Bald Headed Myna at KLCC Park

Pool with 2 Dolphins and a Whale.

KLCC Park is a beautiful landscaped garden designed by the reknown Brazilian landscape designer, the late Mr Roberto Burle Marx (1909-1994). It is reputed to be his last masterpiece. When he designed the park, his intention was to "leave the world a little more sensitive and a little more educated to the importance of nature".




I visited the KLCC Park for the first time recently and boy, was I impressed!

Here, you can find rolling green fields and lush tropical rainforests trees, evergreen plants and flowering shrubs which are indigenous to Malaysia. The construction and planning of this park took into consideration conservation, biodiversity and environmental factors. For example, some of the rare and mature trees from the former Selangor Turf Club had been saved and transplanted here. They have also planted many species of palm trees.

It was indeed a pleasant experience walking around this beautiful garden. There are many benches for visitors to sit down, have a rest and relax. I see a family having a picnic lunch together, some teachers bringing young school children to have fun here, couples taking a leisurely stroll, a guy reading a book and a lady sitting on the grass, doing her work/study assignment.

There are quite a number of beautiful little birds here. I saw a yellow bird feeding on some fruits high up in the trees. On the ground were some pigeons and mynas searching for food. Look what I have found here. It is a bald headed myna (Aridotheres tristis). I wonder why it is botak (our local term for baldness).

This phenomenon is happening among cities in other countries too. The bald headed myna has been spotted in Singapore and Durban, South Africa, but I can't seem to find enough research information about it. Why do common mynas get bald and how did they loose their feathers?

Some possible (funny) reasons:
a) It lost its feathers due to fighting. Maybe the feathers was pecked off. These myna/mynahs are known to be territorial birds who are very noisy. They fight for food and mates. They even evade other birds' nests. They have adapted well to city living.

b) Poor diet, nutrition or nutrient deficiency.

c) Some kind of feather diseases or mites.

d) They loose their feathers due to stress of city living, just like us humans.

Why are they bald and what do you think?

Sources of information on history of KLCC Park design:
(a) KLCC Park opened document
(c) Wikipedia online encyclopedia.

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #6. To view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please click here.

This is also my entry for Camera Critters #82. To participate or view other cutie friends, click here.

Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 16 - A Rooftop Panorama

“The reason people find it so hard to be happy is that they always see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less resolved than it will be”

........ Marcel Pagnol (French writer,producer, film director, 1895-1974)

This is the panorama view of the Bandar Utama township from The Secret Garden of 1-Utama. The Secret Garden is located at the rooftop of 1-Utama Shopping Complex, Petaling Jaya.

For more Sky Watch pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site. Skywatch was created by Dot and put in motion by Tom, who made it a huge success. Now it is hosted by Klaus with the help of Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Slyvia.

Think(ing) Green Thursday # 21 - Greening Up Halloween

Sometimes, when we order for takeaway food, we will be given disposal containers such as these paper cups. Instead of throwing them to the trash, we can recycle these items. One good use I can think of is to reuse these paper cups in gardening as containers for germinating seeds. Therefore, I will buy less plastic containers and bags.

I wonder how or where does the fast food restaurants dispose off the tons of disposable wastes generated everyday? In Malaysia, almost all the cuttlery and packaging used are disposables. A standard order for a family of 4 will typically have 4 sets of cups, straws/stirrers, spoons whether they are dinning in or having takeaway. We spend only 10 minutes to eat and thereafter the containers end up in the trash bin. If sales are good, rubbish generated will be a lot too. I wonder how many people will recycle all these trash.

The theme for Think Green Thursday this week is 'Greening Up Halloween". If we are having Halloween parties this season, we can think green by using reusable containers like porcelain or glass cuttlery and cups.

This is my entry for Think Green Thursday #21. My grateful thanks to Rambling Woods for making this possible. To view what others around the world have to say or to participate, visit here.

ABC Wednesday - O is for Orchids

ABC Wednesday Round 5

O ........

is for Orchid

Ooooooh, what a beautiful vanda orchid. It has peach, red and some orange hues. This picture was taken at the Secret Garden of One-Utama.

This is my entry for ABC Wednesday Round 5, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt. For more information and photos, please log on to this site.

