Perak Tong Temple Photography Outing

It was Sunday afternoon and the plan just went accordingly. I pack up my camera and drove 20 kilometers away from home to the Perak Cave Temple. It was a steady drive as there were no traffic on Sunday along this road. I have been frequenting the Kuala Kangsar road for 15 years or so ever since I went into a private institute there until I find my job there. Until today, I was still working in that area.

Located right on the side of the main road, there is no way you could miss this tourist spot. If you happen to drive from Ipoh town or exit from the North South Expressway (PLUS) through Sungai Siput exit, you will find this temple on your right not far away from the highway exit.

Alongside of the Kuala Kangsar road, there is a whole stretch of limestone hill as you goes along it. There are several cavern along the hill side and this is one of the cavern which has transformed into a temple.

There are a lot of tourist visiting this temple during the weekend.

A Guan Yin statue standing in the middle of a lotus pond. Allright, minus the lotus okay. There used to be a lot of lotus but now the pond is completely cleared off any plants.

Monkey from the hills were among the occupants of the temple. Due to the land exploitations in the surrounding industrial area, there are no more forest to occupy these land origin forcing them to marauding around places like this, scavenging over trash bins for food. For some, looking at these monkeys would be something to mesmerized for but the fact is, these poor primates has been ripped off their home land and food by us, mankind.

A 40 foot height Buddha statue seat comfortable inside the cave entrance.

Guarded on both side of the Buddha is the Four Guardian Goddess.

There are many other goddess statues inside the cavern. Prayers would be walking around the cavern and putting up joss sticks onto each of the statues.

There is a path at the end of the cavern which connect to the back of the hill and allow people to climb up to the top of the hill. There are approximately 450 staircases to climb before reaching to the top. It may sound simple but it ain't really that easy to climb up to the top.

The staircase at the end of the cave that bring me to the back of the hill. Looking back down toward the cavern where I started my climb. That was just the beginning of the journey to the hill top of Perak Cave Temple.

At the back of the hill, there were several small huts built for relax. Climbing up here were a lil bit exhausting.

A little monastery building hidden behind the hill. Somehow, it looks like has been abandoned for quite some times already. Though I wasn't so sure what this little building is made for but it certainly not an easy to reach place. Especially to the elders. But it does amazed me that they could build this building here in the middle of the hill.

A little resting hut build on the peak of the limestone hill allow visitors to relax themselves while enjoying the scenery of the nothern part of Ipoh.

As I continues to climb higher, more and more hill slope stairs coming upon. Completing the 450 stairs isn't easy but having the pleasure to enjoy the nature surrounding tends to empowering me to continues the journey.

The final step to the hill top has come. Just a few more step !

The hill top of the Perak Cave Temple is only consist of a small area but it is nicely constructed and allow visitors to have a very clear view of the surrounding area of the nothern region of Ipoh city.

The newly built Jelapang Toll exit far at the center of the photo.

Zooming closer to the new Jelapang Toll. It has been shifted about 1 km from its original location. There has been too many vehicle crashed onto the old toll area forcing the government to move the toll away to a safer zone. Somehow, toll crash continues to strike on the newly build toll just not long after its opening. This road was very haunted.

The Tasek junction and the main road head towards Klebang and Chemor area. I saw my workplace far at the back there.

Numerous crack on the rock is a result of continous metamorphosis over thousands of year.

Some plants grow in between the limestone cracks.

Some odd looking limestone formation.

A staircase under a fallen rock. You got to squeeze yourself to go through it.

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