FGS Dong Zen Temple Visit
The Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen temple (佛光山东禅寺) in Jenjarom, Selangor, is one of the most popular places to visit every year during the Chinese New Year period. In addition to the beautiful floral and lantern displays, the temple is also abuzz with lots of programmes and activities for visitors.
Just like last year, we paid the temple a visit in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration. We went there last night, which was the 7th day of the Lunar New Year - also traditionally known as “Everyone’s Birthday” (or ‘Day of Humanity’).
The temple is situated near Banting in Klang, so we actually took about 40 minutes to reach (from Subang). It wasn’t very crowded, thankfully. But still, there was a good turnout. A friend told me that the place was sardine-packed last weekend.
Admission was free - just like every year - and the activities organized were open to all. Mom and Dad participated in some of them, which usually end with devotees giving some form donation to the temple (not mandatory of course!).
After offering our joss sticks, my sisters and I had a field day checking out the decorations around the temple. We took lots of photos - of ourselves, the statues, lanterns, flowers and other interesting decorations that we saw. There were also a number of shutterbugs who came equipped with tripods.
This year the temple featured some miniature models of locations where the Lord Buddha had been, including the Bodhi Tree under which he received Enlightenment. The miniature models were pretty elaborate and detailed, I’d say. Very informative and educational too!
Among the most popular structures put up were the twelve animal signs in the Chinese zodiac. They were a hit with the crowd because everyone wanted to take photos with their own animal sign. I was born in the year of Rat, and I had about three photos taken with the rat!
Don’t ask. I know too little Chinese characters to understand what that text means. I thought the bokeh effect in the background was interesting :p Yes I’m yet to have found a personal Chinese-language tutor…
Ah, this one’s more like it. I’m so proud that there was at least one non-English signboard that I could read. Nevermind there were only four characters. It was one whole board ok.
Compared to last year, FGS Dong Zen temple now has a larger area. The extended area was more like a nursery with various types of beautiful flowers planted.
Some wall with interesting lighting and design pattern.
I’m sure the flowers would look prettier in the day…
Another type of flower… No name was provided, but I do not think it’s chrysanthemum!
If you’re interested to go check out the place, go before the 24th of February to avoid disappointment! I don’t know if they’ll remove the lanterns and other decorations after that date, but the temple has CNY programmes lined up until then. Its location map can be viewed here.
By the way…
It’s the time of the year again for the most over-rated day ever celebrated - the V’s day. It’s my fourth consecutive year celebrating Valonetine’s now… (or is it fifth?) lol. Anyway, Happy Valentine’s Day, you! ;D
P/s. General elections on the 8th of March. It’s going to be arguably the most interesting GE Malaysia has ever had. Are you ready yet?
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14 Feb 2008 narrowband
exposure pretty well controlled , noise is not visible at such size. well done :p
Noise was never an issue, even in full-size because I did not crank up the ISO - I don’t like how light is captured under high ISO ;p The most challenging thing were the flash, its amount and the necessary compensations. And also WB. The first pic has the annoying ghosting effect. If I were a perfectionist I’d touch it up on PS. But I don’t know how to do it quickly - and besides, that’s cheating :p Anyway how to avoid ghosting?
Last year was my first visit to this temple.. I’ve not gone to the Thean Hou Temple during CNY.. there got no nice lights?
February 14 is over! Woohoo! :P
Yes! I’m ready for March 8! Speaking of that, I shud go chk Airasia n book my tix back! ;) Deny the 2/3 Majority! Yeahhhh! :p
Again…jaw dropping photos. My my…
My colleague was just telling me about this place yesterday. Seems to be very famous for it’s CNY decorations?
Pretty pretty pictures! And yet again, I am feeling more and more less inclined to show off MY photography in the presence of such talent. ;)
Can’t wait for 8th of March so that I can exercise my right to vote. Hehehe.
As always amazed at the beautiful photos you took. thanks for sharing.
BTW, you are using a canon? what sort of setting you are using for the photos above?
Happy Valentine’s Day, narrowband!!!
My hubby would love to visit this temple. I’ll take note of this.
I like the candles shot very much. :D
wow, great shots man. right now i am wondering if the lense with IS is that important. i am having a hard time getting clear shots especially at night -_-”
Narrowband, this place nice leh..but there is not much lighting like kek lok si hor? But there are nice spot to took pic. Currently i took pic already reduce noise which is 100 or lower summore my cam having 5 level of noise deduction which is a good thing for me. Anyway, is there any nice place to took pic as well as learning on shooting technique? Next time we can go taman negara again for shooting insects, waterfall, wild animal and etc…^O^
aww.. and wooHOo~! dun really think i can read those 4 characters on the whole piece of rock.. geez.. i feel lil’ stupid now :p for saying tat, and yes.. happy belated valonetino.. i do know how u feel hehehe..
wow..!!! Nice shots bro..!!!! I’ve been there too…Your pics are nicer than I see it live..! xD
Angel - I went there last year also! Thean Hou Gong also I went last year - but this year haven’t. Don’t think got time liao -_-”
Yaa!! Must kambek!!!
Che-cheh - Haha, I am happy you like them. They are not perfect but everyday’s a learning experience!
Alicia - Yes you should visit it if you like to see CNY decos. It’s got alotta lanterns and nice flowers :p It’s where the national-level CNY celebrations take place, I think. At least second year now, I think.
Rinnah - Pls don’t say that… haha. The more the merrier.. I hate to be the only one holding a camera!
Btw, remember don’t take photos like jakun like dat during voting ok??? :p
Neo - Glad you like them… I selected the better ones to be put up here. I used mostly ISO400, sometimes ISO800 if in low light. I rarely go ISO1600.
F-stop values are usually in the range of 4.0 to 9.0, depending on situation. I use flash too sometimes. Shutter speeds usually 1/2 to 1/8. I didn’t bring tripod so shutter speed cannot go too low, else sure blur!
ECL - Thank you!! Yes come before they remove the deco!!
Day-dreamer - I’m happy you said that! I like it too!!
Sat - I’m not sure about the lens part - I haven’t been shooting using other lens before. I had to use ISO up to 800 in order to set faster shutter speeds to avoid blurness.
Eric - Ya, I think Kek Lok Si has much more light. This Dong Zen temple not as ‘brightly’ lit, but the decoration mostly based on the design, flowers, statues and landscape. You want to take wild animal? You have to wait til I get super-zoom lens. I am not going nearer than 50m distance to wild animals :p I know u can zoom far….~~
Jian - You know? You really know how I feel? Actually I didn’t really feel sad or lonely. It was just another day - didn’t affect me in anyway. In fact, if I took the day seriously, it’d have probably affected me in an even worse way!
Yellowbanana - You must be joking. Hahaha… anyway, thanks bro. You haven’t put up yours only… -_-”