Penang Local Custom Tips by kenyneo Top 5 Page for this destination

Hungry Ghost Festival... chinese religious practices Review

Every year the Chinese believes that the gate of hell will open and ghost ( hungry or not ) are allowed to roam the earth. Its their vacation and unfortunate events are always more during these months ...because they roam amongst us.

To appease them, chinese give offerings some of them can be very extravagance like a whole fleet of offering , gigantic dragon incense up to 2 metres high ,paper effify , hell notes ( in millions , now I think its cool to have people giving you money during your vacation , dont you think ? ) , performance of Chinese Opera ( now this is free ), stage performance etc.

During this event you can also see a huge , fiery and striking paper effigy representing the King of Hell siting on the temporary altar set for him ( you will notice his eyes are closed the first few days , so try not to look at it when his eyes are just open !!!

Festivals from Oct to Dec 2004

Tourism Award Night 2004
3 - 5 October 2004
Venue: Penang
Organiser: Pen Events Sdn Bhd
Telephone: 04 - 645 1934
Fax: 04 - 645 1953

Pahang Bazar ramadan
15 October - 13 November 2004
Venue: KOMTAR, Penang
Organiser: Penang State Government / Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce
Telephone: 04 - 262 0202
Fax: 04 - 262 9903

Penang Festival 2004
1 November - 31 December 2004
Venue: Throughout Penang
Organiser: Penang State Government
Telephone: 04 - 262 1957
Fax: 04 - 261 8618

Raja Muda International Regatta 2004
1 - 30 November 2004
Venue: Port Swettenham, Penang
Organiser: Penang Tourism Action Council
Telephone: 04 - 262 0202
Fax: 04 - 263 1020

Penang December Mega Sale Carnival
6 November 2004 - 2 January 2005
Venue: Major Shopping Centres, Lebuh Campbell and Little India, Penang
Organiser: PenEvents Sdn Bhd
Telephone: 04 - 645 1934
Fax: 04 - 645 1953

Penang Aidil Fitri Open House
21 November 2004
Venue: Fort Cornwallis, Penang
Organiser: PenEvents Sdn Bhd
Telephone: 04 - 645 1934
Fax: 04 - 645 1953

5th Malaysia International Dance Sport Championship 2004
4 December 2004
Venue: Penang International Sports Arena (PISA), Penang
Organiser: Penang State Government / Malaysian Dancers' Association
Telephone: 04 - 261 6495
Fax: 04 - 261 5497
E-mail: gen@pc.jaring.my

11th Penang International Dance Sport Championship 2004

5 December 2004
Venue: Bayview Beach Hotel, Penang
Organiser: Penang State Government / Malaysia Dance Sport Championship 2004
Telephone: 04 - 261 6495
Fax: 04 - 261 5497
E-mail: gen@pc.jaring.my

25th December
Chingay Procession ( Dragon dance, lion dance , proceesions , acrobatics performance with gigantic flags ) + Christmas celebrations

Festivals from August to September 2004

Hungry Ghost Festival ( a month long celebration on the 7th Lunar month of chinese calender ) usually start mid July to Mid Aug ( gregorian calender but need to confirm )

Penang August Mega Sale Carnival
7 August - 5 September 2004
Venue: Major Shopping Complexes, Cambell Road & Little India, Penang
Organiser: PenEvents Sdn Bhd
Telephone: 04 - 645 1934
Fax: 04 - 645 1953

Penang Merdeka Eve Celebration
30 August 2004
Venue: Esplanade, Penang
Organiser: Penang State Secretariat Office
Telephone: 04 - 262 1957
Fax: 04 - 261 8618

Penang Merdeka Day Celebration
31 August 2004
Venue: Esplanade, Penang
Organiser: Penang State Secretariat Office
Telephone: 04 - 262 1957
Fax: 04 - 261 8618

Festival Silat Nusantara 2004
6 September 2004
Venue: DOME ( KOMTAR ), Penang
Organiser: Pesaka Malaysia / Penang State Government
Telephone: 04 - 658 4490

Penang International Mountain Bike Asia Cup 2004
18 - 19 September 2004
Venue: Penang Municipal Youth Park, Penang
Organiser: Penang Mountain Bike Association
Telephone: 04 - 262 4400
Fax: 04 - 262 6260

The 36th Penang Festival Cycling Championship 2004
18 - 19 September 2004
Venue: Around Penang (Road Race), Gurney Drive (Criterium Race), Penang
Organiser: Penang Tourism Action Council
Telephone: 04 - 262 0202
Fax: 04 - 263 1020

Penang Lantern Festival 2004
28 September 2004
Venue: Sri Pinang Hall
Organiser: Penang State Government / Penang Chinese Townhall
Telephone: 04 - 261 7194
Fax: 04 - 262 1959

