Monday, January 29, 2024

29 January 2024 George Town: Walking Along the Water

 


We took a walk down along the waterfront towards the center of town.  It was a 2.5 miles walk and we got pretty hot is the process  The temp was 90 and the heat index was in the 100's.  But there was a stiff breeze and that made it bearable.  They are building a large park along this part of the city but is is not yet completed, so we had to walk along the road.  We did see many construction workers having their lunches.  There was a mix of grand old houses and the high rise hotels and condos.  On the way back we peeked into Bali Hai Seafood Market and Restaurant.  What an extensive selection of live seafood!



These crows were looking for a handout from the workers eating lunch


Planters along the entrance to the university


A fun way to build a building


A grand old place, right on the water


This is the house that Lim Lean Teng built.  He was a millionaire at the turn of the century and was one of the richest men in Penang.  He founded schools starting in 1919 and continued his philanthropy up until his death in 1963


Woodville is the name of the place


Extensive gate entrance to Woodville


The older buildings all seem to need just a bit more maintenance 


Tall buildings on our right the water on our left


A white bellied sea eagle


Fishing boats along the beach


Random carved idol on the beach


A mosque


"If it swims, we have it" is their motto


Market and Restaurant


Freshwater Shrimp


Mantis shrimp at least a foot long


Big blue pincers 


It has been 1 year and 238 days since we began our Migration




Sunday, January 28, 2024

27 January 2024 George Town: The Standing Buddha at the Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple

 


Across the street is the Burmese temple.  Their Buddha is standing in the main temple.  This is one of only a few Burmese temples outside of Myanmar.  There has been a Burmese temple on this site since 1805 when the first one was consecrated.  It has multiple temples, a row of standing Buddhas, a four story golden pagoda bell tower and a rest area for monks on pilgrimage.  There is also a Sunday school. a lecture hall, dining area and library.  There are art works from 22 different countries and this is the first and oldest Burmese temple in Malaysia


It is just across the street from the reclining Buddha


A massive entrance


Jus tone corner of one building...so much attention to detail


The line of standing Buddhas in different poses


Layers on layers of details


Don't mess with the big lion


Standing with a robe of gold


The weight of so much gold must be a burden


One more of many secondary temples


With golden Buddhas 


The woodwork is magnificent


There were 17 Buddhas of different styles behind the big Buddha from each of the surrounding Buddhist countries Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, China, Korea, Japan, India, Indonesia, Afghanistan and Burma


The bell tower is peeking out.  I got up to the top.


The carved wood panels are very large


Nice toenail paint


A huge stupa


Every type of material has been used to make the Buddhas


Darker sunglasses are required when looking at these


A thing of great beauty


The dragons are holding up the world


Somehow they have tiny elephant trunks


In the center of a fish pond


The water was low


The fish were large


These spires reach for the sky like the buildings behind them


Each parable that was presented was explained.  Here Buddha has taken the prince to give up all his worldly possessions .  Folks on the left urge him not to and on the right they are encouraging 


A big set of chomppers


Entrance to the library and conference hall


Very fancy ironworks


It is the Garuda, King of the Birds


The bell tower is tall and it is hard to see the top tower from so close


Built in 2011 it is the newest addition 


Many art works from around the world are here


A buddha with a ladder?


The layout is great


Up at the top in the bell tower


The smallest of bells!


Buddha flanked by demigods


Wash day for the monks


Keeping it clean in the heat





It has been 1 year and 236 days since we began our Migration