THE inaugural Penang Cultural Fest 2008 (PCF2008) which ended on Monday Dec 8 has achieved its ends. Launched by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at the Eastern and Oriental Hotel on Dec 4 2008, it was held among others to celebrate Georgetown’s World Heritage Status.

Two books to underscore Penang’s heritage status were launched in conjunction with PCF2008. The first, titled The E&O Hotel: Pearl of Penang by Ilsa Sharp presents a historical account of the hotel and the context in which it developed (check out review here) while the other, Photographing Malaysia: The Tan Thye Siew and Jimmy Tan Collection, features more than 200 photographs of George Town and other Malaysian places. See here (Bernama) and here (The Star) for information on the launch.

iGeorgeTown, a nine-channel information platform, which has this web portal as part of its platform, was also launched at the PCF2008 event. See here (The Edge Finanacial Daily).

PCF organising chairman Khoo Kay Peng said it best when asked to give an overall take of the event. “The inaugural fest is a good start to what we hope would become a platform to create world-class Penang-based cultural and heritage events in the future”. He adds enthusiastically: “We are on a learning curve and with the continued support of the people and state government, PCF could very well be a major tourism event as well”.

PCF2008 included six events that had Penangites revel in local and international music, savour a variety of food, and experience firsthand the traditional and contemporary interpretations of Penang’s cultural heritage. See here for more information on the fest.

The first of the events was by the Goguryo Art Orchestra troupe from South Korea who delivered a spell-binding set of performances and enthralled audiences at Dewan Sri Pinang. This charity concert which was held on the night of Dec 4 became the first time that the Korean performing arts takes centre stage in Penang and consequently added an international slant to the Cultural Fest. See this article (The Star) for more on the performances.

Also enhancing the Fest experience was the Penang Island Jazz Festival which was held from Dec 4-7 at Batu Ferringhi. This fifth edition brought on a motley crew of colourful and popular talents such as the Aseana Percussion Unit, Denise Mininfield, Adibah Noor, etc. The event, which has over the four years steadily established itself in the international circuit, also featured an impressive list of workshops, exhibitions, demonstrations and talks.

As one of the main objectives of PCF2008 was to give support to the performing arts, the fest also featured a cultural night. Held on Dec 6 at Fort Cornwallis, the event brought to the old Penang landmark an eclectic variety of music genres that included acts from James Rozells and Kathleen Rodrigues, the Alleycats, James Boyle and the Ragged Tigers, Dasha Logan, etc. The performers took the opportunity to remember Penang’s best talents and that became a hit with the crowd who sang animatedly along with every performance. See here (The New Straits Times) for more information on the cultural night.

In line with the Fest’s objective to promote local food, the Penang Food Hunt 2008, another PCF event, also proved to be a major success. Held on Dec 6 and 7 at various locations around Penang Island, the Hunt saw the participation of 97 cars. Putting a spin to the ordinary motor hunt, this year’s hunt was themed ‘Going by Google’ and had the hunters searching for food places using Google maps as aids. Sometimes amusing, it was definitely a sight to behold when the hunters attempted their out of the ordinary challenges and solving their clues. Thus far four teams have blogged about their experience. Read here, here, here and here.

The Penang Food Fest 2008 held in New World Park on Dec 6 and 7, also in conjunction with PCF2008 presented an array of food and many onsite activities such as a cooking competition, cooking demos by participating stalls, a kiddies workshop and BBQ chicken eating competition. The participating stalls included members of the Alliance Francaise, Culinary Arts Centre Penang, The Penang Sikh Association, Fruit Passions, etc.

Meanwhile, the Little Penang Street Market, a monthly market that takes place on the last Sunday of each month in Upper Penang Road held a special market as part of PCF2008 on Dec 7. Presenting their usual combination of stalls, food, entertainment and art, the special market this time also showcased an extraordinary line up of performances. First treating the viewers was the unique Opera Pasar, which had the participants from Anak-Anak Kota (visit here for more on this outfit) put up a rather exceptional musical and dance performance that was inspired from the everyday life of the Campbell Street Market. See here (The Star) for added information on the show. Also presenting other acts were the Kumpulan Tarina, the Hindu Sangam troupe, Punjabi Jatti and the Penang Ladies Chin Woo Athletic Association.

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