All the fuss over the multilingual road signs

There's this recent furore over the use of different languages for road signs over here in Penang. I just don't see what all the blardy fuss is about.

For one thing, why can't the state government just maintain it at BM with an English translation for the tourists?

Why must be have so many different language road signs anyway?

I mean, when I go overseas, to say, Thailand, I don't see them going out of their way to include BM or even English in their road signs. It is all strange symbols to me. Only sometimes I'd see shop signboards with English on it.

And to think, Malaysians probably made up one of their largest number of tourists each year.

English is a universal language. So, add that in if you must but WTF do we need Chinese, Tamil, etc, etc, in the roadsigns? For what? Just to prove that your party is all for ALL the races? And in the process make us look like a joke?

Also the reaction from various fractions is really ridiculous. Here we are in an impending economy crisis and them leaders are crying foul over one state government's plan to place roadsigns in various languages.



I don't know about you but putting additional languages on a roadsign does not insult another language. The idea of it is stupid.

Hmm..look at the funny road names above. How do you translate those? Lemme try:

Cowshit Lane

Lorong Tahi Lembu

Gu Sai Lor (Hokkien)

Err...sorry, no tamil available, I've not taken that up yet.

Zzyzx Road

Jalan Zzyzx

Zzyzx Lor (Hokkien)

Okay. So, the conclusion is that we should name all our roads with strange unpronounceable alphabet combinations so that there is no need for translation because in the end, it'd be the same!

So, here's to:

Jalan Wtfwtt

Jalan Bsgvt

Jalan Shtbn

Jalan Wth

Easier, only problem is that people will forget how to spell the road names since they can't even pronounce it....heheheheh..

Deepavali at Little Penang Street Market

The monthly Little Penang Street Market is this weekend and in conjunction with the Festival of Lights coming up this Monday, it is themed 'Deepavali' naturally.

So, there's going to be some Deepavali cultural shows from a talk on the origins of the festival to some performances.

The Little Penang Street Market is a pretty cool bazaar full of artsy stuff and handicrafts. If you are looking for some great souvenirs, gifts, decorative items or pretty knick knacks, it's one of the best places you can check out.

However, prices are fixed so there's no bargaining here. Some of the prices here are pretty steep too but there are quite a few charity stalls so I usually buy from these knowing that the money goes to charity.

Now that they have a food section there too so you can even eat lunch there. Worth checking it out.

Where: Upper Penang Road

When: Sunday, 11am - 6pm (Every last Sunday of the month)

What: Handicrafts, art works, food, cultural events

Penangites beware of possible floods

Looks like we have wet, wet days ahead of us.

According to the meteorological department, we should expect more rain for the next week or so. Rain and thunderstorms are expected in the evenings so, be prepared.

And that's not the worse of it. Kuala Muda Dam is releasing its water periodically so the rivers on the mainland are swollen and threaten to flood nearby villages with very little rainfall.

Also, due to the wet weather in recent days, the lands in Penang are already highly saturated so it can no longer absorb water.

This means, whenever it rains, the water will flow on the surface and not be absorbed into the ground. Yes, that means, floods!

For those of you staying in the lowlands, well, remember to be on the alert and get your belongings up on high ground. Of course there is a possibility that it may not happen at all but we never know, right?

Do remember, the Air Itam Dam is also filled to capacity so even if they don't release water, there is bound to be an overflow due to this system they have had for decades (or else the dam might burst which will be worse, right?).

So, bring around an umbrella with you okay? Oh, yeah. Go buy a boat too if you stay in easily flooded areas. It would be a better mode of transport.

Looks like the second Penang bridge may be delayed AGAIN

But then I am not in the least surprised even if it is true that the second Penang bridge project were to be delayed.

In fact, I had been waiting for this announcement for quite a while already.

Lim said China Harbour had agreed to start building the foundation in November while UEM disagreed with the quoted price.

