In life it is sometimes good to escape, to find some place, some thing which has some serenity, peacefulness, calm.
I used to find that when I was a scuba diver. To float in the warm waters of the Red Sea at 60 feet (20 meters) depth, with the colourful fish of all sizes slowly swimming past, going about their business, and the coral, like an English country garden. click to see pictures
Another place I find peacefulness is on the Island of Penang in Malaysia, situated in (H)Air Itam, a suburb of Georgetown. This is the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy Temple, also known as Quan Yin, Kuan Yin, Avalokiteshvara, or Kek Lok Si (Hokkien for “Temple of Supreme Bliss”).
Malaysia is not just Chinese as my writings may indicate, but is multi cultural, being a people mixture of Malaysian, Chinese, and Indian, along with their own cultures, beliefs, food and religions, Islam, Buddhism, Hindu plus Christian. I think I am a mixture of all, having exposure to all of them. Click here to read the entry Other Places of worship in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
High on the side of Air Itam are the buildings of the temple. Many years ago I remember only a couple of large buildings, I presume for accommodation, plus the pagoda, turtles and Buddhas. The site has expanded so much with many more large buildings having and being built.
Kek Lok Si with it’s Pagoda (right) and build works
Parking at the foot of the hill, it is a steep climb up a covered winding flight of stairs with stalls either side selling the inevitable tourist goods, teeshirts, toys, replicas of the temple in plastic or what should be jade, and me being a non Easterner, a prime target to be sold to, the same as happens in Turkey. Do I look so British?
Turtles in Liberation Pool Kek Lok Si, Penang
The first real part of the Temple is the Turtle Pool known as Liberation Pool, where the turtles are supposed to be released into freedom, hundreds of turtles swimming around in rather dirty water, waiting for food sold to the visitors by enterprising stall holders. The turtles grow to quite a size, and I think of my one of my Turkish translators, Asu, and her turtle, if hers grows this big, oh poo poo.
Ascend further up the stairs, more shops and restaurants, you enter into the multiple buildings of the Kek Lok Si Temple, so colourful with Buddhas everywhere, some encased in glass, giant gold leafed statues.
Glass encased Laughing Buddha, the Goddess of Mercy Penang,
Glass encased underworld gods Goddess of Mercy
Various rooms are set aside for prayers, with joss sticks smoking away. Anyone can enter the altars after removing their shoes.
Prayer rooms Kek Lok Si
Prayer rooms Kek Lok Si
Prayer rooms Kek Lok Si
Even higher-up the hill taking the Incline Lift, a small glass box lift being pulled up the hill, takes you to more new buildings with the giant new bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy.
The Goddess of Mercy Kek Lok Si
The original old statue was made out of resin, and did not last long, as bits and pieces fell off as the resin deterioration, leaving only the head still on display.
Old resin head of the Goddess of Mercy
Work still continues on the bronze statue with the installation of a giant roof supported by eight sculptured columns.
Kek Lok Si is a place I can spend time in reflection, contemplating my life, it happens each time I visit the site.
The thing is, will I act upon my insights?
Mosque with small minaret’s
Saint Anne’s Church, Bukit Mertajam.
Hindu Temple near to Desa Palma, Alma, BM.
