Bunleong Visitation

I follow my friend to Samarahan division, to a small town called Bunleong. Translate to Chinese is call “Wen Long” kiss of dragon :) that’s a nice name. To drive to Bunleong, it took us almost one hour car drive.

Well, we didn’t purposely go there. My friend Chiew (the driver), need to buy yam to bake yam cake. So he knows a Malay friend who plants many yams, and is few times cheaper.

He told me that there’s a newly build Chinese God temple, to get there we need to use boat. Along the way to Bunleong, there is not much to see but only small village houses, pineapple field, paddy field, and trees.

After we reach the jetty, we park our car and board the boat. Is RM0.50 per person to cross the river, what interesting is the boat also carry motorcycle to Bunleong town. And there is no bridge to go to

Bunleong, this boat is the only transportation that connect Samarahan divison, and Bunleong town. It takes about 10 minutes to cross the river.

All the temple building materials are by ship, every tiles, every bricks, every steels, everything! I’m really impressed with the building structure. Is beautiful, and is rich with Chinese architecture culture.

I like the Guan Ying Buddha statue, when bow on the Guan Ying Statue, it will pour the vases water automatically, interesting.


I sat at the back of the van, between two fat guy (+_+)!!! One of them fall asleep.


We’re on our way to cross the river, the charges RM0.50 per person.


This is the first time I went to Bunleong, and this boat also carry motorcycle cross the river.


Motorcycle is the only transportation at Bunleong, they don’t have car in this town as there is no bridge connect Samarahan and Bunleong.


The Chinese Temple is 80% complete, hope that it will complete on my next visit.


Is rich with Chinese architecture culture


On the main entrance, there’s a pond. There are two beautiful water lilies, this is a close up on the flower.


On our way back, we stop by to get sugar cane drink. Is 100% pure sugar cane, RM2 per package.

Langkawi Visitation 2008

My trip to Langkawi was great, but is a bit rush. I went there with a bunch of my friends, together there are over 10 of us. We’ve stay there for two days one night; I was at Penang that time. And bought our boat tickets to Langkawi, it cost RM105 per tickets (return ticket). Our boat leaves at 8:30am, so we have to check-in 30 minutes before the boat leave the port. Is a THREE hours boat ride. I don’t take heavy meal that morning, cause I know I might get sea sick. The weather is great, morning breeze blowing gently on my face. This will be a wonderful trip for sure.

The boat leave Penang port right on time, we all sat nicely inside the boat. The current was strong, and it made the boat shake tremendously. After an hour sitting inside the boat, I went up to the deck to get some fresh air. Then my friends follow, some of them are starting to get sea sick. We didn’t know that it would be this shaky, so we didn’t prepare any medicine for sea sick. But at the deck is much better than staying inside the boat. I saw seagulls flying surrounding the boat, dolphins chasing on the back of the boat…*alright, the dolphin part is not true :P The weather is just nice, not too hot and not raining. There are also a lot of foreigners going to Langkawi.

The three hours is like never end, I felt a bit dizzy after two and a half hours sitting on the deck. But I know it will be worse if I stay inside the cabin. Langkawi as far as I know (reading from geography books) is a non-duty division, back in my home town there’s a Island called “Labuan” is a two hours boat ride to there, and is a non-duty division as well. So when I reach Langkawi, I can buy cheap wine, chocolate, tobacco, and liquor. But nah~I don’t drink and smoke much, I’ll just get myself chocolate.

I reach Langkawi at 11:25am, and we rent two van with RM80 each. The rent car service is just like check-in to a hotel, we “check-in” at 12non, and have to return at 12non the next day, if return it late, then will have to bear some extra charges. Okey! After I get the van, I’ve requested a map from them. And off we go exploring this beautiful Island.

We start our trip by having lunch, vegetarian lunch to be precisely. Most of my friends are vegetable, so this time I’m following them. Then we check-in at a home style hotel, the hotel cost RM60 per room, and it can accommodate four people. Its clean, it have air-condition, hot shower, and a television, we all like it. After checking in, we all drive to the famous cable car park. The “Langkawi Cable Car” is located on the south-west coast of Langkawi, is a 30 minutes drive from Kuah Town. This is the first time I ever ride in a cable car, it cost RM25 for Malaysian. Is a 2.2KM from the base until the top station. The cable car has a spectacular view, it take us all the way to the top of Mount Mat Cincang. From the peck, is 710 meter above sea level, but I’m curious on why is not as cold as is like at Genting Highland. I only felt cold when there is breeze blowing. From the peak, I saw the view of the whole island group, the Datai Peninsula, and the Andaman Sea. Is an unforgettable ride, and the fun part is one of my friend is afraid of height, and we all get to tease him on his phobia on height.

