Great Penang

Adrian Cheah loves Penang. He brings you interesting insights into the UNESCO heritage city of George Town where he calls home.

Great Penang © Adrian Cheah


My understanding of All Saints' Day

All Saints' Day © Adrian Cheah

Images of St. Joseph from the Roman Catholic Penang Diocesan Museum, Farquhar Street, Penang.

Can you name five saints, even if you are not Catholic? Perhaps the first name that springs to mind is St. Anne, the beloved grandmother of Jesus. Her legacy lives on in the beautiful church dedicated to her in Bukit Mertajam. Alongside her stands her daughter Mary, the mother of Jesus, figures whose stories resonate with many.

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Deepavali – Celebrating the Light

Deepavali  © Adrian Cheah

Squatting at a corner of King Street amid the human bustle of Penang's Little India, Manickam P. sorts through a giant pile of fresh green banana leaves.

Clad in baggy khaki shorts and a sweat-soaked singlet, he seems to take no notice of either the automobiles that incessantly purr past or the hundreds of human apparitions that mill by him. The elderly odd-job worker certainly has his work cut out for him nowadays.

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The Grand Celebration of the Nine Emperor Gods in Penang

Nine Emperor Gods Festival © Adrian Cheah

How far would you go to uphold your beliefs? Would you, with unwavering faith, adopt a strict vegetarian diet for nine consecutive days? Could you walk barefoot across glowing embers or pierce your cheeks with a long spear, enduring pain as a testament to your devotion? Or are you more comfortable as an armchair devotee, observing from a distance, content in the safety of your comfort zone?

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Of lanterns and mooncakes

lanterns and mooncakes © Adrian Cheah

"The Chinese people have never demanded a clear separation of the worlds of myth and reality – indeed, they are so closely bound up that it is hard to say where one begins and the other ends." – An Introduction to Oriental Mythology, Clio Whittaker et al

"The moon, along with fine wine and beautiful women, is a favourite topic for the Chinese poets." – Chinese proverb

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"Nature At Play", Michael Quah's evocative solo art show

Michael Quah © Adrian Cheah

Besides my beloved parents, a handful of inspiring teachers have steered my decision to make art my career, and what a rewarding and fruitful endeavour it has been. Among them are Mr Ng Kok Lum (La Salle School, Form 1-3), Mr Michael Quah (St. Xavier's Institution, Form 4-5) and all my lecturers at The Malaysian Institute of Art.

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Echoes of history: "Lim Boon Keng – The Musical" at Jen Hotel

Lim Boon Keng The Musical © Musical Theatre Limited

On Sunday, 14 July 2024, I had the pleasure of attending an enchanting evening at the Grand Ballroom of Jen Hotel. The occasion was the screening of "Lim Boon Keng – The Musical", thoughtfully paired with a Penang-Singapore people-to-people friendship dinner. The event combined cultural celebration, historical reflection and fine dining, creating a charming evening.

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Merdeka – the National Day of Malaysia

Merdeka

In 1956, the then Prime Minister of Malaysia Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj led a delegation to London to hold talks with the British Government concerning independence for Malaya.

The Malayan delegation, comprising of four representatives of the Malay Rulers and four Alliance representatives, convinced the British Government to set a date for independence: 31 August 1957.

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Hungry Ghosts roam the Streets of George Town

Hungry Ghosts © Adrian Cheah

Every year, the streets of George Town in Penang come alive, not just with the living but with the hungry ghosts of the underworld. This is no ordinary celebration. The Hungry Ghost Festival, or Phor Thor as it is locally known, is a month-long festivities observed by Chinese communities not only in Penang but also throughout Malaysia, Singapore and Phuket.

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Tides of candlelight adoration at St. Anne's Feast

St Anne

One of the largest and most extraordinary religious mass gatherings in Southeast Asia is the St Anne Novena and Feast in the town of Bukit Mertajam in Penang.

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SPP 30th Anniversary Twin City Photo Exhibition: A Visual Extravaganza!

SPP 30th Anniversary

Embarking on a captivating photographic journey, the Society of Photographers Penang (SPP) commemorated its 30th Anniversary with a Twin City Photo Exhibition and a series of thrilling photography activities held at Gurney Walk from 7 to 15 December 2023.

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Captivating Moments: 34th Baba Nyonya International Convention and SCPA's 103rd Anniversary Celebration

34th Baba Nyonya International Convention © Adrian Cheah

Alongside 29 members of the State Chinese (Penang) Association (SCPA), we journeyed to Malacca for the 34th Baba Nyonya International Convention held on 24-26 November 2023, hosted by Persatuan Peranakan Baba Nyonya Malaysia. President Dato' Ronald Gan and his organising team, led by Lee Yuen Thien, dedicated themselves to orchestrating a series of captivating events centred around the theme "Between Man and the Ocean", featuring the "chi-wen" (fish-like dragon), believed to be one of the nine sons of the dragon, providing protection from harm and misfortune for all.

