Our wonderfully organized and efficient guide to Kuala Lumpur, Diana Lee Geok Chin, escorted us to see some amazing sights in this capital city of Malaysia.
Posing outside the Fook Kong Temple
Along with fellow guides Lee Choo Sim, who served as a fluent translator as well as a learned interpretor of religious customs and beliefs, and Teh Lai Chin, who helped take photographs, we first visited the Tien Fook Kong Temple, where Diana showed us how to fold paper money offerings and wrap joss-stick bundles.
Diana showing me a bundle of joss sticks
Diana showing me how to fold money offerings
Next we visited the Chien Leong Teng Temple, which had lovely pagodas on either side, and a new meditation hall at the back of the temple.
One of the side pagodas at the Chien Leong Teng Temple.
Woman praying at the Chien Leong Teng Temple
We were incredibly lucky to arrive at the Sri Sundarajah Perumal Temple in time to watch a ritual family blessing, with incense and offerings accompanied by an oboe-type flute and a drum.
Music at a Hindu Temple from Alexandra Dickerman on Vimeo.
Family offerings at the Sri Sundarajah Perumal Temple
We stopped for lunch of spicy coconut rice at a cafe in Little India (Lee Choo Sim told us Somerset Maugham liked to eat at this type of cafe), and a little shopping.
After lunch we had one of the most extraordinary experiences of our trip: at the Chu Sing Chee Temple (originally an Ancestral, or a Clan house), a medium went into a trance for us. We requested guidance for our work, and when he came out of his trance he gave us each a little paper that held a blessing, which he told us to keep with us all the time, and he told us to call on the god whenever we needed him. (Mine is safely tucked into my wallet!)
Medium in a Trance from Alexandra Dickerman on Vimeo.
This is the deity invoked by the medium at Chu Sing Chee Temple
Praise God for all He is doing. Thanks!
It is through understanding and appreciating the cultures of the world can we all become one in love, friendship and togetherness! God Bless!