Penang Rocks

Hong Kong St Tow Boh Keong Featured in The Star Online

October 16, 2013

It’s nice to see some attention paid to Hong Kong St Tow Boh Keong! The temple is finally getting some recognition as one of the oldest Nine Emperor Gods temples in SE Asia! This story about piercings and Master Khoo…

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Photos displayed

Walk and Chat with the Photographer – On Hong Kong St

July 2, 2013

Come see how a quiet street in Georgetown has been transformed with larger than life photographs. On Friday, July 5th at 10am we will be walking along Jln Cheong Fatt Tze and talking about the upcoming Nine Emperor Gods Festival.…

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A burning boat

Culmination – Balance in Fire and Water

October 16, 2011

The send off for the Emperor has long been one of my favourite parts of the Nine Emperor Gods festival. I am used to the Ampang style of send off and the Hong Kong St rituals were very different. I…

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A man blowing water into another man’s mouth

Trances and Pierces Penang-Style

October 11, 2011

As one moves north in Malaysia, the Nine Emperor Gods Festival becomes synonymous with the antics of mediums possessed by the Chinese gods. Many of you will think of Phuket, Thailand, where the Nine Emperor Gods Festival is known as…

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A boat float

The Procession on the Ninth Night

October 11, 2011

The moon is almost full! How fast this ninth month is going by. I have a lot of photos to share but it is taking some time to go through them and choose. It’s a fun exercise to limit a…

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A woman praying

Nine More from the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, Penang, 2011

October 4, 2011

1. A woman prays to the Emperor while holding paper figures representing her family. I think this is a Penang idea. Am I correct? 2. Guan, calling the god to help prepare the talismans. A short while later, a medium, in trance,…

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Objects hanging on a tree

Nine from the Nine Emperor Gods Festival, Penang

October 3, 2011

It’s busy and getting busier. So, in the temporary quiet of Monday and the 7th Day, here are some shots from Tow Boh Keong, Hong Kong St. that you haven’t seen yet. I had visions of creatively posting by theme,…

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Dragon dancer

Travelling with Tow Boh Keong, Hong Kong Street, Penang

October 3, 2011

Let’s start with a photo of the Hong Kong St Temple leaving for the procession in Air Hitam (Farlim Temple) on Saturday evening. It’s been a goal/dream of mine to ride in a lion dance truck at Chinese New Year.…

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An altar with statues

Visits to Jelutong and Noordin St Nine Emperor God Temples

September 30, 2011

I visited two nearby temples yesterday to note some similarities and differences from the Tow Boh Keong, Hong Kong St temple. First off, I noticed that both of these temples use the Chinese Junk as their symbol. This of course…

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Men on the street

Shots from the Neighbourhood

September 28, 2011

My introduction to the Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Penang has been Hong Kong St. And I’m learning fast that there is a lot going on all around me!   There are hawker stalls selling tastey vegetarian food for the…

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