World Clown Association in Kuching

Hesitated a little before deciding to do this post on the World Clown Association's annual meeting in Kuching, Sarawak, on the Malaysian part of the Island of Borneo. 

Received some comments from a Facebook post that made me aware some people have a phobia involving clowns. Not sure where this "fear" comes from.

In any case, we happened onto the Association's weeklong meeting in town and attended their final public "show" at a local shopping mall in town. 

Not sure what goes on at a clown convention but I'm sure there were classes and seminars on things such as face painting, making balloon animals, 

150 or so clowns showed up and entertained the large crowd on hand.

There was a "Paradeability" competition and other "on stage" performances.

Clowns are entertainers and they never seem to tire of getting their pictures taken.

There was a large contingent of Clowns from Asia, but probably from the fact that traveling to Kuching for the annual meeting was less of a challenge for them. I believe the organization's roots are in the United States, and there were plenty of clowns representing the U.S., but there were clowns from Puerto Rico, New Zealand, and other countries as well.

Kuching Sarawak on Borneo

Kuching is the Capital City of Sarawak, on the western portion of the Malaysian part of the Island of Borneo. 

It's also known as the Cat city (Kuching) and statues of cats are scattered around the main business district. There's also an extensive cat museum here.

Kuching is a good city base to venture out in search of Orangutans, or Hornbills. A trip to the Orangutan Rehabilitation Center will give you a good chance of seeing Orangutans. 

Eating on the streets of Kuching.
Eating small meals, as in many parts of Southeast Asia, is a way of life here. Covered, open air "hawker"type eating areas are all over the city.
Several vendors selling a variety of items will share a common seating area, similar to food courts we have back home.

Alan in front of City Hall, Kuching.

Kuching, like many of the large cities in Malaysia, have large Chinese communities.
Chinese Temples are scattered throughout the city.

One of the gateways leading into the main "Chinatown" area.

The Sarawak River winds through the city.

Alan in front of the Sarawak Assembly Hall.

While we're on the subject of food...

Traveling and eating go hand in hand. If you travel, meals you've had can be some of the best or worst memories from your trip.

It's usually a lot of fun to try out the local specialties and sometimes other dishes you feel nostalgic for. Then again, if you love a certain type of cuisine, you'll find opportunities to sample the local way of preparing it.

Khao Soy is a curry based noodle soup famous in Northern Thailand, served above with the local Northern Thai sausage.

Fried Dal with Butter served with Kashmiri Nan. Almost a perfect meal. This particular one is from a restaurant in Little India, Penang.

Some of the best Satay you'll ever have. Two ladies were turing and basting the skewers constantly over the charcoal grill. This is a Malaysian version in Kuching, Sarawak on the Island of Borneo, and delicious. Served with cucumbers and an incredible warm chunky peanut sauce.

It's not always Pho in a Vietnamese restaurant and although there was Pho on the menu at this restaurant, it's not the main reason people come here. All the finger foods (above) are the big draw here and served with plenty of greens for wrapping. There are a variety of sauces for dipping and single clove garlic (eaten raw).

Here's a Chinese/Malaysian noodle dish available just about anywhere in Kuala Lumpur. Simple as boiled egg noodles, tossed in a brown sauce and topped with BBQ pork and greens.

Nyonya Cuisine is probably one few have heard of. It's a mixture of Chinese, Malaysian and Peranakan  food. Above is a typical appetizer served in little fried pastry cups. A good thing to try while in Malaysia, and particularly in Penang where we sampled it.

Also in Penang, Malaysia, we found this great outdoor restaurant serving up an eclectic array of Asian dishes. Plenty of seafood but we opted for pork ribs cooked with Guinness Stout, Gai Lan with oyster/cognac sauce, tofu with lobster sauce and watercress soup.

And finally Hainan Chicken. Chicken and Rice restaurants are everywhere in the big cities in Malaysia.
Typically served with a bowl of soup (broth) and sometimes with boiled bean sprouts.

Many locals swear by certain restaurants serving the "best" Hainan Chicken in all of Kuala Lumpur and they wouldn't eat it anywhere else. We're not as picky but there are some that serve up a mean chicken and rice dish.

Eating simple in Singapore

Singapore is a great eating town and it seems you can get just about anything you want any time of the day.

Hawker stalls are organized in clusters throughout the city and are very popular for locals and tourists alike.

Alan and I love Indian food and Singapore has a very distinct "Little India" with a wide variety of Indian cuisine to choose from. Sad to say but we didn't try the Curry Fish Head Promotion (above). It does look good though and I can imagine all the tastes and flavors involved.

Masala Dosas are one of our favorites and Alan, yes, eating with his fingers (above) can never get enough of it. We came here twice in our brief four day visit this time.
Not to worry though. Sinks with soap and paper towels are located nearby for washing up before and after.

Our dear friend Casey took us to Bak Kut Teh restaurant near the downtown area. It's a local treat and very popular.

Buk Kut Teh involves pork bones boiled for hours creating a wonderfully flavored broth. You eat the meat off the bones and take as much soup as you'd like. Servers will continue to top off your soup until you tell them to stop.

Chingay 2013

Chingay 2013 in Singapore. The 41st Chingay Parade and this year's theme is "Fire In Snow".
Yes, there were hundreds of woks filled with flames lining the entire parade route, and "foam" snow during the finale.

As usual, plenty of colorful, energetic, people of all ages in the parade. This year 10,000 in the parade and 150,000 spectators on hand.

Chingay is the largest annual parade in Southeast Asia. Some liken it to Mardi Gras or Carnival.
It's a multi ethnic celebration celebrating the end of the Chinese New Years celebration.
Chingay is roughly translated as "Masquerade".
It's a two day event so we'll return tonight for more and hopefully some better pictures.

Plenty of performers hanging around before the big parade begins.

Penang's Zacharevic Murals & Steel Rod musings

As you wander the streets of Old George Town in Penang you'll come across Steel Rod Sculptures mounted on buildings throughout town.

Originally commissioned by the city of Penang to depict specific historic or characteristics of "Old & New" Penang, they were first deemed to be too "Chinese" in their depictions. But over time, most people feel these caricatures of "Old and New" Penang are for the most part "charming".

"Little Girl in Blue"

Young Lithuanian-born artist Ernest Zacharevic's wall murals around George Town, Penang.

Several murals painted on sides of buildings around the Unesco Heritage Site of Penang in conjunction with the 2012 George Town Festival are known as the "Mirrors George Town" project. See them before they're faded, worn, and gone.

"The Awaiting Trishaw Paddler"

"Reaching Up"

Hokkien New Year in Penang

The Hokkien New Year is celebrated on the ninth day of the new Chinese calendar each year.
The enormous ethnic Chinese Hokkien community in Penang, Malaysia celebrates in grand style.

Offerings of food are laid out to beckon good luck and fortune for the New Year.

Glutinous Turtle Cakes

The main celebration here in Penang took place this year at the Chew Jetty.
Hokkien are predominately boat people and live close to the water. Several family clans have elaborate homes built on the jettys.

We joined thousands of others in the celebrations which began at dusk.
An enormous rainstorm hit just about two hours into the celebration and we took cover in a small open air bar (although covered) called Amigos. The downpour lasted 90 minutes. We made our way back to our guesthouse as the weather cleared and the fireworks began.