Penang Street Arts & Steel Rod Sculptures

Here is the good links to Penang Steel Rod Sculpture

http://www.penang-traveltips.com/steel-rod-sculptures.htm
http://travel2penang.wordpress.com/category/steel-rod-wall-sculpture-art/


Here is the good links to Penang Street Arts / Murals
http://www.penang-traveltips.com/ernest-zacharevic-george-town-murals.htm
http://travel2penang.wordpress.com/category/street-art-2/penang-street-art-location-map/
http://www.onlypenang.com/where-to-go/penang-street-art-wall-painting-at-penang/


The complete map is as below:

View Street Art of George Town, Penang in a larger map

Lost Kitten Arts

View 101 Lost Kittens project, George Town in a larger map


View "Children on a Swing" mural by Louis Gan in a larger map


Other good links
http://www.penang-traveltips.com/george-town-street-art.htm
http://travel2penang.wordpress.com/

36 Hours: Penang, Malaysia

source: 

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/travel/36-hours-penang-malaysia.html?ref=travel

PENANG is on a roll. Thanks to an influx of private and public investment and creative energy — precipitated in part by Unesco’s 2008 listing of Penang’s capital city, George Town, as a World Heritage site — the Malaysian island is padding out its list of attractions. To the region’s best street food add smart restaurants and bars. And a lively street culture anchored in religious festivals has now been joined by shows at the recently opened Performing Arts Center, and events like the Penang World Music Festival (March 30 to April 1; penangworldmusic.com), as well as the annual George Town Festival (June 15 to July 15;georgetownfestival.com), a month of exhibitions, performances and readings by local and international artists and writers. Your stay will very likely be more comfortable than it would have been a few years ago, with new boutique hotels opening in recently renovated pre-World War II shop houses and mansions.

Friday

3 p.m.
1. VIEWS FROM THE PEAK

Get your bearings with a stellar view atop 2,750-foot Penang Hill. The easiest way up is by funicular. The slightly white-knuckle ride in new Swiss-made air-conditioned coaches takes five minutes or less. Up top, the air is fresh and cool, and the vistas unparalleled: to the south, George Town’s neat rows of clay tile roofs; to the north, undulating hills backed by a turquoise sea. If you’d rather walk down (two to three hours) than ride, a little-used jeep trail ends at the Penang Botanical Gardens at the foot of Penang Hill, a 30-minute taxi ride back to George Town.

5:30 p.m.
2. ESPLANADE SUNSET

As the day’s heat begins to fade, runners, dog walkers and idlers converge on Padang Kota Lama, a grass pitch sandwiched between Penang’s stately town hall and 18th-century Fort Cornwallis. Poke around inside the fort (entrance, 1 Malaysian ringgit, or 33 cents, at 3 ringgit to the dollar), then cross the street to the esplanade overlooking the Strait of Malacca. Buy a bag of kacang rebus (boiled chickpeas seasoned with turmeric, 3 ringgit) from one of the parked white trucks and head to the unpretentious (and nameless) cafe at the esplanade’s terminus, where you can watch the sky turn orange over a beer.

8 p.m.
3. CHINA HOUSE

Among George Town’s recent flurry of openings in refurbished structures, China House (153-155 Beach Street and 183b Victoria Street; 60-4-263-7299) is the most stunning: over 10,000 square feet of food, drink, and retail and arts outlets in three interconnected shop houses in the city’s warehouse district. The décor leans to heritage chic, with exposed beams, weathered timber and cement floors, an eclectic mix of Chinois, mid-20th century and contemporary furnishings and splashy textiles. Start with dinner at the intimate BTB+Restaurant (dinner for two, 190 ringgit), where the menu runs to Western dishes with Asian and Middle Eastern influences, then climb the stairs to Galleries I and II to view works by Malaysian and international artists. The best place to wind up the evening is at the stylish Canteen+Bar (drinks for two, 80 ringgit), where arty types mingle with (upscale) backpackers and the after-work crowd around a sheet metal-clad bar; local musicians perform on weekends.

Saturday

7:30 a.m.
4. MALAY SECRETS

Book ahead for a spot at Nazlina Spice Station (71 Stewart Lane; 60-12-453-8167; pickles-and-spices.com; 135 ringgit for a class), where the bubbly former electrical engineer Nazlina Hussin imparts the secrets of Malay dishes like chicken rendang and ikan masak lemak (fish cooked with spices and coconut milk). Hands-on classes start with a tour of a local market, where you’ll taste pickles made from local nutmeg fruit, and end with a communal meal. Or greet the morning with the old-timers at the dim sum institution Aik Hoe (6 Carnarvon Street; breakfast for two, 30 ringgit) and follow with a walking tour of the city’s architectural highlights led by a member of the Penang Heritage Trust (60-4-264-2631; pht.org.my; 180 ringgit for up to three people; book several days ahead). Finally, have lunch at the International Hotel (92 Transfer Road; 40 ringgit for two), where a Sumatran-run hawker stall in a Chinese-owned coffee shop serves a selection of Malay, Indonesian and Indian- and Chinese-influenced curries, vegetable dishes and sambals.

