Dec 1, 2015

Dreamy Christmas at Paradigm Mall

JAT Paradigm Mall - Dreamy Christmas
- Click on the photos to enlarge images -
Christmas is one of my favorite time of the year (next being the Chinese New Year). One of the reason is because the shopping malls usually pull out all the stops and decorate their respective complex to bring out the festive cheers (and hopefully the shoppers' wallets *smile*).

The first mall that started early with their Christmas decoration was Paradigm Mall (https://www.facebook.com/ParadigmMall/) located along the Damansara-Puchong Highway (commonly known as 'LDP' acronym for highway's Malay name 'Leburaya Damansara-Puchong').

The mall theme is called "Dreamy Christmas" and it has aligned the decorations to the upcoming "Snoopy and Charley Brown: The Peanuts Movie". At one of the entrance to the main area, your family and you can to snap a photo with your favorite Peanuts characters.

JAT - Dreamy Christmas The Peanut Characters

JAT Paradigm Mall Christmas decoration 1
Once you enter the main area you'll able to see more individual characters such as Schroeder, and Patty on the right side of a blue house (I'm not sure if it was to be align to the production studio, Blue Sky Studios that is producing the movie).

In my opinion the mall could have the piano songs playing in the background, giving the impression that Schroeder was playing :-)


JAT Paradigm Mall Christmas decoration 2
 This is the the main 'stage' where performances are held. Not very big but the house allows performing artists to rest and store their equipment during intermission.

On the left side of the house, you'll find more Peanut characters such as Linus van Pelt, Sally Brown, and Charlie Brown.


JAT Paradigm Mall Christmas decoration 3

Surrounding this center page are stalls selling Christmas accessories, wares, and cookies.

JAT Paradigm Mall Christmas Performance schedulePerformances and Events
From 27 November 2015 to 3 January 2016, you and your family are treated to a number of events such as;
  • Santa Claus and Elf Meet & Greet
  • Snoopy Meet & Greet
  • Live Band performances
  • Carolers 
  • Live Bands
  • Harmonica performances
  • Dance show
  • Musical shows
Kindly refer to the photo on the right for the dates and times, or you can refer to the mall's Facebook page.

On the 29th November, an acapella group which calls themselves "Of Feathers and Chapters" (https://www.facebook.com/offeathersandchapters/) performing a medley of Christmas carols and songs. This group was good and you can catch their performances on the weekends before and after Christmas.



If you look up from the center space, you'll see Snoopy's archnemesis the Red Baron flying overhead.

JAT Paradigm Mall - Red Baron

Overall the mall's Christmas decoration was rather simple but the trees, colors, lights and 'snow' does give out the Christmas mood, spirit and cheer.

Merry Christmas in advance !


Jul 13, 2015

Mongolia (Part 4): Tumen Ekh National Song and Dance Ensemble

Overhead view of the Mongolia National Amusement Park
Part of Mongolia National Amusement Park. Seoul Restaurant on the left, and Tumen Ekh on the right.

On 20 June 2015, my partner & I caught the performance of the Tumen Ekh National Song and Dance Ensemble at the end of our Terelj National Park tour. This is one of the must-see performance while in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
The Tumen Ekh ensemble was founded in 1989 and has gone on to win awards across the world. The ensemble’s goal is to present a rare selection of ancient Mongolian performing arts and culture to local and international audiences, particularly younger generations. 
Poster about the Tumen Ekh.The ensemble comprises artists who perform all types of Mongolian song, music and dance. They play traditional instruments including the morin khuur (horse head fiddle) and perform Mongolian long song, epic and eulogy songs, a ritualistic shaman ritual dance, an ancient palace dance and a Tsam mask dance. Their performances are highly professional but retain the authenticity and traditions of nomadic culture. 
The music of Mongolia expresses vastness, freedom and life in harmony with nature and the environment. The Tumen Ekh ensemble is one of the most successful folk art groups to share traditional Mongolian music with the world, having traveled to over 40 countries to introduce the unique, vibrant and astonishing art of Mongolia. They have successfully performed at the World Music Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and Buckingham Palace in the UK among others. But Tumen Ekh is more than just a group of performers on a stage. Members of the ensemble participate in cultural exchanges, conduct research and studies on folklore and engage in training and creative activities. 
The Tumen Ekh ensemble will take you on a brief tour to Mongolia’s world of folk art, where vast steppes of grassland, clear blue skies, and a nomadic way of life has been developed and preserved for thousands of years. (Source: Facebook)

The performance building (location here) is within the compound of the Mongolia National Amusement Park, near the Seoul Restaurant.

Tumen Ekh performance building
Entrance to Tumen Ekh performance building

The price of the ticket was very reasonable in my opinion;
  • MNT 20,000 per pax which is approximately USD 10 or RM 38.
  • Optional: If you wish to take photographs during the performance, it is an additional MNT 20,000 - you will be given an additional tag to hangover your neck to identify.
  • Optional: If you wish to take amateur videos during the performance, it is an additional MNT 100,000 (approximately USD50 or RM 192).

There are about 13 distinct songs/acts/performances and the whole show took approximately 70 minutes. They have two shows per-day, one starting at 4:00PM and another at 6:00PM.

The seats are large steps (one higher than the other) and form cushions are placed to denote each seat. The rows of seats are in a semi-cycle formation. There are no numbering on the seats and it is first-come-first served, hence it is suggested that you arrive early and enter the performance hall as it opens so that you can get the first or second row facing the center stage.