The government had offered the project to UEM for RM1.3bil but the latter asked for RM1.5bil, he added.

“With UEM enjoying close ties with political parties, it should be accepting the offer price,” he said, adding that if UEM can’t accept the offer, an open tender should be called quickly. [source]

Isn't that usual for any local mega projects especially the second Penang bridge project?

First there's this big huge hoo ha about it and loads of publicity.

They talk about the project as if it will be completed within days.

They paint pretty pictures of what the project may bring to the state and the people.

The second Penang bridge has suddenly develop this special super power where it will transform Penang's economy into a busy, bustling, growing state.

Suddenly, this structure of concrete and steel will be able to bring in investments.

It will be able to solve all traffic problems on the current bridge.

It will make all Penangites' lives better.

Short of being called the Super bridge of Penang, there is nothing this bridge won't do!

Yeah, right.

If you fell for all that crap, I guess you also believed in Superman and Spiderman and that there is really a Clark Kent working in the Daily Planet, and that grown men would dare to be seen prancing around in skintight red and blue costumes.

A bridge is a bridge is a bridge. All it will do is to let people go to the mainland. And we already have one such bridge. I don't deny that the current Penang bridge is not able to sustain the amount of traffic anymore but really, does building a second bridge actually solve the problem?

I don't know. I'm not an expert on that but say the traffic conditions increased over the years and ten years down the line, both bridges are always jammed. Then what? We build a third bridge? A fourth bridge? A fifth?

Or better still, since we are already reclaiming so many blardy foreshore land, we might as well reclaim all the way to the mainland and connect the island to the mainland for good. Then Penang will no longer be an island but a peninsular. Then we won't need anymore billion ringgit bridges.

Then the whole island will just be choked up with traffic because of easy access and an urgent lack of sustainable public transportation system.

What about the ecological impact, you ask? Heck, them politicians don't care about ecological impact. If they cared, why'd you think so much seabed land have been reclaimed? Why do you think there are so many hillslope developments causing landslides everywhere? Why do you think there are so many flash flood incidences the moment there's heavy rain?

It is all in the name of development, my friend.

As for the second Penang bridge, I don't blardy care anymore if it is delayed AGAIN. Please, tell me something new.

Here are some events and activities happening in Penang

If you are into some art and looking at paintings is your thing, do check out:

Darussalam Spaces 2008 Art Exhibition

@ The Penang Art Gallery, Dewan Sri Pinang

When: now till Oct 31

What: 60 paintings by Brunei artists

Contact: 04-2613144


Reflex exhibition

@ Muzium & Galeri Tuanku Fauziah, USM

When: Oct 18 till Nov 8, 9am - 5pm.


Not your thing? What about food? Why not enjoy some by the chefs on Sunday (oct19):

5th International Chef Day

@ Penang Municipal Park

When: Sunday, Oct 19, 9am - 3pm.

Contact: 04-2268659

Here are some other activities you may be interested in:

Pesta Cahaya Deepavali

@ The Summit BM Plaza

When: Sunday (Oct 19), 5pm - 8pm



Alzheirmer Disease Caregivers Forum

@ Penang Caring Society Complex

When: Sunday (Oct 19), 3pm - 5pm

Contact: 04-6565291

A night of beer and oompah-pah, it's Octoberfest!

Wilkomen! (That's welcome in German)

It is the time of the month again for a spot of alcoholic indulgence, great German food and German music!

Yep, it is time for Octoberfest and it is happening this weekend, Saturday to be exact, and it is bound to be great fun!

Catch this band:


Over at this year's Octoberfest and enjoy some original German music!

Now, here are the details:

Where: Malaysian-German Society and here's the map to its location:



When: Oct 18, Saturday, from 6.45pm onwards

What: German food, beer, contests, dancing, music, prizes, great fun!

How: Entrance is by donation of RM10 per person (members) & RM20 p.p. (non-members) for those who pay before that day and RM15 p.p. (members) & RM25 p.p (non-members) for those who pay at the entrance on that day.