After that, we’ve visited the Laman Padi Museum, this is a rice paddy museum which display the artifacts, charts and photographs of the padi cultivation in the country. Then we’ve visited the “Underwater World”, the famous legendary prices Mahsuri monastery. This memorial is erected in honor of Mahsuri, she is a fair maiden who was unjustly accused of adultery. According to legend, she bled white blood at her execution as a sign of her innocence. And in her dying breath, she laid a curse on the island that it would remain barren for seven generations. So fast forward to present day, the seven generations have passed, and Langkawi today is a flourishing tourist destination!!! We went back to the hotel, and call it a day. I’m tired of driving, reading maps, and hot. I think I might get sick…for dinner, we went to the same place for vegetarian dinner, and for supper. I drink my friends (non-vegetarian) to a beach area to have sea food supper. We all enjoyed the supper, and it was delicious :)

The next morning, we went to the Kuah Town, this is the island main town. Why “Kuah” so according to legend again, Kuah in Malay means “Gravy” and long time ago there are two giants battling, and who overturned a gigantic pot of curry at the spot where the town now stands, and that’s why they name it Kuah. Eagle Square of Dataran Lang is a must visit place when at Langkawi, there lie a huge Eagle statue, it’s a giant brown eagle majestically poised for flight. And is like the signature of Langkawi Island, this is the most prominent landmark for visitor. I took a lot of photos with the giant eagle, this place is a beautiful place, and it also has a scenic ponds, bridges, covered terraces, restaurants and barrel vaults made of bricks.

Well, good time fly. We “check-out” the van at 12non, and went to the nearby shopping center to buy chocolate, and some souvenir. This time, my friend prepares medicine for sea sick, I ate two with an empty stomach, and I can feel the medicine strength after 30 minutes. Immediately I board the ship, and sleep all the way back to Penang. This is an unforgettable trip, but we only manage to explorer 40% of the island. Next time we need to stay longer to explorer more. Enjoy the photos my dear readers :)

My visitation to Penang Kek Lok Si Temple

Situated strategically on a sprawling hill, Kek Lok Si is knows as the jewel in the crown of heritage temples in Malaysia,


and had been identified as one of the largest and finest temple complexes in South-each Asia.


The scenic view of the hill outside the temple complements the temple’s exquisitely designed rooflines and exotic pillars,


further enhancing the picturesque facade of the Kek Lok Si Buddhist Monastery.


The millions of magnificent images of Buddha and the hundreds of beautiful meaningful carvings,


sculptures and murals in the interior and exterior of the temple halls,


pagodas and archways are heritage treasures of Buddhist civilization.


The temple complex also features many magnificent buildings and interesting sites that have historic value.


The buildings have been constructed along intricate architectural lines;


Some resemble famous Buddhist temples in China,


Whilst others are unique in themselves, reflecting the Kek Lok Si’s own style of creative innovation.


The history of Kek Lok Si can be traced to the late nineteenth century.


It began with the arrival of a priest, Venerable Beow Lean in Penang in 1885,


Who came to Penang with the aim of obtaining donations for the renovation of a monastery in Ku-San, Foochow, China.


Instead, the trustees of the Kuan Yin Teng temple in Pitt Street,


the oldest temple in Penang, decided to appoint him as the new resident priest of the temple.


Venerable Beow Lean accepted the post as he was struck by the deep devotion of the Penang Chinese to Buddhism.


Later, he discovered that a sprawling hill,


in Air Item village, outside of George Town, had the right feng-sui to build a Buddhist monastery.


Naming the hill Kuock-San (Crane Hill) because it resembled a crane spreading its wings, Venerable Beow Lean decided to build a temple,


to be known as “Huock San Kek Lok Jan Si”, which would act as a retreat center for Buddhists.


With the blessing of his superiors and support of some generous contributors,


the Kek Lok Si Temple began to take shape.


The earliest building completed was the Hall of Bodhhisattvas in 1891;


follow by the Hall of Devas in 1895, the Hall of Devawira in 1896, the Tower of Sacred Books in 1899.


In 1904, when the first phase of temple complex was completed,


Venerable Beow Lean returned to China and paid homage to the Ching Emperor, Kuang Xi.


who later presented him with a set of Buddhist sutras,


the emperor’s hand written scripts and several other relics.


The well-known Empress Cixi, of the Ching Dynasty,


also wrote and presented hand-written scripts to the temple.


Until today, all these heritage relics are still kept in the temple;


the royal scripts were converted into plaques.


And the writings were displayed at the Hall of Devawira and the archway of the Pagoda of A Million Buddhas.


Now Venerable Jit Heng was the first Malaysian officially appointed as the head priest of Kek Lok Si over the past two decades.


His contribution is evident in the completion of the Majestic Statue of Kuan Yin,


the Guan Tong Grand Hall and other new developments in Kek Lok Si.


In its more than one hundred years of existence, Kek Lok Si has had may supporters, donors, and contributors.


Kek Lok Si is known not only for the beauty of its historic buildings,


which attract thousands of tourists every year,


but also for being a center for Chinese culture and Buddhist teaching.


The dissemination of Buddhism through organized events


and special occasions had benefited many devotees and followers of the Buddhist way of life.


The journey of insightful discovery expounded in here Digital Memory. Enjoy my photos my dear readers :)