Stalls at Jonker Street Night Market, Malacca (Melaka)

The photos in this post are the familiar stalls & shops you will see them every time you visit Jonker Walk (Jalan Hang Jebat) night market at Malacca.
The crowded Jonker Street night market is available on every Friday, Saturday. Sunday & Public Holiday. The culture is unique and created chances for us to visit and for others to survive.

Crowded as normal...

The Masks are fashion!

Don't be surprise, they are selling swords too!

I love to see the way they way did it! It's a good souvenir!

The top left : Geographer Cafe (I can't stop myself to snap on the colonial structure everytime I pass by....
The bottom left : This shop selling many handicraft ship (I bought one Portugal War Ship from here)

Bottom left : She was demo & explain how the 'Magic' Umbrella works.

History photos, just like a Time Machine when you look at it.

Colourful Sandals & Slippers.

Beside the stalls above selling those unique items, there are also some local foods stalls available along the Jonker Street. Below are some of the photos...

Top left : Famous 'Knock-knock' Candy. You can hear the knocking sound even 150 meters away. It's located close to Geographer Cafe.

There is one very old building which is the Hokkien Association (Hokkien Huay Kuan in Hokkien dialect) located somewhere along the street. I love to see the architecture slowly every time I walk pass. This building has a Karaoke session for the seniors during the night.

The audiences and performers of the night.

Almost at the end of the street, there are some outdoor performance by senior to entertain the visitors and tourist of the night market.

The performers on the stage...

The audiences...

We parked our car just opposite the Fire Station for MYR3.00 per entry. When we wanna leave, there was alarm trigger and the Fire Brigade on ACTION!!

The night market will close on 12 midnight. The stalls will pack everything and the street will be silent after 1am.....


Related post :-
* Jonker Walk Night Market, Malacca (Melaka)
* Dinner at Jonker Street, Malacca 2009

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Romania/Hungary -- Getting Ready to Go to Radauti

Dohany St. Synagogue. Photo (c) Ruth Ellen Gruber

By Ruth Ellen Gruber

I’m in Budapest this weekend, getting ready to head off to Radauti, Romania (the ancestral village on my father's side of the family) on Sept. 1 to carry out the photographic documentation for my (Candle)sticks on Stone project on representing the woman in Jewish tombstone art.

The annual Summer Jewish Culture Festival in Budapest starts tomorrow, and I hope I can catch some of the events. There will be celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Dohany St. synagogue on Sept. 6, but I wont be able to attend because of the Romania trip. (They also are not listed, somehow, as part of the Festival...)

I also just found out that there will be some sort of ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the synagogue on Dozsa Gyorgy avenue -- designed by my hero, Lipot Baumhorn, built in 1908 and long used as a sports/fencing hall. But I so far have not been able to find out details...

A major part of the "Candlesticks" project is a photo documentation of the stones in the Radauti Jewish cemetery. (Alas, my good camera has broken, so I have to scramble to find a replacement...)

As I wrote for the web site I have set up for the project:

In Jewish tradition, Sabbath candles are a common, and potent, symbol on women’s tombs. That is because lighting the Sabbath candles is one of the three so-called “women’s commandments” carried out by female Jews: these also include observing the laws of Niddah separating men from women during their menstrual periods, and that of Challah, or burning a piece of dough when making bread.

The first time I saw a Jewish woman’s tombstone bearing a representation of candles was in 1978, when for the first time I visited Radauti, the small town in the far north of Romania near where my father’s parents were born. The tombstone in question was that of my great-grandmother, Ettel Gruber, who died in 1947 and in whose honor I received my middle name. Her gravestone is a very simple slab, with a five-branched menorah topping an epitaph.

Since then, and particularly over the past 20 years, I have visited scores if not hundreds of Jewish cemeteries in East-Central Europe, documenting them, photographing them, and writing about them in books and articles.

Carvings on Jewish tombstones include a wide range of symbols representing names, professions, personal attributes, or family lineage — as well as folk decoration. In northern Romania and parts of Poland and Ukraine in particular, cemeteries include a variety of wonderfully vivid motifs, and some stones still retain traces of the brightly colored painted decoration that once adorned them.

