This year, Wesak Day falls on 12 May, the same day as my mom's birthday. Wesak Day marks the most important birthday among the Buddhist, as it is birthday for Buddha. For further detail, please check here for explanation from Wikipedia.
It was Friday and most importantly, a public holiday. I thought of going over to shoot some event photos. So, I headed off to Batu Cave around 9+am. Batu Cave was just about 15-20 minutes drive from my place.
I was expecting huge crowd and jam on the traffic. But, when I reached there, the crowd and traffic was no where near my expectation. In a way, that is good. At least, I need not to crawl myself out from the crowd when I want to go home later.
Parking withint the Batu Cave compound costs you RM2 per entry. (That is if you're driving a motorcar.) Also take note of this, they do not sell Energizer AA batteries around the shops there. They have only got Panasonic and Sony. I was running out of batteries, and I forgot to get myself a new set before setting off. Bad mistake to make. Fortunantely, I managed to get 4 Sony AA Batteries for just RM 10 in the cave. (Yes. They do sell merchandise in the cave!)
One more note before I share the rest of the photos I took the other day. I am getting more and more frustrated with the camera I am using at the moment. I do not have much control over the camera/photos I am taking. The exposures and color are not right at times. Not to mention that the review screen is half-gone. Only half portion of it is viewable.
I badly need a new camera! I need a sponsor!
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I don't know what the statue is called. Anyone mind telling me?
Batu Cave is not just famous for its Hindu temples and statues, I guess they're known for its monkey population too. There are bunch of monkeys caught in the act.
So, here I set my feet up to the couple of hundred steps of staircase.
"Step 263"
No particular meaning in the number. I thought this may look cool from the lens, and also after giving it some photoshop touches. I was experimenting with the various layer blending options available. But, I can't remember which is which.
To reach the entrance of the cave.. it will take you more or less 270 or so. I didn't take note of the number of steps. But the photos of these steps were taken when I was reaching the top.
Now, the entrance of the cave. Breathtaking view, isn't it?
A view with the combination of religious element and Mother Nature. Simply splendid.
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There I was, standing at the entrance, between the cave and the staircase.
For any of those who has not visited Batu Cave, or any other cave before, my word of advise is to be prepared for the wet environment. You don't come here and expect a dry cave for you. We're in a tropical country, aren't we?
You will get water dripping from the top, and water logged within the cave. Just becareful with your cameras and equipment if you were to bring one along.
Now, entering the cave, I would have less word typed and more pictures posted. I will just let the pictures do the narration.
Inside the cave...
The temples/shrines within the cave...
The statues...
More monkeys in the cave...
There is a note i must make here. While I was taking photos, there was this rare incident, happening too fast for me to record it down. Apparently there was a 'rape' case occurred in this holy place. Nah.. too exaggerating. Truth was, a male monkey was too horny, and was aggressively looking for a partner to mate. And right in front of my eyes, he grabbed the monkey beside him, and started mating. The 'victim' was screaming for her (I assume so) life. Struggled and gave up a fight a bit, before fleaing away from her predator. Wait.. could it be the case of Brokeback Cave? Well, we wouldn't know eh? I am no monkey expert.
After being rejected, that dude didn't give up hope of ending his lust. He ran towards a crowd of monkeys, in search of willing partner. Too bad for him, most of the monkeys were key witness of the 'rape' case. Fear stroke them, and they started to flea before he could even get close to them. At last, he just had to settle to eat banana. Really, not making any pun, he somehow found the fruit on the floor and started eating. I tried capturing it on the cam, but blame it to the slow start up and slow focusing, I couldn't get a clear shot. It was funny though. Rare, but funny.
While I was on my way down...
The monkeys are officially one of the attraction for Batu Cave. Even the angmo tourists are trying to get up close and personal with the star attraction!
Our star with one of the endosing commercial. Cracker ad, only in Batu Cave.
With Mother's Day being just couple of days away, we could see how much mother's love is to an infant. This pair of mother and child drew a lot of attraction.. mainly because of how the mother handled the child.
Take a closer look at the mother's hand..
It should be clearer in this pic...
"Ma, I wanna play with Ah Ming." (fictatious name)
"No, you can't.. too many people outside here-liao.."
"But, I wannna go.." (tried to slip away from mother's sight.)
"I said NO!" (pull!)
"Ouch! Okay-lah. I just stay here to let all these people starring at me-lah."
Mother's love, always a unconditional one.
Look at the numbers on the staircase, it has been reversed back to the single digit. I am back down here where I started. I was at 260++ up there, and now I am back at 0.
It was noon already. I was ready to leave..
And, I saw this other statue..
There is another temple by the side of Batu Cave. I was not sure if visitors are allowed or not. I didn't bother to check out, cos I smell like a cave. I just wanna go home and shower! Eewww..
Next cave I wish to visit? Probably Borneo's Mulu Cave.
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