Greetings to you. May you feel at home and enjoy what I am sharing on this little corner. I am learning as much as I can from you and fellow blogger community. It is my first attempt at blogging. Who knows, it could be another source of information for the community and at the same time it could well be another source of income for me as I am as much interested in making money online. Let's go from here...
My Dear Friends, Family, Relatives and Business Associates, Wishing You A Happy & Prosperous Chinese New Year. For those traveling and driving home to be with the family and reunion dinners, please ensure proper maintenance and road worthiness of your vehicles. Please drive carefully. Take a rest if you are tired and continue you journey when you have freshen up. Kindly ensure the safety of everyone and other road users.
For those who are on duty and at work during this festive holidays, I say thank you for your services as you are key to keeping everyone happy and alive to celebrate this auspicious occasion. Thank you to some of these very very important persons rendering services such as the Hospital and Medical staff, the Banking staff, The Police and Traffic Officers, The Military, The Airport and Air Controllers and Airlines, The Shipping Ports, Ferry Services, Train and Railway Services, The Buses and Drivers and Station Masters and Automobile Workshops and Towing Services and also the Petrol Kiosks operators. The Shopping Malls and the Movie Theaters to keep us shopping and entertained which do not close on these days. Of course, the Telecommunications and Broadcasting stations keeping us in touch with one another. Thank you to the radio deejays for playing us non-stop music and updates on the traffic and news. To my fellow insurance agents and colleagues, I salute you for the on call duty for the emergencies. I want to remember the special group of people at call centers and at help desks of the various industries and especially the Chartis Malaysia Insurance Berhad Travel Guard.
The team at Travel Guard are ever ready 24 hours throughout the year to assist anyone whether you are insured client or not in your travel related emergencies while overseas or in a foreign sovereign. The team for Asia Region is based in Kuala Lumpur. I remember you.
Congratulations to all AIA Agency Awardees , Agents and staff from Penang, Bukit Mertajam and Kulim Branches. Special congratulation to our "How Lien" Insurance Agency Director Mr Yeap Boon Swee for guiding us to the Clean Sweep of All the Awards at AIA National level.
Here is his style of typical "How Lien" or Arrogant Speech.
Thank you to my leader, Mr Leong Eng Shin District Director and colleagues from PN/LES Agency. Congratulations to Madam Hooi Phaik Geok being one of the Million Dollars Round Table (MDRT) award winners and Miss Chew Seh See on her promotion to be the new Unit Manager.
Here you can enjoy the show with our Beautiful and Lovely Emcee, Miss Laureen Quah bringing on the programs for the evening at Hotel Equatorial, Penang on Tuesday January 17, 2012. There was musical performance by the Penang Symphony Orchestra Violin Quartet.
There were ballerinas to entertain all AIA twinkle-twinkle stars too.
Later half of the show, she introduced us to Leonard De Silva and Friends on a night filled with Jazz.
See you again AIA agency force at next year's Annual Award Presentation Night 2012. Meantime, Gong Xi Fa Cai and Wishing Everyone A Very Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year.
If you have been in Malaysia over the last couple of weeks, you would probably be entertained by our local singers at the Ge-Tai(Mandarin) or in Hokkien " Ko-Tai or Roadshow had you ventured out at night to the local Chinese temples. You would also had the opportunity to watch a traditional Chinese Opera show too. Over here in Bukit Mertajam, the local Chinese community here speaks the local TeoChew dialect as compared to the majority of the local Chinese community in Penang Island who speaks Hokkien dialect. Therefore, the opera shows over here are mostly the TeoChew Opera.
However, due to the Opera show and its traditional culture and apprenticeship which are not "seen" to be paying attractive income and the nomadic lifestyle(due to frequent travels around the country to perform at various temples) of the troupe members, comprising the actors, actresses, supporting casts, make-up artist, wardrobe and tailors, the musical team which sometimes doubled up as the stage crews in setting up the "theater and backdrops" which play the traditional musical instruments such as drums,gongs, trumpets and flutes and cymbals, these professional arts and noble jobs are hardly attracting the new and young generations.
They have to put in long hours of training to acquire the acting skills and singing and dancing. They have to teach themselves to paint their faces with colored powders and other cosmetics to depict the faces of heroes and heroines and villains too. They eat at and sleep on the temporary stage set up by the local committee of the temples. It is hard to find a local opera troupe to perform because today's Chinese younger generation are leading a very different lifestyle in the advent of digital age, and have higher expectation of a quality lifestyle in the comfort of the beautiful five stars hotels and the lime lights of the more sophisticated modern art of acting and the glitters on the silver screen and to bash in the glamors of the Hollywood for being cast in the Megabucks Blockbuster Movies. They probably want to be glamorous like Jet Li, Chow Yun-Fat, Sammo Hung or Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li and etc. Guess what? Even today, the Opera troupes are imported from China to perform here in Malaysia. At one time, the troupes from Thailand were quite regular here. They probably find it hard to get new bloods into the industry.
