Posts filed under 'Festival'
If you’ve been to Melaka during Chinese New Year, or 3 weeks before this auspicious celebration, you have surely witnessed the appealing Chinese New Year street decoration at the Melaka Chinatown area, such as places like Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street), Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street), Jalan Hang Lekiu and Jalan Bunga Raya.
Never missed, this Chinese New Year street decoration initiative has been successfully carried out from the past 7 years (correct me if I’m wrong with the year). This year, the Melaka Chinese New Year Street Decoration 2008 was officiated by Dato Seri Ong Ka Ting on last Saturday.
Marking the first official day of the light-up, lion dance troops were invited to further condense the Chinese New Year atmosphere.
Take a look at some of the pictures I took at Jonker Walk, don’t you feel like wanted to be physically there as well?
Kudos to the Jonker Street Committee in successfully initiating another year of Chinese New Year Carnival.
Come visit Melaka this Chinese New Year to witness the condensed atmosphere.
GPS Coordinate: N2.19815 E102.24472
January 21st, 2008
Christmas celebration at Portuguese Settlement (located in Ujong Pasir) is an annual tourism attraction in Melaka. What makes the Christmas decoration at Portuguese Settlement a worth mentioning event, is that it is a community initiated effort, contributed by every home within the settlement.
This year, Portuguese Settlement is not exempted from this annual tradition as well, as it is the only concentrated area in Melaka with the most Christianity followers.
I’ve visited Portuguese Settlement on last Friday evening, to capture its Christmas atmosphere at dusk.
Though a few houses have added some new ornaments, but most of the decorative items are reused. Well, this is reasonable though, even the renowned KLCC Suria is using the same tall Christmas tree that I’ve seen for the past 2 years.
Feel free to view my last year’s posting about Christmas 2006 at Portuguese Settlement.
On the same day, before night falls, I’ve also got a nice shot at the Straits of Malacca coastline surrounding Portuguese Settlement.
Would you be spending your Christmas Eve at Portuguese Settlement?
GPS Coordinate: N2.18484 E102.26754
December 23rd, 2007
The coming Saturday evening will not be a usual evening for Melaka. It will be graced with nationwide celebration of Chinese New Year (CNY), with expectation for 100,000 visitors including foreigners. This event, known as Majlis Rumah Terbuka Malaysia (Malaysia Open House), will be held on 24th Feb 2007, and activities will begin from 7.30PM onwards, at Jalan Hang Tuah.
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong will grace the open house. This will be the first time for Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin attending such event as a Ruler. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi will also attend.
On the past few days, some of the politicians have commented about this event on the absence of allocation for Chinese traditional arts and essences, such as lion dance performance. However, AmazingMelaka.com can firmly confirm that, a series of performances reflecting Chinese cultures will be presented during this great open house.
Yesterday’s (22nd Feb) evening, our team has attended the full rehearsal of CNY open house, to witness and preview the scheduled activities. The following pictures tell how the open house will be carried out, according to the rehearsal.
Activities and Performances
A troop of 50 lions will present lion dance performance along the Jalan Hang Tuah main road to signify the launching of CNY open house. This performance is expected to begin around 8.45PM.
A team from Phor Tiong Beo Melaka temple will also wave a heavy-weight giant flag.
If the drum beats from lion dance performance don’t appeal to be heart-pumping enough, what about the 24-Season Drums?
Wushu is an essential Chinese martial art which has history dated back to thousands of years. The Jing Wu Athletic Association Melaka will present Wushu to wow your visual pleasure.
In order to reflect the harmonious multiracial society in Malaysia, group performance from hundreds of participants in various costumes (Chinese, Malay, Indian, Baba Nyonya, Portuguese, Sabah and Sarawak indigenous ethic groups, and etc.) will also be featured along with singing of Chinese New Year songs.
Never an absence in Melaka official event is the showcase of uniquely decorated trishaws, which play an important role in Melaka tourism.
Besides, a dazzling fireworks show will end the annual gathering.
Seats will be provided along the road side for early birds. Of course, the seats are limited; but there is spacious area for visitors to stand and enjoy the performances.
A number of displays are available along the Hang Tuah Mall, so that visitors far away from the center stage will also be able to witness the activities and performances. If you would like to secure the best view, better be there earlier.
15 Parking Fields
The organizing committee has arranged 15 parking fields to provide 4,500 parking slots, including Graha Maju parking field, Yayasan Melaka parking field, taxi station, former Melaka bus station, Jalan Tun Mutahir and etc.
Traffic Impact
Besides Jalan Hang Tuah, neighboring areas namely Jalan Graha, Jalan Tan Chay Yan in front of Pay Fong High School, Jalan Kubu, Jalan Tun Mutahir, Jalan Pelandok Putih in front of Plaza Jayamuda, will all be closed from traffic.
Troop of 1000 Lions
Melaka is especially happening during Chinese New Year. Besides this open house event initiated by government, the Old Melaka is also decorated with thick Chinese New Year atmosphere.
On 4th March, the 15th day of Chinese New Year, there will be a grand lion dance performance in the evening at Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street), formed in a troop of 1000 units! 300 big lions and 700 small lions.
