Malaysia Travel

Last night on 15 of november 2008, I went to chetawan temple to see the Loy kratong ceremony that is held yearly. In Selangor, there are two place which they held loy kratong ceremony. This year, one is held in Wat chetawan Temple and one more in Tasik Metropolitan Kepong by PESILA (PERSATUAN SIAM KELANTAN).

Compared to last year ceremony, I think there are more people that join it this year… I manage to snap some photo to share.. This year, I mange to take more photo because my batteries is full…

Btw,  there are some Klong Yao (long drum) team that head the march. they will play the klong Yao and sing. Some people will join them and dance… seem like they all have a good time enjoying themself.

The loy kratong ceremony is very grand in Thailand. However, from what I have heard, this year the celebration is not as grand as years ago as this year the sister of the King passed away and people is mouring over the loss.

Hopefully next time I will be able to visit the celebration in Thailand and share the photo with all of you here.

Extremely cheap airplane tickets! that is what I can say when I saw the malaysia airlines promotion today.

The promotion which make the ticket price even lower than the low cost carrier Airasia. If anyone want to travel, I would strongly recommend him/her to take advantage of this extremely cheap airplane tickets promotion by MAS.

With the slogan “What you see is what you pay”, the price of the ticket will start at only RM63 (one way) to some of the destination in Malaysia and about RM100+ for some destination in ASEAN countries.

Today, Chetawan Temple in Petaling Jaya held a katina ceremony. I manage to attend the ceremony and find that lots of Buddhis devotee join the ceremony.

I manage to take some photo, but not all of the functions today.

However, before I go further, some of you may not aware of what is katina ceremony is, I get this information from the net and it describe what is katina:

Katina Ceremony
By Ven Panditha M. Dhammagavesi

First of all I would like to draw your attention to the history of observing VAS (rainy) retreat. Secondly, about the Kathina ceremony and finally, the benefits of performing it.

For the first twenty years of establishment of The Order of the Sangha (Sangha community) the Buddha did not have to lay down any kind of disciplinary rules for monks, because the Sangha community was not so large, they were not too old in the Order and also their main intention was to eradicate defilements to lead a pure life. With the increasing of the Sangha community some of them entered The Order with the intention of obtaining material gains. Some of them did not know what they should or should not to do for their spiritual upliftment. Therefore, there was a need to implement some rules to correct them and show them the right way to practice for their welfare and also for the welfare of those who would enter in to the order.

Most of the monks did not stay in one place for a long time. They would travel from place to place, from village to village, from suburb to suburb practicing meditation, preaching and teaching, encouraging and stimulating people to engage in Dhamma. They did not stop travelling even during the rainy period of the year. During that time there were some other religious groups as well. One of them was Nighanta natha puthta and his disciples. They went to the extreme of practicing Ahimsa.i.e. they considered even grass as a living being and therefore did not walk about on grass for fear of killing them. They stayed indoors during the rainy season without walking anywhere so that they would not cause death or harm to any living thing. Under these circumstances Buddha and his disciples were accused of travelling during the period of rainy months. Taking into consideration this accusation and recollecting the actions of previous Buddhas, he advised monks to go into retreat during the rainy season starting from the day after the July Full moon.. Those who could not commence the retreat on this particular day due to unavoidable circumstances were advised to commence it following the August full moon. Each and every higher ordained monk is supposed to observe rainy retreat whether they were invited to do so or not by lay people and no matter where they live. The rainy period usually lasted for three months.

Monks are not allowed to use more than three robes during the Katina retreat.(The three robes are the inner robe, the outer robe and the double robe) When they get more robes they should be kept in the store.

On one occasion Vishakha Maha Upasika (The chief lay lady disciple) expressed her desire to offer a special piece of cloth to each monk and invite monks for Vas observation. Buddha accepted her invitation. Since then we have been following that custom. That is why people these days too invite monks to go into retreat and this is called Vas Aradana. This is done by offering a special piece of cloth at the beginning of the rainy period. From the beginning up to the end of this period monks are provided with food, domestic facilities, medicine and so on. These three months are very important for both monks and lay people because they could do more and more meritorious activities such as participate in dhamma sermons, dhamma discussions, meditation programs and Pirith chantings.