This is a miniture water fountain with mist maker and rolling ball feature.

This is my entry for Watery Wednesday #59. To see what others have posted or to participate, click here.

Petaling Street and Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown

Petaling Street is located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown. Like many Chinatowns around the world, the gateway is denoted by this entrance archway with elaborate chinese designs and architecture. We call this the Paifang in mandarin or Pailau in cantonese.

The giant signboard here is written in 3 different languages:
a) Jalan Petaling (Malay)
b) 茨廠街 - pinyin (茨厂街) i.e. Cíchang Jiē in mandarin
c) Petaling street (English)

What puzzles me are the Chinese characters written on the signboard - 茨廠街 because 茨 is used in 茨菰 (ci gu as in arrowhead vegetable - Sagittaria sagittfolia). Taipioca is "mu shu" -木薯 but the "shu" character is  different. Please pardon me as I can't read Chinese characters.

Petaling Street is named as such because the road leads to the then Petaling tin-mining area.

 Petaling Street is "Shu Cheong Kai" or Chee Cheong Kai" in Cantonese, meaning "Tapioca Factory Street". Yap Ah Loy who was the third "Kapitan China" (Chinese Capitan) owned numerous tapioca mills around the street.

Some people also call this "Chee Cheong Kai" as in "Chee Cheong Fun", a kind of rice noodles named after the pig intestine that it resembles! This mystery is still puzzling me.

Petaling Street is a popular tourist destination and it is known to them as 'Kuala Lumpur Chinatown'. Locals also come here to visit, dine and shop. Some do their marketing here. Pre-war shops and modern highrise buildings stand side by side in this melting pot of cultures where East meets West.

This is the covered pedestrian walkway which brings relief from the sun and rain for many visitors. During the day, it is a hive of activity with many vendors, young and old peddling their wares. By late evening it will be closed for traffic as the night market stalls and bazaars take over. The night market here is a daily affair. Malaysians call this type of night market a 'pasar malam'. There will be a din of excitement and noise throughout the day and night as cutomers and vendors haggle over prices and stuff.

The lingua franca here is global - English, Manglish (Malaysianised English), Cantonese, Malay, Mandarin, Bahasa Indonesia, Myanmar, Tagalog, Tamil, etc, etc. but no Greek, I guess.

Some of the street and hawker food served here include

1. steamed dumplings
2. raw snakehead fish porridge and minced meat with century egg porridge (Hon Kee Porridge)
3. chee cheong fan ( rice sheet rolls) with tasty chilli sauce, homemade gravy, sesame seeds and pickled green chillies
4. fried pastries such as curry puffs, fried sweet potato balls and chinese crullers 'You Tiao' or 'Yau Char Kwai'
5. sweet meat, barbecued meat, meat floss (e.g. Wo Lai Yeh dried meat)
6. roasted duck and "ngap keok pau" (duck leg wrap) by Sei Ngan Chai (Spectacled Guy or 4-Eyed Boy - you choose the name)
7. wantan noodles
8. shreded chicken meat with hor fun noodles (kai see hor fun) 
9. cool refreshing longan, soya bean, cincau and sea coconut drinks
10. roasted chestnuts 
11. Chinese styled crispy pancakes or Tai Kow Min
12. Hokkien/Cantonese/Singapore style noodles and a variety of stir fry dishes served with beer or soft drinks in open air restaurants.

There are many more mouth-watering sweets, deserts, confectioneries and foodstuffs that you can find out when your visit Petaling Street. If you wish for western, vegetarian, muslim, mamak, indian or fusion food, no problem. You can find them all here. Some of the outlets and restaurants open until late at night.  After all, Kuala Lumpur is a city that never sleeps, 24/7.

Does a Food Discovery Trip look good? I'm sure the Globe Trekkers and Lonely Planet have already beaten me to it.

Can you see Hong Leong Bank along this road? This is Jalan Hang Lekir. Opposite the bank is the Hon Kee Porridge stall. The Chee Cheong Fun stall is just around the corner here. Here is where you can find most of the food mentioned above. This is truly a foodie's paradise.

