Penang World Music Festival

Although this event was two weeks ago, it's worth a mention. The event was GREAT even with the rain pouring cats and dogs. I stood in the rain for almost an hour. It was no drizzle. It was heavy with lightings striking over head every now and then. Luckily the rain stop after an hour of downpour. You see lots of Penangnites and also foreigners. The tickets are cheap too. RM40 per person and only RM20 for students. The turnout was good, parents even brought along their children and you can also spot some babies. I stood for a whole 5 hours throughout the entire show. Although the performers were fewer than the ones at the Rainforest World Music Festival in Sarawak, they were great. I especially liked the throat singers from Tuva. It is really something that you don't usually listen to on the radio or download. I bet most of the people don't even know there is such a place as Tuva. The Tuvanians( that's what they call themselves) have only a population size of 300 000. So, it's no wonder that you have not heard of them. Anyways, there is also another band that i really liked. They are called the Inka Marka, playing music from Peru, Chile. What i envy the most is that they are so adapt at playing musical instruments. Each of them knows at least how to play 2 different instruments. Some even plays instruments at a time.This group is from the UK. They sing really nice Spanish songs. But I forgot the band's name.

I also had a culture shock that night. I know it is just common to see teens and young adults dancing and swaying to the music (although the music is really foreign and you don't know what they are singing) but on that night it was a night for people of all AGES. You don't just see young people dancing, you see them dancing with along with THEIR children. The PARENTS were the ones that screamed for encores and definitely outshone themselves compared to their children. That night I not only enjoyed myself listening to the music but also enjoyed people watching. All those dance moves really tickled me. I know I have no right to judge ( I myself don't dance that well) but it was really a sight to behold.

I intended to go on the last night but the rain was just too heavy and it didn't stop till 9 or 10pm.
I read from the website that they intend to make it a yearly event. I for one will definitely be attending next year. One reminder though, I have to drag my friends along with me as I went with my family that night. Somehow we got separated and I stood alone, together with my dad's friend(he's not that old) but we didn't talk much the entire night. My brother, went wandering around out of boredom and never returned until the show ended. He went dancing with the more happening crowd. If I was around my friends the night would have been more memorable.