During Lord Buddha’s time a group of thirty monks went away from the place of retreat where The Buddha was to spend three months. At the conclusion of the retreat they returned to visit the Buddha. On the way they had to face heavy rains. They were in trouble. One of them got extremely wet. It was a very hard time for him. Some how they visited the Buddha. Seeing the monk whose robes were very wet the Buddha advised them to accept an extra robe as a KATHINA. The extra robe was always given to the one who needed it. (There are some rules to be observed by monks when using the kathina robe) If devotees offer a piece of cloth to monks in the name of kathina, the monks have to make a robe with that cloth on the same day. Lay people could do it as well. Offering of Kathina robe is considered as one of the greatest meritorious activities. Also whatever is offered on Kathina day, the same merit could be obtained by donors. That is why people make various types of
offerings on the day of the Kathina.

One of the stanzas chanted during Kathina glorifies the greatness of merit which one gets from performing Kathina. Even this solid Earth, or a solid rock or a piece of diamond could tremble, shake and break at times. However. the merit obtained by offering of kathina robe could not be nullified by any thing until one achieve the ultimate goal Nibbana. That is why

it is called KATINA. One of the disciples called NAGITHA expressed the glory of doing it. As a result of offering kathina robe to the MAHASANGA he was never been born in lower places (like the spirit world and the animal realm) and for the last thirty eons or KALPA he had been born in higher and blissful realms like the divine or human. The merit thus obtained was very helpful for him to realize the ultimate truth.

It is clearly mentioned in Buddhism that if one commits a GARUKA KAMMA which means serious unwholesome deeds such as:

1) Matricide
2) Patrricide
3) the Murder of an Arahant
4) the Wounding of Buddha
5) the Creation of Schism in the Sangha,

one has to undergo the unpleasant results during this life or in the next life immediately after death.

Even the merit of offering of Kthina robe cannot help such a person to avoid the suffering or bad karma. However the merit, the positive power of offering Kathina could reduce the negative effects of other minor bad deeds. Furthermore, one could be blessed with happiness, long life, good health, a good complexion, physical strength, and wisdom in this life and in the continuing lives in the cycle of rebirth until we achieve Nibbana.

Here is some photo that is taken during the ceremony:

Some of the ropes that the devotee donate to the temple

The chief monk starting the ceremony

Katina Tree. It made from banana tree and the devotee donate money and stick the donation money to the ‘tree’

Another view of the Katina tree

The devotee praying

Le tour de Langkawi is one of the ‘use to be famous’ event… it is pity to see this news coming up..

Le Tour de Langkawi loses funding

WITH a budget that’s halfway to what is required, the 14th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) set for Feb 9-15 next year has already been overtaken by its older but usually poorer sibling the Jelajah Malaysia.
The Jelajah Malaysia, slated for Jan 11-18, continues to grow with an increase to eight stages from seven this year, while the LTdL, for 13 years the country’s most prestigious cycling event, has been shortened to seven stages from nine this year and 10 last year.

The reasons? Jelajah Malaysia organiser 10-Speed Sdn Bhd wants to capitalise on the possibility of selling the 2.2 grade, privately funded race to more destinations, while the top notch 2.HC (hors category) LTdL suffers the consequence of previously heavy dependence on now well-shrunk Government cash injections.

Having recovered from the controversies surrounding the race organised by the now defunct First Cartel Sdn Bhd in 2005 and 2006, LTdL was organised by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) last year, while this year’s race was organised by the Sports Ministry with several MNCF officials in charge of relevant departments.

Next year’s event has been handed back to the MNCF, which is now in the midst of a mad scramble to raise sponsorship.
A relatively modest budget of RM7.5 million against an ideal RM15 million has been secured, still putting a strain on the struggle to maintain the race’s status as the biggest event on the UCI Asia Tour calendar.

MNCF president Abu Samah Wahab as the organising chairman, his deputy Datuk Naim Mohamad the chief operating officer and vice president Maniam Manikkam as technical director are the main characters in the struggle.

“In order to ensure the race is sustainable and within our control, we cannot have it expensive. We cannot have lengthy routes,” said Naim.

By contrast, the lower ranked Jelajah Malaysia has been held the past two years on an annual budget of no more than RM3 million, but the LTdL, which is contested by Pro Tour and professional continental teams, requires that amount just to secure contracts with top teams and provide for their travel.

Naim said three different budgets had been planned in taking into account several scenarios.

