With a deft lift of the foot, a flag pole ‘flies’ high into the air and lands neatly on the forehead of a waiting member of the troupe, who tilts his head back and stretches his arms out for balance. Moving back and forth, he keeps the pole standing erect for several minutes while the crowd cheers. All eyes are on the pole: a sturdy contraption made from joining several bamboo sticks. Tied to this is a large triangular flag made from a soft, gauze fabric that flutters in the breeze. The flag is that of the state of Penang, Malaysia and the spectacle in question is Chingay, a unique street performance that has been an integral part of the island state’s cultural identity for generations – the Penang Chingay Association celebrates its 109th anniversary this year.

A must during Chinese New Year, Chingay can also be viewed during other Chinese festivals, special occasions and state functions. A typical performance involves 15 members – of all ages and cultural backgrounds – who use two poles to entertain the crowds. The poles measure between 7.6 meters and 9.8 meters, and when attached with the flag and balanced in the air, could weigh up to 27kgs each! Yet, watching the troupe toss them around with effortless dexterity, one would think that they are mere featherweights, especially when a member as young as 10 appears to make light work of it. But if you take a close look at the faces of the players, you realize how much effort goes into even the simplest action.

With the colorful flags and outfits, acrobatic displays and accompanying traditional Chinese music, every Chingay procession is inevitably a feast for the eyes and ears. No matter how many times one watches the troupes perform, their balancing acts never fail to impress.

For more information: Click Here.

Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal plant four flags at the peak of Mount Everest - 8,850 m (29,035 ft) above sea level and become the first explorers to top Everest.

As early as the 1920s, attempts were made to scale Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. However, no climbers succeeded until Hillary and Norgay on May 29, 1953.

Learn about Nepal Democracy, the World’s Newest Republic: Click Here.

Jordan won its full independence on May 25, 1946 following the end of the British mandate.

Happy Independence Day Jordan!

The Sanja Matsuri festival is a three day weekend of traditional shrine processions through the streets of Asakusa, Tokyo; to bring wealth and good luck to the area and its inhabitants. It is one of the three greatest matsuri (festivals) in Tokyo and is celebrated annually over the third weekend of May. The drinking, music, dancing and celebrations attract over two million people every year.

The number three in Japanense is “san” and the Sanja Matsuri is a festival that honors the three men who founded the Asakusa Shrine. Two of the men were said to have found a Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) statuette caught in their fishing net around this time in the year 628. A wealthy man heard about the discovery and used the opportunity to share a Buddhist sermon with the two men. The two men were converted and devoted their life to teaching Buddhism. The wealthy man consecrated the Kannon statuette in a small temple in what is now know as Asakusa Shrine. These three men are recognized as the founders of Asakusa and are revered as deities (Gods).

The Asakusa shrine’s bearers all wear traditional festival clothing, and purposely rock and shake the shrine about during the procession. It is believed that the more that the shrine is shaken; the more blessings are bestowed on the neighborhood.

The Sanja Matsuri not only sees the traditional street processions, but is also host to more bizarre events. Dogs are welcome at the parade, and are often dressed in traditional coats. The Japanese Mafia, Yakuza, openly displays their body tattoos which are normally against the law, so you get chance to witness Tokyo’s gangsters under safe conditions.

The festival’s crowds are large but remain calm and good natured so it is a great day out for all the family. Visitors to the festival, both locals and holiday makers, will also enjoy the traditional food stalls found all along the parade route.

With the launch of the Kuala Lumpur (KL) wireless metropolitan project at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall headquarters on May 13, 2008, the entire capital city will be covered by a wireless broadband access network in the near future.

This means that if you are in KL, you will not need to patronize certain cafes or pay for Internet services to go wireless.

Everyone in the city will be able to use the service, which runs at 512kb per second, for free over the next two years.

The service is based on WiMAX 2.3 Giga Hertz and Kuala Lumpur is among one of the first cities in the world to use this technology.

The city-wide project involves the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Synapse Technologies Sdn Bhd and Packet One Networks (M) Sdn Bhd.

It involves two parts. The first is to make the city wireless with the collaboration of Packet One Networks while the second part is to have the city’s own portal - Portal Metropolitan Kuala Lumpur (www.kul.com.my) managed by Synapse Technologies.

If you are in KL, to use the free wireless service, register as user at www.wirelesskl.com.