jade Emperor (玉皇) is known as Thee Kong (天公), literally, Lord of the Heaven. He is regarded as the supreme deity in the Taoist pantheon, reigning above all the other Taoist deities, and is in control of all things. The Jade Emperor's Birthday falls on the 9th Day of Chinese New Year. Due to its significance to the Hokkien people (not only in Penang, but elsewhere too), that day is also known as the Hokkien New Year Day. The rites of worship take place at midnight, mostly in individual homes. Find out more from http://www.penang-traveltips.com/jade-emperors-birthday.htm.

 

The Lighting of Kek Lok Si Temple

 A lady monk inspecting the switches and names of the donors.

 One of the many monks who helped out at the lighting ceremony.

Adult horse and baby horse.

Two friends having a good laugh.

 The Kek Lok Si temple at the background.

 The wife of Chief Minister of Penang - Betty

 Ribbon cutting ceremony. Lim Guan Eng and his wife Betty getting ready to cut the ribbon to officiate the event.

 Getting ready to switch on all the lights at Kek Lok Si temple.

Yeng Keng Hotel - Heritage Boutique Hotel

Yeng Keng Hotel is a 20-room restored heritage boutique hotel located in one of the oldest surviving and intact 19th century buildings at the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage City of George Town, Penang. (Source: http://www.yengkenghotel.com/)

 

Like many of the other buildings in the neighbourhood, it was originally built in the mid 1800's as a private residence. (Source: http://www.yengkenghotel.com/)

The Anglo Indian bungalow belonged initially to Shaik Eusoffe bin Shaik Latiff an Indian Muslim family and remains unique in Chulia Street for not being relegated to the rear of a row of shop-houses blocking its facade. (Source: http://www.yengkenghotel.com/)

In 1897 trustees of the Cantonese Club 'Ying Han Pit Shu' bought the building on behalf of the association, later donating it to the trustees of the Straits Chinese Building Association in 1939. The building was later leased to Yeng Keng Hotel. (Source: http://www.yengkenghotel.com/)

The conversion from a residence into a budget hotel was the prevailing trend along the street, at the beginning of the 20th century. (Source: http://www.yengkenghotel.com/)

Small places of lodgings that were conveniently reached from the harbour were in great demand as the traffic in the port grew. (Source: http://www.yengkenghotel.com/)

Conservation and upgrading by the present owner, Hoo Kim Properties Sdn Bhd was undertaken in March 2009 with the renewed Yeng Keng Hotel completed in April 2010. (Source: http://www.yengkenghotel.com/)