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Awal Muharram and the Hijri Calendar: marking Islamic History and Traditions

Awal Muharram, also known as Maal Hijrah, marks the beginning of the new Hijri year, falling on the first day of Muharram on the Muslim calendar. The phrase "Maal Hijrah" in Arabic translates to "migration", symbolising Prophet Muhammad's emigration as a process of positive change and leaving behind negative aspects of life. Thus, this new year's day for Muslims emphasises reflection, remembrance and gratitude.

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Pictorial essay of the energetic Angin OMbulan performance

21 July 2022 • 8:30 pm • Fort Cornwallis, Penang

Angin OMbulan © Adrian Cheah

Aida Redza and Kamal Sabran teamed up once again under the George Town Festival 2022 in Angin OMbulan, an on-site experimental performance. It was an expanded version of “Ssegar Angin” that was presented at the Venice Arts Biennale in April 2022 under the invitation of Port Perak, supported by George Town Festival 2022.

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St. Patrick’s Ball 2017 through the lens of a Nikon D750

St Patrick's Ball in Penang

Yes, I am a Nikon D750 and would like to invite you to stop, pause and discover wonderful things I see through my lens. I am a brilliant engineering wonder that has evolved through the passage of photography. Having said that, the man who decides how much light goes through me, how fast the shutter speed is and when to capture that magical moment makes all the difference in the outcome of a photograph.

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Fate of Little Penang Street Market uncertain after tomorrow

The Star, Saturday, 29 July 2017

BY AFTER 11 LONG YEARS BEING A VIBRANT, INTERESTING BAZAAR, AND THE FINAL CURTAIN WILL FALL ON THE LITTLE PENANG STREET MARKET (LPSM).

Little Penang Street Market comittee

(From right) LPSM committee members Khoo, Cheah, Ong and MBPP assistant administrative officer Amir Ali showing the press release on the last Little Penang Street Market and its 11th anniversary celebration.

For all the stakeholders, tomorrow will surely be a special occasion as the LPSM will also be celebrating its 11th anniversary.

“This will be the last Little Penang Street Market for us. We do not know what will happen next.

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Little Penang Street Market - more than meets the eye

Little Penang Street Market

To call the Little Penang Street Market a microcosm of Penang and Malaysian cultures is no empty boast. Its multi-faceted makeup has little parallels elsewhere. But it is also an incomplete description. The Street Market isn't merely another weekend shopping spot. Penang already has plenty of those, both traditional and modern, elaborate and simple, for every day of the week. In fact, Penang is such a shopper's paradise that some have been 'moved' to say, in local language "tengok pun dah kenyang" (a Malay phrase meaning that one is sated merely by looking).

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Plan to breathe new life into market

The Star, Friday, 4 August 2017
BY CHONG KAH YUAN

THE state government is working on a solution to keep the Little Penang Street Market going.

The market held at Upper Penang Road has just marked its 11th anniversary but its future is now uncertain after the organising committee members expressed their wish to retire.

State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said he was open to new ideas on how to use the space.

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Types of durians I am crazy about

durian © Adrian Cheah

People have their own preferences when it comes to durians and mine lean strongly towards fruits from older trees. These tend to yield durians with a smoother, creamier texture and a deeper, more pronounced aroma and flavour. Interestingly, even durians from the same tree can taste different from one season to the next, influenced by soil composition and changing weather conditions. For instance, the much-coveted Or Chi (Black Thorn) does not always deliver the same profile each year.

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Durian, the sensational "King of the Fruits"

Penang durian © Adrian Cheah

“You should wash your hands using water poured over the inside chambers of a hollowed durian skin. It will remove the strong odour from your fingers", urged Mr Teh, my neighbour who accompanied me on a durian feast at one of the many durian orchards in Balik Pulau. That morning, we had a satisfying breakfast like no other, amidst the natural surroundings of the orchard, shaded by towering durian trees.

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The durian burger, a journey of discovery

durian burger © Adrian Cheah

I am game for all things durian. Durian egg tarts are delicious. Homemade durian ice cream is such a sinful treat, especially eaten with crispy kuih kapit (love letters). Passion Heart Cafe bakes one-of-a-kind Fresh Cream Durian Cake; it is a sponge cake layered with fresh cream and creamy durian paste, topped with durian kaya (coconut jam). This is one of my favourite cakes at the cafe.

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The exotic hairy fruit called the rambutan

Penang rambutan © Adrian Cheah

In the vast range of local fruits available in Penang, the rambutan is a popular choice among Penangites. Rambutans are tied up in bunches of 50 or 100 each and sold at roadside stalls, at marketplaces and by some fruit vendors when in season. Prices vary according to size and quality. Rambutans sold in Penang are always fresh as they come straight from the local orchards.

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