2 p.m.
5. OVERVIEW

Housed in a former school built in the late 1800s, the Penang State Museum (Lebuh Light; 60-4-261-3144; www.penangmuseum.gov.my; 1 ringgit) presents an engrossing overview of the island’s history, architecture and multi-ethnic population over two floors of exhibitions in Malay and English. Plenty of space is devoted to kitchen culture, local specialties and even the history of Penang’s kopitiam (coffee shops).

3:30 p.m.
6. HISTORY AND ART

The two-block stretch of Armenian Street, named after an immigrant community of businessmen that included the Sarkies brothers of Eastern & Oriental and Raffles hotels fame, is rich with history and consumer diversions. In addition to Sun Yat-sen’s Penang base (120 Armenian Street; 60-4-262-0123), where the architect of the Republican China plotted the downfall of the Qing dynasty, four Hokkien clan associations reside here. With its opulent temple and small but fine museum, Khoo Kongsi (18 Cannon Square; 60-4-261-4609; khookongsi.com.my; 10 ringgit) is most definitely worth a look. Gallery hop from Studio at Straits (86 Armenian Street; 60-4-262-7299; straitscollection.com.my), showing mostly Malaysian works, to Galerie Seni Mutiara (118 Armenian Street; 60-4-262-0167;galerisenimutiara.com), exhibiting international artists on the ground floor and, upstairs, a permanent collection of paintings by Malaysia’s early post-independence artists. Handblown glass is sold at Fuan Wong Gallery (88 Armenian Street; 60-4-262-9079). China Joe’s, below Studio at Straits, sells women’s wear and contemporary Asian housewares and furniture, while the “antiques” shop Chin Seng Leong (55 Armenian Street), a dusty hole in the wall, is for serious treasure hunters.

7 p.m.
7. LOCAL DELICACIES

When it moved, almost two years ago, from a glorified lean-to in a nearby alley to a spiffed-up shop house, Tek Sen (18-20 Carnarvon Street; 60-12-493-9424; 100 ringgit for two) tripled its seating capacity. That hasn’t diminished the family-owned restaurant’s charm, or its ability to turn out flawlessly executed dishes that have been drawing locals for over 45 years. The extensive menu includes Teochew and Malaysian dishes, each of them memorable. Highlights: stir-fried roast pork with chiles; whole pomfret steamed with ginger, tomatoes, pickled mustard and sour plums; and gulai tumis, stingray in tamarind-soured spicy gravy.

8:30 p.m.
8. NIGHTCAP

That Little Wine Bar (54 Jalan Chow Thye; 60-4-226-8182;thatlittlewinebar.com), a snug social spot frequented by expats and Malaysian residents, pours vintages by the glass (20 to 28 ringgit) and by the bottle. A youngish crowd gravitates to Behind Fifty Love Lane (Muntri Street at Love Lane), a cafe and bar in a low-slung cubbyhole; the owners have been known to organize patrons into teams for games of charades.

Sunday

8 a.m.
9. JUNGLE AND BEACH

Pack a towel and hire a taxi (30 ringgit per hour) to Taman Negara Pulau Pinang (Telok Bahang; 60-4-881-3530;wildlife.gov.my/tnpp/biindex.htm; no charge), a 3,100-acre smidgen of beach-fringed jungle in the northwestern corner of the island, about 11 miles from George Town. After registering at the park office, hire a longtail boat for the short ride to Monkey Beach (40 ringgit, one way for two people), where you can swim and laze on the sand before tackling the moderately challenging 1.8-mile trail back. The hike, traversing a combination of paved and dirt trails and passing a few secluded coves, takes about 90 minutes.

Noon
10. NOODLE SOUP

It would be a mistake to leave Penang without sampling its most iconic dish: asam laksa, a sour, sweet and spicy fish-based rice noodle soup garnished with mint, cucumber and shreds of peppery torch ginger bud. On the way back to George Town, stop at Miami Beach (Jalan Batu Ferringghi) and make for the food court, where a female vendor named Ita serves an exceptional version, thick with bits of sardine (3 ringgit). Eaten accompanied by coconut water (2 ringgit) sipped through a straw, it’s a fitting end to an island interlude.

