peaceful
I walk the streets of old George Town to see the sights and to look for photo opportunities. I wish that I could get good photos of people working or playing, but I’m never in the right place at the right time. I can’t find people doing interesting jobs or playing Sepak Takraw or practicing a martial art or fishing or anything. In the cradle of Sepak Takraw, I’ve seen no one playing it. I’ve seen soccer and cricket from a distance, from buses.
I see the architecturally-interesting, historic buildings which UNESCO considered, including neo-palladian government buildings, century-old Hindu temples, Chinese clan houses and Buddhist temples, jetties and piers, Christian churches, clock towers, etcetera.
As I strolled down King Street, approaching Chulia Street, appearing to be a caucasian tourist wearing a camera, a local man pointed me to a Teochew temple, a beautifully-restored “Heritage Building” of renown that Penengites are apparently proud of.
I looked across Chulia Street to it, thought that it was quite interesting and wondered if it were new or old. It didn’t appear to be old insofar as it wasn’t discolored, mold- mildew- or bird-dropping covered, didn’t show peeling paint, cracked tiles or other signs of antiquity.
It was awesome! It’s actually Han Jiang Ancestral Temple, completed in 1870 then painstakingly and restored between 2003 and 2005, ready for consideration by UNESCO as one of George Town’s jewels. I’m not a Buddhist, but I really enjoyed examining the temple and reading all the placards explaining the architectural and religious features. Chinese immigrants, and now Malaysians of Chinese descent, go to such temples to pray to their ancestors, whose names are carved on narrow, foot-high red and gold boards prominently displayed.
The temple compound was so quiet and peaceful compared to all the noise in the commercial district and vehicle-clogged streets outside the walls. Being in that cloister was really relaxing. I enjoyed making photos and considering the statues and trees and flowers and ornamentation in the buildings. Apparently the times to visit Buddhist temples to make good photos of worshippers are holy days and feasts such as one that passed a few weeks ago.
I was alone with my thought and my camera on a weekday. No one else was seen or heard. As soon as I exited, I was back in the smoky cacophony of east Lebuh Chulia trying not to get smacked by a passing motorist. George Town is often interesting.