Time Square Phase 1 Opening Soon in January

Time Square Mall in Penang opening soon- that is good news for penangites to shop during coming Chinese New Year. I am sure the traffic is congested along this road - Jalan Dato Kramat. Because people may park his car like above photo for dropping or fetching his friend or his family members.

Happy New Year 2009

Happy New Year 2009 - Count down outside QueenBay Mall firework photos.

Pacific Komtar Open for Business on 18-Dec-2008

Pacific Komtar Open for Business on 18-Dec-2008.
Penangites got new place to shop and there is good news for Komtar to shine back its image like 10 years back. So that is good time for those worker who have taken force leave for shut down during Chritsmas holidays can go for shopping instead of going to travel outside country although the economic is recession and slow down. Besides that, Time Square is coming soon for opening. I also have to take force leave for shut down from 25 Dec to 4 Jan for my company. I have planned to go to Pacific Komtar and Time Square during Christmas and New year holidays. Then I will update more photos soon.

New Penang Event Calender 2009

January 2009
31 January: Chinese New Year Open House: Organised by the Penang Youth Clan Council, the Chinese New Year Open House is a time when the various clan houses of George Town open their doors to visitors. Streets such as Armenian Street, Cannon Street, Ah Quee Street, and parts of Chulia Street become pedestrian malls. Details call Penang Youth Clan Council, tel: +6016 489 8868

February 2009
2 February: Thaipusam: Hindu festival of purification, Thaipusam includes chariot procession through the streets of George Town in honor of Hindu deity Murugan. Details call the Penang Hindu Endowment Board, tel: +604 650 5215

8 February: Chap Goh Meh: Chinese Valentine's Day. It is celebrated on the 15th night of the Lunar New Year. Celebrations this year is planned at the Penang Chinese Town Hall at Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling. Details call Penang Chinese Town Hall, tel: +604 261 7194

March 2009
13-15 March: iFOODex: The largest consumer food exhibition in Malaysia, happening at PISA. For details, contact Intrenasionale at +6012 483 2426

13-21 March: Penang International Food Festival: Indulge in the best of Penang local cuisine, happening at PISA, Batu Ferringhi and Esplanade. Details contact the Penang Tourism Action Council at +604 262 0202

April 2009
25 April: Vasakhi Open House: Catch a glimpse of the Sikh celebration and enjoy traditional Punjabi food. Happening at the Esplanade, Penang. Details contact the Malaysian Sikh Youth Organisation Penang, tel: +6017 584 0821

May 2009
1-3 May: Penang World Music Festival: A place where music lovers can get to enjoy the music from different parts of the world. Happening at Quarry Garden of the Penang Botanic Garden. Details contact the Penang Tourism Action Council, tel: +604 262 0202

9 May: Wesak Day Celebrations: Witness the grand parade staged to celebrate the birthday of Buddha. Details contact the Malaysia Buddhist Association at +604 261 6548

25-31 May: Penang Floral Festival: Admire beautiful flowering plants, buy some to take home. Happening at the Penang Botanic Gardens. Details contact the Penang Botanic Gardens Department, tel: +604 227 0428

29 May: P. Ramlee Festival: Showcasing the movies and songs of the beloved late entertainer, P. Ramlee, this festival will include acting and singing competitions. Happening at the Dewan Sri Pinang. Details contact the Penang State Government, tel: +604 650 5136

30 May: Bukit Jambul Hiking Competition: An event attracting local and foreign hikers, with the reward of panoramic scenery at the peak. Happening at Bukit Jambul, organised by the Hiking Association Bukit Jambul & MPPP. For details, contact +604 226 2959

June 2009
4-7 June: Penang Turf Club Equestrian Centre Horse Show: An opportunity to view dressage, show jumping and carriage riding. There will also be an exhibition of the various types of horses and ponies. Organised by the Penang Turf Club. Details contact +604 229 3233

5-6 June: Penang X'Games: Events include Skateboarding, BMX and Inline Skating. Happening at the Penang Skate Park of the Municipal Park. Organized by the Penang Extreme Sports Club and MPPP. For details contact +604 226 2959

6-7 June: 29th Penang Dragon Boat Festival: Come watch the rowers from all over the world compete in this rowing competition. Details contact the organiser at +6019 445 5166

July 2009
1-31 July: Visit Penang Heritage Celebration: Commemorate the listing of George Town as a Unesco World Heritage Site with cultural performances, traditional crafts, demonstrations and exhibitions, happening at the heritage enclave. For details, contact the Penang State Government at +604 650 5136