The first one, costing RM15 million, would cover everything from the cost of holding the race, with vital international television coverage and exceeding requirements to meet with the race’s status as a 2.HC event.

The second at RM10 million would see a race without television coverage and budget cuts in other areas.

“Plan C will see us have just the race, with nothing else, which we are ready to hold as it stands. Right now, we are still in the midst of negotiations with corporate companies, so all I can say is that even in the worst case scenario, the race will happen,” said Naim.

But fears are that Plan C could see the hors category status of the race come under threat as other requirements pertaining to hotels, the entourage, logistics and media coverage would not be met.

“This is our fear, definitely. But we’re also doing it differently this time. The race is no longer an exercise that spends taxpayers’ money, but instead we’re selling advertising space and mileage of the international event to corporate sponsors like it is supposed to be,” said Naim.

I found this news from the news straits time – nst.com.my

I totally agree with the tourism ministry on this matter. I believed that internet can play a very good role in promoting and helping the homestay operator as it can make their place ‘more accessable’ by the prospect.

Homestay Operators Encouraged To Use Website For Promotion

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 (Bernama) — The Tourism Ministry is encouraging homestay holiday operators to use the website to offer their services to domestic and foreign tourists, said its minister, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

“Anyone (homestay holiday operators) wishing to offer their services need only to press the keys to the homestay directory to look at the terms and this will facilitate them in offering their homestay services to the tourists,” she told reporters after launching the website ‘Program Zoom! Homestay 2008′, here Wednesday night.

Azalina said there were more than 1,000 homestay units throughout the country and this tourism product had yielded an income of almost RM4.9 million last year.

She said the process of confirming an application to become a homestay operator took between three and six months involving health checks, security, hygiene and the whole surrounding of the homestay unit.

“The qualification for registering is very important. Once you register, you have a certificate, it’s a done deal,” she said.

– BERNAMA

I found this news from internet… wow… with only RM70.57 to travel around peninsular Malaysia is really ’something’…

here is the news:

Reporter Travels Around Peninsular Malaysia With Only RM70.57

ALOR STAR, Aug 18 (Bernama) — With only RM70.57, a reporter from a Kuala Lumpur-based newspaper was determined to set a personal record by travelling solo on a high-powered motorcycle throughout Peninsular Malaysia in conjunction with the country’s 51st independence anniversary.

Matt Nazriee Hassan, 41, is confident that the expedition named ‘Cobraeite Expedition, will come to a finish after he succeeded in travelling almost 6,000km through the Federal Territory, Pahang, Selangor, Perak, Penang, Kedah and Perlis in 46 days.

He said the solo expedition started on July 1 in Gombak where he headed to Pahang with only RM70.57 in his pocket, the number being significant as it is also his motorcyle registration number, BJS7057.

After stopping in Kedah, he will be heading to Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan to complete his expedition scheduled to end on Sept 16.

“It was hard for me to find the financial resources, but the attitude of Malaysians and their support for the expedition helped me to continue my journey when they gave some financial assistance,” he said here Monday.

Matt Nazriee said the expedition had taught him the meaning of patience and determination in life.

It was proven when the money he brought ran out and he was forced to take up odd jobs at certain destinations. For instance, he helped out at the Elephant Rehabilitation Centre in Kuala Gandah, Pahang to cover the cost of repairing his motorcycle.

“I also helped a businessman deliver goods to some villages in Pahang for three days,” he said when met by Bernama, here Monday.

Besides that, he also experienced camping and spending the night in an area in Selangor where someone was murdered and got to feel the uniqueness of living with an Orang Asli community in a village in Perak.

Matt Nazriee, who was born in Kuala Nerang, Kedah, had always wanted to travel but his busy work got in the way before he decided to take no-pay leave to realise his dream of going on this expedition.

He said he got the idea when he thought of his late father, Mohd Hassan Ismail, who had cycled around then Malaya, including Singapore, but could not continue the journey because he died.

“Father was a religious man and very patriotic. He was willing to cycle during the independence campaign in those days and I’m impressed with his spirit,” he added.

Matt Nazriee plans to record his experiences in a special blog and publish a book on his expedition.

He would also like to prove that Malaysia is peaceful, and economically and politically stable, which allowed him to travel without any disturbance like in other countries.

