Hong Kong – A walk in Kowloon area… (1)

This trip to Hong Kong was last year along with my Macau trip and Shenzhen. Guess Hong Kong is smack in the middle  (nearly) of these 2 places.

Anyway not much to tell but just enjoy the snap shots taken…..

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… all the different signs

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.. and all sorts of T-shirt design with the word ‘Hong Kong’

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A walk along Ladies market..

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Catching my flight @ Skypark

Got up early to catch my flight back to Penang last weekend. It was my first time trying out the Berjaya Airlines from Skypark; another carrier which is opening up more route around Peninsular Malaysia. Aside from this airlines, there is also Firefly Airlines and those private jets or helicopters using this airport.

The shops in the airport were still close when I checked in as it was still very early.

Information and taxi counter.
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.. they even decorated the place for the Chinese New Year
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Departure hall. Catching the glimpse of one of the aircraft; ATR72-500

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This airport cater mostly for internal flight although there also some flights to Singapore or Medan.

View from the aircraft window…

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My in-flight refreshment…..

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Lovely view above the clouds….

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Penang – Celebration of Thaipusam (4) …. my 100th post!!!

Wow… I cant believe I have hit my 100th post in 3 months and have over 500 followers. Thanks to all my readers and followers for keeping me going. If it is not for you all, I would not have come this far.

For this post, it will be my final part on the celebration of Thaipusam in Penang. A matter of fact, in Malaysia, Thaipusam is also celebrated in a big scale in Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur aside from Penang.

More pictures from the celebration….

Smashed coconuts on the road by the devotees..

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You can also see that it is not only the Indians that come to pray to Lord Murugan but also the Chinese community too.

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After smashing the coconuts, the town council people will be ready to quickly clean up the smashed coconuts aside so that the chariots can go through.

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This is the silver chariot that is carrying Lord Murugan ….

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So, the next time if you are down in Malaysia during these period, do come and join and watch this celebration. You will be marveled by it. =)

Penang – Celebration of Thaipusam (3)

The is the 3rd part.If you have not followed on my 1st 2 parts of the blog, here are the links; Penang – Celebration of Thaipusam (1) and Penang – Celebration of Thaipusam (2)

More pictures from the celebration of Thaipusam in Penang

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Coconuts piled up on the road.

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Devotees waiting for the chariots…

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Coconut with burned joystick as offerings……

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Chariots arriving soon…. devotees praying and getting ready

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Me and my shadow…. also waiting for patiently.

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Devotees smashing the coconuts on the road before the arrival of the chariot of Lord Murugan

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Follow me on the last part of the Thaipusam celebration on my next blog to catch glimpse of the chariot of Lord Murugan.

Penang – Celebration of Thaipusam (2)

This is my continuation from part 1.

Devotees offering to Lord Murugan gifts ranging from just simple offerings of milk and flower garlands. Coconuts seen also given as offerings  where later the devotees will smash it on the road before the chariot arrives.

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Offering such as flowers, fruits and coconuts offered to Lord Murugan

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One of the refreshment stalls set up all the chariot route for the devotees.

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Piles of coconuts in the middle of the road. Devotees waiting for the chariot to arrive.

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A group of devotee carrying milk garland on their heads.

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Devotees waiting patiently for the chariot to arrive.

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Penang – Celebration of Thaipusam (1)

Today’s the eve of Thaipusam and I was fortunate to witnessed this celebration here in Penang  and to see  the silver chariot carrying Lord Murugan from the Kovil Veedu(House Temple) on Penang Street, Georgetown to Arulmigu Sri Balathandayuthapani Temple (Hilltop) along Jalan Waterfall.

Here are some of the photos I managed to capture…..

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Offerings to Lord Murugan..

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Devotees carrying the Kavadi..

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.. a relative helping to cool down the devotee carrying the kavadi by wiping his face with a wet towel. Usually during this time of the year.. it is  hot and they walk bare foot the whole route on the bitumen road.

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To be continued…

Hong Kong – Bus trip to Tai O (3)

This is the 3rd part (and final one) of my trip to Tai O pictures.

Below is the shot of entrance to the Tai O Heritage Hotel. They even built a lift to help the elderly or disable to go up to the hotel.

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Shaolin Wushu Cultural Center in Tai O…

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Doggie potty….

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More pictures of the stilt houses along the way and deeper into the Tai O.

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The house converted into a restaurant. You could see that they maintain the interior.

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During low tide….

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Look at the size of this house. It is really narrow and small.

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Hope you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for my next blog.

Hong Kong – Bus trip to Tai O (2)

This is my 2nd part of Tai O. If you missed on my first part, here is the blog; Hong Kong – Bus trip to Tai O (1)

Tai O is a slow moving pace as compared to the city. It is very scenic and peaceful. A nice slow walk on the jetty. People renting bicycles to cycle there too. It will be really fun and cycle and enjoy the view on the bicycle. Of course you can walk like what I did. =)

More views of the stilts houses…..

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These are actually houses. They even have a house number painted on it.

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They are making and drying the prawn paste.

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At the end one of the street lead to the Tai O Heritage Hotel. It was previously a police station built on the small hill next to Tai O Ferry Pier, to reinforce the police forces on Lantau Island but ceased operation in 1996 and operated till 2002 as a functioned a patrol post due to the decline in crime rate. In 2009, it was restored as a 9 room boutique hotel.

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To be continued…..

The sign is clear…. Chinese New Year is near (part 6)

More pictures of the Chinese New Year celebration fever which is around the corner. This is already part 6. Woa!! So much happening that can be seen.

Pomelo… a crisp citrus fruit native to South and Southeast Asia. During Chinese New Year, the Chinese uses this as offering during the prayers.

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More colourful decorations

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This is the Chinese New Year Bamboo Lucky plant

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More Chinese New Year cookies to choose from….

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Boxes and boxes of mandarin oranges.

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This mall has organized a Lantern making competition using only the red packets ‘ang pow’ for the customers to participate.

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Chinese Prosperity Money God made of balloons!!

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Hong Kong – Bus trip to Tai O (1)

While we were still in Hong Kong, we wanted to get out of the city and to see what they have out in the country side. So we decided to go to Tai O.

Tai O is a fishing town, partly located on an island of the same name, on the western side of Lantau Island in Hong Kong. We took the MTR to the last stop and continued by bus to the fishing village.

View from the MTR….

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Upon reaching Tai O … a sign greeted us.

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Seafood streets vendors all along the alley

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Stilt houses ….

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Follow me on the next part of Tai O…….