Contact: 04- 2296853 / office@mgs-penang.com / website: www.mgs-penang.com

The Asean Culture Centre at Pesta Site Sungai Nibong is a failure!

If you planned to check out the Asean Culture Centre at the Pesta Site in Sungai Nibong, let me tell you, don't waste your time because it is an absolute, total failure.

It is really, really bad.

Boring.

Less than 30 stalls open.

The worst Pesta EVER!

And I have proof too. Look:


Looks like some normal night market except that it is WORST. What Asean culture? Oh, they must have meant this stall:



There are maybe two or three Thai stalls selling stuffs that you can find in night markets.


Only thing that remained the same is the funfair. The same old rickety, don't look safe, rides and 'games' are there. Though the entrance to the Pesta is free, remember they charge you damn expensive for the rides in the lousy funfair. A ride in the kiddy train is RM3 per child! A ride in the merry-go-round costs RM2 and it does not even have any music and the horses and vehicles in it are dusty and in bad condition too. It is RM4 PER PERSON to sit in the Ferris Wheels but no thanks, it looks even more dangerous than walking into the middle of a busy highway while blindfolded. Who knows how well they maintain these things.



The one attraction in the whole so-called Asean Culture Centre is this air-inflated playground for children. Yep, only my son enjoyed going there because of this playground but then toddlers are pretty easy to please.

Entry is RM2 per child.



My verdict: It is the worst ever Pesta Pulau Pinang I have ever been to. It is even worse than a night market. Going to a night market is infinitely more interesting than going to the Pesta site for the Asean Culture Centre. It is practically like a dead town with a few stalls selling worse than night market quality stuffs.

If you think last year's Pesta Pulau Pinang is bad and looks like a night market, well, you'd think last year's event was like Disneyland compared to the travesty of this so-called Asean Culture Centre.

Seriously. The exco in charge, Danny Law, needs to buck up and DO HIS JOB. This is obviously an absolute failure.

Entrance free, so what? To walk around empty stalls? Hell, they charge you parking for RM2 per entry okay, so it is not entirely free.

Tomorrow is the Nine Emperor Gods Festival

After a whole nine days of going on full strict vegetarian, devotees will see the culmination of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival tomorrow on Tuesday.

This festival which is held from the first day of the ninth lunar month until the ninth day of the ninth lunar month annually is in honour of the Nine Brother deities.

There are different versions to the origins of this festival and one of the more popular ones is that these nine brothers were like Robin Hoods who robbed the rich to help the poor. At least, that's what I heard.

It is believed that they will only get to come back to Earth for nine days each year and being strict vegetarians, those who pray to them will need to be on full vegetarian diets for the nine days. It seemed that devotees will receive more blessings if they go on the strict vegetarian diet. The vegetarian diet is so strict that all utensils used to cook the food must not have touched meat before and no garlic and onions are allowed to be used too. Even the forks and spoons and plates must be new or have not been used to serve meat before.


Also, devotees must wear light coloured clothing when going to the temples to offer their prayers during this period. Women who are menstruating are not allowed to enter the temples.

Whatever the believes, one thing is for sure. It will usually rain a lot during this period. As can be seen, the first day itself there was a heavy downpour causing flash floods in the state.

So, as is 'tradition' it will definitely rain during the street parade of the festival tomorrow (Oct 7) evening. It won't necessarily be heavy rain but will probably be some light drizzle around 7pm or 8pm.

So, if you are interested to check out the street parade which will promise quite a good show with some people going into trance (yes, and with piercing of the cheeks, tongue, whateva), do head on over to:

Junction of Hong Kong Street and Carnavon Street from 7pm onwards

Normally, the parade is to 'send off' the brothers back at the end of the festival. So, the parade will start off at Hong Kong Street and may pass through Burmah Road and then head to Gurney Drive to send the brothers off in a boat out to sea.