Pulau Tikus

March 13th, 2008 at 21:50 · Filed Under Buddhism, Holidays, Malaysia, Penang, Photography, Scenery · Comment 

Pulau Tikus (Rat Island) is neither an island nor an area infested by rats. It is a name of a place on Penang Island which is said to be named after the actual Pulau Tikus Isle. Despite of its name, it is one of the upper class neighborhood with many mansions, bungalows and colonial buildings, and many high-end condominiums such as those along Gurney Drive.

We went to the Burmese and Siamese Buddhist Temples in Pulau Tikus after visiting Kek Lok Si. Although it is one of the tourist spots, one still can find serenity at both temples comparing to Kek Lok Si. These photos are taken at the Siamese Buddhist Temple which is situated directly opposite of the Burmese Buddhist Temple.


Two high-end condominiums in the background.


The two guardians outside of the temple.


The sleeping Buddha.

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Koi

March 13th, 2008 at 21:50 · Filed Under Animals, Gardening, Holidays, Malaysia, Penang, Photography · Comment 

The koi pool at Kek Lok Si. These koi fishes may worth hundreds of thousands or a million ringgit if they are of pure Japanese breed. Looks like they are not the pure Japanese breed. The kids enjoyed feeding the fishes very much.

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Kek Lok Si

March 13th, 2008 at 21:49 · Filed Under Buddhism, Holidays, Malaysia, Penang, Photography, Scenery · 4 Comments 

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).

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Lim Guan Eng to be CM

March 9th, 2008 at 1:17 · Filed Under Blogging, Malaysia, Politics, Social · Comment 

It is confirmed that Guan Eng is the new Chief Minister of Penang. DAP will form a new government in Penang together with PKR. It will be a government for all Malaysians, he said. Well done!

I believe the new government in Penang will be a good start to reform Malaysia and her economy and internal security which all Malaysians are longing for. If the People’s Front can prove to Malaysians that they can run the government more efficiently, a bigger wind of change will be most likely to take place again in the next election.

Please, do your jobs well and don’t let the people down. Ganbatte kudasai!

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