Another dying culture is the Chinese puppet shows which are also performed to thank the deities. Today, we have the animation using the computer digital technologies. I have seen in the past that some temples when they could not secure the puppet shows or the opera, they had hired the services of the cinema crews who show the old movies on a large white screen like a drive-through movie which is more economical and easy to set-up. For the Opera show, there are usually two performances per day. One episode in the afternoon and one episode at night. As for the Ge-Tai or Roadshow, it is only performed at night and usually from 8.00pm to 12.00 midnight with a mixtures of male and female singers who usually dressed sexily or in scantily outfits. Male singers are also rare nowadays as the audience preferred to watch females performers.
Recently, the Opera show held at Kota Permai was to thank the deity "Datuk Kong" or the so called Malay Spirit Deity worshiped by the Chinese community especially those that practiced Taoism for the blessings which they belief were bestowed throughout the whole of last year. Some of the businessmen and residents would sponsor and donate huge sum of moneys to organize the event make burnt offerings. The local shopping center, Billion Supermarket sponsored one night performance of the Roadshow. At Kota Permai, the "Datuk Kong" is said to be "dwelling or residing" at the big rock along the main road of Jalan Kota Permai and it is the main deity housed at the temple built onto it. See my earlier post on the temple here. At this temple, pork offerings and non-kosher foods are not allowed to be offered to the "Datuk" deity as it is a Malay Spirit and it is considered a taboo. Ill luck and bad fate will befall the persons who make such an offering blunder. Even the singer will respect the deity by singing at least one Malay song to entertain the deity.
Here is one Malay song titled Sha-Na-Na sang by Miss Chang Sin Yee.
Anyway, the deity and or other deities will watch the opera or puppet show or Ge-Tai secured as offerings and thanksgivings by the local temple committee who are themselves nominated among the sponsors and donors annually or for a specific term. Of course, the people and residents like me who like to see Roadshows will join the crowd just to watch the performances for free. In the present days, there are plastic stools for sitting and canvas tents sheltering from the rain. In the olden days where I grew up as a child, there were rows of wooden planks laid on stilts and tighten with bolts and nuts above grasses and muddy open spaces and arranged like rows of seats in a theater hall with no shelters except for the makeshift stage.
Those days, we could only watch and it remained in memory. Today, we can shoot photograph and record video. That is why you are now enjoying these video clips that I recorded with Sony handy camera. Here at the Chinese temple roadshow, we cheer and clap for the singers as they sing and entertain us with the latest pop songs and dances. The visitors to the temples will usually close their hands together and kneeling or bowing down, and offer prayers with burning incenses (joss-sticks which can be plain and tiny or big with dragon and figurines and printed joss-papers in gold and silver colors accompanied by lighted candles and lamps to the deity or deities at the temples. Some who have been blessed with good-fortunes will make cash donations. They may even bring along food-stuffs such as boiled chicken, eggs, home cooked meals and dishes, fruits and cookies to offer to the deity or deities. After the prayer sessions, these food-stuffs can be taken back home and consume as it is belief to bring good luck and blessing. You can expect the joss-sticks or incenses with dragon figurines will be popular throughout this Chinese New Year as this is the Lunar year of the Water Dragon.
In contrast, at the Church, the worshipers play the musical instruments, sing praises and worship songs to God, dancing, clapping and raising hands in prayer postures, bowing or kneeling down and giving thanks unto the Lord and Jesus Christ. There are Malay and Murut versions of Songs of Praise and Worship. The church congregations give tithes and offerings in cash and checks. The modern and large churches even accept offerings through debit to credit card accounts or online transfers using the latest banking facilities. These monies are used by the Church to support its administration, missions and to help the poor and needy. The Church have the Holy Communions where the disciples broke breads and eat and drink the cups of wine in remembrance of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Love and Sacrifice for us.
Now you may like to ask, who is worshiping and who is singing? Who is thanking God and who is being entertained? Who benefited from the collection of monies and how it is being used? Anyway, mankind came empty handed into this mortal world and cannot take it with us when we leave this world. Let us be good Stewards and Custodians of what God has placed in our care and hands.
Here, enjoy the opera, roadshow, the pop songs and worship songs and may God Bless you and family and be with you always. Gong Xi Gong Xi.
Greetings to you. Chinese New Year is getting nearer now. For the head of family of the household, it it time to work harder to earn the money that the whole family is going to spend on this festive seasons and the holidays. Have you been reaping the good tidings for the New Year 2012?
If you have been to this blog earlier, you probably came across the posting on share investment and the specific counter on Hua Yang Berhad. It is time for their Quaterly Report ended December 31, 2011. Here is link to the report filed by the company and posted at Bursa Malaysia from the company's website.
