Visit to Kek Lok Si Temple and Air Itam Dam 2013

This the first time my niece [Thanatcha/Ee Mei] visited the Kek Lok Si Temple and Air Itam Dam, Penang during CNY 2013.  Definitely very happy looking at her photos which she wanted to post at Facebook but I think it is better to keep here for easy reference.

Below are photos of Kek Lok Si Temple

 

Here are some of the photos taken at the place with me and my hubby.

 

Bian Kee 2012 [Birthday] Prayers

Bian Kee is actually a celebration/prayer service held on the birthday of the person who has passed away.  The prayer service is consequently held over a period of 3 years from the time the person passed away.

Today is my Pa's birthday [18th day of the eleventh month] and is also the second time we had the prayers after his passing on 23 October 2011.  The first held 2 months after he passed away.  The 3rd Bian Kee [also the last] will be held on 20 December 2013.  It is believed that it is good to hold this kind of prayer service for 3 years after a person passed away.  What is the actual 'good' reason, I do not know.  But it serves as a memorial service for the beloved who has passed on.

Here are the offerings and arrangement of them which we prepared for this year prayer service in memory of  my Pa's birthday on 30 December 2012.

Mother's Birthday 2012

Today is my Ma's birthday which corresponds to the 13th day of the lunar ninth month.  She hasn't been well for the past two weeks and we did not intend to celebrate it in an elaborate way.  Yesterday, I informed one of my brothers about it, so that he can come over to the house.

I baked a small cake and prepared an 'Ang Pow' for her.  Today is a Saturday and most of us are off by afternoon.  My mum had a bowl of sesame ginger oil mee suah with pig's kidney, liver, meatballs and egg.  This is her favourite noodle supposed to be good for birthday signifying longevity.

My brother came with the family with a cheesecake from Secret Recipe.  Almost all of her children and grandchildren were in the house.  She was happy cutting the cake after we sang the Happy Birthday song and she received red packet 'Ang Pows' from her children.  Her sister in-law [my Pa's sister] also came over.

Here are some of the photos taken today.  Overall, she was happy eventhough there wasn't any grand dinner.  Most important is her children are with her today.

She wasn't prepared to take any photos otherwise she would had her hair cut and style.