This is the entrance to another hawker centre and more eateries. It is located in Off Petaling Street. Penjaja Gallery Jalan Sultan is also called known as Madras Lane Hawker Centre. There used to be the Madras Cinema but it was burnt down in 1979. Now a carpark occupies the place. I am taking this picture from the car park area. Here you can find delicious asam laksa, curry noodles, famous old Madras Lane Yong Tau Foo (stuffed tofu), chee cheong fun, shreded chicken meat with hor fun noodles (kai see hor fun), etc., etc. Many of the stalls are family owned and had been operating there for decades. E.g. the Yong Tau Foo stall has been there at the same spot for over 50 years! Here you can find old shops, old buildings and even record shops playing music of yesteryears. Further in leads to the wet market that sells groceries, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, meat and other farm produce.

Petaling Street is also a shopping haven. The place here is like a flea market or bazaar where you can buy all sorts of things.

An incomplete list reads as follows:

1) jewellery - real, faked, costume jewellery, accessories and bling-bling

2) handicraft such as lanterns, calligraphy, wooden screens, wood and metal carvings

3) fengshui items such as mythical dragons and phoenixes, zodiac animals, pottery etc

4) watches, sunglases, souvenirs, gift items, antiques, paintings, textiles

5) chinese medical practitioners and pharmacies, even traditional street barbers

6) precious and semi precious stones

7) clothes that include evening gowns and suits made to measure, dresses, sarongs, cheongsams, jeans, T-shirts and lingerie

8) traditional chinese style wedding accessories complete with lamps, spittoon and tea-sets

Some goods are 'Made in Malaysia', but many are imported from China, India, Thailand and Indonesia.

Well, if you are a champion bargainer or bargain hunter, you may be able to get some good buys at dirt-cheap prices. Otherwise, you have another option, i.e. shop at our fully air-conditioned mega shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur like KLCC, Pavillion, Berjaya Times Square, Sungei Wang Plaza, Lot 10 and Mid-Valley Megamall.

This is flower street along Jalan Hang Lekir where you can find many florists. They sell cut flowers, bouquets and floral arrangement for all sorts of special occasions.

Some hotels in Chinatown are:

1) Replica Inn Chinatown - Petaling Street
2) Hotel Chinatown 2 - Petaling Street
3) Hotel Chinatown Inn - Petaling Street

4) D'Oriental Inn Chinatown KL - Petaling Street

5) Hotel Swiss Inn Kuala Lumpur - Jalan Sultan

6) Mandarin Pacific Hotel - Jalan Sultan
7) Hotel Malaya - Jalan Hang Lekir

The building in the picture above is Hotel Malaya at Jalan Hang Lekir.

This is the 121 year old Guan Di Temple located in Jalan Tun H.S. Lee in Chinatown.

The famous Hindu temple, the Sri Mahamariamman Temple is also located along Jalan Tun H.S. Lee. Many devotees and tourists vist this temple on a regular basis. It is undergoing some renovation works, therefore I am unable to take any pictures at the moment. To find out more, you may visit this link. Here I have a photo of some flower garlands at a florist stall near the temple. There are many such stores here. These garlands are painstakingly hand strung with chrysanthemums, jasmines, roses and orchids.

Chinatown Kuala Lumpur is a colourful place with character, charm and spirit. There are many activities, entertainment and excitement for visitors. People from all walks of life and nationality come here to visit. It is definitely a great place for photography enthusiasts looking for inspiration. If this is not enough, Masjid Jamek and Central Market is just within walking distance away. For transportation, there are the taxis, buses at Klang Bus Stand, and trains at the Pasar Seni LRT station and Maharajalela Monorail station.

Chinatown is ever-changing. What we have today may disappear tomorrow and replaced with new experiences. Therefore, my word of advice to tourists and newcomers who wish to visit here is to travel smart and do your homework. Check the travel sites/forums/blogs and all information you can get before you start your journey of discovery.

Chinatown Kuala Lumpur is made up of 7 streets namely:

1. Jalan Petaling
2. Jalan Sultan
3. Jalan Tun H.S. Lee
4. Jalan Hang Lekiu
5. Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock
6. Jalan Hang Jebat 
7. Jalan Panggung. 

The nearest LRT station is the Central Market Putera LRT Station - about 10 min walking distance.
If you take KTM, you need to get down at the Kuala Lumpur station - about 15 min walking distance
GPS Coordinates are 3° 8′ 37″N, E101° 41′ 52″E.