Matt Nazriee, who has 15 years’ experience as a reporter, is grateful that there have been individuals willing to make a contribution for him to carry out his solo expedition.

He said a company producing a health drink, Sherry’s Cafe, had donated a hamper and some pocket money, besides a supply of coffee made from tongkat ali, ubi jaga and pegaga for his journey.

Managing director Sharimah Haron said she was proud of Matt Nazriee’s willingness to travel around Peninsular Malaysia and campaign for the month of independence.

She also contributed a Jalur Gemilang and placed a Jalur Gemilang sticker on his motorcycle in conjunction with independence day that will be celebrated on Aug 31.

Those who like to make a contribution so that the expedition ends successfully can contact Matt Nazriee at 013-5181512 or visit the ‘Cobraeite Ekspedisi’ blog at http://cobraeite.blogspot.com.

– BERNAMA

I found this news from the internet.. seem nice and informative therefore I would like to share in this site. Btw, it is not just Malaysia as a destination, but some other nice place too…

From the wild white sands of Noordhoek to the people watcher’s paradise of St Tropez, our Ultratravel top 10 covers all bases.

Anse Victorin, Seychelles: The sand is white, soft and so fine that it squeaks when you step on it Photo: Getty Images

Gardner Bay, Isla Espanola, Galapagos Islands: The only way to access this mile-and-a-quarter of white sand is with a National Parks ranger

Noordhoek, Cape Town, South Africa: The Atlantic here is strong and cold – but it is a magnificent stretch of sand on which to ride horses Photo: Getty Images

Mnemba Island: Of all the small islands to stay on, Mnemba is one of the most romantic Photo: Getty Images

Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: Set in a marine reserve 200 miles off the mainland, this island has long white beaches that are fabulous for walks Photo: Getty Images

Wineglass Bay, Tasmania, Australia: The trek there and back can take three hours but It is worth it for the pure sand and the pale sapphire water Photo: Getty Images

1 Pink Sands, Harbour Island, Bahamas

Most regular visitors to the Bahamas declare Pink Sands one of their favourite beaches – and our panel of Ultratravel writers and experts voted it the best in the world. The attraction, says Nina Buesing, who photographed wild horses there, is not just its colour – a soft pink that turns salmon in the setting sun, due to the thousands of shells that have been pounded into fine sand. You can also walk for miles without bumping into anyone.

Other bonuses are the water quality (“pristine, like Evian, albeit saltier,” according to Buesing), the gently sloping beach, safe snorkelling and sheltered swimming – plus the two “chic shack” hotels (one by Barbara Hulanicki , founder of Biba; and The Landing, tastefully designed by India Hicks) that pull in A-list celebrities by the boatload.

The Landing (00 242 333 2707, www.harbourisland.com ) is offering rooms from £125; Pink Sands (00 242 333 2030, www.pinksandsresort.com) has rooms from £302, based on two people sharing.

2 Anse Victorin, Fregate Island, Seychelles

The sand is white, soft and so fine that it squeaks when you step on it; the colour of the sea shimmers from aquamarine to diamond, then sinks into a deep inkiness with pockets of turquoise in which to snorkel; and the gently sloping forest behind is alive with tropical birds, including the rare Seychelles black paradise flycatcher.

Best of all, some of the most beautiful boulders on earth are scattered across the dazzling white sand: huge orbs of pink granite, framed by lush palms and tropical skies. This place is almost kitsch in its perfection, and well worth the walk through the forest from the luxury of Fregate’s 16 private villas.

Fregate Island Private (00 49 6102 50 13 21, www.fregate.com); from £950 per person per night.

3 Pampelonne, St Tropez, France

Not much has changed since the days of Colette, the French novelist who rubbed shoulders here with Matisse and the Prince of Wales. “Two hundred luxury cars driving toward the port at five in the afternoon,” she wrote in Prisons et Paradis (1932 ). “Cocktails, champagne on the yachts in the harbour…”

While still oozing sophistication, Pampelonne attracts more flash cash than blue-blooded royalty. Bill Gates anchors his superyacht offshore, while P Diddy and Beyoncé pop corks among bejewelled friends lunching at Le Club 55 . Women in crystal-studded thongs and Gucci flip-flops parade the shores. The sand is clean, the sea is blue – but Pampelonne is more about the scene, and being seen, than it is about scenery.

