Penang Day 2 : 极乐寺, Temple of Supreme Bliss

Today, a Saturday, start off at a local Coffee shop, very typical of Singapore, try out their Prawn noodles, vast different from the Singapore's version.

Here their prawn noodles was rather different from Singapore's version whose soup base is dark brown in color. Here the soup base is dark orange and tasted a little chilli....probably the way they prepare the soup is different (Penang's Version has both Prawn and Pork Based soup mixed together) and they put in chilli paste into their soup and some hard-boil egg slices in it.

Though the prices here are not consider as super-cheap, they do appear cheap to Singaporean. The Exchange Rate of 1 : 2.44 helps...

This Morning Agenda, To Visit the Temple, 极乐寺. I was actually rooting for Penang Hill, but that Chicken queen isn't keen and since the weather is not too good as well, it is starting to rain again...I decide not to press on for Penang Hill (which I think the Queen isn't keen at all)

Took a cab here costing around MYR20. Located on a hillside , 极乐寺 is the largest Temple in South Sea Asia, situated in Air Itam in Penang. It Consist of this tower call, Ban Po Thar (Ten Thousand Buddhas Tower)

The Cab took us to this building, which is the Entrance to the Temple. It was rather early in the morning and not much people were at the temple yet...(the Weather probably helps)

It use to be a tradition to use joss-stick to worship, but i think the joss-stick is causing some problems to the cleanliness of the temple which i believe is how this sign came about.

The sign does work...it very very clean

Since it's still very early in the morning, there isn't much joss stick here yet

I think this design outside the temple tells a story....

Although a Temple is consider as a place of worship and people are suppose to be serious...but BE CAREFUL!!, they do play "prank" on others. Location : Temple lower floor...Gift Shop...lol

The Empty Corridor of the Temple...

As the Ban Po Thar is located on a hilly part of town, climbing here is needed. But it's not too steep though.

There is this small pagoda structure in the "garden" of the Temple.....

Trying to Capture both the Pagoda and the Ban Po Thar together, but the lighting is not too good...

Photos along the climb to Ban Po Thar

Me in the Garden along the Ban Po Thar backdrop.

We need to climb a climb of steps, as seen in the photos. Here is Ban Po Thar From a different viewpoint.

With me

As you can see...it's not a very steep climb....the last flight of steps before reaching Ban Po Thar.

The Ban Po Thar, consist of step where u can actually climb up to get a good view of the city (though not much is visable due to the rain)

Me at the step...of Ban Po Thar, the steps are located directly straight ahead....the Tower is about 30m in height and we need to climb about 7 tiers to reach the top.

7 storey high to be exact, start counting...

Not tough to reach the top as it not that high, only 30m...lol....the cooling weather does help, though I still sweat....a little...lol

At 30m and on Top of a already tall hill-side, the scenery is quite Good, here...although there isn't much to see here in Penang with the City so far away and rural area around. Here is a good view of the whole temple.

We can also see the "Guan Yin" Statue construction here....we need to take a "sky-train" up to see it.

We decided to take a 1 way ride up temple to see the statue, a round trip cost RM$4, and since we are taking a 1 way ride, it is RM$2 only. The ride is a short, about a minute to reach the Top.

I am a photo-freak.....I like taking photo of everything....and also with myself in it..as well...

The Hill-top Station, There is a Car-park on the Top of the Hill, it u have got a vehicle, u can actually drive up here....(on first gear probably lol)

In 2002, a 36.5m bronze statue of the Kuan Yin was completed and opened to public. It replaced the previous white plaster Kuan Yin statue which was damaged due to a fire a few years earlier.

Currently, they are building a pavillion to protect the Statue. It is still work in Progress while I was there...so photo aren't good at all...

This is the mini-train ride up the hill....Got a shot of it..from the top.

Another of my "Creative shots" but I think the depth of field is not prominent here..(I only for F3.5)

There is also a small section near the statue which have all the 12 zodiac animals on display.

My Rabbit Zodiac Sign...

though not the sign of my friend "Chicken Queen" but this resemble it alot....with all the morning mood swings and unexplained complaint...which it refused to talk nicely....and ask...expecting me to "understand".....Well....A human don communicate well with a Chicken...

Beside the traditional Zodiac sign display, I notice at a corner, probably their storeroom, they have this rather modernise display as well...wonder what they are used for..

There is also another small section with a pond...but forgotten what pond this it though...there is lots of Gold-fish in it....

Well....Got my shot taken with the statue as backdrop and headed down hill for our lunch

Since we didn't got the return leg ticket, it a walk down to take a bus....Walk under the tracks of the train....lol

I notice this Large building which I suspect is like a hostel or accomodation for the monks who live here.....

The Entrance to the Top of the Hill for the "Guan Yin" Status. The main road down-hill is right ahead...

Finally reach the bottom around 10mins I think, Took a photo at the Entrance before leaving for Lunch.....the moody Chicken took a "half-past six" photo with the cut-off structure....hiaz...what can u expect a moody person to perform....well....