To those who are coming to visit Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, I wish you a warm

WELCOME and SELAMAT DATANG!

This is my entry for My World Tuesday Season 2 Episode 2, a meme, strictly non-profit, where we have fun by showing you our world. My special thanks to the MyWorld team: Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia. See how others view their world or to participate, click here.

A Calligraphy Painting at Perak Cave Temple

This is an artist's work of chinese calligraphy painted on the limestone wall of a natural vertical rainforest. It reads "Buddha".

Can you see a little bench on the ground and the concrete stand in front of the painting? To see this real piece of art, you need to climb a total of about 400 steps, the journey starts from inside the Perak Cave Temple, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia.

There is an art gallery at Perak Cave Temple, showcasing chinese calligraphy, poetry, art and culture with Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist influences.

To see more of these paintings, you may visit here.


This is my entry for Monochrome Maniacs. My grateful thanks to Aileni for hosting this wonderful site. For other MM posts around the world, please click here.

A Scenic Sunday at Perak Cave Temple (霹雳洞)

This is another view of the scenic garden featuring Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy at Perak Cave Temple (Chinese: 霹雳洞). To see the full front view of Guan Yin, please click here.

Graceful willows inspire the mind.

A gentle sway and it whispers, what a great place to unwind.

Some beautiful bonsais,

A stone inscription that makes me sigh.

Some pebbles, rocks and boulders, a goddess so devine.

The garden is complete with the summer pavilion just behind.

This doggie dear is my model for the day. He just laid there, willingly posing for me. I think he is a natural. He is wearing a doggie badge around his neck with a message that the owner has a dog licence to keep him. Strays are rounded up and caught by the authorities on a regular basis. I guess this temple is animal friendly.

Monkeys roam freely and have fun here too. Look! I have another willing model. Actually, she looked at me, than turn a little, and stayed still for a moment while I took her picture, with flash and all. What a beautiful pose.

Bougainvilleas are found everywhere in Ipoh. This one is blooming profusely now. After all, Ipoh is also named Bougainvillea City.


This is my entry for the following fun and wonderful weekly memes:

To view other Scenic Sunday #67 pictures around the world, click here.

To view other Camera Critters #81 cutie friends, click here.

To view other Today's Flowers #63 floral displays around the world, click here.

Guan Yin The Goddess of Mercy

This is the statue of Guan Yin standing in the middle of a pond in front of the Perak Cave Temple, Ipoh.

The name Guanyin is short for Guanshi'yin (觀世音), pinyin: guānshì yīn which means 'observing the sounds or cries of the world'. She is Guan Yin to chinese taoists, Bodhisatva Guanyin to buddhists, Kannon to the Japanese and Gwan-eum to the Koreans. We pray to her, asking for her help and blessings for all aspects of our life as we belief that she has immense power and compassion. I guess you can say that she is equivalent to the christian's faith in Mother Mary.

To buddhists, she is the Bodhisatva of Infinite Compassion.

Here, Guan Yin is depicted in a white flowing robe, standing on a lotus flower and wearing a necklace of indian/chinese royalty status. Her left hand is holding a vase of holy water. Sometimes you can see her holding a willow branch on the other hand. There is always an image of the Amitabha Buddha adorning her crown. Behind this statue, there is a pavilion and bridge with a meandering pathway where one can take a stroll across the pond.

Perak Cave Temple is located at a limestone hill enclave along the karst topography landscape of Kinta Valley. Its address is as follows:

4th Mile, Kuala Kangsar Road

30010 Ipoh

Perak

Malaysia

Tel: 05-546 5387

Fax: 05-545 1451

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections #5. To view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please click here.

Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 15 - Sunset From My Window

This sunset picture is taken from my desk window, the place where I get the inspiration to write my daily blog postings.

Do not dwell in the past,

do not dream of the future,

concentrate the mind on the present moment.

........ Buddha

For more Sky Watch pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site. Skywatch was created by Dot and put in motion by Tom, who made it a huge success. Now it is hosted by Klaus with the help of Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Slyvia.

A Russian Navy Ship Visits Port Klang

Today, I have received an email from Blotcatalog.com, a directory listing of which I am a member of.