IF YOU GO

Modeled on European boutique hotels, Campbell House (106 Lebuh Campbell Street, Georgetown; 60-4-261-8290;campbellhousepenang.com) delivers warmth and top-notch service. Each of the 10 individually designed suites has an iPod docking station, minibar and espresso machine. Rates, starting at 400 ringgit ($134), include breakfast, in-room refreshments and Wi-Fi.

After an 18-month restoration, the Oasis Hotel, formerly a hostel, has re-emerged as a bijou boutique hotel named after its street address,23 Love Lane (Georgetown; 60-4-262-1323). Housed in four 19th-century structures set around a walled garden, the hotel’s 10 rooms (including a duplex), from $150, are furnished with antiques and contemporary artworks by Malaysian and Southeast Asian artists from the owner’s private collectio
n

Doctor Salary in Malaysia

Malaysia Doctor Salary Table:
 http://taqidoc.com/blog/2010/03/29/ud41ud44ud48ud52ud54-and-jusas-salaries-just-for-doctors/

After 2 years housemanship,  the houseman officer doctor (UD44) will get at least RM6k including allowances.
http://skorcareer.com.my/blog/new-salary-malaysia-doctors-rm6000/2008/03/11/

Tunku Abdul Rahman’s great granddaughter speaks up

Check up this link. It is truly amazing! Bravo!

http://bangmalaysia.wordpress.com/2009/09/11/tunku-abdul-rahmans-great-granddaughter-speaks-up/

One Malaysia!

Merdeka & Malaysia Boleh!!

hit RM2.70 per litre in year 5 Jun 2008

Yesterday 31 Aug was Malaysia 52nd National Day. The big gift to all the nations was introducing RON95 petrol oil to replace RON92 petrol oil. RON95 is an older version which is not as efficient as RON97. However the price of on RON95 remains the same as the RON97 price (RM1.80) as opposed to what government previously promised. In other word, we should use the same price to purchase the down-graded petrol. Does it make sense? As for the RON97 price, it is increased from RM1.80 to RM2.05 by 25sen. The comsumers have to spend higher price to purchase the same quality as before. In short, Malaysians either purchase RON97 with higher prices or purchase down-graded RON95 with the same price. What could I say about? Are we approaching backward stage to achieve vision 2020 modern country? Yeah, "Malaysia Boleh!!"

RM2.55 per litre in 22 Aug 2008

And also this very meaningful video clip to celebrate the National day.

Tanah + Air = Lumpur or Tanah Air ?

Land + Water = Mud or Country ?

Answer:
tanah + air = LUMPUR – PENGKIANAT = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – MAKAN SUAP = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – POLITIK KOTOR = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – GUNA KUASA = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – PILIH BULU = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – KRONISMA = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – LUPA DARATAN = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – GAJI BUTA = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – PENINDASAN = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – MONOPOLI = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – BIROKRASI = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – JANJI PALSU = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – FITNAH = TANAH AIR
tanah + air = LUMPUR – PERKAUMAN = TANAH AIR

New LCCT Departure Hall - Airasia

Recently a new Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) departure hall has been opened just to cater the aggressive expansion of Air Asia needs. According to news, the new hall can accommodate 3,200 passengers compared to 600 at the old one.

I would like to walk through the new looks here briefly. It is remained the same for luggage check in part. After this, passengers have to walk to the new departure hall, just follow the sign board of T1-T16 (terminal). There is a Marrybrown restaurant beside the entrance. After this, passengers will reach to custom at 1st the floor as shown in the figures below

the counters at the back are custom counters

There are many custom counters for different types of passport. As for Malaysian, you could use the autogate system. After the custom counters, there is a scannning counters as shown in the figure below:

scanning counter

Basically, there is no much different as compared to previous one, just that the place is more spacious and has more custom and scanning counters.

Scanning couters

After that passengers are welcomed with a candy shop. You could find numerous of candy and local products like coffees in this shop.

candy shop

Wanna buy candies as souvenir?

There is a washroom besides the Dunkin's Donuts. I think the number of toilet rooms should further increased.

washroom

One good thing about the new LCCT departure hall is that there is a dedicated smoking room for smoke users. It can reduce the risk of second hand smoke.

smoking room

Duty free shop, selling alcohols, liquors, cigarettes and chocolates, can be found at the ground floor. CIMB bank and money changers can also be found at ground floor.

