Kek Lok Si, Penang 2008 • Off-Focus

above: flames from a colony of pineapple-shaped glass jar candles.

flames from rows of pink lotus-shaped candles...

fireworks tree. err.. what's a fireworks tree? i don't really know what it's called, but it's a blinky metal setup not unlike a coconut tree which tries to simulate the lights from a fireworks shooting up and breaking into colorful bursts... got it?

this is from the decorative lights at the pumpkin garden near the pagoda...

lastly, burning flames from bunches of just-lighted joss sticks...

if these are not to your taste, check out previous post for more "normal" photos... :p

Kek Lok Si, Penang • Chinese New Year 2008

went to kek lok si again to see the chinese new year lightings this year... and came away disappointed.

ok, so it does look nice, but there's not much difference from what i saw last year. plenty of same old yellow and red gourd-shaped paper lanterns everywhere. you still have to pay for parking and to enter the ground area around the pagoda. oh, they call it "donation". want to go to the upper level using the inclined lift? more donations. last year, there were two pig-shaped paper lanterns at the pagoda to commemorate the year of pigs. this year, there's hardly any mousey stuff in sight for the year of rat.

some shots of the pagoda...

more of the red/yellow paper lanterns...

aerial view from the pagoda. climbed to the top again as last year. notice the roof with red lights, bordered by green lights at the lower roof? last year, it was plain yellow lights. ok, at least there's something different here..

some small Buddha figurines...

if nothing else, it's a good practice to learn holding the camera stable... best record so far is still 1/4 second at max telephoto (210mm, f/4.8), IS-assisted of course (not refering to the photo below, this is intentionally shot blurred).

> click here for 2007's photos

Old Family Cat

this bugger refused to open his eyes when he saw me holding the cam. *$^%&*^#%