A message came from Mr Andrei as follows:

Dear Autumn Belle,

Russian TV channel Zvezda sends you our best regards. A Russian Navy ship "Admiral Tributs" is supposed to enter the port of Klang today. Could you comment on that via a web camera for us please? It is not that often that Russian Navy ships harbour in Malaysia.

Faithfully yours,
Andrei Rabotnov, Zvezda News producer
tel. +7 916 842 67 96
posted on October 21st, 2009.

Mr Andrei, thank you very much for the excellent reviews about my blog at blogcatalog.com. I appreciate it very much. I am very sorry I do not have a web cam. Since you do not have a reply email link, I'm really not sure what to do next and I have pondered over this message for a long time, wondering what to do. If you wish me to publish the news about the visit, I am now posting it on my blog. I hope this helps.


After doing a search on the internet, I found the following is an article published today by Rianovosti, an online news channel:

02:16 22/10/2009
MOSCOW, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - A Russian Pacific Fleet task force that has been on anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden is to pay an official visit to the port of Klang in Malaysia, a spokesman for the Russian Navy said.

The task force — comprising the Admiral Tributs destroyer with two helicopters, a salvage tug, a tanker, and a naval infantry unit — has been escorting commercial ships, conducting aerial reconnaissance, and searching for suspected pirate vessels.

He said that a number of meetings were planned during the visit, including with commanders of the Malaysian Navy and the Russian Embassy staff.

Russia joined international anti-piracy efforts off Somali coast in October 2008.

Three Russian warships have so far participated in the mission — the Baltic Fleet's Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate, and the Pacific Fleet's Admiral Vinogradov and Admiral Panteleyev destroyers.

The Pacific Fleet's warships have escorted over 100 Russian and foreign commercial ships and prevented several pirate attacks since January 2009.

To the Admiral and all crew members of this fleet, here's my message to you ...

WELCOME TO MALAYSIA !

MAY YOU HAVE A MEMORABLE VISIT HERE,

GOOD LUCK & SMOOTH SAILING ALWAYS!

Best wishes and regards,

from Autumn Belle

Think(ing) Green Thursday # 20 - E-Waste

This is a recycle bin for the collection of handphone batteries placed in front of a retail outlet, near to the cinema area at the AEON Shopping Complex in Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang. The word RECYCLE at the top of the bin has been written in 4 different languages, Malay, English, Chinese and Tamil.

What is E-Waste?

According to the Department of Environment, Malaysia, E-Waste is defined as waste from the assembly of electrical or electronic appliances that consist of components such as accumulators, mercury-switches, glass from cathode-ray tubes and other activated glass or polychlorinated biphenyl-capacitors, or contaminated with cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, chromium, copper, lithium, silver, manganese or polychlorinated biphenyl.

E-Waste also represent component of waste from the following appliances than can no longer be used:
Television, Radio, Air-Condition
Computer
Printer
Photostat Machine
Facsimile Machine
Washing Machine
Telephone
Video Camera Record/Recording (VCR)
Stereo/Audio Device
Electronic Game Device
Pendaflour light
Oven/Microwave
Refrigerator
Digital Clock

The signage on the bin here tells us that handphone batteries contains the following:

a) Lithium-ion (Li-ion)

b) Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd)

c) Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)

d) Lead (Pb)

The message further tells us that:
Incomplete disposal will affect health and pollute the environment. If we preserve the environment, good health is guaranteed.

This bin belongs to Majlis Perbandaran Klang or our local Klang City Municipal Council.

Besides the handphone batteries, the public has also deposited other items such as used ordinary dry cell batteries, camera batteries, compact discs and diskettes.

I think this is a good way to encourage people to recycle used electronic items in a proper manner. Otherwise we will dump them into the trash bins and later it will be sent to a landfill.

I also wish that big corporate giants will take the initiative to produce quality products that can last a long time. I personally think that this is a good example of social responsibility. As we know, currently, electrical and electronic goods do not last long. This will result in a lot of rubbish which may be toxic too. Not everyone will take the trouble to bring e-waste to recycle bins. Our rubbish collecters are not trained and do not separate such wastes, neither do many of us know how to. Our landfills are limited and it will be fully utilised soon.

Where else can we dump these wastes?

