Hungry Ghost Roadshow Penang Idol sings out of tune at Church Street Ghaut

Well, here is one very sporting Penang Idol wannabe singing out of tune a golden oldie love song duet with the pretty and lovely lady singer like Paula Abdul of 916 Entertainment at the Hungry Ghosts Festival at Church Street Ghaut, Penang. Like the panel judges, we the Penang Simons(Simon Fuller the creator of American Idol and Simon Cowell) and local Paula Abdul voted out (XXX) and censored him.

By the way, if you are wondering why the streets name in Penang have so many Ghats which are spelt as Ghaut in English or Gat in the local Malay language such as Macallum Street Ghaut, China Street Ghaut, Acheen Street Ghaut and Chulia Street Ghaut. you can learn from List of Penang Streets Names

So the Ghaut or Gat is actually GHAT as you will know that Penang rich heritage can be traced to the Bengali and Gujarati from Indian Origins who were the early traders and migrants who came to Penang, Malaysia through the port in Penang Island, especially at Port Weld. These Ghats can be mostly found to line across the Weld Quay Road (or the local name Jalan Pengkalan Weld) as these are the steps leading to the seafronts for the disembarkation to the island for the ships and boats that called at the port with their cargoes and spices especially during the merchant East India Company reign in the South East Asian Regions in the 1600s.  Below is the little definition of ghat provided by Wikipedia.

As used in many parts of South Asia, the term ghat (Bengali: ঘাট ghaţ, Hindi: घाट "steps") refers to a series of steps leading down to a water body, usually a holy river. In Bengali-speaking regions, this set of stairs can lead down to something as small as a pond or as large as a major river.

For a little bit more of history of British India, I found this blog by Mr Vinay Lal very interesting for your reading pleasure and adventure into the Indian History, Cultures, politics and religions.Thank you Mr Vinay Lal.


So here Bigfoothill set sailed to Penang Island from Bukit Mertajam on the mainland of Malaya(old name for Peninsular Malaysia) and landed out of tune with the singers and sank steps into Church Street Ghat in my automobile driven through the Penang Bridge which was once being one of the longest bridges in South East Asia.

With so many ghosts parties in Penang during this Seventh Lunar Month of the Chinese Calendar, like the one nearby QEII  at Church Street Ghaut, let us go to Churches in and around Penang on Sundays to be with the Holy Ghost.

Christmas and New Year 2011 Celebration by Residents of Taman Bukit , Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang

Hello New Year 2011.  I was with the BMBC members of the AGAPE cell group at the Christmas Celebration cum New Year 2011 Celebration organized by the RT or Residents Community of Taman Bukit, Bukit Mertajam,   A few of our friends are residents there and they volunteered to help in preparation for the presentation and highlights of the twin celebrations.

The residents comprising young children, adults and senior citizens were very excited about the yearly events that were celebrated whenever there were festivals being celebrated by the Malaysians of various ethnics and cultures and religious faiths.

The AGAPE cell group from Bukit Mertajam Baptist Church started the show with singing some Christmas Carols to the residents after the opening speeches by the chairman and VIP. and followed by the buffet styled dinner. Afterward, AGAPE members shared the true meaning of Christmas by having a Christmas Story telling time. It was told in English language and translated in to Mandarin while using the pictorial animations on a white board to illustrate the Nativity Story.  So, the folks here now know that Christmas is not just about commercials shopping and partying, Christmas Trees and decorations or Santa Claus or Santa Rina.

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David  not to be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" which means, "God with us"
When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son,. And he gave him the name Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-23)

The story also told about after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him" (Matthew2:1-2) and that when the three Wise men from the Easts saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. to the new born King. 

After the story ended. the Agape cell group members then bade farewell to the community with some sing along Christmas carol. The celebration continued with a group of Christmas carolers from St Anne's Church strolled in and sang Christmas songs and Santa Claus and Santa Rina danced with the children and presented them with goodies.  There were plenty of foods, fun and laughter. Thank you to the organizer for holding such and event to foster neighborliness and caring community for residents living in that area.

RT Taman Bukit Hall

Story of Christmas

The BMBC Agape distributing the lyrics for the community to sing along the Christmas carols

The young children were enjoying the story telling time

Part of the BMBC's Agape cell group members singing Christmas carols

The RT Chairman speaking to the residents

The carolers from St Anne's Church

Santa from St Anne's Church group of carolers dancing with the kids

Santa Rina also dancing with the kids

Later, I went to another function and on the way home, I dropped by to replenish his favorite beverage Milo which was on one day anniversary sale as Kim Far shop where singer Wasabe was performing live.

More video clips coming soon.