Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2016

This was my first time seeing the Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta as I missed the inaugural year it was held due to other commitments, So deciding to make full use of the day, I choose to go at 7am in the morning. Parking was not an issue as there were many areas that were designated parking lots, and all within comfortable walking distance to the venue which is Padang Polo.

When I arrived, the balloonist were in the midst of inflating the balloons. It is amazing to watch this process of transformation; from a crumpled, indistinguishable bundle of fabric and lines they blossomed into love balloons, some with interesting shape such as an alien rocket, ice-cream, three wise monkeys and an oversized zebra head! Entrance to the grounds is FREE but tethered rides and cold-inflation balloon envelope walk-in are ticketed but are very reasonably priced (click here for pricing).

Firing up the ice-cream balloon.

Alain Bard firing up his Alien Rocket Special Shape Balloon.

Errr.... I think there are aliens looking at us.

Mr Z must be feeling all hot inside

Mr. Z the oversized zebra head.

The middle one is the three wise monkey balloon, which was very popular with visitors.

The balloons were then deflated at around 9.30pm due to the weather, and I spend some time browsing the stalls and looking at the various items for sale around the show grounds. Only the tethered rides balloons were still up and looking great with Penang Hill as the backdrop. Alas, the tethered rides were sold out whilst I was busy taking photos of the inflation process, so I made up my mind I will come back for the Night Glow show.

The evening started with the balloons being re-inflated whislt we waited for the VVIPS to arrive for the official opening of the Penang Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2016. After some stage performances, the long awaited night glow really swept visitors breath away, with the balloons putting on the burners that illuminated the balloons beautifully. This was definitely something worth waiting for. To cap it all, there was a fireworks display at the end of the Night Glow show.

On the back row from left to right the special shape balloons are: the Montgolfier replica balloon, Mr Z the oversized zebra head, Alien Rocket, Orange, Three Wise Monkey (only partly visible) and Ice cream.

So for those who missed it on the first day, there is still tomorrow (10th February). My advice is to wither go early, watch them inflate and be exposed to how they do it, and then enjoy the other activities on site, or go lin the evening and stay for the night glow. If possible, do both, and get the best out of this well-organized event. It is worth your time to catch it.

Kudos to the organizer AKA Balloon, the Penang state government and all involved, for this is a very well put together event and I think everyone in Penang should not miss.

Are you still hungry tonite?? Hungry Ghost Part 2

Before we move on to the Mooncake Festival, here are more shots of Hungry Ghost Festival...

Pandan Perdana, KL

Under my umbrella, ella ella - the lamps are the signpost to spirits that a 'feast' is on.

Colourful kuihs on the offering table.

A light for the souls - Tua Pek and a candle.

Huat ah, huat ah... kuih with the Chinese character 发 (發) meaning to bring forth ie bring forth good fortunes etc.

Pandan Mewah, Selangor

A leap of faith - A Taoist priest does the 'Breaking the Walls of Hell' ceremony for departed relatives.

Bukit Mertajam, Penang

I've got my eyes on you...

Hazed in...

Pray, pray, don't play play

I'll be back... next year.

Lim Jetty, Penang

A Chinese opera actor puts on make-up to perform for the spirits and humans.

 Jelutong West (Bukit Dumbar), Penang

The paper effigy of the King of Hades being carried off to be burnt.

Ampang Nine Emperor Gods Temple, Selangor

Offerings to the Hungry Ghost.

Not BR1M - priest giving out coins during the prayer ceremony.

Ampang Mewah, Selangor

A syncretic version where Amida Buddha and Taoist Pure Ones were worshipped in the festival.

Prayers for the spirits

Burn baby, burn... King of Hades and his retinue being sent off at the end of the ceremony.

Taman Desa Bakti Selayang, KL

Once in every three years, they will have a procession to 'cleanse' and appease the spirits at the roads.

Offering at road junctions.

Seng Hong Temple Brickfields, KL

Throw him down once more... Mediums playing with a bed of broken glass.

A medium in trance with Da Shi Ye, the King of Hades, blessing the plaque that he carries with blood from his cut tongue.

Sending off the King of Hades with the help of mediums.

That's all folks, see you next year... Like Arnie said "I'll be back!"

Hungry Ghost Festival - Are you hungry tonite???

The Hungry Ghost month is coming to the midpoint, so I am sure some of you would have seen the stage and altars on the roads or even the joss-sticks and candles stuck on the roadsides. The Hungry Ghost Festival is a mixture of ancient folk believe, Taoism and Buddhist practices that is amalgamated into this hodgepodge of rites, rituals and superstitions, especially by the South-East Asian Chinese diaspora.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - food offering to the King of Hades.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - empty row of seats in front of the stage. They are provided a stack of joss-paper money and an orange as a show snack.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - candles and other items on altar table.

 

The Hungry Ghost Month is the 7th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. The Chinese believed that ghosts are let out of Hell to roam the Earth on this month. Hence the staging of Chinese operas as well as shows called ge-tai or go tai to provide entertainment to the spirits to prevent mischief. Whilst the show is meant for the wandering spirits, it doesn't mean that humans do not enjoy the show. However, the first row of seats are always reserved for the spirits, also called 'good siblings/brothers'.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - sending off the officers of Hell.

Hungry Ghost @ Bandar Baru Ampang - burning off the King of Hades paper effigy.