Duty free shop

CIMB Bank and money changer

The other good thing about the LCCT is that multi-languages sign boards are used. It really reflects Malaysia as a multi-racial country and is respectful to different races. Furthermore it reduces hassle for those do not know English or Malay.

Multi-language sign board

the view of new departure hall

There are plenty of seats and the seats are much more comfy and spacious! Passengers can find seats easily without hassle, no longer need to squeeze in the crowds.

more seats in the new departure hall

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Airasia: Pick your own seat

• Want to know more about pick your own seat? click here: link2_pick_your_own_seat
  

Subsribe Maxis hotlink 365 days

How do you keep your Maxis Hotlink phone number while most of your time is not in Malaysia?

It is impossible to keep on topping up your prepaid Hotlink just to keep the number! What is the best solution?

Answer: Maxis Hotlink 365 days

Maxis Hotlink 365 days

Before I came to Singapore, I subscribed Maxis Hotlink 365 days. It is mainly becuse I dont want to top up every month for my Maxis Hotlink since most of my time I will be in Singapore. However I would like to keep my existing handphone number 012-xxxxxxx, because most of my friends contact me through it.

subscribe Hotlink 365: *100#

How to subscribe Hotlink 365? It is quick and easy. Just just dial *100# to subscribe. RM33 will be deducted from your account. After that you have to top up RM30 within the first 6 months otherwise you will switch back to previous plan before. In other words, you have to repay RM33 to subscribe Hotlink 365 days again! With this fabulous service, you dont have to worry about being cut off. How about the call / sms rate? Dont worry, it is exactly the same. For more information, please visit to Hotlink 365 FAQ.

Call rate

Malaysia Passport - Checking of Travel Status

Recently Immigration Department of Malaysia (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia) has imposed a policy to prohibit some Malaysian from travelling abroad. That means their Malaysia passports are invalid of travelling oversea. It is mainly due to a great number of Malaysian do not pay back their PTPTN loan or income tax. According to newspapers, there are about 13% of Malaysia passport holders under black list. Hence it is better that you check your traveling status before you subscribe to any tour package or business trip, avoiding unnecessary disappointment, especially at the time before boarding in the airport. The link is http://www.imi.gov.my/semak.aspx. For more details, you are encouraged to visit the official website at http://www.imi.gov.my.

checking travelling status for Malaysian Passport

I have checked my travelling status. It is ok and no restriction as shown in the above picture.

Airasia: Pick your own seat

Airasia New Idea: Pick your own seat! (source)

Now you can pick up your own seat in Airasia flight without any hassle. You don't have to rush in to choose the best feng shui seat or the seat near to window, allowing you to enjoy remarkable view. The new system divides the seats into HOT seats and Standard seats as shown in the flight floorplan below: the seats with red colour are HOT seats, at the cost of RM25 while the rest are Standard seats with RM5 surcharge.

Hot seats and standard seats

In my view, this new system is better than Xpress Boarding, introduced few months ago. It is because in the previous Xpress Boarding service, the passengers do not guarantee can get the seats they want, someone might run faster than the passengers and grap the good seat. In other words, this new system reduces passenger disappointment of seat location. I am quite impressed with Airasia that always provides new and innovative idea to improve passenger needs.

No longer need to rush when boarding- have to follow seat number!

Air Asia in LCCT

Note: With this new feature, it implies that all passengers have to follow the seat number as printed in the air ticket when you checking in your baggages!

For more information about "pick your own seat" system, you may visit this link for FAQ.

Pick your own seat charges (source)

Besides this, I noticed that Airaisa have revamped their online air ticket booking system.

For example, the pre-book baggage system. In the old system, it was asking how many baggages need to be checked in. In the new syste, you have 4 options: No checked Bag, Regular - up to 15kg (5.00 MYR), medium - up to 20kg (55 MYR), large - up to 25kg (105MYR). To me, it is still very costly, 5kg more is worth RM50!! somemore it has been 50% discounted!

Baggage system with several weight

As for the meal, I think it is almost the same. Same comment, it is quite costly. Sometimes, we have no choice to buy if having long distance travel. Maybe you will taste the food differently in the 10000 feet height in the air.

Choose your male!

Malaysia Petrol & Diesel Price Chart since 1990

Malaysia Petrol Price Chart in 2008 (source: Malaysiakini)

On 3 Dec 2008, Malaysia government announced a "good news" that petrol and diesel prices were reduced 10sen to RM1.90 and RM1.80 respectively. I had made an update on Malaysia petrol and diesel price chart from year 1990 to 2008 as shown in the figure below:

Complete Malaysia Petrol and Diesel Price Chart since 1990
(updated on Jan 09)

Complete Malaysia Petrol and Diesel Price Table since 1990
(updated on Jan 09)

As Malaysian citizen, should we be happy and excited on the "good news"? Was this news much better than you expected? or you did not expect the petrol price was reduced so soon?