Do you know where does the e-waste go to?

Are you practicing recycling in your daily lives?

This is my entry for Think Green Thursday #20. My grateful thanks to Rambling Woods for making this possible. To view what others around the world have to say or to participate, visit here.

Nerium Oleander Plant

ABC Wednesday Round 5

N ........

is for Nerium Oleander.

The Nerium Oleander is native to northern Africa, eastern Mediterranean and South East Asia. Its common name is oleander. You can grow this evergreen into a nice looking shrub, hedge, small tree or in containers. The leaves are leathery, long and narrow while the flowers are poisonous are are not to be ingested. The plant contains numerous toxic compounds which are present in all parts of the plants and concentrated on the sap.

This is my entry for ABC Wednesday Round 5, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt. For more information and photos, please log on to this site.

A water feature in front of The Legend Water Chalets Resort, Port Dickson.

This is my entry for Watery Wednesday #58. To see what others have posted or to participate, click here.

Fo Guang San FGS Dong Zen Temple

The main gate

The Dong Zen Buddhist Monastery and Institution ( 馬來西亞佛光山 东禅寺) is located in the town of Jenjarom, Selangor, Malaysia. Jenjarom is about 100km west of Kuala Lumpur or an hours' drive by car.

The statue of Bodhisattva Guan Yin (Goddess of Mercy)

It was founded in 1994 and since its opening, hundreds of thousands visitors from local and abroad have visited this temple. It has also brought thousands of tourists to this sleepy town. It is not surprising that during the first 15 days of every Chinese New Year, many thousands of people will visit this place and the town will be congested with traffic jams as there are lots of activities planned for the festive season.

When you enter the driveway into this temple, you will not miss the statue of the Goddess of Mercy (Guan Yin) at the park in front of the entrance to this temple.

The monumental archway

Dong Zen was set up by the Fo Guang Shan (FGS) Buddhist Monastic Order. Its headquarters is in Kaoshiung, Taiwan. I think Fo Guang Shan (佛光山) means Mountain of Enlightenment while Dong Shan Si (东禅寺) means Eastern Zen Monastery. It houses a Buddhist college where students between ages of 18-35, can learn the fundamentals of the Dharma for a year and thereafter they can opt to further their studies in Taiwan or Hong Kong. Seminars and retreats are also held here.

The main shrine houses a 5.4m (18ft) statue of Buddha sculptured in bronze. There are also copper tooling works of art depicting Buddha's life on the walls.

Some of the activities held for the general public include the following:

a) Chinese New Year Lantern and Floral Festival - beautiful floral displays during the day and lighting fantasy at night.

b) Book Fair

c) Exhibitions on Buddhism articles, organic and vegetarian products

d) Contests on photography, drawing, calligraphy and outdoor sketching

This is the lapis lazuli transparent tower where one can pay homage to the Medicine Buddha.

The structures that make up this temple include the following:

a) Main Gate

b) Bodhisattva Guan Yin statue

c) Monumental Archway

d) Main Shrine

e) Stone sculptures of the 18 Arhats (saints or sages who had attained enlightenment)

f) Lumbini Garden with water lily pond, orchid plot and a landscaped koi pond with miniature waterfalls

g) Tower of The Medicine Buddha

h) 2 teahouses

i) Art Gallery

j) Office and library

This temple practices the 'Think Green Concept' and cares for the environment. Can you see the row of recycle bins arranged neatly here.

You can come here during the day for prayers or meditation. Perhaps if you like to keep fit, you can come here to do some tai-chi or jog around the tranquil and picturesque garden. While it is very very crowded during the Chinese New Year season, the atmosphere is more relaxed during the off season.

For more photos from my posts about this temple please click here.

FGS Dong Zen Temple Malaysia
Fo Guang Shan Malaysia ( 馬來西亞佛光山)
PT 2297, Jalan Sg Buaya
42600 Jenjarom, Selangor
Tel: +603-3191 1533
Opening hours: 9:30am - 6pm (Tue - Sun)
Close on Mondays.
Note: please contact them before going as they may be closed during certain busy periods.

