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Title: ROAR! Bow to the GATEKEEPER
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 3:32pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A fierce looking statue.

Title: Heaven on Earth
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 4:12pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

A heaven-like setting in the temple's garden; complete with a mini pagoda and a big 'sailing' dragon boat.

Title: YUM! YUM! Serving Vegetarian Food @ The CAVE
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 3:34pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.5, ISO Equiv.: 200

There is a classic vegetarian restaurant in the cave.

Title: Reflection
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 4:10pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

Love this picture - the pond, the reflection and the garden = BEAUTIFUL!

Title: Area 51 - No Entry
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 3:49pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

This yellow coloured building is part of Sam Poh Tong cave temple. I wanted to explore this building but retreated halfway....there were two unchain vicious dogs guarding this building.

Title: Limited Access
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 4:13pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

This pagoda-like building is also part of Sam Poh Tong cave temple. But, visitors are prohibited from entering the building. Maybe, precious religious relics are kept here.

Title: Majestic
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 4:09pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

This building is located on the outer part of the temple. In addition, there is a shaolin-like temple in the heart of the cave. Sadly, both buildings were not open to the public.

Title: Time for a self-portrait
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 3:52pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

Me and my bag :)

Title: Snap, Snap
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 3:52pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

A candid moment in the praying chamber.

Title: The Turtle
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 3:06pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

A turtle stone carving at the entrance to the cave temple.

Title: Deep Meditation
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 4:07pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 200

Two words to describe this statue - IN PEACE.

Title: Fish and ME
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 3:24pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.0, ISO Equiv.: 200

An European bronze statue in the heart of the cave temple (part of the temple's fountain). The shaolin-like temple is located next to this statue.

Title: Asleep
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 4:06pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.2, ISO Equiv.: 200

A cute looking stone carving lying on the temple's garden.

Title: Walk This Way
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 3:37pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.5, ISO Equiv.: 200

This area will lead you to the cave restaurant.

Title: Dine @ the CAVE!
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 3:45pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.8, ISO Equiv.: 1600

This picture was taken discreetly at the temple's dining area. There were two ladies that time - one of them was reading some kind of manga comic book. They were a bit shocked seeing me with my camera. This restaurant was built in the limestone cave!

Title: A CRY for HELP
Location: Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 4:05pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.0, ISO Equiv.: 800

This monkey was captured by the temple's security guard. I wanted to ask him to release this poor little primate. But, he seems to be adamant on keeping junior as pet...perhaps earning some side income by showing his pet to the temple's visitor.

Title: The Towering Statue of Guan Yin
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:53pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

An interesting statue of Guan Yin. Her left hand was holding a vase. Look closely and you'll see a healthy green plant growing out from the vase.

Title: Xuánzàng (玄奘) Journey to Malaysia
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 2:02pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A background shot of Xuánzàng. I love his robe - golden geometrical stripes with red coloured background.

Title: Buddhist monk Xuánzàng and his dragonball :)
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 2:03pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

Xuanzang [玄奘] was a famous Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator that brought up the interaction between China and India in the early Tang period. Born in Henan province of China in 603 CE, he displayed signs of intellectual and spiritual greatness even at an early age. From boyhood he took to reading sacred books, mainly the Chinese Classics and the writings of the ancient sages. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xuanzang

Title: Zhū Bājiè ("Pig of the Eight Prohibitions")
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:54pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Once an immortal who was the Tiānpéng-yuánshuǎi ("Field Marshal Tianpeng") of 100,000 soldiers of the Milky Way, during a celebration of gods, he drank too much and attempted to flirt with Cháng'é, the beautiful moon goddess, resulting in his banishment into the mortal world. He was supposed to be reborn as a human, but ended up in the womb of a sow due to an error at the Reincarnation Wheel, which turned him into a half-man half-pig monster. Staying withinYúnzhan-dòng ("cloud-pathway cave"), he was commissioned by Guanyin to accompanyXuanzang to India and given the new name Zhu Wuneng. Source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_to_the_west

Title: Throw me some coins
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:59pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.0, ISO Equiv.: 320

There are lots of cute looking figurines in the cave temple. An innovative way to encourage visitors to donate their money :)

Title: Gimme ABUNDANT WEALTH!!!
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:08pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/10.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

The toad holds a HUGE Chinese coin in its mouth, and is sitting on a pile of golds, symbolising great attraction of wealth.

Title: Good Fortune Toad
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:08pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

The good-fortune toad is the most commonly used element within traditional Feng Shui. Chinese Feng Shui practitioners believe toads and frogs ("Chan Chu") to be the bringers of wealth and good fortune.

Title: Ancient Mural - [觀音] Guan Yin Goddess of Mercy
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:27pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.0, ISO Equiv.: 200

A wall painting depicting Guan Yin the Goddess of Mercy.

Title: Ancient Mural
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:26pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 200

Another wall painting. The colours were chipping away due to heat and smoke from the burning incense.

Title: Reflection
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 2:13pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.5, ISO Equiv.: 200

An attempt for a 'twisted' angle. I can only read three Chinese words from that building...mountain [山], water [水] and sky [天].

Title: This WAY
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:42pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

Ling Sen Tong cave temple looks like an amusement park.

Title: The Praying Chamber
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:16pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 1600

Ling Sen Tong cave temple has a small praying hall. The ceiling of the cave is low - I can touch the ceiling!

Title: The Founders?
Location: Ling Sen Tong Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 1:20pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.5, ISO Equiv.: 900

Stumbled upon these pictures in the praying hall. I think they are the founders of the cave temple.

