Qing Ming At Bukit Cina

We left home at about 5.30 am, and arrived at Bukit Cina Cemetery site at about 6. 10 am. It was still dark, but there are quite a lot of cars already there, and moment later more and more people arrived trying to complete the job before noon, when the sun gets to the top right above the head. Last Friday was an easier one as we did the Qing Ming at the Sleeping Buddha site, Tumpat where my sis's ashes was kept. It was a fully sheltered / covered area.
Doing Qing Ming at the grave cemetery especially on top of the hill is really hot by 8 am. We start of by obtaining approval from the care taker God on top of the hill, before cleaning the graves. After cleaning the grave and the surrounding, food and prayers will be offered to the death. Usually the cleaning and prayers will be done to more than two or more graves. Some people may do more than eight graves in a day, depending on their own convenience or time available, or they may also choose to continue on some other day. As for us, we did for three graves i.e. my dad, mum and mother-in-law, all at the Bukit Cina Cemetery. Luckily both my grandfather is from China. Or else, we'll have more graves cleaning job to be done.
Qing Ming is not just about cleaning and offer prayers to the death. It is also a day where living relatives from far and near get along to meet and have meals by the grave of their ancestors. During the earlier times, Qing Ming was done on the 5th April every year. But as time goes on, more and more people work further away from their home land, and as such Qing Ming day become more flexible, something like 10 days before the actual date in order for relatives from far distant to come back and gather. Come this Friday, I will be doing Qing Ming at Pauh Lima Cemetery. This time it will be a bigger group as our cousins from Bangkok and other parts of Thailand will be back. I will be busy chauffeuring 7 of them to visit our ancestors on that day, and at the same time having party among ourselves with the rest of the cousins !

Wat Maisuwankiri, Tumpat, Kelantan

Wat Maisuwankiri is located at Kampung Bukit Tanah, Tumpat, Kelantan. The original temple is said to be constructed around 400 years ago by expect craftsmen from Thailand. The present building was built at a cost of around Rm300,000.00 with funds coming from the public donations and Buddhist Association of Malaysia and Thailand.

The temple covers four hectares.

The new building.

The old building.

The object shaped like a dragon boat decorates the inside of the temple, thus earning it its name Dragon Boat Temple. The design is Thai.

Wat Phothivihan, Tumpat, Kelantan

Wat Phothivihan at Kampung Jambu in Tumpat, Kelantan is the most famous Buddhist temple in Kelantan. It contain the biggest reclining Buddha statue in South East Asia. The statue which measures 40 metres long, 11 metres high and 9 metres wide was completed in 1979, after 6 years of construction work at a cost of RM350,000.00 . The fund came from public donations and The Buddhist Association of Malaysia and Thailand. It was the brain child of Tok Phra Kru Prasas Prachacorn.

So Much To Say About My KL Trip..

I was in Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday until Friday night. To be more exact, its Thursday morning because my flight by airasia which supposed to be at 10.50 pm was delayed to 11.50 am on Wednesday. Somehow or other, the plane took off at 12.30 am on Thursday and we arrived at our hotel almost 2 am.
Since it was so late, I hired a taxi to go to our hotel at Serdang. Something to share about this budget hotel we are staying, Hotel Sun Inn. I am not posting any photos as their websites are available. It's ideally located as it's opposite the KTM railway station, and with taxi and bus stop in front. My friends says "eeii.." when heard that I am staying in a budget hotel. But believe me, this hotel is really clean and so far I don't see any hanky panky activities going on. At least if they do have it, where most hotel does, they don't do it so obvious right in front of our very own eye. And the price is reasonable at RM85.00 per night for double or single queen size bed. The room is small thought but at least the toilet is clean too. And it's walking distance from the Mine Wonderland and The Mine shopping mall.
One thing about Kuala Lumpur - you like it or not, you still have to visit this capital city once a while. Well, its the only city where us Kelantanese have a direct flight to. Be it airasia, Firefly or even Malaysia Airline, all of them only fly to Kuala Lumpur. I don't like to carry my camera around when I visit the city as it is so hot most of the time, and visiting one place to another is quite a distance. Even the shopping mall is so huge and I hate walking around until my leg ache !
And I hate to take the train service, monorail or the subway train as they are mostly packed ! moreover we have to be careful as there are always a lot of pick pockets.
During my visit to Bukit Bintang area, I was surprised to see so many foreigners working as sales personnel along the streets. To my surprise, they are not under those category qualify for work permit unless I am wrong. Since when do we allow the Arabs and China citizens to work here ?? And they are standing along the street calling for customers ! My worst experienced was that I was shouted / scolded by a foreign Bangladeshi along Petaling Street for refusing to say my price when I touch the copied watches they were displaying.

Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou

This is the final part of my posting on Hangzhou - Shanghai series. And here are the photos taken at Hang Zhou's famous Lingyin Temple. I will leave the photos telling stories by it selves. For more detail about Lngyin temple, you may also click on this website http://www.lingyinsi.com

Last but not least, I hope you have enjoy reading this travelogue as mush as I posting them. I am now back to my homeland, back to work and hoping to safe enough money for my next trip again, if everything goes on well..

Lingying Flying Peak @ Hangzhou

One of the reason why I enjoy touring as an independent traveller is that I get to go many places where a tour agency wouldn't bring us. Moreover I loves to take photos and moves on my own. Its difficult for me to follow a tour guide as I always got disappear or never listen much to the tour guide's stories whenever I see something else that attracts me more on the picture scene. And I don't like taking photos where there are a lot of people posting right in front especially on a popular spot. Of course travelling by package tour will be nice because you don't have to do much planning or search for much information except the price. However the schedule is fixed and is very tight. There are pros and cons for tour package and independent travelling, but I will reserve my tour package for the later time, may be after I reach my 60 something, with god's willing.

One of the interesting places I went to in Hangzhou is climbing the Ling Ying Flying Park. This place is not included in any of our local tour package as it is time consuming, and not applicable to all especially the elderly. There is nothing much for those who don't enjoy mountain climbing. But to me, it does make a difference especially the forest compared to ours .. this one looks more like what you see in a kung fu or a shaolin movie. With lots of bamboos..

You have to buy ticket to enter the forest reserve or the park. The charges is 35 Yuan per person. Right before the entrance is the resort for pilgrimage of Ling Ying Temple. This resort is also superb and clean, with traditional sundry shops made of timber and looks very attractive and interesting... selling groceries, herbs, Chinese medicine, tea leaves, cafe and vegetarian shops.

After touring around the resort, we begin our walk to the peak.

The climbing was easy as they have steps. However, many times we thought of giving up, but looking at it..since we came so far, why not we just try to complete to the peak. The best part is that we don't sweat much even though we are on thick clothing. I am wearing 4 pieces, just for your info.. the inner t-shirt, the long sleeve shirt, the sweater and finally a jacket. Well, I did stop a few times resting before finally reaching the highest peak.

And here is a photo of my achievement, at the Ling Ying Flying Peak. After resting for about 10 minutes, we trek down to the nearby and famous Ling Ying Temple.

To be continue.. coming next .. The Ling Ying Temple

Going for my evening jog now.. the time is 6.55 pm.. and thanks for reading my humble posting about my travel..