Kuala Lumpur World Marching Band 2008 (KLWMBC)

Kuala Lumpur World Marching Band 2008 (KLWMBC) is being held in Kuala Lumpur and sanctioned by the World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB). This competition also forms a part of the international circuit of marching band competition.

For this year’s competition, 24 Bands are taking part representing countries such as Denmark, Thailand, Holland, South Africa, Canada, Singapore and Indonesia. The inaugural KLWMBC in 2007 was won by Bodindecha Marching Band from Thailand.

The highlight of the competition would surely be Bicycle Band Crescendo formed in 1922 from Holland and had performed worldwide. They would be a unique attraction combining music, marching and bicycles with performers in traditional Dutch costumes and wooden clogs.

Among the notable marching bands from Malaysia to provide competition to the international cast would be Methodist Girls Secondary School Band from Pahang – silver medal World Music Contest in Kerkrade Netherlands, award winning Sultanah Asma School Marching Band from Kedah - at Festivale Internationale Bande Musicale in Giulianova Italy in 2004 and Victoria Institution Cadet Corps Band from Kuala Lumpur which won the Gold Medal (Parade) and Silver Medal (Show) in WMC 2005 Holland

The bands will take part in multi discipline routines of Show Competition, Parade Competition and Drumline Battle in addition to the public performances in few major shopping complex. The competition culminates with the Grand Final scheduled for 3rd August 2008 at Stadium Merdeka.

In conjunction with KLWMBC, a carnival had been organized to be held at the Merdeka Stadium car park area on 2nd & 3rd August 2008 and will be featuring Indie Rockshow, Shuffle Competition, Street Soccer, Wall climbing and Paintball (target shooting) starting at 12 pm.

While there are plans to bring this competition into few other major cities in Malaysia i.e. Melaka, Penang and Johor Bahru next year onwards, for music lovers of marching bands in particular, this competition promises to be exhilarating.

More information of KLWMBC can be obtained from http://www.klwmbc.com/ and accommodation in Kuala Lumpur from here.

Vesak (Wesak) Day

Vesak Day (Wesak) or Buddha Day is a public holiday in Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and in many more countries where Buddhism is practice. It was in 1950 when Vesak Day was formally conceptualize during the Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

On Vesak Day, Buddhists all over the world commemorate events of significance to Buddhists of all traditions: The birth, enlightenment and the passing away of Gautama Buddha. As Buddhism spread from India it was assimilated into many foreign cultures, and consequently Vesak is celebrated in many different ways all over the world.

Devout Buddhists and followers congregate to the temples for the ceremonial Buddha flag hoisting and singing of hymns in praise of the holy triple gem of The Buddha, The Dharma (his teachings) and The Sangha (his disciples).

The offerings are normally of flowers, candles and joss-sticks is a simple reminder of how life is subject to decay and destruction as represented by the flowers and joss-sticks which will whither and burn out respectively. Pigeons are normally released as a symbolic act of liberation and freedom to those who are in captivity, imprisoned or tortured against their will.

Most Buddhists would consume vegetarian food on that auspicious day and would spend the whole day in the temple to observe the Eight Precepts. Most temples would display figurine of a small Buddha in small basin filled with water to belocated in front of the temple altar for the followers to pour water over the statue as a symbolic event of Buddha’s birth, where devas and spirits made heavenly offerings to him.

The Eight Precepts are:

* Not to kill
* Not to steal
* Not to engage in improper sexual activity
* Not to indulge in wrong speech
* Not to take intoxicating drinks and drugs
* To abstain from taking food at unreasonable times
* To refrain from sensual pleasures such as dancing, singing and self-adornment
* To refrain from using high and luxurious seats in order to practice humility.

In Melaka, the main celebration of Vesak Day would be the Seck Kia Enh temple in Gajah Berang where thousands of the Chinese are expected to visit this temple to offer prayers on the eve and on Vesak Day itself which falls on May 19, 2008.

However, the main event would be the procession or parade on the eve of Vesak Day which attracts thousands of people to line up the streets to watch the procession which includes marching bands, hymns singing, floats and Buddhist monks chanting and sprinkling holy water to bless the crowd lining the streets.

The parade which normally takes 2 hours will start from the grounds of the Seck Kia Enh temple before making its way through Melaka town before finishing at its starting place. During the procession, traffic around Melaka town freezes as the parade makes it way through the narrow and historical streets of Melaka. The parade would see sea of white as devotees dress in white amidst the colorful floats.

It had always been a pleasure to be at this event ever since I was a kid and it is truly a photographer’s haven snapping away and capturing moments of the parade proceedings. The burning of incense leaves an aromatic trail along the route of the procession and creates an air of calm and peaceful. The candle bearers singing hymns, lion dance and noticed some Bhangra dancers last year added some air of festivity to the procession which exemplifies a multi-ethnic Malaysia in harmony.

However, one should not miss the Grand Vesak Day procession in Melaka which occurs every 10 years with the last held in 2002 and this will be an event that everyone should make a date to witness the procession.

Make your way to Melaka to witness this event and for hotel accommodations, reserve here.

Happy Vesak!

Asia International Tourism Expo

The inaugural Asia International Tourism Expo is set to take place from 22-25 May 2008 in Kuala Lumpur and Putra World Trade Centre once again is the focal point of this international event. The trade show will comprise two days of business-to-business sessions and will open for the public on its last day.

Over 200 participants are expected to take part in the Expo which includes;
• Airlines
• Car Rental Companies
• Cruise Lines
• Health Resorts & Spas
• Hotel & Accommodation Providers
• MICE Organizers and Venue Owners
• Operators of Tourist Spots
• Tourism Boards
• Tour Operators / Travel Agents
• Ground Transportation Providers

What better way then to book your accommodation early for this expo! Among the suggested hotels which are walking distance to the venue are;

(a) Wira Hotel
(b) Leo Palace Hotel
(c) City Park Kuala Lumpur and
(d) Kuala Lumpur International Hotel