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Title: Hilltop TempleLocation: Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, Malaysia
Date: 23 November 2008, 10.54am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
The roof of a temple in the hilltop section. Brilliant colour and patterns decorate the whole temple.
Title: The Bronze Statue Location: Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, Malaysia
Date: 23 November 2008, 10.33am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
A large-sized bronze statue.
Title: The Red DoorLocation: Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, Malaysia
Date: 23 November 2008, 11.07am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
A red metal door at the mid section of the temple. Love the distribution of light and shadow in this picture.
Title: Avalokitesvar - Goddess of Mercy Location: Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, Malaysia
Date: 23 November 2008, 10.44am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
This picture gave an impression the Goddess is not too happy being surrounded with metals.
Title: Avalokitesvar - Goddess of MercyLocation: Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, Malaysia
Date: 23 November 2008, 10.47am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100
The Goddess of Mercy is surrounded with thousands of scaffold. Construction in advance progress to build a 16 carved dragon pillars shelter for the Goddess.
Title: Stone Carving Location: Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang, Malaysia
Date: 23 November 2008, 10.38am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
A partial stone carving beneath the bronze statue Goddess of Mercy. These 3D stone carving depict traditional Chinese way of life. I believe this is a sculpture of a military or security personnel in ancient China.
The temple is HUGE! I can see the vast monastery and its buildings from afar. The small lane leading to the temple is an interesting sight. There are vendors and hawkers on both side of the lane peddling all sorts of stuff (clothes, Penang's traditional packed food, toys, hand bags, T-shirts and more). These street hawker will bombard you with all kind of souvenir, T shirt and many others memorable. This is where you can test out your bargaining skills. Try to bargain until you can get a reasonable price and if it doesn't work out, you can always buy from another hawker. I simply love the experience climbing up the stairs leading to the temple's main entrance.
The Kek Lok Si temple is divided into three sections:
a) Temple ground - the hill entrance, souvenir sellers, food and drinks, liberation pond.
b) Mid Section - temples and gardens, the pagoda, 4 heavenly kings.
c) Hilltop - statue of Kuan Yin, gardens and temples.
After twenty minutes of mini hiking, I finally reached the base of the temple. It was a clear and sunny morning. Only few visitors were visible in the temple surrounding. A good opportunity to take photos. I spent more than three hours exploring the entire temple. I have to say Kek Lok Si temple have the best display of Buddhist relics, extra large statues and a vibrant display of traditional Chinese interior and exterior design. Every pieces of relics and statues were carefully crafted. I am totally blown away when I look at those large-sized deity displayed in the mid section temple. Those are the statues of 4 heavenly kings.
The supreme statue of the 4 heavenly kings are sited in the Hall of the Devas (Tian Huang Dian), each of the Mighty Kings controls one of the four points of the compasses. The Heavenly Kings consist of Kwang Mu (Guardian of the West), Tou Wen (Guardian of the North), Ch'i Kuo (Guardian of the East) and lastly Tseg Chang (Guardian of the South).
Sitting at the center of The Heavenly Kings are the statue of Maitreya (The Laughing Buddha). It represents the center of the universe that brings happiness, hope and prosperity to the people.
Facts in italic are adapted from http://www.penang-vacations.com/kek-lok-si.html
The Kek Lok Si temple is divided into three sections:
a) Temple ground - the hill entrance, souvenir sellers, food and drinks, liberation pond.
b) Mid Section - temples and gardens, the pagoda, 4 heavenly kings.
c) Hilltop - statue of Kuan Yin, gardens and temples.
After twenty minutes of mini hiking, I finally reached the base of the temple. It was a clear and sunny morning. Only few visitors were visible in the temple surrounding. A good opportunity to take photos. I spent more than three hours exploring the entire temple. I have to say Kek Lok Si temple have the best display of Buddhist relics, extra large statues and a vibrant display of traditional Chinese interior and exterior design. Every pieces of relics and statues were carefully crafted. I am totally blown away when I look at those large-sized deity displayed in the mid section temple. Those are the statues of 4 heavenly kings.
The supreme statue of the 4 heavenly kings are sited in the Hall of the Devas (Tian Huang Dian), each of the Mighty Kings controls one of the four points of the compasses. The Heavenly Kings consist of Kwang Mu (Guardian of the West), Tou Wen (Guardian of the North), Ch'i Kuo (Guardian of the East) and lastly Tseg Chang (Guardian of the South).
Sitting at the center of The Heavenly Kings are the statue of Maitreya (The Laughing Buddha). It represents the center of the universe that brings happiness, hope and prosperity to the people.
Facts in italic are adapted from http://www.penang-vacations.com/kek-lok-si.html
Remember to visit my photo blog for Part 3 and 4 of Kek Lok Si temple.
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