An Islander's Perspective of Penang
A street art mural depicting a girl holding on to a balloon made up of floating plastic bottles. This art work can be found at a back wall of a building at the Kampung Kolam area (or behind a row of shophouses facing Kapitan Keling Mosque Street) in George Town.
The annual float event which was titled “Magic of the Night 2015 Floats” this year was held in May at the Marina of Putrajaya, organized by the Tourism Ministry of Malaysia. The event showcased a number of floats representing each state in Malaysia, parading on the waters of the Putrajaya lake. After the event, the Penang float was moved over here to be displayed along the Karpal Singh Drive, Jelutong.
Penang’s float is called “Endless Celebrations” and reportedly won the Most Popular and Most Creative Awards during the Magic of the Night 2015 Floats.
Note: There is an ongoing photography contest (till August 22) of the float organized by Penang Island City Council (MBPP), Photographic Society of Penang (PSP) and IJM Land Berhad. For more info on this contest, please visit: http://www.psp-penang.com.my/.
A floating shelter for fishermen in Teluk Bahang coastal area.
A giant inflatable Ubah Bird floating on the waters off the shore of IJM Promenade at Nautilus Bay. The Ubah Bird (or “bird of change”) was launched by the Penang DAP political party and will be lighted up during the night. The Ubah Bird is a Malaysian hornbill and was used as a mascot by the Pakatan Rakyat political alliance during the 13th General Elections of Malaysia. The floating exhibit was apparently inspired by the giant yellow rubber duck of Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman.
Nautilus Bay is a stretch of coast along the Jelutong Expressway.
The Penang Chief Minister (and also current Secretary-General of DAP party) LIM Guan Eng during the launching of the Ubah Bird.
The Ubah Bird will remain at the IJM Promenade until 31 August 2013 before it is taken to the other states of Malaysia.
Hean Boo Thean Temple is a recent Chinese temple built at one of the clan jetties in Weld Quay, George Town. The temple is built on top of the coastal waters and during high tide season, the temple looks as if it is floating on top of the sea.
The Floating Mosque (or in Malay called Masjid Terapung) is built after the 2004 tsunami disaster that hit the island’s coast and destroyed a nearby mosque. The large Malay mosque is located at the bay in Tanjung Bungah, which one can easily spot if going along the main road to Batu Ferringhi. The mosque is built standing on pilings and stilts and is also the first mosque to be built in the sea in Malaysia.
