Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival 2013

 

 
(Semalam lepas gian berlari di jalan depan rumah lepas 3 minggu tak lari. Tiba-tiba hujan lebat... dah macam filem lak berlari dalam hujan. Bomoh hujan pesta layang-layang dah balik dah...)

I live & work in Pasir Gudang - a relatively small industrial town in Johor. There are not a lot that we can do here. Sure we have Johor Premium Outlet, Universal Studios & recently Legoland but even the nearest of them is about 30 miles from my home. But we do have a festival in Pasir Gudang that will play out every year. Yes ladies & gentlemen, it is time for the Pasir Gudang International Kite Festival!!!!

As the name suggest, this festival is basically about kites. There will be participants from school students, the states in Malaysia & also foreigners that will take part in the festival. This year, the festival will be held from 20 to 24 February 2013.

Usually, I'm quite reluctant to go to the festival. I have live in Pasir Gudang for 8 years but if my memory serves me right, I only went the festival 3 times. Once by myself, once when Rosman came to Pasir Gudang, and the lastest one was 4 years ago when I'm still bujang trang-tang-tang dating with Dahlia.

This time though, I think I want to give it a try to enjoy the festival with my family. Since the festival always a success year in year out, I had always taking it for granted. But last year's festival changed everything - was a disaster. The date that the organizer had picked coincide with the raining season. Imagine the irony - a kite festival without any kites.

Dahlia & me planned to go to the festival at night on Friday 22nd. Even though all the gigantic kites will be flown during the day, but it is at the night is when the festival will be more lively when families gathering at the field playing their kites. Besides, Dahlia never been to the festival at night so it will be a new experience for her.

We go out from our house quite early right after Maghrib prayers & went for dinner at the festival. We had nasi ayam & the price is quite OK - not too pricey. After that we stroll down the pathway at Bukit Layang Layang where the festival was held. The atmosphere was in celebration mode. There were clowns, balloons, and stage performance.

 

The Johor tourism stand

Clown dengan hidung ada lampu lip-lap

The last time I went to the festival at night was with Rosman, it was hectic. The parking was awful, too many stalls along the pathway, & too many people which in turn making me quite claustrophobic. I think it must be the effect of last year's festival that end up soaking in rain. This year the organizer have reduce the stalls at the festival. Hence it feels comfortable walking through the festival.

We sit on the field watching people playing kites. Since the wind is blowing, it was a good time to play kites. The extra spotlight that have been installed does enlighten the mood at the field. Compared to last time with Rosman, the view on the field was amazing.

Ummi back with some jajan

Haziq playing with the balloon he got from the clown

After 9.30pm, we decided to pack everything & go back home.

The next morning, we went again to the festival at 11.00am to see the kite competition being held. The main event usually will be on Saturday morning. There will be the festival's opening by the Sultan, the international kite competition & also some kite workshop.

In truth, we went there quite late that morning. The best time to go is from 8.00am to 10.00 am when the temperature is not too hot. But anyway, since I had gotten late from bed that morning - better late than never.
When we get there, there is already a lot of visitors at the festival. The giant kites are on the sky & the temperature is hot (yes, you need to bring your hats).

Visitors already flock the area early Saturday morning

We go straight to the center of the field where the main event is being held. When this festival 1st started in 1995, visitors were still allowed to go into the event area. But for safety issue, the main area is only limited to participants & festival committees only. One time a kid was caught by one of the gigantic kite's line & he was elevated about 2 meters from the ground. The photo of the incident is still in display in the Kite's Museum.

You can visit the Kite Museum during the festival. The ticket is only RM3

Cartoon character kites

Sea creatures kites

Some participants adjusting their kite

The countries that entered the competition

Track awan nano pun ada?

 Since it was almost noon & the temperature getting hotter, we wrapped up at 12.00pm & went for lunch.

Dah 3 minggu tak lari. Kejap je badan jadi ghejibab

In overall the festival is a much better success compared to last year since it was not raining throughout the festival. But if if I relate to my past experience of the festival, I have noticed that there are fewer stalls & visitors this year. Maybe it have been planned by the organizer. Or maybe it was because of last year's bad reputation. I don't know for sure, but for me I'm just happy that I been able to enjoy the festival without have a headache to search a parking for my car.