For further information you may visit them at the following:

a) Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fgsmy

b) Website: http://www.fgs.org.my/

Updated: 5 Nov 2012: The temple will be closed to the public from 20-24 Nov 2012 as they are preparing for a big event, "Buddhist Cultural and Dharma Blessing Function" held at Stadium Shah Alam Selangor on 24 Nov 2012, from 7pm onwards. The founder, Master Hsing Yun will be coming to MALAYSIA.

Highlights:
Speech by Master Hsing Yun, Performances, Candle light blessing, Triple gem refuge and five precepts ceremony, and meeting with Master Hsing Yun
Contact: 03 - 3191 1533 / 03 - 7877 6533 (Fo Guang Shan Temple) or +6010 - 250 6921 (Pin Wen) 

Little Monk at Dong Zen Temple, Jenjarom

He is holding something with one hand held high.

I wonder what he is doing now.

This is my entry for Monochrome Maniacs. My grateful thanks to Aileni for hosting this wonderful site. For other MM posts around the world, please click here.

Little Buddha in Lumbini Garden of Dong Zen

This is the entrance to the Lumbini Garden of Dong Zen Temple, Jenjarom. This garden is a replica of the park where Prince Siddharta (Gautama Buddha) was born.

This is a statue of Little Buddha underneath a trellis arbor of japanese honeysuckle (lonicera japonica) vine featured in my previous Sunday post. Here, he is standing on a lotus flower.

During Buddha's time, Lumbini was a beaudiful garden park at the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains, 25km away from Kapilavastu city, Nepal. As we know, Gautama Buddha (563-483 BCE) was the founder of Buddhism.

Statues of Buddha or Little Buddha such as the one pictured above are considered sacred and should be treated with utmost respect. Here, it is placed on a stone pedestal, higher from the ground. Devotees come here to pay homage and pray.

Hopefully, these statues or stone structures are not found in posh toilets, backyards or other disrespectful places. Do you agree with me?

Botanical name: Jatropha integerrima
Common name: Spicy Jatropha, Coral Plant, Peregrina, Physic Nut

Country of Origin: Cuba

The manicured shrub with red flowers in the picture above is a jatropha plant. As you can see, the flowers are very beautiful with striking red petals and bright yellow stamens. Behind this jatropha plant is a graceful willow tree and the arbor that houses the Little Buddha.

This is my entry for the following:
To view other Scenic Sunday #66 posts around the world, click here.
To view other Today's Flowers #62 posts around the world, click here.

Weekend Reflections - Water Lily Pond at Orchid Garden

“There are three methods to gaining wisdom.

The first is reflection, which is the noblest.

The second is limitation, which is the easiest.

The third is experience, which is the bitterest.”

........ Confucius

Can you see the trees and the sunny sky reflected on the water?

This is my entry for Weekend Reflections. To view what others have posted for Weekend Reflections, please click here.

This is also my entry for Watery Wednesday #58. To see what others have posted or to participate, click here.

Skywatch Friday Season 4 Episode 14 - Sunrise on Wedding Day

This picture was taken in Ipoh on the 15th day of the lunar 8th month in the chinese calendar. It was still early in the morning, just as the sun was rising in the horizon. It was the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival and it was also an auspicious day for a traditional Chinese wedding. An auspicious hour had been selected for the prayers and tea ceremony. The groom is in the decorated white car in front while his friends are following closely behind in a convoy. All of them are heading to the bride's house to 'get the bride' and bring her to the grooms home for the official wedding ceremony to be conducted. When this group of bachelors reach the bride's home, they have to go through a series of jokes, pranks and negotiations by lady bachelors (the bride's girlfriends) before they can even enter the house. By the time they are able to leave the bride's home, they would either be sweating, made fools of or have laughed their hearts out.

Ipoh city is located in the Kinta Valley sandwiched between the Titiwangsa Main Range and Kledang mountain ranges. It is common to see beautiful blue mountains here enveloped with white wisps of morning mists which makes it look like snow capped. The air here is fresh and cooling. Can you see a bird (like a dot) flying high up in the skies?

Do you like this view of the skyline here? Does it remind you of a wedding ceremony you have attended before?

For more Sky Watch pictures and to participate, please visit the Skywatch site. Skywatch was created by Dot and put in motion by Tom, who made it a huge success. Now it is hosted by Klaus with the help of Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Slyvia.