Candlesticks on women’s tombs are more or less a constant: sometimes they are very simple renditions, yet they can be extraordinarily vivid bas-relief sculptures. In some instances, broken candles represent death. And in some cemeteries, the carving is so distinctive that you can discern the hand of individual, if long forgotten, artists.

I won’t be going alone on the trip, as I had thought — three of my cousins are coming with me: Arthur, and Hugh and his son Asher. (I hope we all fit in the car!) So it will be a combination art trip and roots trip, with some family gossip and tourism thrown in. I look forward to re-visiting some of the painted monasteries in the region and also eating well...

In addition, as part of the trip — and also as part of the annual European Day of Jewish Culture — next weekend I’m to take part in two presentations of Simon Geissbuehler's new guidebook on Jewish cemeteries in the Bucovina region (now divided between Romania and Ukraine). One presentation is i Radauti, and the other, on Sunday, is in Chernivtsi — Czernowitz — Ukraine, just over the border.

Latvia -- Riga Synagogue Rededicated

The great synagogue in Riga, Latvia has been re-opened after a full restoration with a high-profile ceremony. The dedication is the first of ceremonies honoring three landmark synagogues in Europe in the space of a couple of weeks. Following the Riga ceremonies, there will be events marking the 150th anniversary of the Dohany St. Synagogue in Budapest on Sept. 6, followed by major events in Sofia, Bulgaria on Sept. 9 marking the 100th anniversary of the great synagogue there, and the completion of years of restoration work.

RIGA (Reuters) - Latvian Jews, the country's president and prime minister and other officials attended on Wednesday the ceremonial re-opening of the sole synagogue in the country's capital after a two-year renovation.

The synagogue, in the historic Old Town, was the only one in Riga to survive the Holocaust and was one of the only ones to continue to work in the territory of the former Soviet Union.

It was built in 1905 and the restoration, begun in 2007, aimed at restoring the dilapidated building to as close as possible to the original design.

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Latvia - Sun City, A Hobbit Dwelling Place

Latvian millionaire started near the town of Cesis (Latvia) a fantastic project.

He purchased over 3000 hectares of wild forest, a terrain rich in hills and water. And that's how this spectacular "Sun City" was built. When I look at the pictures, it reminds me of Hobbit Village from Tolkien's "Lord of The Rings". The area is full of lush green nature, serenity seems built into the landscape.

If you want to live at Sun City (which is as away from the concept of "Sin City" as possible), there are special rules to go by, including a routine different from a common life.

First, three-storey houses are made of environmentally friendly materials constructed in a manner, which takes the terrain into account. The specific design of the houses makes the windows of each house not visible to other houses.

Secondly, near each of the 300 houses there is a small lake and forest, all of it included in cost of land (from 0,4 to 1,3 ha each).

Thirdly, all houses are equipped with central sewer (there is a special equipment laid under the roots of pine and fir trees!), High-speed Internet, electricity, and each house has a geothermal heat pump with borehole 90-100m deep, which converts the energy of the earth into the heat. The amound of heat produced is enough to provide enough energy to heat the house (and water) all year round. The need for using additional traditional firewood heating may only occur during some severe winter days. Of course, a fireplace is also available in every home. Additionally, garbage collection and other urban amenities are also available.

Fourth, in this unique forest city, there are some more special rules - for example, it is forbidden to build a fence and have a guard dog (even if it's a chain dog). Dogs are allowed only in the houses. The reason for this rule is because of roe deer and other wild animals roaming freely in this "city", and barking dogs simply would chase them away.

For the Russian and Belarusian consumers, owner of Sun City offers special conditions - the sale of land with the house and unique postal address, the plot can be issued as a "production area" This entitles those customers to having a year-round "Schengen area" (very handy for those businessmen, who have their companies outside the EU).

Just an example for land and house pricing: plot Tilbites with a three-story house which includes all the necessary amenities, and also has a lake and forest area of 0.44 ha costs as much as 94000 Euros. The design of each house is unique, there are no identical buildings in there.

The Sun City lies in Cesis, about 80 km from Riga, the Latvian Capital City (about 50mins by car).

LINKS:
The "Sun City" website: http://www.amatciems.lv/rus/ideja.html
More information and source pictures: http://ochag7.narod.ru/351.htm

Egypt -- Restoration Work on Cairo Synagogue

This is a bit out of the region, but still... The Associated Press reports on restoration work at the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue in Cairo, putting it into political context.

