Malaysia - Petang - Georgetown

Well everyone has heard of Malaysia, but mot people don't know too much about it...It is one of the most multicultural, multi-ethnic and multilingual countries in Asia. It has  its main influences from India, China, Persia, Arabia and Britain, as well as the indigenous people, the Malays. They all have their own unique and distinctive cultural identities and some cross over.

The main religions here are Islam and Buddhism, along with some of the people being Hindu. Apparently after the Brits moved in, Christianity also became quite big here. So as you can imagine, there are loads of temples, mosques, churches etc....

And as you know, Buddhism is where my interests are so we went to see some of the most exquisite temples in South East Asia. 

Some background on Georgetown, it is a Unesco World Heritage City, filled with Art and Culture and national buildings and all sorts...It is on Penang Island which is also known for its incredible beaches...i'll post about that another time....

Anyway, we missioned around George Town by public buses and what an absolute pleasure it was. So cheap and so efficient. We managed to see everything we wanted to, by bus route. At first it took a little while so we ended up at this temple instead of the major one we intended! However, it was still pretty awesome. This is a Thai Style Buddhist Temple. 

This is Vishnu, the Hindu God. The one with the 4 arms.  

Georgetown is the heart of the backpacker trail in Malaysia. It consists of refurbished Chinese mansions, shopping malls, pubs, boutiques, design studios and cafe's that wouldn't be out of place in a Western city center.

We are staying in central part of Georgetown. Between China Town and Little India. So as you can imagine we are surrounded by noodles and rice and lots of curry...and delicious samoosas. 

Dragon...

  

Now this is a Naga from Wat Chayamangkalaram. One of the most incredibly bright and sensational things i've ever seen.

  

You can buy lotus shaped candles and light them for Buddha. 

The reclining Buddha...enormously huge!

Gold paintings all the way around the Buddha.

Paintings about Buddha's life are painted all over the walls.

This is the Buddha from the year of the pig.  

We are staying on Lebuh Chulia in Chinatown, and the corner street is Love Lane...so sweet. 

Here is Buddha when he reached enlightenment. 

Close up of Buddha's face... 

The background of the walls are covered in gold Buddha's.

 Looking at the dragons and nagas sideways.

This is the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple.  

More pictures of Buddha along the temple walls.

Beautifully decorated, intricate detail inside the temple. 

Huge barble in the dam / fountain. 

The Legendary Garuda, The Mythical King of the Birds. 

 You can go all the way to the top of the Pagoda.

View from the top.

This Bell Tower only opened last year. 

Look at these 2 below pictures...they are mirror image. 

Only this one is in colour.

 Dragons on the world.

This Buddha is incredible, surrounded by teak wood.

All the different Buddha's from different countries. 

Sideways view of the big Buddha. 

Kek Lok Si Temple. The biggest temple in South East Asia. 

Turtles in the pond as you walk up to the Pagoda.

This entire compound is temple, pagoda, gardens and a beautiful statue. 

Pagoda...so beautiful...apparently, there is a botanical gardens near by with an 8km hike to the top of the hill and its 5 degrees cooler up there. 

Buy a ribbon and hang it on a tree and whatever you ask for will come true.

Here is the tree. 

Going up a lift to the statue.Kek Lok Si Temple, The Temple of Supreme Bliss.

The from the top of the cable car.

The 36.5m high bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. 

The magnitude of the size of this statue...its enormous. 

Squashy face had to put a ribbon on a tree. 

There he is...I hope all his wishes come true.

All your wishes...

Here is me rubbing the Chinese zodiac pig for good luck! 

Look at the detail on the robes...can you believe this is made of bronze?

More Buddha's...

The most amazing engraving on the walls of the temple. 

The pillars inside the temple.

Paintings on the walls of the temple.

Incredible. You get fined 200 Ringgit if you steal flowers.

This symbol is a svasti, meaning good fortune, luck and well being. 

Ringing the bell! Maybe it's good luck... 

The beautiful gardens around the pagoda and temple. 

So beautiful...the premises is massive.

The 10 thousand Buddha's Pagoda. 

More of the gardens.

Looking down... 

On our way out...