There are English narrations between each segment of the performance to explain briefly about the coming acts and performances.

Click on the photographs to enlarge the images.
Performance hall of the Tumen Ekh Ensemble.
Performance hall of the Tumen Ekh Ensemble - left side


Video playlist of the Tumen Ekh's performance


At the lobby of the performance hall, the portraits of the Tumen Ekh performance troop members are hung on the walls.

Portraits of the Tumen Ekh performance troop 1
Portraits of the Tumen Ekh performance troop 2
Portraits of the Tumen Ekh performance troop 3
Portraits of the Tumen Ekh performance troop 4
Portraits of the Tumen Ekh performance troop 5
Portraits of the Tumen Ekh performance troop 6
Portraits of the Tumen Ekh performance troop 7
Portraits of the Tumen Ekh performance troop 8


Just A Thought Ah
My partner and I truly enjoy this performance very much. I believe it was time and money well spent to witness this performing arts live and to keep a cultural piece of history alive.

Jul 9, 2015

Mongolia (Part 3): Chinggis Khaan Square

Chinggis Khaan Square (formally Sukhbaatar Square)
Chinggis Khaan Square (formally Sukhbaatar Square) - in the morning

Status of Sukhbaatar at Chinggis Khaan Square
Status of Sukhbaatar at Chinggis Khaan Square
Chinggis Khaan Square (formally known as Sükhbaatar Square) is the main square of Ulaanbaatar. During my time in Ulaanbaatar I was staying at the Best Western Premier Tuushin Hotel, I walked across the square each time to visit locations towards the west and south of the city.

At the center of the square stands the statue of the hero of the Mongolian People's Revolution, Damdin Sükhbaatar.
Damdinii Sükhbaatar (Mongolian: Дамдины Сүхбаатар; February 2, 1893 – February 20, 1923) was a founding member of the Mongolian People's Party and leader of the Mongolian partisan army that liberated Khüree during the Outer Mongolian Revolution of 1921. Enshrined as the "Father of Mongolia's Revolution", he is remembered as one of the most important figures in Mongolia's struggle for independence. (Source: Wikipedia)

Click on the photographs to enlarge the image.
Status of Sukhbaatar at Chinggis Khaan Square - diagonal viewStatus of Sukhbaatar at Chinggis Khaan Square - side view

On the West side of the square are the UB City Government building and the Confederation of Mongolia Trade Union building.

On the East side of the square is the State Opera and Ballet Academic Theater.

On the North side is the Government Palace.

On the South side is Chinggis Khaan garden. The tall skyscraper is the The Blue Sky Hotel and Tower.

View of the West side Chinggis Khaan Square
View towards the West side of Chinggis Khaan Square
View of the East side Chinggis Khaan Square
View towards the East side of Chinggis Khaan Square
View towards the North side of Chinggis Khaan Square
View towards the North side of Chinggis Khaan Square
View of the South side Chinggis Khaan Square
View towards the South side of Chinggis Khaan Square


The Government Palace
North side of the square is the Government Palace is a status of a seated Chinggis Khaan protected by two statues of Mongolian warriors mounted on horses. The ancient Mongolian warriors on horse back was a force not to be reckoned with, they were able to cross harsh terrains at great speeds and distance. They were also deadly with bows and arrows.


The Government Palace at Chinggis Khaan Square
The Government Palace

Statue of Chinggis Khaan at the Government Palace
Statue of Chinggis Khaan
Mongolia Warrior Statue - Left Side.
Mongolia Warrior status on the left side.
Mongolia Warrior Statue - Right Side.
Mongolia Warrior statue on the right side.

Activities
In the afternoon of 17 June when I was at the square, a noticed a large group of ladies beautifully dressed and made up a the square and the government palace. It appeared to be some kind of graduation ceremony as they can be seen carrying some kind of folder which I assume held their certificates and some held bouquet of flowers. Smaller groups were posing to take photographs individually and in groups by the government palace and the Chinggis Khaan statue.

Chinggis Khaan Square - group of graduates
Chinggis Khaan Square - beautiful ladies 1
Chinggis Khaan Square - beautiful ladies 2
Chinggis Khaan Square - beautiful ladies 3

In the evening of 19 June, we can find people skating on roller blades and skateboards, and cycling about. The bicycles can be rented by vendors which set up their stalls in the evening time. Parents can also rent remote control toy vehicles for their young children to play with.

There were also street stalls selling food and drinks at a side of the square.

Chinggis Khaan Square in the evening.
Chinggis Khaan Square in the evening.
Chinggis Khaan Square in the evening. Toys for rent.
Remote control toy vehicles for rent.

During the International Yoga Day on 21 June 2015, a large stage was set up on within the square for yoga instructors and yoga practitioners were performing yoga activity and exercises there. You can read more about it from this article from UB Post.


Just A Thought Ah
This place reminded me of Tugu Negara (Malaysia's National Monument) and Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur) - both rolled into one.

At first glance, it looked like a simple tourist attraction where you will just spend about 10 - 15 minutes to take photographs of statues of previous leaders that made an impact to Mongolia's history.

However, if one was to take the time to observe the activities and events that take place during the morning, afternoon and evening, and the weekends - you'll notice that this place still serves as an active communal point for both locals and visitors. So if you have the opportunity to visit this place; find a shaded spot, chill and take in the scene of life that is unfolding at the Chinggis Khaan Square.