sOleiLian

I know I still owe you guys a part II on my trip to Kelantan, but I have to put that on hold. Meanwhile, here are some photos of the Masjid Ubudiah which we visited during our recent study trip to the state of Perak. Widely hailed as Malaysia’s most beautiful mosque, Masjid Ubudiah easily ranks high on the list of the world’s most stunning Islamic places of worship.

Masjid Ubudiah was completed in 1917 and it serves as the royal mosque of the Perak Sultanate. It’s located in the royal town of Kuala Kangsar, home to both the old and new royal palaces of the Sultan of Perak, which are just a stone’s throw away from the mosque.

A favourite style during the British colonial era, the mosque’s Indo-Saracenic architecture was unspeakably dazzling. The golden domes shimmered under the rays of the sun, while the minarets and turrets soared high into the clouds, as if reaching for the gates of Heaven.

Ah yes, did I mention that the principal designer was a Brit who worked for the then government? Arthur Benison Hubback, the architect of the mosque, also designed the grand colonial train stations in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur.

Built adjacent to the mosque is the Al-Ghufran Royal Mausoleum, where the state’s past sultans have been laid to rest. It’s said to be the country’s 2nd most beautiful royal mausoleum after the one in Johor Bahru. Since we didn’t wander beyond the mosque compound, this is the best shot that I managed to get.

And you know what, the recent political ruckus in Perak broke out just a few days after our visit to the mosque! The mosque was one of those places where a 3000-strong crowd demonstrated in protest to the National Front’s (Barisan Nasional) takeover of the state leadership from the democratically-elected People’s Alliance (Pakatan Rakyat) coalition party.

Ubudiah… The royal and religious pride of the Land of Grace.

c a t e g o r y | life as a student . passport to nowhere
f l u f f e r p u f f | malaysia . mausoleums . mosques & minarets . perak . religions & spirituality . travel . university life

32 sOleiLians

Each year, Penang’s Kek Lok Si 极乐寺, Southeast Asia’s largest Buddhist temple, puts on a spectacular month-long visual feast nightly in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebrations. As night falls, thousands of Chinese lanterns and light bulbs would come alive, transforming the vast temple complex into a beautiful sea of lights.

After having our afternoon class on Friday, my friends and I decided to go there early in order to avoid traffic jams as well as to catch the sunset on the hill where the temple was erected. It was my 2nd visit to the temple and I was thrilled to return. I was here with my family a few years back and I still remember it being a scorching hot afternoon that literally got all of us drenched in sweat!

And no, we were not the earliest tourists to arrive. When we were there, the best spots to see the temple in its full glory were already booked by avid photographers with their mighty DSLRs mounted perfectly on the tripods. I instantly felt so inadequate with my 2-year-old camera phone. The fastest I’m getting the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX3 is by the end of this month due to stock shortage. *sigh*

And finally the moment of truth. At approximately a quarter past 7, I was delighted to see one light after another got lit up at a graceful pace. The lanterns were especially dazzling in their red and yellow hues. Walking beneath the canopy of lanterns and gazing up at them made me realize how beautiful Chinese lanterns could be.

The star attraction was none other than the soaring Pagoda of 10,000 Buddhas 万佛塔. Combining the architectural influences of China, Thailand, and Myanmar, this imposing 7-tier pagoda is an iconic landmark in its own right. That night, it was brightly illuminated with thousands of decorative bulbs, making it easily seen even from miles away.

Alas, today marks the final day of the 15-day celebration of Chinese New Year. So which single lady is going to toss mandarin oranges into the river tonight? :P

HAPPY CHAP GOH MEH

元宵节快乐

c a t e g o r y | passport to nowhere
f l u f f e r p u f f | buddhism . chinese . festivals . malaysia . penang . religions & spirituality . temples & wats . travel

32 sOleiLians