Saturday, October 3, 2009

Words (This week's Photo Hunt theme)



To better appreciate the words to be found in the photos above, one should click on the photos themselves and view the enlarged versions of them. Of course, I can't guarantee that you can read the bulk of the words on them since the first photo shows Manchu and Chinese writing and the second photo has Chinese and Burmese along with English writing on it!

For the curious, this Photo Hunt's first photo was taken inside Tai Fu Tai, a Qing Dynasty
residence located in a far northern section of Hong Kong's New Territories. Dating back to the 19th century, it is the sole remaining Mandarin's mansion in the whole of Hong Kong.

The second photo was taken outside one of two rival Buddhist temples and landmarks located opposite each other in my home state of Penang, Malaysia. The Burmese Buddhist Temple has expanded considerably in recent decades -- and often in such a kitschified way that I like to joke and say that it's like a Penang Buddhist version of Disneyland. In many ways though, it still remains in the shadow of the Wat Chaiyamangkalaram Thai Buddhist Temple on the other side of the road which boasts, among other things, one of the largest reclining Buddha statues in the world.

(For regular visitors, I've already put up an entry on polyglot Penang on this blog but am still contemplating one devoted solely to Wat Chaiyamangkalaram -- the temple I used to regularly visit with my mother when I was a child -- somewhere down the road... ;b )

28 comments:

Carver said...

Those are both such beautiful structures and so are the words even though I can't read any except the English. Good take on the theme. Happy weekend.

Bengbeng said...

happy mid autumn festival day to u.. having a big dinner tonight?

Randi said...

Even if I can´t read the beautiful golden words I can appreciate it´s beauty. I love your approach to this theme.
Have a great weekend.

Colin Campbell said...

You have the most interesting posts. Chinese characters are so interesting to look at even if I cannot read them.

Lovely post

jams o donnell said...

Wow what a beautiful building. Happy weekend

YTSL said...

Hi Carver --

Glad you can appreciate the words even though you can't read them -- me too, actually! :)

Hi bengbeng --

No big dinner... just dinner with one other person but we'll make up for it by going to see the Fire Dragon and a Lantern Carnival afterwards! :b

Hi Randi --

From your photos, definitely would say that you can appreciate beauty. So thanks for seeing beauty in *my* photos. :)

Hi Colin --

Aaaw, thanks for the compliment. Hope you enjoy visiting my blog as much as I do yours. :)

Hi jams --

Happy weekend to you too. :)

MaR said...

A wonderful take on the theme and beautiful buildings!!

Hootin Anni said...

Excellent take....and cultural. I like that!!

My "Words" are now posted. Come join me today if you can find time...

Here's the Post For Today

Happy Haunting...errrrr, um happy Hunting!

bing said...

interesting scribbles. i always find it fascinating how those words are written. they always look complex to me.

LifeRamblings said...

At first glance, the temple resembles just any other Thai temple in other parts of Asia. it's been a while since i've visited those temples in Penang.

Happy Mid- Autumn Festival!

gengen said...

Beautiful artwork..Happy hunting good choice for the theme.

magiceye said...

they are so beautiful..

magiceye said...

re your query on my post - there are no japanese there, just some claims by the local barbers to be giving japanese style haircuts! whatever that means!

Annie said...

Love seeing these amazing buildings via your beautiful photos. I enjoy seeing words that I can't read sometimes, gives place an air of mystery.

Have a nice weekend.

candi said...

Beautiful shots!Even though I can't read hardly any of it, I love the characters.

happy weekend~

eastcoastlife said...

How interesting! I want to visit this when I'm in Hong Kong.

Ladykli said...

I may not be able to read your words, but I appreciate the beauty of them and your photos!

My wordy words are posted.

Gattina said...

Beautiful structures, I couldn't read the words of course, lol !
Graffitis are everywhere in all countries I have visited so far, Egypt, Turkey and Morocco included !

Unknown said...

Always such great information from you to go along with your photos.

Have a nice weekend!


http://blondesherry.blogspot.com/2009/10/photo-hunt-words.html

Lisa said...

Gorgeous!

http://cybercoven.org/wordpress/?p=798

YTSL said...

Hi Mar --

Thanks! :)

Hi Hootin' Anni --

Your take on the theme's cultural too -- just very different culture! ;D

Hi bing --

Yeah, I think those of us who main languages are written in Romanised script have it easiest! :)

Hi Life Ramblings --

The *Burmese* temple you mean? Surely not!!! :O

Hi gengen --

Glad you think the buildings are beautiful. :)

Hi Magiceye --

Thanks -- for the compliments and answering my query over on your blog. :)

Hi Annie --

Actually, the second photo is of just the gate into the Buddhist temple compound. Or hmmm.. does a gate count as a building? ;b

Hi Candi --

I think certain scripts are like opera -- you don't have to understand the words to appreciate it. :)

Hi Eastcoastlife --

Hehehe... seems like I'm getting you tempted to do other things in Hong Kong besides eat and shop! ;D

Hi Ladykli --

Thanks for being able to appreciate without needing to comprehend. :)

Hi Gattina --

Re graffiti: some of it is very interesting but have to say that I still don't subscribe to the idea that all space is fair game for graffiti artists.

Hi Sherry --

Am glad that you think what you do about my Photo Hunt entries. :)

Hi Lisa --

Thanks! :)

CRIZ LAI said...

Yea.. you would see many of the Chinese words carved on the pillars all over the temples in Penang. :)

http://crizcats.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Mecomber said...

Great photos! Thanks for taking me on a journey, once again. :)

My Photo Hunters post is up. I hope you have time to visit!

have a great weekend.

YTSL said...

Hi Criz Lai --

The Chinese Buddhist and Taoist temples that is -- not, say, the Hindu ones though! ;D

Hi "Mrs Mecomber" --

You're welcome, and thanks for electing to go on that journey. :)

stan said...

nice take on the theme!

YTSL said...

Hi Stan --

Thanks for thinking so. :)

OF SPRING AND SUMMER said...

Wonderful structures! It is always interesting with different cultures.

YTSL said...

Hi "Of Spring and Summer" --

Yes, cultural variety really can make for lots of beauty, I reckon. :)