Title: The Windy Cave Tunnel
Location: Unknown Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 2:53pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 1600

Continuous strong cold wind blowing from the cave mouth. Strong winds equalize pressure between inside and outside.

Title: The Compassionate Goddess of Mercy
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 4:24pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Guanyin [觀音] is the bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually as a female. The name Guanyin is short for Guanshi'yin which means "Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World". Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guan_Yin

Title: Go GREEN
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 5 June 2009, 4:25pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Capture this last picture before returning to my budget hotel.

After exploring Perak Tong limetstone cave temple, I took my lunch at a nearby Chinese economy rice shop. The food was delicious and the price was damn cheap. Later, I referred to Google maps again to locate Sam Poh Tong cave temple.

Sam Poh Tong cave temple is located behind Ling Sen Tong cave temple. Ling Sen Tong cave temple is a little bit of everything. The compound of the temple looks like an amusement park. There are statues and figurines of Four Heavenly Kings, Goddess of Mercy Kuan Yin and a complete set of large-sized characters from the story Journey to The West. These statues or figurines were cute and look like cartoon characters. Ling Sen Tong cave temple is a great place for family with kids. Kiddos enjoyed riding the mystical animals on the compound of the temple. The donation box was creatively integrated into those rides. Other than that, the praying chamber of Ling Sen Tong cave temple is small but unique.

After that, I walked to another cave temple. The name of this temple was written entirely in Chinese. It seems like a boring place. I was on my way exiting the cave when I heard loud and continuous cave echoes. I heard a lady saying “WINDY!!!!” repeatedly. So, I walked to the inner part of the cave and discovered a brightly lit cave tunnel. There were some red plastic chairs on the tunnel. Strong and endless cool air was blowing through the tunnel. It was COOL & RELAXING! Those airs were natural and it was flowing non-stop from the cave mouth to the tunnel. I rested there for almost 20 minutes.

Sam Poh Tong cave temple or Cavern of Triple Gems is another MUST-SEE attractions in Perak. Sam Poh Tong, discovered in 1912, is a Chinese Buddhist Temple within a natural limestone hill. The cave temple is beautiful. There is a unique Japanese cum Chinese garden in front of the temple. The place is HUGE. I wanted to explore the entire place but it seems certain parts of the cave temple are not opened to public. There is a medium-sized tortoise pond in the heart of the cave. Next to the pond, there is a huge and beautiful shaolin-like temple. NO ENTRY - the gate was locked :(

Coming Soon! Part 7 - Exploring Ipoh City

Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple - Getting There:

The temple is located at Gunung Rapat area. If you are driving along Jalan Gopeng heading towards Simpang Pulai, you'll see the Chinese temple on your left on the limestone hill right after the Petronas petrol station. The first temple would be the Ling Sen Tong. The second temple will be Sam Poh Tong.

More Info?

Read these articles before you travel:

http://ipohchai.com/sam-poh-tong.php
http://www.cuti.com.my/Sub/Perak/guide_prktong.htm

Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple - YouTube Video:


Sam Poh Tong Cave Temple - Google Maps:

7 comments

  1. youliang Says:
  2. there's a cave temple in Taiping? I thought only in Ipoh..

     
  3. shloke Says:
  4. Forgotten to remove the old template. Corrected my post. Both Ling Sen Tong and Sam Poh Tong Cave Temples are located in Ipoh, Perak.

    Thanks!!!
    mylo

     
  5. xplorer Says:
  6. mylo, if you plan to go to N9 , i do suggest that you go to restoran nelayan and seafood restaurant in seremban to sample porcupine meat.it's very tasty and soft but do called first to check out if its available.normally they have it in july as it was hunting season for purcupine in july.Its legal as they got approval from PERHILITAN to sell daging landak.my favourite route to follow to go to N9 is using the coastal road from BANTING-morib(stop at pantai morib)-baganlalang(stop at gold coast)-PD and then continuing your journey to malacca .Going back follow the inner old road back to SEREMBAN and then take the highway back to KL.TRY it , definitely you won't regrett as there are a lot interesting palaces along the way especially after PD going to malacca.You just have to keep an open mind and travel with curiosity and stop whenever you notice a swarm of people present.there are still alot more ineteresting places along the way which i'm lazy to write about in my blog but Will do it slowly.by the way the below are the restoran nelayan phone no tel:-06-7611190.

     
  7. xplorer Says:
  8. another thing i forgot - do stop at jugra also in banting as its full of history and most people are not aware about it . i had xplore jugra previously and it is quite interesting but then again i'm looking things from my perspective which i believe is quite different from mere mortals, ha ha.

     
  9. shloke Says:
  10. @xplorer

    Whoa!!! Thank you for sharing all those info!! The travel tips are very useful for me as this will be my first time driving to N9.

    Hopefully, my limited budget allows me to taste the landak dish at Restoran Nelayan. Are you sure porcupine can be eaten???

    I'll try to travel to Jugra and discover the mystery of Jugra :)

    Thank you!
    mylo

     
  11. Anonymous Says:
  12. Poor monkey...
    Set it free!

     
  13. shloke Says:
  14. @1ondoncalling,

    I know.....but it seems Malaysians keen to keep wildlife as pets.

    Cheers!
    mylo

     
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shloke
Traveling & photography are the most rewarding & enriching experiences in my life. Photography is all about discovery, enjoying myself, having adventure, learning people & nature. The greatest experience for me is the connection I felt with NATURE. If you haven’t seen Malaysia, you haven’t seen the world! My photography works are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported.
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