Hotel Byblos (00 33 4 94 56 68 00, www.byblos.com); rates from £250 per person.

4 Noordhoek, Cape Town, South Africa

This isn’t a swimming beach – the Atlantic here is strong and cold, with monster waves – but it is one of the most magnificent stretches of white powder sand on which to ride horses. There are more than four miles of the stuff, punctuated only by dunes and pieces of driftwood.

The Imhoff Equestrian Centre (www.horseriding.co.za ) leads two-hour rides twice a day on the beach, on which you might pass a couple of dog-walkers or hikers. For the most part, though, the sands are empty – providing perfect galloping conditions.

The most stylish place to ease aching muscles is the newly renovated Hout Bay Manor hotel, decorated with bundles of panache by the local interior design company Cécile & Boyd’s.

Hout Bay Manor (00 27 21 790 0116, www.houtbaymanor.com); rooms from £120.

5 Wineglass Bay, Tasmania, Australia

There are only two ways of getting to this beach in the Freycinet National Park : by boat and on foot – and the foot option isn’t easy. The trek there and back, through the towering Hazard Mountains, can take three hours – with a steep 40-minute climb. It is worth it, however, for the pure sand, the warm, sheltered, pale sapphire water and the birdlife – ranging from white-bellied sea eagles to New Holland honeyeaters.

Camper & Nicholsons (020 7009 1950 , www.cnconnect.com) hires out the 112ft charter yacht VvS1, sleeping eight, from £40,000 a week.

6 Vixen Point, Prickly Pear Island, BVI

Ask serious yachties where in the Caribbean they would like to moor for a day, and they will often say Prickly Pear Island – declared a National Park in 1988. The sand is pale, the natural woodland acts as a windbreak, there are no rip currents, and the gently sloping sand allows bathers to immerse themselves in the sea slowly. Vixen Point is close to Necker, Branson’s island hideaway – the ideal base for a day trip here, if money is no object.

Necker Island (0800 716 919, www.neckerisland.com) costs £24,000 per night for up to 26 guests.

7 Mnemba Island, Tanzania, East Africa

Of all the small islands to stay on, Mnemba is one of the most romantic. It is tiny, taking half an hour to walk around, but it has everything: coral gardens on one side, crashing waves on the other and creamy white sand the consistency of flour. Because the interior is pine forest, you are serenaded by the cooing of doves as soon as you walk off the beach where turtles also come to nest. The only inhabitants are the staff of Mnemba Island Lodge, plus the 20 or so guests.

Mnemba Island Lodge (020 8133 1592 , www.ccafrica.com); from £380 per person, all inclusive.

8 Gardner Bay, Isla Espanola, Galapagos Islands

The only way to access this mile-and-a-quarter of white sand is with a National Parks ranger – and for good reason. The shoreline is home to sea lions, marine iguanas, turtles, pelicans, boobies and 10,000 pairs of waved albatrosses that nest on the island between April and November.

Visitors are allowed to snorkel and swim by day – briefly – before decamping to M/Y Grace, the yacht given by Aristotle Onassis to Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier as a wedding present. It now cruises the Galapagos with up to 20 guests.

Cazenove + Loyd (020 7384 2332, www.cazloyd.com) offers seven nights on board M/Y Grace as part of a 10-day holiday in Ecuador and the Galapagos. Prices start at £3,265 per person, based on two sharing and including flights.

9 Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, South America

Set in a marine reserve 200 miles off the mainland, this island has a strict eco-policy: only a few hundred visitors are allowed each day. Its beaches are lively near the small villages, empty in the surrounding nature reserves. There is an extinct volcano, with cliffs plunging to the sea and sea pools formed from its craters.

The long white beaches are surrounded by waters thronging with barracudas, rays, giant turtles, 14 species of shark and pods of up to 600 dolphins. This is the place for fabulous beach walks – particularly from Praia do Cachorro to Sueste (where footballers and surfers hang out at sunset, caipirinhas in hand) and along the sands of Praia do Leão, where turtles nest.

The charming Pousada Maravilha, with eight rooms looking out to sea, has 40 staff – so you are guaranteed to be looked after.

Dehouche (0871 720 4779, www.dehouche.com) can reserve rooms at Maravilha for £500 a night.