February 23rd, 2007
The Old Melaka town is again dressed with reddish and ruddy street decorations to greet Chinese New Year celebration. The Chinese New Year Decoration Carnival has been an annual attraction in Melaka tourism for many years, and it is always praised by the visitors and local residents for the unique festive atmosphere.
Now, when you step into the Old Melaka streets, such as Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street), Jalan Hang Kasturi, Jalan Kampung Pantai and Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock (Heeren Street), you will feel like being part of the festival, even if you’re not celebrating Chinese New Year. The festive atmosphere is simply so dwelling in Old Melaka.
The big red lantern at Jalan Hang Kasturi.
The entrance of Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street)
The drum made of hundreds of small lanterns, at Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street).
The signature stage holding all kinds of Jonker Walk events throughout the years.
One of the most beautifully decorated clan houses at Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street), with 2 giant images of Choy San Yeh (God of Prosperity)
At the Geographer Café, Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street).
2 traditional red lanterns hanging at a house located at Jalan Hang Jebat (Jonker Street).
By looking at the above photos, it’s not hard to imagine how attractive the Old Melaka is in the evening and night, when all the lanterns are lighted up.
Have you showered with this unique festive decoration? Come and visit during this Chinese New Year.
Besides the street as mentioned above, the new Melaka Chinatown - Jalan Bunga Raya, is also part of the street decoration initiatives.
Have you published your photos of Chinese New Year atmosphere in Melaka? Feel free to share your link in the comment.
Happy Chinese New Year . 新年快乐
February 15th, 2007
Christmas celebration is approaching. Do you know that Melaka has a small but famous settlement known for its attractive Christmas atmosphere?
Some of you might have guessed it right that I’m referring to Portuguese Settlement in Melaka. The Portuguese Settlement in Melaka is a preserved land for descendents of Portuguese, situated along the coast, and accessing from Ujong Pasir.
Every year, when Christmas is around the corner, residents in Portuguese Settlement will spend some efforts decorating their houses and streets, to create Christmas ambiance within the square. In December, this is also the time when Portuguese Settlement experiences congested traffic in the evening.
In order to avoid the crowded Christmas eve, I’ve visited Portuguese Settlement on last Saturday to enjoy Christmas decorations readied for this year.
Street lightings in the settlement.
This house is generous. The family must have spent a few thousand Ringgits in the decorations and settings. The above 4 pictures are all taken within the same house. I was surprised and impressed with the air-bloated Santa Clause.
If you would like to take picture, I would advise not to go there too late. I was there at 10:30PM, and having difficulty coping with the relatively long exposure on my camera, as I wanted to capture the ambient lights.
This is the Christmas tree set-up at Portuguese Square.
Have you been to Portuguese Settlement for this coming Christmas? This coming weekend is a perfect time to visit, if you’re like me who just want to take pictures in less crowded day.
December 15th, 2006
Tomorrow is the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which marks the end of Ramadan or fasting month. Besides the festive atmosphere, a must-have sign welcoming the Hari Raya Aidilfitri in Malaysia, is to easily spot a number of stalls burning bamboo tubes by the road side. Well, I’m not being specific 
They are not burning bamboo tubes per see, but making a traditional Malay delicacy called lemang.
Lemang is a delicacy made from glutinous rice soaked with coconut milk, wrapped in bamboo tubes lined with banana leaf, and cooked over slow open fire. Due to the need for open fire at a place with good ventilation, the cooking of lemang is commonly seen by the road side. Well, not necessarily road side, but the sellers need to make sure that they have some marketing opportunities also right?
Right a week before today, I’ve spotted a simple tent at Limbongan, with a label written Lemang Tradisional (traditional lemang in Malay). It was at the preparation stage, where woods (some use dried old coconut) are collected for burning, bamboo trunks are cut, banana leafs are cleaned, and coconut milks are prepared.
Today, a few hours the breaking of fast, lemang stalls everywhere are all rushing to complete to orders. The process of cooking lemang is not easy. Under slow fire, it has to be cooked for average of 3 to 4 hours. Every now and then, the bamboo tubes must be alternatively turned to make sure that every part is evenly cooked.
In east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, lemang is usually served with ikan bakar (BBQ fish), but in west coast, it is commonly served with rendang (a kind of spiced curry) or serunding (spicy beef floss).
Within another half an hour, the Muslims will break the fast to enjoy their favorite drooling delicacies.
Wishing all Muslims Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
October 23rd, 2006
Hooray! It’s festive season again in Malaysia.
Coincidentally, as the timing of Hindu festival Deepavali and Muslim festival Hari Raya Aidilfitri are falling within days of difference in a week, Malaysia is celebrating a uniquely combined festive season called DeepaRaya. Yes, only seen in multiracial countries like Malaysia.
To the foreign visitors, Deepavali is on tomorrow 21st Oct 2006, while Hari Raya Aidilfitri is falling on the coming Tuesday 24th Oct 2006. Be sure to capture this unique moment with your digital imaging devices.
To residents of Malaysia traveling back hometown during this festive season, please (yes, please please please) drive carefully, have a safe and enjoyable journey. Lots of rest areas are available along the expressways and highways, utilize them as you’ve already paid for the facilities 
Happy Deepavali and Salam Aidilfitri.
October 20th, 2006
