9th September 2010 (Thursday)

it is the annual Deity (better call it Deity) 游神 in Tun Aminah which is the Deity that my family is praying to. yes. Religion is TAOISM.
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took a half day off so that i can go back earlier to help in the 游神.
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Mum and dad were already helping for a few days already. They arent working so it was quite okay for them to help around during this period of time because it was very busy at the temple setting up and preparing for

we were one of the few families that were really early because mum and dad were helping around at the temple.

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the still-empty temple grounds
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Huge or Big incense to burn as offerings

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the Deity that we are praying to is HUAT CHEK KONG as printed on the dragon team's shirts.

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this is our own Dragon Dance team of the temple. sometimes when we go over at night to pay our respects or to pray, they would normally be there to practice their dragon dance too.

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that's sis and brother walking outside to grab some food and drinks from those temporary stalls set up to sell food or drinks.

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they sell bubble tea, longan drink, etc.

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Brother

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Me and brother.

we brought our own towels because we knew were were going to perspire alot during the LONG LONG LONG LONG walk around the area as well as a "comforting" tool when we are carrying that "FLAG" thingy.

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Happy siblings.

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school bus!

2 school buses came.

u will know later why these sch buses are here.

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tying the red cloth to secure the incense "pot" properly so that it will not fall off because this thing will be pushed along for the whole journey

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Daddy

he has been helping around for days already. leaving really early in the morning and coming back really early in the morning too.

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first performing group to perform to the Huat Chek Kong first.

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Usually, all the performing groups that are performing for the night, they will have to perform for Huat Chek Kong at the temple first and wait at the side for the next performing group to perform, until all had performed, then they will start the whole "carnival" and will leave one by one out of the temple to the streets to perform to all those residents whom will come out and watch from the streets that we will pass by.

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still tying.

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these red cloth are also those that were used to tie Huat Chek Kong to his 轿子 where he sits and will be swung around by those carrying him. the SWINGINGS are usually really big swings and is very tiring for those carrying and therefore there will always be around 30-40 people taking turns to do so.

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stoning when i was taking pictures of them.

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there he is, sitting on his 轿子 enjoying the performance of the individual performing groups before the whole 游神 starts.

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Mum behind the counter as one of the main committee for the whole Birthday Celebration.

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her fellow "colleagues" with her. they are the FINANCE dept handling all the cash.

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Mum and Huat Chek Kong.

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all dragon & lions had to go forward into the temple to pay their respects by bowing 3 times to Huat Chek Kong as a form or respect.

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exiting the sheltered temple area after paying their respects to Huat Chek Kong.

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after paying their respects, they will start performing a short performance for Huat Chek Kong.

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girls carrying the flowers.

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these are the "flags" that we were assigned to carry as we were doing last year too.

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Sis and brother.

waiting for all performing groups to perform.

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Aunty dance groups.

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踩高跷

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paying their respect to Huat Chek Kong.

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balancing of these really HUGE flags.

really not easy ok.

especially with the strong wind blowing that day.

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going closer with the crowd

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Lion Dances.

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paying their respect to the other Lion Dance & Dragon Dance Troupe.

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this is why the school bus came!

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this cutie pies..

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Girls carrying that heavy drums

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Saying "HI" as well as respecting other troupes.

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nice curl up while waiting.

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and yet another Dragon Dance Troupe.

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Saying HI to those that were there earlier.

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fire crackers will be lit when Huat Chek Kong leaves the temple for his carnival.

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Fireworks went off toooo!

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the Indian performers.

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they are actually guys but dressed as woman when they are performing and they really dance really well! i liked them alot because they always bring a lot of the FUN element when they dance.

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took a photo with them!!

HAPPY!!!

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yes, we always had to SHUT Down or block the usage of certain roads temporary due to our 游神.

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there we are, stretching a long-long-long way.

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we used alot of all these cars to carry spot lights to shine on the performers so that their performance could be seen clearly.

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Dad was assigned to one of the leading cars right infront. Mum stayed at the Temple to wait for us to get back as she had to attend to other worshippers whom might be waiting at the Temple. We, children were carrying the "flags" for the whole journey. Sis and bro carried alot. i was walking around and only carried at the very last part of the journey. We had enough helpers so i can relax. haha. =P

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BACK TO TEMPLE!!

the interesting part and the most important part.

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Sit Huat Chek Kong properly and then we HUAT HUAT HUAT HUAT HUAT!!!

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look at the number of helpers we got to help carry Huat Chek Kong.

it was a great number of people this year.

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can u spot Daddy?

=P

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it was time to distribute the red-cloth that was used to tie Huat Chek Kong to the 轿子.

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Get a piece of the red cloth as well as the 金纸 and put it inside the car or put it at a high point in the house. serves as a amulet for good reasons.

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Wow... so many people.

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after the whole thing, we stayed behind to wait for mum and dad as they had some little things to clear or settle before we could leave.

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as we were waiting, the Owner of the 戏班 with his actresses and actors actually came down in costumes and carrying the "Guardian Angel" of the 戏班 and carried out their own way of wishing/greeting Huat Chek Kong Happy Birthday - 贺寿.

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it was an eye-opener for me because i have never seen anything like that before. the previous 戏班 didnt do this. so i asked mum and she said this 戏班 really good because they know the customs and all to follow which is really good.

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most astonished was to see the "Doll" that they carried to get blessings from Huat Chek Kong while they performed to 贺寿. it was their "guardian angel". every 戏班 would have one.

=)

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first night of 游神 completed and next will be the Dinner which we will be busy writing names and etc for those items that were put on Auction during the dinner. =)