10 Emerald Bay, Pangkor Laut, Malaysia

This island, three miles off the west coast of Malaysia, has pale aqua waters, fine golden sand and emerald-green rainforest rising behind the bay. Its 300 acres are privately owned, so the place is not overrun with tourists – and a real effort has been made at conservation.

The marine reserve nearby supports 3,000 types of sea creature, from hammerhead sharks and stingrays to parrotfish and clownfish, plus 500 species of coral. A bonus is the popular Chapman’s beach bar, for refreshing long drinks such as passionfruit smoothies and fresh coconut juice.

Pangkor Laut Resort (00800 9899 9999 , www.pangkorlautresort.com); room rates start at £163, based on two people sharing.

If you happen to have extra budget, do check out the place… the news is from telegraph.co.uk.

Angela Sargunan
PASSENGERS at KL International Airport (KLIA) can look forward to an open concept shopping experience in Eraman Malaysia’s “Lifestyle Mall” in the Contact Pier.

The mall incorporates a mixture of contemporary design with a touch of local flavour with Malaysian batik as the main decorative element.

Located near the aerotrain station, the mall, covering 30,000 square feet, is scheduled to open in November.

“The mall is aimed at providing retail therapy catered towards an untapped market, specifically the Contact Pier passengers,” said Eraman Malaysia Merchandising Core Products division head Elina Jamaluddin (pix left) in a recent media briefing.

She said the open ambience is to complement the airport’s greenery concept as well as the flora and fauna elements by ensuring the stores have see-through glass panels and innovative layout designs.

“The RM5 million concept mall will become a trendsetter for airport retailing and is a perfect avenue to showcase brands and items ranging from fashion, accessories, duty-free items, books, chocolates and toys.

“Besides adding new brands, the mall will be the first Malaysian travel retailer to launch Laneige, a Korean cosmetics range and Stila cosmetics. We are also promoting a home-grown home spa product, Tanamera,” she said.

There will also be the Big Purple Story in a mega display by Cadbury.

The Cadbury brand history since the 1900s will be displayed on the walls of the store to provide travellers the feel, touch and purchase enjoyment in a relaxed, vibrant ambience.

(news from : Sun2surf )

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 4 (Bernama) — Travel packages offered at the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) fair this month will see an increase of up to 10 per cent but it will not deter people from travelling.

Matta president Ngiam Foon said the rising prices compared with those at the fair in March were inevitable due to increase in the surcharge.

“We need to take the market condition into account. However, we are very confident that people will still travel although the price has been increased,” he told a pre-event news conference here Thursday.

The Matta fair will be held from Friday until Sept 7 at the Putra World Trade Centre here. Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said is expected to open the event, which is participated by over 200 exhibitors and sponsors occupying 880 booths.

Meanwhile, Matta organising chairman Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun said visitors to the fair were assured of best travel bargains and discounts on tour packages, air tickets and other travel-related products.

“We have also arranged various fun and exciting activities and interesting international performances to create an atmosphere suitable for visitors of all ages,” he said, adding that the event was expected to attract more than 70,000 local and foreign visitors and register sales of RM80 million.

– BERNAMA

I went to see the fireworks in Putrajaya recently… I missed the first one, just manage to see the second one… however, I am thinking of seeing all the rest…

PUTRAJAYA: A dazzling array of pyrotechnics which threw up glimmering reflections from the Putrajaya lake delighted those who watched the International Fireworks Competition as it got under way.

The competition, launched by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre – the most strategic point to view the fireworks – last night, will see a series of “fiery nights” for the capital as Japan, Italy, Australia and Malaysia try to outdo each other.

Malaysia kicked off the competition last night with a 20-minute deafening display at 10pm.

Dazzling display: The fireworks show by Malaysia lighting up Putrajaya and the surrounding areas at the opening of the First International Fireworks Competition in Putrajaya last night.

Around 100,000 people turned up for the event.Tengku Adnan said the competition was about “bringing Malaysia to the world and the world to Malaysia.”

“Beginning tonight and for two weeks, the skyline here will be highlighted by a magical display, which will determine the winner of the Golden Merdeka Trophy.”

Australia will take the stage on Aug 22, followed by Italy (Aug 25) and Japan (Aug 30), while Team Global Display has been scheduled for six minutes on the other days starting tonight, Aug 24, Aug 31 and Sept 1.

Fireworks company Pyrofest Canada will have the honour of lighting up the sky on the final night on Sept 2.