To control the wandering spirits, the officers of Hell will also come up and set up a 'temporary' court. Hence a large shelter housing the paper effigy of the King of Hades and his assistants are erected to ensure safety of the people. When the 'entertainment' is over, the King of Hades and all of his officers will be burnt in a big bonfire as to send them back to their original office.

Hungry Ghost @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang - Beautifully crafted paper effigy of King of Hades.

Hungry Ghost @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang - Besides roasted pork, duck and chicken, there were also raw pork and goat on the table!

Hungry Ghost @ Bukit Mertajam, Penang - the very long offering table for the King of Hades at Bukit Mertajam

Paper and food offerings are given, both to the wandering spirits or hungry ghost, as well as to the deities in charge of the proceedings. Elaborated stacks of food, cakes and fruits are often placed on the altar table to the King of Hades, and superstition has it that nothing that is not intended as offering are to be placed on that table, for once something is placed on it, it is considered an offering to the King of Hades and his retinue.

Hungry Ghost @ Maluri, Cheras - Laying down joss paper to make a circle for the big burning off.

Hungry Ghost @ Maluri, Cheras - that is a lot of work to make the bonfire base.

Hungry Ghost @ Maluri, Cheras - Here in Maluri, a medium in trance is in charge of the send-off proceedings. He inspects the circle and gives the green light to proceed.

Depending on the location, the entire procedure of the setup, worshiping and send off for the King of Hades can be overseen by Taoist priest, syncretic Taoist/Buddhist priest or spiritual mediums channeling a particular deity. Thus different locations will give you variations to the entire procedure and can be very interesting to watch and compare.

Preparing for Jade Emperor's Birthday

The Jade Emperor's birthday is on the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, which is tomorrow. This festival is commonly celebrated on a grand scale by the Chinese diaspora from Fujian province. On the night of the eight, an altar is set up with offerings, waiting for the stroke of midnight so as to be the first to offer prayers to the Jade Emperor on his birthday.

A combo miku (re tortoise bun) selling for RM88!

Today I went to Jelutong market in Penang with my mum to get some fruits, and found the market busy as ever with stalls selling everything that you need for the celebration like sugarcane, traditional cakes and even roasted suckling pig.

Dried dates and pickled fruits as offering to Jade Emperor.

A lady picking up 'ang koo kuih', and the look on the seller's face counting his profits is priceless.

This little piggy didn't come home from Jelutong market - RM208 per piggy!

Sugarcanes going like hot cakes.

I have also prepared some Chinese red papercuts. These are used to dress up fruits and stuff being put on the offering table. For me, it is more like to 'cover up' or makeover fruits that have minor blemishes or look uninteresting.

Here's some of my papercuts - to dress up the ugly persimmons.

Tadaaa!!! She looks pretty now, and red.

A pomelo with a red cap.

There is a procession to bring the Jade Emperor image from Hean Boo Thean Temple to Chew Jetty today at 3pm (26/02/2015). Thereafter, at Chew jetty, the altar will be set up for people to offer prayers from midnight onwards, so do have a look if you are there. And this joss paper pineapple that I made myself (289 pieces and two days work!) will be sent off in a big bonfire of josspaper tonight.

We call him Mr. Wilson, and he will get burnt tonite.

Thaipusam 2015 @ Penang

Thaipusam is the annual feast held in honour of the Hindu deity Murugan or Subramaniam, who particularly has a large and popular following by the Indians of South India.

Celebrated in the Tamil month of Thai, the name of the festivals comes from the Pushya (Poosam) star that reaches the highest position overhead ans is the brightest during the month of Thai, hence Thai - poosam. The Pushya stars corresponds to the Western constellation of Cancer, the three stars being gamma, delta, and theta Cancri (Asellus Borealis, Asellus Australis and theta Cancri)

Traditionally, this festival celebrates the empowerment of good against evil, with Lord Murugan being given the magical and powerful spear or javelin called Vel by his mother, Pavarti to vanquish Soorapadman, the evil Asura/demon that was terrorising the heavens.

During this festival, devotees that had previously made a vow carry burden in the form of kavadis or milk pots as a sign of thanks to Lord Murugan for his blessings and protection. This 'burden' is sometimes taken to a rather graphic level, with self-mortification that involves skin, cheek and tongue piercings.

A kavadi being given last minute touch-ups two days before the Thaipusam festival in Penang.

In Malaysia, the local Hindus who are predominantly from Southern India celebrate this festival in no lesser scale than those in India. Batu Caves in Selangor and the Waterfall Temple in Penang becomes two popular focal point for this festival.

There were a certain number of Chinese devotees who had piercings and hooks.

This year, I followed the festival in Penang, and really enjoyed the atmosphere there. Not only local Indians join in the celebration, but Chinese who believe in the divine strength of Lord Murugan do so as well, thus giving rise to a very unique representation of the festival. Viewers beware - some images might be disturbing to you.

A spear cheek piercing.

The devotee turns the piercing to keep it from becoming 'stuck' to the pierced flesh.

Hooks to pull a kavadi. There were three of them pulling a chariot-like kavadi.

Coconuts spinning as they were being smashed by devotees. The entire section turns into a wet, coconut smashing frenzy.

She is a shot put champion - Coconut smashing at Jalan Dato Keramat. This stretch of road is where a large number of coconuts were smashed.

Removing the 'burden' at the Hilltop Temple (Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple).

The piercing being removed by another, who seemed to be an expert in doing it quickly and painlessly.

Lord Murugan being carried on a palanquin at the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple

One of the priest at the temple who were involved in the ceremony of carrying Lord Murugan around the Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple.