Sunday, February 24, 2013

Snake Year Chinese New Year Half Day Trip - Part 3: iCity, Shah Alam (16 Feb 2013)

Today is Chap Goh Meh day 元宵节 also the last day of Chinese New Year and also the Chinese Valentine's Day. Today is also my lucky day!! Haha... This is because initially we wanted to go to Time Square shopping mall and passed by Pavilion shopping mall just to take some pictures. Then, we saw there was a lucky draw session and lion dance performance. Since no purchase was required in order to participate in the lucky draw, therefore we just tried our luck.

According to the schedule, after we tied the wish message cards on the Bridge of Prosperity 开运桥 at the auspicious time 吉时 (2:30 pm), then the lucky draw will be started. We was just reached there on time and waited only around 10 minutes. There was only 3 prizes for the lucky draw which worth up to RM 500 for each prize. Normally, lucky draw gifts are non of my business, so I was busy preparing my hand phone camera in order to take photos of the lion dance that would be crossing the Bridge of Prosperity 开运桥. Who knows suddenly I heard my name announced by the emcee as the second lucky draw winner!! I was surprised and walked to the stage from the Bridge of Prosperity 开运桥 which just beside to the stage to collect my gift! Haha... What a lucky day for me!! Yay!! Happy day! :D I wish my luck will continue in the future...

Passed by Pavilion shopping mall and just wanted to take some photos with the Chinese New Year decorations
Schedule of today's Chinese New Year Chap Goh Meh event at Pavilion
Me on the stage collecting my lucky draw gift!! Thanks to Pavilion and Crabtree & Evelyn!! (Photo credits to Pavilion Facebook page)
Surprised to win the lucky draw gift, so I took photos for remembrance (Middle photo - Bridge of Prosperity 开运桥)
After lucky draw session, lion dance performance was started :)
My lucky draw gift - Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Remedy cream (worth up to RM 500). 

OK... Back to the post's topic - iCity at Shah Alam. This is the last stop for our Chinese New Year Half Day trip. We reached there around 8:30 pm and there was still a few rain drops. But, we felt excited to see the light effect at iCity and our mood were not spoilt due to the bad weather...

I forgot to bring my flash light for the camera, therefore most of the photos can't really see myself clearly... I was really fascinated by the light effect at iCity, and I felt like I was in a fantasy land :) Although Christmas Day was over, we still spotted a huge Xmas tree and a few snowmen there.

After spending around 1 hour plus there, by the time we stepped out the gate of iCity, we spotted a few big beautiful fireworks there!! We viewed the fireworks for about 10 minutes in quite a near distance! It was really a good experience and memory for the Chinese New Year!

Gate B entrance of iCity
After entered to the entrance of iCity, spotted this special lights. Spotted some love shape lights up there :)
Playground for the kids at iCity
Colourful lights on the trees at iCity
More colourful lights on the trees at iCity
Like the lantern lights at iCity
Huge and beautiful Christmas tree at iCity
Peacock with colourful lights at iCity
Me inside the 'Gift' house full with lights at iCity
Another cute and beautiful 'light' trees at iCity
Me in the forest of 'light' trees and huge 'light' sunflower garden at iCity
Spotted some cute snowmen at iCity
Love the colourful 'light' tree forest at iCity
Tree of coins 金钱树 at iCity
Flamingos at iCity
Horse carriage at iCity
Goodbye, iCity...
Spotted a few big fireworks at iCity before we left the place! So romantic fireworks, it would be good to view it together with your loved ones :)
Instax photo taken at iCity (Can't really see the lights of the trees at the background :()

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Snake Year Chinese New Year Half Day Trip - Part 2: Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple 佛光山东禅寺 (16 Feb 2013)

Time flies again, Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day were passed by so quickly... Holiday seasons are always end so fast! It's time to focus back on work and routine life...

Reminiscing some memories here for the CNY half day trip in another famous temple - Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple 佛光山东禅寺. Since we visited this temple during weekend, therefore it was expected to see a big crowd of people in the temple too. Especially at night, more visitors came here to view the lanterns and beautiful lights that were displaying around the temple. Hence, many visitors took the opportunity to capture more beautiful photos there.

There were some stage performances at the outdoor area on that day we visited Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple 佛光山东禅寺. We also spotted a group of young dancers were dancing 'Gang Nam Style' modified with Buddha lyrics there too! I enjoyed a lot of taking photos, sight seeing around and worshipping to Buddha in the temple. However, due to rainy day, my sandals were full of mud, and I had to wash off the mud a few times :(

After spending about 2-3 hours in this beautiful temple, around 7:45 pm we had to leave and headed to the next stop. By the time we left, it was still sunset time and the sky not fully dark yet, so we couldn't really see the beautiful shines of the lighting effect in the dark...

Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple 佛光山东禅寺
Buddha, please bless me and my family to be happy and healthy...
One of the Dog Zodiac lantern out of the other 12 Zodiacs were displaying at the entrance of the temple
Snake lantern was the biggest Zodiac lantern there, because this year is Snake Year :) Very cute snake lantern!
Big flowers deco on the pillars of Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple 佛光山东禅寺
Saw this sentence from somewhere - 最幸福的人并未拥有一切,他们只是尽力享受生活的赐予。 (P/S: The deco was made by unwanted plastic bottles, very creative and environmental friendly idea!)
Very beautiful and tall yellow flowers in the garden :)
Another beautiful purple flowers in the garden. There are all real flowers!
Purple orchids are real flowers too!
Love the colourful umbrellas on top :)
Making wishes in Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple 佛光山东禅寺... 佛说:前世五百次的回眸,才换来今生的擦肩而过。短短今生一面遇,前世多少香火缘。牽手是有一种缘,回眸是一种缘;生命是有一种缘,爱情是一种缘;假如还有来生,来生也是一种缘。
Read about something related to the word 禅, the sentence says - 爱情有如佛家的禅,不可说不可说,一说就是错。
Another part of the garden in the temple, the grass decorated like snakes that flying over your head... haha!
Taiwan Street exhibition in the Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple 佛光山东禅寺
Big Buddha statue at the outdoor of Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple 佛光山东禅寺
Some young dancers were dancing modified 'Gang Name Style' here. So good to be young and energetic!
Spotted another cute panda and elephant lanterns :)
Like the flower garden, so many beautiful flowers surrounding me!
Cute sika deers spotted in the temple!
Back door of the Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple 佛光山东禅寺
Small beautiful flowers in the temple
The beautiful lights were finally turned on :)
Beautiful lights effects...
Beautiful lanterns with lights
Instax film photos taken in the temple