Kwam Temple
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sun 16 Oct 2016 22:27
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Kwam Temple
 Just as we stepped off the coaches
the heavens opened but that couldn’t dampen our enthusiasm, we were going to
watch the traditional and very famous Lion Dance. Eighty
three steps took us up to the Kwam Im Goddess Monastery built according
to the existing landscape in the in the hilly Burung Mandi Village, Damar
District. The local Buddhist community have been worshipping here for over three
hundred years.
  Half way up we passed the band sheltering from the rain, now heavy. At the top
there was a brightly painted shrine.
 The view from the
top.
   The lions were
ready to do battle, yellow soon with the upper
hand.
    There was much flashing of eyelashes – complete with
fluttering eyelids........, tail waggling and then came the rear and pummel. I thought how unlucky it would be to
be behind Bear after a stiff curry washed down with a bottle of
red.........
  Stomping and huffing until they eventually made up.
  Afterwards we posed with our favourite lion.
 We waited for the
lions to give praise to the altar, then went to explore
inside.
 A cheeky
look as we headed up the steps.
 Many statuettes of Kwang Im who is believed to be the highest goddess in the
Buddhist belief.
  Incense
sticks and paper wrappers by the
thousand.
   We enjoyed the lamps, candle holders and male altar.
  The fruit
offerings and then an invite to the main
altar.
 Clacking of sticks, waving of lit
incense sticks, we enjoyed the candlelight. Time for a group picture.
 As we left the lions were happy to pose for
us.
 The picture that would
be used on the front cover of tomorrows local newspaper.
ALL IN ALL A COLOURFUL,
TRADITIONAL AND LOVELY
VERY SPECTACULAR
DISPLAY |