NST Online: StreetsJohor

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 10:35 AM PDT

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The Johor Baru Chinese Association and Teochew Eight Districts Association are keeping Chinese culture alive in a fun way

DODO, a multi-talented artiste from Harbin, China, was the main attraction at the live performance in Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street recently.

A crowd of about 500 people were entertained by the show, jointly organised by the Johor Baru Chinese Association and Tan Chai Puan, the director of the Teochew Eight Districts Association.

It is one of many such shows lined up for the coming weeks at Johor Baru's Chinese cultural street.

Every Saturday night, the street is closed to traffic and turned into a street carnival lined with stalls selling Chinese specialties, souvenirs and knick-knacks.

Freshly-fried Teochew snacks are eaten piping hot or for takeaways.

Karaoke fans queue up to belt out their favourite songs to an appreciative audience.

The carnival is an attempt by the Chinese associations in the city to keep alive the culture and heritage of the Chinese community in Johor Baru, especially among the young.

Tan recalled how he used to watch live street entertainment by peddlers and medicine men as he was growing up in Jalan Ungku Puan.

That Saturday the heart of old Johor Baru throbbed with the excitement of bygone days as Dodo took to the stage with his dramatic mask-changing performance.

Mask-changing or face-changing is an ancient Chinese drama with a 300-year history. Part of the Szechuan opera, it's considered one of China's most covert performing arts because of its closely guarded secrets. Women are forbidden to participate because it is feared when they marry, they may divulge its secret to her new family.

The audience at Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street was in awe of Dodo, who with a flourish of his arms and flick of his cloak, his painted silk masks of vivid colours changed in quick succession within seconds.

In a blink of an eye, he turned from a demon-faced monster, then Monkey God and clown.

Dodo shoed no apparent contact between his hands and face, but the masks kept changing with the mere flick of his head. The full-faced masks gave way to half masks and suddenly it was over when he whisked off his head-dress and cloak to reveal his own face -- a clean shaven head save for a tiny tuft of hair.

Dodo continued to thrill his audience with more amazing feats like blowing up the rubber tube of a truck tyre using just one nostril in 60 seconds.

A balloon attached to the tube gradually expanded along with the tube until the balloon exploded.

Then he picked up a Chinese traditional wind instrument and played it also using a single nostril.

He went on to play popular Chinese songs with a saxophone, trumpet and traditional Chinese flute (this time with his mouth).

For the finale, Dodo performed his fire-breathing act as he lit up the night sky with giant plumes of fire.

Tan raved about the proud heritage of street entertainment and how it can thrive in Johor Baru with the support of families and tourists who make Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street a regular destination.

Among the events planned are the screening of a documentary on Sun Yat Sen's 1911 Revolution on Saturday.

There will also be a night of kung fu, and lion and dragon dances on June 18.

The Tan clan's 70th anniversary celebration is on June 25.

He said Tan Hiok Nee Cultural Street will work with the annual Johor Arts Festival in July.

Also in the works is a "dragon" spanning the length of Jalan Tan Hiok Nee with its "head" at the top of Bukit Timbalan and its "tail" at the OCBC Bank to symbolise the stream of people who will be thronging this area in the coming weeks of the arts fest.

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Amorous couples irk beach visitors

Posted: 06 Jun 2011 08:49 AM PDT

Couples making out in Air Papan beach are annoying other visitors. — Picture by Ikhwan Muhammad

THE usual sight of couples making out in Air Papan, Mersing, have left visitors to the coastal area feeling awkward, embarrassed, and angry.

Nur Atiqah Ramli, 16, who likes to go to the beach with her friends, said: "We often come here to de-stress, and it is unfortunate that we have to witness such shameful behaviour.

"I feel embarrassed as there arealso children who visit this place."

She said such activities might give rise to babies born out of wedlock and abandoned by their parents.

"Although I was told there are fewer couples now making out on the beach, but what I have seen proves otherwise," she said.

Nur Atiqah's friend, Nursyahira Idayu Razali, 16, said couples are also making out in abandoned cars dotted along the beach.

"These people think they are hidden from view but they have been regularly spotted by other visitors including the local authorities," said Nursyahira.

She said she has even seen couples in compromising situations while bathing in the sea.

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Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Selasa, 7 Jun 2011