Notice : The blogger takes no responsibility for the contents of this blog, makes no representation as to its accuracy or completeness and expressly disclaims any liability whatsoeverfor any loss however arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this blog. The above opinion is not an invitation to buy or sell. It is just solely my opinion serving my blogging interest and an expressionof thoughts and ideas of the author and shall not be construed and taken as and investment advice. This is not an advisory service and I do not charge any subscription fee. The blogger disclosed it is deemed an interested investor by virtue of its investment in the stock until its disposal of holding it in its portfolio. Any action that you take as a result of information, analysis and/or commentary on this site is ultimately your responsibility. Kindly consult your investment adviser before making any investment decision.This morning on January 19, 2012, the counter has gone up to the price of RM1.37 as 09.33.50am. The current target price I am looking at is RM1.50. There has been a bonus issue of one share for three existing shares completed on October 31, 2011.
Hooray.Haappy New Year.It is a Public holiday today on Sunday 1 January, 2012 here at Penang, Malaysia and it will be replaced on Monday 2 January, 2012.. New Year 2012 is a buy time for shopping for many at Sunway Carnival Shopping Mall at Seberang Jaya, Penang. Enter the Dragon. No..no... not that the Bruce Lee Kung-Fu movie. It was a national Malaysian Dragon Dance competition held at the lobby of the shopping mall. There were other competitions including little children and adults in Chinese traditional costumes and dances. Enter the Dragon Year on 23 January, 2012 according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar.
Enjoy watching the dances which I managed to record it. The team from Muar, Johor, Malaysia emerged Champion while the team from Sungai Petani, Kedah, Malaysia was the first runner up while a second team from Muar, Johor was second runner-up.
See you at Sunway Carnival again soon for the Chinese New Year program which has been lined up to liven up the shopping atmosphere to usher in the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Dragon.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year 2012 and may God bless you richly in wealth ,good health, and grant you peace, joy, success and love always in the 366 days ahead.
After dinner at James Foo Western Food, Fettes Park, Penang, Bigfoothill went over to the main annual hot spot for the New Year 2012 Countdown at the Esplanade (Padang Kota), Georgetown, Penang. The VVIPs including the Chief Minister, the Honorable, Mr Lim Guan Eng and his Exco members were there to grace the occasion.
As we were walking on the street which was full of hawkers and petty traders and the people going towards Padang Kota, we passed by another famous landmark, The Sire-Museum Restaurant known for its Western Foods and fine dinning and a collection of the Chinese Antiques and furniture belonging to the famous millionaire, the illustrious Yeap Chor Ee who arrived from China and worked very hard to become the founder of the only Penang based bank, Ban Hin Lee Bank Berhad which had in recent years been merged into CIMB Bank.
There was a concert held at Padang Kota along Light Street and facing the seafront and next to the Fort Cornwallis which is located right in front of the City Hall building next to the Dewan Sri Pinang on the back and opposite Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Penang Branch. American International Assurance Berhad (AIA) Gnext training center is right behind BNM at Bishop Street, Georgetown, Penang. The group Bunkface was one of the performers performing at the peak of the concert. You may like their genre of rock music. They performed the song "Dunia" which means "World" when I was walking to the Esplanade after finding a parking space at AIA.
It is time to bid farewell to year 2011. After all the works and efforts for the year, it is time to relax and reflect on what we have accomplished in this 365 days of 2011. I took the opportunity to meet up with friends over in Penang Island and went for dinner with family at the famous James Foo & Family Western Food at Fettes Park, Tanjung Tokong, Penang. The foods tasted really fantastic. I ordered the Combo which have the pork, beef, lamb, ham, sausage and egg plus the vegetables,potato fries and a bun with the black pepper sauce. You can catch a glimpse of inside the restaurant which is situated within Fettes park.
We had to take a number to wait for a table and be seated. There were many dinners at this time of the year and weekend. I once wanted to dine there a few months age but the crowds were big as usual. It was almost 30 minutes waiting for an available table. Meantime, we ordered our foods and refreshments, one mushroom soup, one oxtail soup, one black pepper chicken, one Hawaiian chicken and a Combo serving, and drinks - one glass of Lime juice, one Roselle and one other juice. It is another 30 minutes of waiting for the foods to be served. The total bill is RM56.20. If you really must try it out, please be cool to find a parking lot and wait patiently for the services and food. Have your buddies to go along with you so that you will have plenty of time to catch up and kill. If not, just watch the English Premier leagues on the LED TV on the wall or fiddle with your I-Phone, Samsung Galaxy Note or Tabs or whatever. If you can bear the noises from the neighboring tables then you need not worry of hearing your grumbling tummy. Note: Make sure you have the leisure time if you plan to enjoy the tasty foods at James Foo. Sorry folks, I did not bring a good camera, just a Sony handy video camera. Bigfoothill is sure to return again to James Foo for more of their servings on the menu next year 2012.