Malaysia petrol price vs global crude oil price (source: Anil Netto Blog)

According from Penang Chief Minister Lee Guan Eng , Malaysia petrol price should be RM1.52 and not RM1.90 because the global crude oil price was $50 per barrel. How did he claim this? By refering to Anil Netto Blog, it listed the Malaysia past petrol price with corresponding global crude oil price as shown in the figure above which I had re-plot the chart. From the data, it is clearly that Malaysia petrol price should be RM1.52, because the current crude oil price is around USD48-49 (as dated on today) which is same to the past petrol price on May 2005! In other words, we are paying more than what we supposely to pay! Are we subsidize goverment? Is goverment taking advantage on us?

Goverment should revise the petrol price immediately since Malaysia inflation rate is pretty high. The high inflation rate causes depreciation on RM even you put your hard earned money in fixed deposit FD!! I really hope another good annoucement on petrol price cut.

EPF Contribution in Malaysia

Worldwide is entering into recession period, Malaysia is no way to be escaped from this big blow. Retrenchment is happening everywhere around the world, especially in US. In order to induce domestic growth, Malaysia government announced that EPF contribution by employees was cut from 11% down to 8%, in the hope to generate active internal money flow. EPF contribution by employers is remained the same at 12%. The EPF deduction is not compulsory. If you dont feel like to withdraw more money and want to maintain to 11%, you can fill up a form and submit it to EPF center.

EPF Contribution chart in Malaysia

The chart above depicts EPF contribution in Malaysia from year 1952. From the chart, the employee contribution varies from 8% to 11% since year 1992. While the employer contribution is remained the same at 12% since year 1995.

Petrol & Diesel Charts in Malaysia

Crude Oil Price is dropping continually

On 14 Oct 2008, petrol price in Malaysia was reduced 15 sen to RM2.30 from RM2.45 in tandem to the recent drop-off on crude oil price, which is staggering around USD80. How do you feel on this action? Will it save your pocket money? Most of people do not feel excited on the petrol price reduction. It is mainly due to the persistent high inflation rate!! It has caused the prices in food and drink increased profusely. Individual expenses are increased to the burdenning level, especially to the poor and low income groups. According to the recent report, the inflation rate is as high as 8.5%! In other words, the money you put in FD (fixed deposit) is depreciating! How could we bear with it? The price reduction does not bring the food price cheaper and, I think, the price will be very likely remained the same. Should government force prices to be cut?

Fighting in between fuel and the money in your wallet!

The picture below shows Malaysia and Singapore petrol prices in different years. From the graph, it illustrates clearly that most of the time, Malaysia petrol prices are much lower than Singapore. The comparison is not fair because Singapore does not export petroleum but Malaysia does export petroleum. Does it make us to ask for much lower petrol price? Do we take it for granted? If I am not mistaken, Malaysia major source of income is generated from petroleum. It takes about 40% of Malaysia net income. What will happen one day that Malaysia becomes net export petroleum? Will we continously enjoy petrol price? Therefore Malaysia should use money wisely and diversify into different type of income.

Petrol hike graph (from Maybank source)

Petrol and Diesel Prices in Malaysia (1990~2008)

The table above lists down the petrol and diesel prices in Malaysia. Just imagine, how enjoyful that when the petrol price was just as low as RM0.89 before year 1990. Did we feel happy and blisful at that time? I think most of us did not care about it and took it for granted.

Note: if you look at the table meticulously, you will notice that most of the petrol hike happened on May or Oct.

Petrol and Diesel Prices in Malaysia (1990~2008)

The sharpest increment occured on 5 Jun 2008, petrol and diesel prices incresead 78 sen or 41% to RM2.70 and RM1.00 to RM2.58 repectively. All citizens instantly felt the implication of these sudden increament. Food and other prices increased immediately . The worst thing was the following electricity hike.

On 14 Oct 08, petrol and diesel prices were decreased to RM2.30 and RM2.20 repectively. The total decreament for petrol and diesel prices were about 40 sen and 38 sen respectively from the peak prices. Will other prices like food decrease? I dont think the prices will be reduced significantly. What have gone up, it will not go down easily, which is very different to share price that can plummet sharply without notice.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Malaysia Petrol & Diesel Price Chart since 1990

• more about Malaysia Petrol & Diesel Price Chart? click here: link2_petrol_diesel_price_chart