3-5 July: MATTA Fair: A place to seek fabulous discounts for tours domestic as well as international. Happening at PISA, for details contact MATTA Penang Chapter at tel: +604 890 0106
11 July: Penang 3rd International Skimboarding Competition: Be dazzled by the best skimboarders in Asia and Australia. Happening at Bayu Senja Complex in Batu Ferringhi. For details, contact the Penang Skimboarding Association at +6012 403 5097

18 July: Bon Odori: The Japanese version of the Hungry Ghost Festival, this is a lively dance and drum performance to welcome home ancestral spirits. Happening at the Esplanade. For details, contact the Consulate-General of Japan at +604 226 3030

24 July - 2 August: St Anne's Festival: The biggest Catholic feast celebrated in Malaysia, centred at the St Anne's Church in Bukit Mertajam. For details contact +604 538 6405

August 2009
1-9 August: Wau Competition: Come and witness the Malay wau, and kites from different countries. Happening at the Esplanade. Details contact the Penang State Government at +604 650 5136

20 August - 19 September: Pasar Ramadhan: Enjoy a wide selection of Ramadhan goods and clothing at the Komtar Pedestrian Walk. Details contact the Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce at +604 261 3016

October 2009
3 October: Mid Autumn Festival: Lantern making competition, moon cakes, cultural and musicals are part of this festival. Happening at the Penang Chinese Town Hall Auditorium. Details contact the Penang Chinese Town Hall at +604 261 7194

11 October: Komtar Base Jump: Come watch the extreme tower jumping event. Details contact Menara Kuala Lumpur, the organiser, at +603 2020 5448

5 October: Hari Raya Open House: Enjoy festive fare as we celebrate the start of Shawal in traditional Malay style. Details contact +604 650 5141

26 October: Deepavali Open House: Join in this colourful celebration in George Town's Little India. Details contact the Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Penang, tel: +604 262 0960

26 October: Nine Emperor Gods Festival: Happening all around Penang, when devotees go on a vegetarian diet, and vegetarian fare is sold at street side and at temples

26 October: Navarathiri Festival: Hindu religious festival when devotees offer prayers to the deities Thurga, Laxmi and Saraswathy to seek power, wealth and education. Chariot procession throughout George Town. Details contact the Malaysian Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Penang, tel: +604 262 0960

November 2009
28 November: 16th International Dance Competition: Watch a dazzling dance sport event with dancers from around the world. Happening at PISA. For details, contact the Malaysian Dancers Association at +603 3168 6964

December 2009
1-31 December: Pesta Pulau Pinang: Month-long celebration with fun fair and trade exhibitions held at the Pesta Site, Sungai Nibong. Details contact the Penang State Government at +604 650 5136

3-6 December: Penang Island Jazz Festival: An event for jazz enthusiasts with workshops, jazz competition, and other activites. Happening at the Bayview Beach Resort, Batu Ferringhi. For details, contact the Capricorn Connection at +603 2093 4725

4-6 December: Penang Synchronised Swimming Championship: Enjoy watching synchronised swimming by participants from various countries at PISA. Details contact the Penang Amateur Swimming Association at +6019 456 2681

13 December: Starwalk: The biggest walking event in Penang, held to promote healthy lifestyle. Details contact Star Publications at +604 647 3388

Penang Food - My New Blog

I have setup a new blogspot for Penang Food.....as http://soohin-penang-food.blogspot.com/ Please visit my new blog and give comment.

MAN UTD 3-0 CELTIC

European Champion League thrid match Group E

With not so much a battle as a mild swat, Manchester United contemptuously dismissed in their all-British encounter against Celtic with a 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
Two suspiciously offside-looking goals from Dimitar Berbatov - taking his Champions League tally to four - and a customary strike from Wayne Rooney, who now has nine in seven games for club and country, paid scant justice to United's total dominance.

WELL PLAYED --- DIMITAR BERBATOV & WAYNE ROONEY - World Class Player. MAN UTD is top of group E and got 7 points. They need another 3 points to advance to the quater final.

New Department In Komtar, Penang

PENANG shoppers will have an additional choice this year-end as the new Pacific Departmental Store (Komtar) is set to open on the island by Christmas.
The new department store and supermarket will be an anchor tenant of Komtar, occupying 42,277 sq m for a tenancy period of 18 years.
The store will have a lifestyle concept and cater to the needs of the mid to upper class market.

The store will invest the total of RM20mil within the first six months to develop and renovate the new outlet.