The AP reports that the Egyptian head of antiquities, Zahi Hawass, denied the restoration was meant to assuage Jewish anger at Egyptian culture minister Hosni Farouk, "who outraged many Jews with his comments in April 2008 vowing to burn any Israeli books found in Egypt's famed Library of Alexandria."

"I believe these rumors were started to hurt Farouk Hosni's bid to become the next director general of UNESCO," said Hawass, who reports to the culture minister. "The Jewish monuments are Egyptian monuments ... they are part of us and part of our culture."

The synagogue was named after Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon, a famous physician, philosopher and Torah scholar who was born in Cordoba, Spain, in 1135 A.D. He eventually moved to Cairo, where he died in 1204 and was buried inside the synagogue. The remains of the rabbi, who is known in the West as Moses Maimonides, were later transferred to the Holy Land.

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My latest Centropa.org column -- another take on Bielsko Biala

The Jewish architect Karol Korn, who designed some of the most important buildings in Bielsko-Biala.

In my latest column on centropa.org, I visit Bielsko-Biala, Poland and describe the Jewish sites there -- focusing, among other things, on the buildings designed by the architect Karol Korn.

Much of the town is still somewhat rundown, with sooty grime obscuring the facades of elegant buildings. But restoration work has begun on some of the architectural gems that in the latter part of the 19th century won the town the nickname "little Vienna."

A Jewish architect, Karl (or Karol) Korn, in fact, was instrumental in shaping the urban landscape we see today -- so much so that a street in town was even named in his honor.

Korn, who lived from 1852-1906, designed many of the sumptuous mansions and apartment buildings that still line the city's main boulevard, ul. 3 Maja, and near by streets. Some of them show art nouveau, or secessionist, features. His used Italian and neo-renaissance touched for his own mansion, built on ul. 3 Maja in 1883 -- it incorporates a sculptural representation of Korn's emblem above the entrance: an arrangement of the measuring tools and other instruments used by architects and builders.

Korn also designed other important buildings, such as the elegant President Hotel and the central Post Office, that are landmarks on the avenues that spread out from Bielsko's medieval core of 14th century castle and arcaded market square.

His most elaborate building, however, no longer exists. This was the opulent, Moorish-style synagogue that dominated ul. 3 Maja until the Nazis destroyed it in 1939.

It was an imposing structure with two big towers, lotus domes, decorated cupolas, arched windows and a red and orange striped façade -- old postcards, on sale at the local tourist office, demonstrate that it was one of the city's most prominent attractions.
Today, a contemporary art gallery stands on the spot -- ironically this is where the performance art festival I was attending took place. It is marked by a small memorial plaque on an outer wall.

Next door, a puppet theatre stands on the site of the one-time Jewish school, and across the street is the former Jewish Community building. I was told that the carved decoration represents the various fruits mentioned in the Torah.

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Bei Zhan Restaurant at Malacca

Bei Zhan Restaurant (N2°11.666' E102°14.261') is located at Jalan Kota Laksamana 2/17, Kota Laksamana, Malacca (Melaka). The restaurant is easily spotted from Jalan Syed Abdul Aziz. Business hour for the restaurant is 11am - 2pm & 6pm - 10pm. It has three storey and 3rd & M floor is for reservation.

We were there around 6.30pm (Saturday). During that time, the restaurant was almost full at the ground floor, so we proceed to the 1st floor.

Ground floor - Bei Zhan Restaurant

This restaurant is big! The cozy environment really makes you relax basically is because of the warm lighting, unlike some typical Chinese restaurant which is using the white daylight flouresent. We were lucky to have the table which is almost the end of the restaurant...

First floor - Bei Zhan Restaurant

Our order :-
1) Assam Garupa Fish Fillet (Fish head will taste better but tToo bad 2 of us cannot finish)
2) Spice and sweet Fried Seafood
3) Honey Glazed Boneless Chicken
4) Brocoli with crab meat

The foods serve in 10 minutes!!

Assam Garoupa Fish Fillet

Spice and sweet Fried Seafood

Honey Glazed Boneless Chicken

Brocoli with crab meat

Overall, we were VERY satisfied with the dishes! Especially the Assam Fish was different from Muar famous Assam Fish. Others are really delicious, you will definitely Love it! I will strongly recommend to all my friend to try it!

