Kek Lok Si

March 13th, 2008 at 21:49 · Filed Under Buddhism, Holidays, Malaysia, Penang, Photography, Scenery 

Kek Lok Si (or 极乐寺 in Chinese) is a Buddhist temple situated on a hill in Air Hitam in Penang. It is the best known Buddhist temple on the island and possibly the whole Malaysia. My last visit was more than 10 years ago with LA when I was giving talks at USM (Universiti Sains Malaysia).

We climbed up to the temple from the foot of the hill via a passage surrounded by souvenir stores. Sad to say, along the passage way, I saw garbage and many deserted stores. This is an awful site to this famous tourist spot on this pearl of orient.

Nonetheless, the temple is quite well maintained and many beautifying and expansion project are being carried out. IMO, the temple is rather too commercialized. Everywhere money, money, money. Encouraging tourists and Buddhist visitors to donate or buy stuff, good for the island economy (and the temple) but it is overdone. It is no exception in this materialistic world the temple has to seek financial for its survival and continue expansion and beautification to lure tourists. Sad, isn’t it?


The Goddess of Mercy and her two guardians on both side (photos below).

Tags: , , , , ,

Comments

4 Responses to “Kek Lok Si”

  • M on March 14th, 2008 23:34 1

    Yes, I could have told you that. It is no longer about faith and tranquility in prayers. I hope you went to the Burmese/Thai temple. That is more doable.

  • amon ra on March 16th, 2008 18:55 2

    oooh i love these cultural buildings….

  • Pulau Tikus on March 24th, 2008 10:19 3

    [...] RSS ← Kek Lok Si [...]

  • Koi on March 24th, 2008 10:32 4

    [...] ← Kek Lok Si Pulau Tikus [...]

Leave a Reply