7th Penang Island Jazz Festival

The Seventh Edition of The Penang Island Jazz Festival will this year be held from the 2nd to 5th of December 2010 and feature more than 190 musicians on one (1) Main Stage, four (4) Fringe Stages and the Big Band programme.

As in past years, the “Jazz By The Beach” Stage (Main Stage) programmes a variety of groups with different styles and this year is no different with varied musical styles being performed from a thirty five (35) piece Philharmonic to World Renowned Solo Guitar Players to Standard Jazz Trio / Quartet to an Aca Pella group to Funk / Fusion Bands to Experimental / Nu jazz / Ethnic jazz groups in an idyllic open air setting beneath the stars by the side of a beach.

Keeping in line with past editions, the performers for the main stage programme this year are a mixture of local Malaysian and International acts. They are Penang Philharmonic featuring Ray Rozells and James Boyle, Celso Machado (Brazil), SC Yun Trio (South Korea), Electric Barbarian (Netherlands/USA/Brazil), Stouxingers (Germany), Carefree (Malaysia), Roger Wang Trio (Malaysia), Boi Akih (Netherlands), Rain Sultanov Quartet (Azerbaijan), PELbO (Norway), Tommy Emmanuel (Australia) and ZHAN (Malaysia / Japan / Australia).

More info at http://www.penangjazz.com

Loy Krathong Festival on 21 Nov 2010

Date: 21st Nov 2010
Time: 7pm to 11pm
Location: Wat Chaiya Mangalaram Buddhist Temple (also known as the Reclining Buddha Temple)
Contact: 016-4105115

The festival is celebrated on the full moon of the 12th Lunar month in which devotees pray to the Water Goddess as well as repent for what they have done.
One can let go of their troubles as they released their lotus vessels into the sea.
Tiny paper flags were placed in the vessels which were sold for between RM8 and RM180 each.

This year's the temple is campaigning for an Eco-friendly  Krathong.  The public is invited to participate. The main criterion is the krathong must be made of degradable materials.

Source: http://visitpenang.gov.my

Penang vs Malacca: Who Has More Tourists?

Lately there has been some dispute between Penang and Melaka over who has more tourists. Both states received the Unesco World Heritage Site awards in 2008. If we refer to the statistics of hotel guests by state published by the Tourism of Malaysia website, Penang has 5.96mil tourists as compared to Melaka's 3.76mil tourists in year 2009. Interesting to know the top 8 states as below.


1. Kuala Lumpur - 15.74mil
2. Pahang - 9.65mil
3. Penang - 5.96mil
4. Sabah - 5.36mil
5. Sarawak - 3.98mil
6. Kedah - 3.85mil

7. Melaka - 3.76mil
8. Johor - 3.53mil

Reference: http://www.tourism.gov.my

Malacca did not have more tourists, says Penang from The Star Online: Metro: North

No Plastic Bags from 2011 Onwards?

First it was Monday, then Mon-Wed and now it is permanently implemented. Kudos to Penang for being the first state in Malaysia to successfully implement the banning of plastics for all business sectors. So what is your opinion of this move? Have you gotten used to living without plastic bags? Yes it is very inconvenient and troublesome to carry your own bags. What will be the repercussions? More good than bad? Only time can tell.

Read the full article from TheStar

Heavy Rain & Storm to Hit Penang (Flood Warning - Yellow Stage)

Beware fellow Penangites.

Flash floods may occur on Nov 1 & 2 due to heavy rain from monsoon. As a precautionary measure, people are advised to unclogged drains and avoid low-lying areas. People living near riverbanks are also at risk.

Above is the official warning letter from the Meteorological department. 

Read more >>

AIR SUPPLY is Coming to Town!

AIR SUPPLY IS COMING TO TOWN! Here in Penang as part of their 'Love Never Ends' 35th Anniversary World Tour Live in Malaysia 2010, the Australian soft rock duo will be performing on 16 November 2010 at the PISA Indoor Stadium. Catch them LIVE as they serenade you with their greatest hits "All Out Of Love", "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" and more! Relive the romance of these old school rock ballads and let them give us a great concert in Penang!

Tickets are sold at RM300 for VIP seats, RM200 for PS1 category, RM150 for PS2 category and RM100 for PS3 category. Showtime begins at 8.30pm. Organised by Star Planet and brought to you in Penang by Hydro Star Gateway in Penang, tickets are sold at Lo Hong Ka Gurney Plaza (04-2274450), Speedy Video Queensbay Mall (04-6412653), SIN-PEN Travel - Macalister Road (04-2266161) and SIN-PEN Travel - Bukit Mertajam (04-5306262).

You may even purchase tickets from www.ticketcharge.com.my. Impressing fans on their whirlwind tour schedule these past few years, Air Supply held concerts in the US, Australia, Canada, Brazil and other Asian countries. This time, commemorating with their 35th Anniversary, Graham Russel and Russel Hitchcock of popular Air Supply group is back in Malaysia for an unforgettable show! For further information, contact Star Planet at 03-9223 3667.

Oktoberfest Penang 2010 - A Slice of Bavarian Culture Exclusively from Germany

Oktoberfest Penang 2010 brings you live entertainment exclusively from Germany with a slice of Bavarian Culture to Penang.

On Saturday, let’s celebrate, dance and have great fun with the games (e.g. arm wrestling, beer drinking or beer mug carrying contest). There will also be a lucky draw with exclusive prizes sponsored by German factories and local supporters. For sure it will be a big party with big crowds (we expect about 1600 people).

On Sunday it will be a relaxed early pint (Frühschoppen). Especially for families and relaxed people this day will be a good opportunity to celebrate the Oktoberfest in a calmer way and enjoy the Bavarian “Gemütlichkeit” in a tropical environment.

On both days you can enjoy German and local food and beer as well as the German “Reissner Band”. Of course B.Braun and Robert Bosch will set up the games stalls for children on both days, Saturday and Sunday. So it’s up to you to decide about the appropriate way to bathe in German culture!

As one of the country’s most famous events (who doesn’t want a chance to make merry, drink lots of beer and eat traditionally prepared food like (but not only) Sauerkraut (sour cabbage) with Fleischkaese (meatloaf), Schweinsbraten (roast pork) along with bayrischer Kartoffelsalat (Bavarian potato salad) or with Semmelknödel (German bread dumplings) or just Bratwuerste (grilled German sausages) with bun.

All this delicious German food and more will be provided by Ingolf’s Kneipe German Restaurant, Torch Restaurant & Bar and That Little Wine Bar and more. Again we offer a special Oktoberfest treat: Brezeln and Lebkuchenherzen (Gingerbread Hearts). This sweet is a must on any German fair. Now you can get it in Penang as well.

So, don’t forget to grab your Oktoberfest Souvenir Program for entrance in advance here at Malaysian-German Society, 250B Jln Air Itam (next to Suffolk House) at 04-2296853 or email to office@mgs-penang.com
Source: http://visitpenang.gov.my