How many of you do actually come up here and pray? In Penang is not only famous for food as Kek Lok Si Temple is also one of the main tourist attraction when you visit Penang. One of the reason that you should visit this place as its one of the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia.

Back to the history of how it was build as the construction of the temple began in 1890 and was inspired by the chief monk of the Goddess of Mercy Temple at Pitt Street. With the support of the consular representative of China in Penang, the project received the sanction of the Emperor Guangxu, who bestowed a tablet and gift of 70,000 volumes of the Imperial Edition of the Buddhist Sutras. (source from wikipedia)

As the temple is still growing and expending, as below is the new section of the temple that building the new bronze Guan Yin statue was purely donations from visitors around the world that have visited this place.

Besides the standing tall statue, every year during Chinese New Year, the whole temple is transform to temple of light that every corner and edge is well light up that make it so obvious to be miss if you are driving around as this temple is sitting at mid hill. During CNY, the temple had attracted many tourist from all around the region to flock at this place as it is only light up during 1 week before through 1 week after CNY.

Of course we took the opportunity to come up here as well. As we reach, then we prayed and then make a good wish for year 2012 ad they have a wish tree that you just purchase these ribbon with many types of specific wish you wanted, good health, wealth, career, family and many more then write your  name behind it.

of course there is a saying, the higher you put up, the chances of it to be more smooth for the year will be fufill.

to avoid massive traffic jam coming up and down, its good to be up here before 7pm then leave before 9pm whereby after 8pm is the most people and congested traffic. You can even enjoy to be stuck in the traffic for at least 1 hour before coming up here. Viewing part of the island.

As year of the Dragon, the place is decorated up with a few Dragon decor.

Then thru donations around the world, usually we buy a plank/ piece of the rooftop tiles and write our name and for further construction, they will place this tiles up.

If not you can buy a chunk of coins then put it on every base of this to make it a complete round.

this is the bronze Guan Yin Statue that is still under construction on its final stage which is her roof.

With the statue sitting at the top of the temple, and if you do plan to visit the bottom part of the temple, you can take a ride on this newly constructed rail train which cost RM2 for 1 way and RM2 for return trip.

At 7pm sharp, the whole temple will be light up till 12am.

Went up with the siau poh’s

As night falls, its becoming more light up and nice.

To head to another Pagoda tower, you have to pay RM2 per entry to visit this section then you get to climb to the top floor of the pagoda tower.

Make another wish and ring the bell then put your donations accordingly.

Well, this whole temple city being light up and its only happening once a year which is during Chinese New Year Period. If you happen to be around the city, do visit and enjoy the magnificent of the lights.

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