The Damage : MYR66.00 (For 2 adults & 1 child). Worth visit again!

The restaurant is well organize and foods are Delicious! Environment is clean and employee are friendly, and especially with a economy price!
I will advise you make a reservation if you are visit the restaurant on Saturday, Sunday or public holiday!

Bei Zhan Restaurant
43, Jalan Kota Laksamana 2/17, Taman Kota Laksamana, Malacca.
Tel : +606-2812684
Fax : +606-2865068

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PIKOM PC Fair at Pesada Johor Bahru

The fair was held at the same usual place - JICC (Pesada) (N1°27.690' E103°45.670').The crowd as usual....

This round I can see many LCD TV Manufacturer participated like Samsung, Panasonic & others....The booth which selling GPS (Global Positioning System) also increase! And yes, there were in the price war!

Garmin Nuvi 205 & 205W are the popular models where most of them promote it. The price are from MYR590.00 to MYR1,250.00. Others than Garmin, many China brand also available...

Booths where selling backpack also increase, even my friend which own a computer shop also selling 'Backpack' now.... Everyone fight for surviving....!

My purpose here was to get a notebook computer for my brother in-law, so I did not stay too long because of the huge crowd!

At the right of the main hall, there were all the Telco heavy promoting their 3G & Broadband services! The Green Packet (P1) booth had the most customer (at that moment) maybe because of the 2 pretty models! :)
And also many Bank promoting their Credit Card which I always ignore!

Pretty models from P1 booth

After I settled the notebook computer, we went to the KFC behind the Conventional Centre for a drink and it's so pack with peoples!! It took me about 30 minutes for me to queue to the counter!

Anyway, PIKOM PC Fair is the Computer Fair everyone waiting for. And so far it's the biggest Computer Fair for the moment at Johor Bahru.


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Click on the map above for navigation to the Johor International Convention Center - Pesada.

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Lithuania -- update on fire damaged Pakruojis wooded synagogue

Fire-damaged north-facing side of the Pakruojis synagogue, Summer 2009.

A correspondent has written in with an update (and photos) on the historic wooden synagogue in Pakruojis, Lithuania, that was damaged by fire a few months ago. Many thanks for sending the pictures and for this vivid and thoughtful description:

We were shown the synagogue by a guide from the local tourist office, who was very helpful and spent much of the afternoon showing us the sights of Pakruojis. He said that there was a local feeling that the fire was started by teens - the building on the plot adjacent to the synagogue, which looked like a private dwelling, had also been set on fire at some point. It was evident from our tour that several buildings of local historical importance are sitting empty and unsecured, for example the old printing press, and the outbuildings of the large manor house have suffered several fires in the past. Pakruojis has the feel of a place which has experienced a long period of decline and does not have the public funds available to restore or even protect their historical buildings. The regeneration which we did see, which is taken place on the manor house, was the result of private investment. My feeling is that there will not be any local attempt to save the synagogue, as there are other more pressing financial needs in this challenged area, but that this was not because it is a building with a Jewish history - other buildings of local importance are equally threatened by fire and dereliction. Having said that, there is a local strategy in place to try and attract more tourists to the area - so who knows?

The site on which the synagogue stands looks over the river and was the first street in Pakruojis. This street, which is better described as a lane, runs along the side of the river, and so is hidden from the view of the current main street of Pakruojis and has little through traffic. It's a lovely spot, but is also very secluded - a great place for kids to hang out and get up to mischief... There is a bench next to the synagogue, where a street drinker was sitting as we were looking around the synagogue in the middle of the day. It is now also possible to walk into the synagogue through the hole in the east side, which is how we took the pictures of the interior.

As you will see from the photos, it seems that there is damage from at least two separate fires, one on the east side, and a larger one on the north side. The photo of the damage to the north side shows about two thirds of the length of the building - you can see the undamaged portion of the north side from another picture which shows the northeast corner - it was difficult to get a shot of the full length of the north side as the river (and at various points, the street drinker!) stood behind us.

Pakruojis wooden synagogue, east-facing exterior. Summer 2009.

Pakruojis wooden synagogue, interior. Summer 2009