Think Green - Help Save Our Turtles!

This signboard is erected on The Glory Beach Resort, Port Dickson. It says:

" Love our Environment & Turtles.

This beach is traditionally their habitat.

Egg laying seasin is between Feb - Jun when it is dark and quiet after 11pm.

Save the turtles!!"

On September 28th, 2009, the following was reported by New Straits Times online newspaper:

Two of the four turtle species in Malaysia face possible extinction. Experts also predict that all four species; Leatherback, Olive Ridley, Green and Hawksbill turtles will disappear in a few more years if the local trade in and consumption of turtle eggs are not banned. For further details, read here.


Help us save our turtles. Learn more about how you can help and/or pledge your support by clicking on the logo below. I have already pledged mine.

This is my entry for Think Green Thursday #19. My grateful thanks to Rambling Woods for making this possible. To view what others around the world have to say or to participate, visit here.

Masjid India Klang

ABC Wednesday Round 5

M is for ........ the Magnificient Indian Muslim Mosque or Masjid India at Little India, Klang.

Look at the beautiful domes and minarets. It was a magical moment standing here photographing this majestic building, an architectural masterpiece. The view is truly mesmerizing.

Today's post is an entry in ABC Wednesday Round 5, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.
For more information and photos, please log on to this site.

Water Lily Pond at Dong Zen Temple

There is a beautiful yellow water lily pond at Dong Zen Temple, Jenjarom.

This is also my entry for Watery Wednesday #57. To see what others have posted or to participate, click here.

Deepavali Shopping at Little India, Klang

On Saturday, October 17th, 2009 this year, Hindus around the world will celebrate Deepavali or Diwali. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.


This pictures shows a 'kolam' in the shape of a pair of peacocks at the entrance of the 1-Utama Shopping Complex. It is part of the decoration wishing customers a Happy Deepavali. Kolams are a form of paintings with curved loops, grid lines and beautiful pictures drawn using coloured rice grains or rice powder. You can also find kolams drawn at the entrances of homes. It is said to bring prosperity.

In Klang, the most busy street during this season is Jalan Tengku Kelana, nicknamed The Little India of Klang city. There are quite a number of restaurants here serving authentic Indian and Indian Muslim food. Other shops include goldsmith, blacksmith, groceries, fruits and vegetables, electrical, DVD, textiles, furniture and incense.

Many stores are having festive promotions now, selling a wide variety of foodstuff, clothes, accessories, trendy costume as well as real jewellery, colourful lamps, Persian carpets and home decorative items. Some goods are imported from countries like India, Mexico and Bali, Indonesia. Many shoppers of all races come here to join in the carnival atmosphere and look for bargains.

Look at the lovely, glittering gowns here with intricate sequins and designs. There are also sarees and punjabi suits. This is the place to go if you are looking for some glamour dresses, gowns or beautiful sarees for your coming festive or wedding dinner reception. Fashion here follow the latest Bollywood blockbuster movies and Hindi/Tamil TV serials.

This stall sells plastic flowers, garlands and decorative lights. You can even find the traditional areca nuts and betel leaves or 'pinang and sireh' packs sold here along the five foot ways. Other items include the hand strung jasmine flower garlands. Come here to see how these are made.

This street with the "Welcome to Little India" signage has many many stalls selling cookies, biscuits and food items. My favourite are kacang puteh (a variety of baked or fried nuts), muruku and vadai.

Here is another section of the Deepavali bazaar. The signage says "Happy Deepavali" to all customers. This department stall has a giant Bollywood style signboard.

This is the Flower Street of Little India. These ladies are patiently stringing flower garlands made of jasmine, orchids and chrysanthemum flowers. Cut flowers like roses, lotuses, orchids and chrysanthemums are also available. The air here is scented with the sweet exotic fragranes of all these flowers.

Finally, you can see this type of bazaar at many shopping complexes in the towns and cities here.

This one is at the 1-Utama Shopping Centre .

I would like to wish everyone celebrationg this festival,

A VERY HAPPY DEEPAVALI !

This is my entry for My World Tuesday Season 2 Episode 1, a meme, strictly non-profit, where we have fun by showing you our world. My special thanks to the MyWorld team: Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia. See how others view their world or to participate, click here.