Festivals from May to July 2004

Penang YTL Arts Festival 2004
24 May - 22 June 2004
Venue: Sri Pinang Hall and various locations in Penang
Telephone: 04 - 262 1957
Fax: 04 - 261 8618

Wesak Day 2004
26 May 2004
Venue: Malaysian Buddhist Association, Jalan Burmah, Penang

National Colours of Malaysia
29 May 2004
Organiser: Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism
Fax: 03 - 2693 4789
Website: www.mocat.gov.my

Penang International Floral Festival
30 May - 6 June 2004
Venue: Botanical Garden, Penang
Organiser: Penang Botanical Garden Department

25th Anniversary Penang International Dragon Boat Festival 2004
19 - 20 June 2004
Venue: Teluk Bahang Dam, Penang
Organiser: Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd
Telephone: 04-505 5251
Fax: 04-507 4700
E-mail: chinyinfat@yahoo.com OR pidbf@tm.net.my
Website: www.penangdragonboat.com

Penang Beach Carnival 2004
25 - 27 June 2004
Venue: Batu Ferringghi Beach, Penang
Organiser: MATTA Penang Chapter
Telephone: 04-226 1635
Fax: 04-227 7266

Gema Boria Semutiara IV 2004
26 June 2004
Venue: Seberang Perai South, Penang
Organiser: Penang State Culture & Arts office
Telephone: 04-281 7791
Fax: 04-281 7781

Penang Culinary Expo 2004
2 - 4 July 2004
Venue: Penang International Sports Arena (PISA)
Organiser: Chefs Association of Malaysia (Penang Chapter & Intranasionale)
Telephone: 04-646 8000
Fax: 04-885 2829

Penang International Artistic Challenge 2004
2 - 4 July 2004
Venue: Penang International Sports Arena (PISA)
Organiser: Chefs Association of Malaysia (Penang Chapter)
Telephone: 04-646 8000
Fax: 04-885 2829

Penang 'Bon Odori' Charity Carnival 2004
17 July 2004
Venue: Padang Esplanade, Penang
Organiser: Penang State Secretariat Office
Telephone: 04 - 262 1957
Fax: 04 - 261 8618

Penang Food & Fruit Fiesta 2004
31 July 2004
Venue: Gurney Drive, Penang
Organiser: PenEvents Sdn Bhd
Telephone: 04 - 645 1934
Fax: 04 - 645 1953

Eating - the Chinese way

Well to chinese FOOD means Prosperity !
So not eating all the food that is given to you means you are wasting Prosperity !

Plus chinese are generally too thrifty ( thank god I know how to balance up myself ) so they will be glad if you finish up the last grain of rice or food you have on your plate ! I have been trained by my mum to finish everything ...so to pacify her and to maintain my diet , I eat very little rice back home.

Well I guess this in fact is a very good practice.Coz there are millions in Africa and war torn countries are starved to death , and here we are wasting food all the time ...

But chinese also being very gracious host will insist that you take more and more , once you finish whats on your plate and declining would mean their food is tasty ...so I guess the best way out is for the first plate take a smaller portion and go for 2nd round ....for a Win - Win situation !

Taboo for gifts .... Taboo for gifts .... Review

Well manjority of chinese are superstitious to certain extend , so take note when choosing a gift for them ....hahaha ....of course they will not mind especially for those not familiar with their culture !

CLOCK ! Never buy a clock as a present / gift , coz in cantonese clock is " chung " while giving present is " sung " and when you combine both it becomes " Sung chung " which means " paying last respect when someone die " ....

( please take note that its clock and not watch that you are not encouraged to buy )

Others items that you should not consider is shoes , scisscors ( anything sharp ) or mirror.

Offerings .... chinese religious practices Review

Offerings for the celestial beings comes in a wide variety ....

Chinese Opera ... Art and performances Review

well the Chinese Opera is only featured mainly during the Hungry Ghost festival or during the birthday of Chinese Gods or Deity....and mainly cater to older folks ...perhaps its because the younger generation doesnt understand what is being conveyed ....a dying art itself no wonder its being perform for the spirit and celestial beings ...

Broom ...

Well broom is considered very inauspicious for the Chinese , so if you happens to be holding one ( well rather unlikely though when you are travelling ) dont ever let it touches the Chinese people.....and its supposed to bring them bad luck !

Thats why Chinese are not supposed to sweep the floor during chinese new year ..at least the the 1st of the 15 days !

Chopsticks ...when you eat

Chinese believes that its not good to plant your chopsticks in your bowl of rice ( just like erecting a pole ) or other servings because this is usually done only for offerings to the spirits or during offerings to ancestor .

So whenever you are eating rice or other stuff with chopsticks , and if you have to excuse yourself or stop for a while ..place it on the table or chopsticks holder ...