Living in Penang during the month-long George Town Festival made all my weekends in August, packed with activities. Don’t think one weekend would ever be enough as there was just too much to do and see. As I’ve mentioned in my earlier post, George Town Festival is a yearly event that brings artist around Asia, if not the globe, together to showcase their work and crafts. 

As George Town Festival (GTF) closes its curtain for the year, it went out with a bang. Come every weekend, during the festival, Dewan Sri Penang would put on a play, dance or music show. Among the list of acts this year, the closing show Triptyque by Canadian-based Les 7 doigts de la main, was by far one of the best performances I’ve seen so far. A three-part act that has drama, areal-acrobatics and spectacle all rolled into one. 

George Town Festival – a festival I’ve heard very little about when I lived in Kuala Lumpur apart from the fact that if you’re into the arts scene then this would be a festival you don’t want to miss. Since moving to Penang, almost a year ago, this year I’ve decided to submerse myself in the festivities and take in as much as I can.

I’ve ceased to write for while as I’ve been busy relocating and adapting to my new job role and city. I’ve moved to Penang, a state up north, in Malaysia. Although my company is based on the mainland, I have decided to live on the island.
 
When someone utters the word Penang, everyone images it to be an island. While this is part true, Penang state has two parts to it – the island and mainland.
 
*Penang has two cities: Butterworth (on the mainland) and Georgetown (on the island). More than half the Penangites would refer to Georgetown or Penang Island as ‘Penang’ and mainland as Butterworth. So it can get rather confusing as when you mention you live on the island they would go, ‘Oh you live in Penang’ or they would say ‘I’m going to Penang this weekend’, even though they too live in Penang but not on the island.

Penang Island has a lot of history embedded in its soil. From the early days of the Kedah Sultanate to British colonisation and the World Wars (I & II), you’re still able to see the remnants from the past. What fascinates the most is its history - the myriad of cultures present in the past, its wars and its role, leading it to be the Penang today.

​Fuorisalone at Milan Design week exhibits trends for the forthcoming year with some wild and stunning display of interior space, technologies, events and presentations. Its one design week you don’t want to miss out on and is a must to visit at least once, if you’re a designer or design enthusiast. 

​Milan design week is defined with two main entities - Fuorisalone and Salone del Mobile.

​Salone del Mobile is an international furniture fair, held at the Fiera Milano exhibition centre yearly. While Salone del Mobile is a paid entry exhibition the Fuorisalone is free and displays work from up and coming designers and not just established ones. Also, the Fuorisalone is centred around Milan’s city centre while the Salone del Mobile is located further out from the city centre.

Milan – a small quaint city on the northern region of Italy is the home to Gelato, Da Vinci’s The Last Supper as well as Expo Milano. Milan doesn’t boost a large city centre but is one rich in architecture and culture. 

​Milan has lived through several occupancies as well as wars. Some of these remnants can still be seen around Milan and one the most obvious is the Arco della Pace (Arch of Peace). When Napolean conquered Milan in the early 18th century, he erected the Arco della Pace to celebrate his victory. The location of the arch corresponds with the location of the Roman Walls and the Porta Giovia. The arch itself looks similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris with its Neoclassical bas-reliefs and statues celebrating historical and mythological events of Italy and Europe.