Penang Kek Lok Si Temple - 2015 Chinese New Year Light Decorations (An outdated update)

Whenever we talk about going to Kek Lok Si Temple to view the Chinese New Year Lighting Decorations, Ben would flail in protest. He can't stand the crowd, the jam and goodness knows what. So the last time we came, was at least 10 years ago.

Then out of the blue, this year he is willing to go. I quickly grab the chance and didn't give him time to re-think his decision.

There were indeed many people. and cars. We slowly drive our way into Air Itam market area, and slowly jam our way up to the highest end of the temple. We then have to walk down from the carpark to reach the first stop, where the gigantic Guan Yin Pavillion is situated. The official name is called "The Kuan Yin Bodhimandala".

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Even at this level, we have plenty to see. Lines and lines of lanterns with auspicious greetings written on them.

There were plenty of buddha statues and there were also statues of the 12 zodiac signs. The trees and pavillion around the areas were decorated with lights. Many families were busy taking photos with their loved ones. 

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We walked up to the shrine. There were many activities the kids enjoyed e.g. putting coins into the buddhist alms lined around the foot of the Guan Yin's statue, hanging up wishes on top of tree branches, etc. 

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 I caught a glimpse of the moon at the far end of the shrine. Given the less popular seasons, this place has the potential to exude calm, serene and peace.

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There is actually a gondola system to take you a level down to the main temple area. But the queue was just unbearable. We thought we should just leave. But as we descend, I manage to convince Ben to turn into the main temple carpark, to just give it a try. What luck, we found an empty lot almost in front of the entrance to the "Tortoise Liberation Pond".

The festive lightings were everywhere.

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The intriguing "Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas / Rama Pagoda" is highly ornamented with lights. It would be interesting if they could use relevant colour schemes to reflect the 3 different architectural designs of Burmese dome (top part), Thai roofing details (middle part) and Chinese octagonal base (bottom part).

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I wonder how much electricity they use per night. But the effects are really alleviating.

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We walk up the stairs towards the main temple. The perspective upwards and downwards were just too enticing.

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Loving the upward view of the lanterns with the pattern of the roof as background. The order is attractive to me (must be my inner OCD).

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We came to the original Kek Lok Si Temple building. It was the grandeur of this temple that so impress Qing Emperor GuangXu that volumes of sacred sutras were bestowed to be kept here.

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The golden colours does not go well with my personal taste of Buddhism. But this is just my personal view.

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Like the balance (argh... inner OCD again)

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My favourite part of the temple is the floor. 

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2nd favourites are the bronze like statues of Golden Youth (Cantonese: Gam Thung) and Jade Maiden (Cantonese: Yuk Lui) and cranes.

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Bronze-like crane

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Bronze-like Golden Youth

I am also fan of ceilings. Old buildings have great elaborated ceilings. It reminded me of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Building at The Bund, Shanghai, China. Similar great details of artwork depicted at the ceiling. Respect the masters who does these.

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Leaving the original temple behind, we walked to the open area. The open garden were laid with flower beds. The originality and choice of flowers were commendable.

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In fact, you will find edible plants placed with labels as exhibit. 

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Sprout from Arrowhead Tubers

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Ginger torch flower (Malay: Bunga Kantan)

The only place we did not visit that night was the current main temple where we have to pay entrance fee. The price is reasonable, given that much effort they put through to decorate the entire place. But we just do not have enough time. By the time we reach the entrance for the main temple, it was nearing 12am. Unknowingly, we had spent 4 hours around Kek Lok Si.

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So we say bye bye and good night to the Pagoda.

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Took one last panorama shot of the place and go home.

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FAQ

Q: When?
A: Starts from Chinese Lunar New Year and last for a month.

Q: Is the trip worth the trouble?

A: Yes. The scale of lightings and decorations was impressive.

Q: What to take note of?

A: Wear good walking shoes. You'll be walking a lot.
    Wear light clothing. It's Malaysian CNY weather. Hot and humid.

Q: Parking?

A: You can park at the bottom, or every level of the area. There will be signs and temple members to direct you.

Q: Are there food and beverage?

A: Only stalls selling drinks and snacks. Eat before you go up.

I took the plunge!

This isn't me. But I am no better. I guess my bulging eyes and screaming mouth was way bigger than hers?

My sister has been telling me about the slides and how one of them is almost 90 degrees in shape. She told me that I must go and try it. In my heart I was thinking "Nah... How scary would that be? It is just a kiddie slide afterall..". But I have decided to go and try it to see if it is that scary.

I've been crazy over all these rides and I never scream in them, be it in Australia's hanging roller coasters or Hong Kong's sunflower ride. What would a kiddie slide has that could scare me. Until I sat on top of the red slide looking down. My legs starts feeling numb. I started to have qualms and second thoughts. I now regreted laughing at Ben, when he first slid down. But sigh... It's too late to back up now. After a short goodbye with my loved ones, I took the plunge. aaaAAAAHHHHHH...... I left my heart at the top of the slide. To think that it was embarassing to scream all the way down. Sigh... I never got to stop screaming on my subsequent plunges. The feeling of falling freely without anything to hold was.. was... terror!

I guess age is really catching up. I see kids sliding down the terror slide like eating cabbage. They did it with such simplicity and grace. I wonder if my screamings were due to fear or jealousy.

After the adrenaline rush, we had a go at the obstacle course. Climbing up and down the padded walls and floors, slipping in between 2 cushioned rollers, falling onto nets, slipping down the firemen poles and hanging on a rope. We were positive we have burnt all the fats we have gathered from all the chompings in this trip. It was a really good work out.

You must be thinking that we are too old for this. Does age got to do with it? The equipment is meant for both adults and kids. The only thing matter here is...

Do you dare to take the plunge?

Note: This is not an advertisment and I am not paid to scream on that terror slide!

Do you see what I see in Penang?

I love Penang. Mostly because my beloved sister is there, partly because I spent my kiddie days visiting Penang with my family and spent even more teenage days studying there. It's got nostalgic value for me, though not as far back as Penang's history.

When I was a kid, I used to look at all the old mansion along Gurney Drive and Kelawei Road wondering what kind of life goes in there. As time past, I see less and less of these family owned mansions. The mansions-turned-shops and abandoned buildings are like burnt holes on a paper. An eyesore that burns my heart. Lucky me, my sister shared my love and we would travel by public transport or walk around Penang taking down whatever detail left of the old Penang. That's what you are looking at.

My only hope here is that when you do visit Penang, you would spare some time to look around you (besides those fabulous food).

Historical trishaw ride in Penang

My sister and I had taken a ride on a trishaw within Penang town. The route that we took was mostly small lanes. The buildings we saw were mostly fading away to modernisation.