Sometime back in early July this year, there was a special photo exhibition along Cheong Fatt Tze Street which was featured as part of the events of Georgetown Festival 2013. This unique exhibition by freelance photographer Cheryl J Hoffmann touches on the Nine Emperor Gods festival which was widely celebrated by the locals. Below are some of her beautiful shots on display;
Do visit the photographer’s page; http://cheryljhoffmann.com/ for more amazing photos.
The Nam Hooi Association (or Nam Hooi Wooi Koon) is a Chinese Cantonese district association with its building located along Chulia Street, George Town.
A wall mural art depicting an oriental lady wearing a cheongsam or qipao waiting by the sidewalk. This painting can be found at the sidewalk of a building along Nagore Road.
The Moon Gate located near the Penang Botanic Gardens is an entrance archway remnant of a Chinese mansion built in the 19th century which now lies in ruins (source and more info: iGeorgetown Website). The archway now also serves as the meeting point of a popular hiking trail up to the Penang Hill.
Tucked away in a back alley of George Town, this door from the past is a testament to the uniquely preserved heritage of George Town. Also, an exploration of a street in George Town always reveals something nostalgically beautiful which you never know existed before.
Located along Burmah Road, this is yet another temple dedicated for Kuan Yin or the Goddess of mercy (similarly to the one at Pitt Street) in George Town. This temple was reportedly founded in 1922 by an abbot of Kek Lok Si Temple. This temple is also crowded usually during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, despite it not being the Nine Emperor Gods temple.
A steel rod sculpture showing caricature of a Chingay Procession, a traditional local Chinese street art performance held annually here. This sculpture can be found at Prangin Road Ghaut.
From the Chingay website;
Chingay originated from China, and the Penang Chinese first performed Chingay in 1919 during deity processions. It is a street art where the performer balances a giant flag that ranges from 25 ft to 32 ft in height and about 60 pounds in weight.
Over the years, the local Chinese has been improvising the Chingay performance. From a basic giant flag balancing by a solo performer, Chingay has developed to a team performance that consists of more than 15 persons in a troupe. Today, Chingay is not only performed by the Chinese, but the art has successfully attracted the Malays and Indians. It has become a very unique multiracial performance.
Hokkien Mee (or also known prawn mee/prawn noodles), is a type of Chinese noodle dish cooked in spicy prawn broth together with bean sprouts, boiled egg, slices of pork and of course, the prawns. A very popular and common local dish here, it was said to be brought here by immigrants from the Fujian province in southeastern China.
Tilt-shift effect on a shot of Kek Lok Si temple’s courtyard. Kek Lok Si temple complex located at the slope of the hills of Ayer Itam district is one of the oldest and biggest temple in the country.
