On the second day of Chinese New Year, Mike decided to make a trip to the FGS temple to see the lights and lanterns. We went at around 3:30pm to make the 35km trip so that we could be there and stay on until the lights and lanterns were switched on when darkness fell.
Upon arrival, there were already hundreds of visitors at the temple. There was a festive air about, made more distinct by the surprising presence of a ferris-wheel within the huge temple gardens. Scattered all around in ordered chaos were dozenz upon dozens of big lanterns and lights in various chinese zodiac animal signs.
We made our way around at a leisurely pace to see all the different exhibitions and displays and people. For me, it was probably the first time that I was in the midst of a huge crowd of thousands which comprised almost entirely of Chinese visitors. But I felt completely at home.
When dusk fell, we made our way to a humongous tent put up to sell totally vegetarian food. The single huge tent was probably three badminton halls long, if not more, with spectacularly high roof so that it was cool and not stifling even with the hordes eating. And the food was surprisingly delicious. What impressed me most was the extreme efficient organisation and cleanliness of the place.
After dinner, we quickly resumed taking pictures of the lights and lanterns before the skies turned too dark. There was also a mini-concert which was obviously popular with the younger set since I suppose the performers were from either Taiwan or maybe better-known local singers.
Here then are some of the shots I took during the whole outing at the FGS Temple grounds..
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A tree with greetings and well wishes fluttering in the afternoon breeze
The main entrance was flanked by many scaled-down pagodas
A big carving
A Buddhist sutra
Close-up of the statue at the sutra display
Two of the many life-sized lanterns / lighted displays in the grounds of the temple
A huge sunflower lighted display
Edi posing with a couple of "friends"
This is so cute
Fiery red flowers in the garden
Colourful ceiling runner decoration
More colourful decorations
Red ribbons thrown up the branches by visitors for luck and hoping for wishes to come true
An orderly row of statues
Bright flowers to be casted afloat in a pond
Adrift in the pond
The origins of the meaning of "multitasking"
Serenity
The huge stage for the mini-concerts
Real kid in foreground, not real in far background..
Another cute display.
More of the cute displays
There were hundreds of these lanterns all over
Kissing cousins in the water
Even the fishes were celebrating
Outside the dinning tent when dusk began to set
The road leading to the dining tent at the left
Lighted greetings
One of the very many lighted rabbits by the roadside
Part of a peacock-shaped plant with lights
An entrance to the main garden with ten upon tens of lanterns
Night slowly descended and all the glitter and lights came on
From outside the main exhibition hall
Ceiling runner decorations being lighted
Splashes of colour in the darkness of the night
A world outline map on the huge globe at the centre of the lighted garden
Hanging lanterns and lighted tree trunks
A sunflower lantern
An arc from the carpark
These blue lights were representing waves of the sea
Part of another arc
Tree branches
We finally left the temple grounds around 9:00pm, but there were still crowds streaming in.
The lights / lantern display will be on until the 20th of February. Every year, there will be different themes. Perhaps I will return next year to see it.
Till the next posting~~!!