It seems very optimistic about the project and believe it can be one of the main shopping attractions on the island as it is located in the town area with an established traffic flow.

The store would take up four floors previously occupied by the Yaohan Departmental Store, would be hiring a work force of 400 to manage day-to-day operations.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was present to witness the tenancy agreement between the Komtar owner Penang Development Corporation (PDC) and Pacific Hypermarket & Department Store Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary company of The Store Corporation Berhad, said the deal was a first step in regaining Komtar's shine.

"The space Pacific is occupying has been vacant for about five years. Now, we see the light at the end of the tunnel in reinstalling Komtar as the heart of George Town and Penang," Lim said.
He added that the state was committed in reviving Komtar.

In addition, Penang Time Square will open soon to attract more tourist and shopper come to Georgetown.

Bluetooth watches for the ladies

LADIES who often miss calls or SMS because they were unable to hear or find their phones in their handbags have reason to rejoice.
Sony Ericsson, in alliance with watchmaker Fossil, has unveiled its first collection of Bluetooth watches for women.

An expansion of the successful Bluetooth MBW-150, the MBW-200 range of Bluetooth watches comes in three designs: Sparkling Allure, Contemporary Elegance and Evening Classic.

The MBW-200 range will be available in selected markets in the fourth quarter.
The watch displays caller ID and vibrates as the phone is ringing for when an SMS is received. The discreet and clear monochrome OLED display is invisible when not in use and clearly visible on a bright day so that the user can see who is calling or which track is playing with ease. The collection features scratch-resistant mineral crystal glass with an anti-glare coating for optimum readability and glow.

Other features include an out-of-range warning, triggered when 10m away from the phone; play, pause, stop or skip a track on your phone’s music player; quartz movements for exact time-keeping; auto pairing that makes it easier to connect the watch with one’s phone; and allergy-safe stainless steel.
Sony Ericsson plans to add a sporty edition to the MBW-150 range, which currently comes in three designs.
The designs would be available early next year in selected markets, the MBW-150 Classic has a brown leather strap and white face.

Olympus SP-570

The advantages of Olympus SP-570 UZ 10 Megapixels

i. 20x optical zoom lens and wide-angle lens.

ii.2.7-inch LCD display

iii. The menu navigation is typical Olympus, which means logically arranged with large, easy-to-read text and explanatory text that you pull up at the press of a button.

iv.A zoom switch in favor of a servoelectronic manual zoom ring on the lens.

v. Mechanical (sensor-shift) image stabilization, without which the 20x lens would be pretty useless.

vi. Guide mode, which offers task-centric, step-by-step instructions for various shooting scenarios. The SP-570 UZ allows you to store up to four sets of custom settings.

vii.Supports wireless flash, which can come in quite handy, and easy to configure.

viii. SP-570 UZ also adds a hot shoe & it can focus as close as 0.4 inch in Supermacro mode.

The disadvantages of SP-570 UZ

i.Takes 3.3 seconds to power on and shoot.

ii.Focusing and shooting under optimal conditions takes 0.8 second, and under hard-to-focus conditions, that rises to 1.8 seconds.

iii. Slow flash recycling time.

iv. Manual zoom ring on lens not responsive enough; can't zoom in movie capture.

Read more detail in below link:
http://reviews.cnet.com/digital-cameras/olympus-sp-570-uz/4505-6501_7-32818810.html

Click here to introduction SP-570 UZ movies clip:

Creative pieces of sushi

MOST sushi typically has a standard look €” a rectangular fillet atop a block of rice €” but master chef Koei Ebisawa creates dainty pieces of artwork with sushi.
Strips of salmon and squid are arranged on top of the rice to resemble a flower while the simple piece of tamago (egg) is filled with other ingredients to form a pretty pattern.
Koei will be the guest chef at the Kampachi Japanese Restaurant at Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur from Oct 7 to 11.
He started his career in the kitchen at the age of 15 and is now the head of all executive chefs of a chain of 35 Asahizushi restaurants in Tokyo.
After a visit in spring last year, Koei returns to promote delicacies typical during autumn in Japan.

Kampachi general manager Chiharu Yabe said as an introduction to Koei’s culinary skills, the restaurant would also feature various autumn specialities marinated by the chef in Japan and shipped to Malaysia.
Among the items are the iwashi maruboshi or grilled sardine that is best enjoyed in autumn; the sabazushi or mackerel sushi that is lightly pickled in salt and grilled and the mizunasu mustard, which is an eggplant from Osaka with mustard dip.

It look like yummy yummy sushi.