Two words:
Magnificently awesome.
My brief summary:
1. It is one of the “hidden” attractions that doesn’t show up in all the guidebooks.
2. It is certainly one of the best, though. Scenic spots all over that will take your breathe away.
3. It is where a piece of the Buddha’s Tooth is placed. That area is OB anyway.
4. There’s something holy about the place. Surrounded with mountains and greenery and sunlight. There is a temple at each of the Site, totalling Eight.
5. Go there with an open mind. Take a climb up instead of the cable car. You’ll be rewarded.
6. “Warm in winter. Cold in summer”. The climb was so warm that I had to strip my coat off many times.
7. Add touristy establishments to your itinerary. At the peak, try horse-riding; or take a Luge down to the bottom. Alternatively you could take a zip-line to the midway section.
8. Videotape going down the luge without braking except at the sharp corners… And then accidentally deleting that video. Dumb me.
9. Dinner with SSA was fabulous. Got to know fellow Singaporean students abroad.
Perfect.
Cup noodles for breakfast. There is even an egg, a real-tasting egg in this awesome 拉面 noodles.
Took the subway all the way to the end of the line, 苹果园. I ended up taking the bus to the wrong direction.
I can’t even see what’s written on the Bus Board. Damn all the ads!
And I was kind of rewarded. I’ve never see a nuclear power plant before.
And the greenery here is so lush and colourful!
Finally reached there at 12PM. I started to have wonderful exceptions of this place already.
He’s quite photogenic you know, realistic too.
Serene… Peaceful… Beautiful.
Buddha’s 2 huge feet is portrayed on this slope. I’d stroll slowly up to slowly enjoy.
Stairway leading to 灵光寺. There were (the hated) Japanese flags because of a tea-sharing ceremony.
It is understood that my colleagues dislike the Japanese because of the war atrocities. Hmmm.
These Foo Lions are quite differently designed. I had to observe closely before I realised. A story told, perhaps?
The first temple that greets you.
The Buddha Tooth Relic happened to have a halo because I wanted to capture a High Dynamic Range of the photo but I shook my camera.
Holy shit Tooth!
We are not allowed to enter the compound. And I never got to see for myself the tooth of the Buddha.
There’re little bells hanging around at the top. I didn’t even realise it until I zoomed and cropped.
The material gold creates different effects than the traditional bronze.
There are places where it is not opened to public; like an esoteric prayer hall which I tried to enter.
This is the Wall Of Sutras. I don’t chant Chinese sutras to be able to decipher what is there.
It is unbelievably 3-Dimensional! The Wall Of Arhats has so much realistic detail to it!
Look closely and you can see wrinkles, waterfalls, and so many others!
A climb up the stairs revealed this Wish-Actualisation Place. Make a wish, fulfilled, then return.
I made none though. Didn’t fully comprehend. Just bowed in respect
I neither expect to see dogs there…
There was much ground to cover and I did not stay long at one place. I’m expecting a higher climb to better scenery.
The Pond Of Goldfish really has plenty of goldfishes of different sizes. They have a 20-year life span and the myth about goldfish having a memory span of 3 seconds is busted.
The Dagoba (Stupa) is destroyed by invaders who shot at them. The remains is the foundation.
After much asking around and probing, I finally managed to find Shinnyo-En. It is nicely and quietly tucked away at 灵光寺
It was not what I had imagined to be. The place was small and unlike what’s shown on the TV live broadcast.
It was pleasing to see people bowing and paying respect. Especially families with little children.
I even did a 15-minute chanting with my prayer beads and chanting book. Apparently Shinnyo-En members came a few days ago. I left with a donation from my family and myself.
(Tea Ceremony Video)
Some tea-appreciation ceremony. Japanese kimonos, Chinese calligraphy, tea gourmets and of course, different tea are what you’d find there.
Some temple I forgot.
Look at the realism of the artwork! Amazing.
Apparently pictures of animals, waterfalls and clouds will form when water is sprayed.
It costs $5 to enter. History says that the (then) Emperor ordered for the 56 Dragons sculpture is carried all the way from the peak.
I was glad I took the hike up than taking the cable car. A trip up costs ￥50 too.
大悲寺, one of the 八大处 Eight Great Sites
A random Stone Pond? Nah there is a meaning behind all I guess.
I’d love to descend like this but I don’t know if my Haversack could come along.
But I still see so many people smoking. Oh gosh.
My first sight and experience of blossoms.
Laugh at the other botak trees. Ha.
香界寺, one of the 八大处 Eight Great Sites
If I gave you A choice, Luge or Cable Car?
Luge FTW!
Hand on my STICK 
This is what the peak is like.
Just what I hiked up all the way for. Wonderful!
That’s the horses’ shit by the way.
You could even take a horse-ride down!
Been told off not to take photos of this beautiful beast. I was in a dilemma over whether to take the horse-ride down or take the luge. When I decided however, the horses were gone.
Was being random. To my surprise when I was on the train back home they actually noticed me and asked to see the photographs I took.
The 宝珠洞 is not like a cave at all lah.
My hopes dashed. I expected a huge awesome cave with bats and all. 
.
It is big enough only for an altar and some place to meditate. It’s kind of eerie and I had to pay to enter and pay respects so I didn’t.
True enough this tower was OB.
It is a watchtower for the staff to monitor the situations at the area. They told me off.
But I was extremely glad I climbed it.
It offers me the best unobstructed view from the peak of 八大处.
I want that grape!
As the sun sets I left for my first encounter with the Singapore Students’ Association (SSA).
Was pretty excited to meet SSA for their Japanese-themed event. They’re encouraging the cosplays and stuff.
Great to be greeted with friendly fellow Singaporean students. The committee even cosplayed in Japanese clothing.
Attendees were all randomly grouped to facilitate socialisation. Fabulous idea. Didn’t have to face those clique-shy problems.
Food was quite good too. Well-spent ￥40.
The socialising. Going round making friends and knowing people. Explained our pathetic working environment and internship experience over and over.
A quick rundown: People there are prestigious scholars from different organisations being paid for their every educational expense plus monthly allowances more than ours. They are the selected elites from NUS and NTU.
Guiding the blindfolded sabo-ed person to complete the Pokemon by placing its tail correctly.
I read out a funny interpretation of the Japanese message behind passed.
Fun games. Well-thought and engaging even when some are lost in their own worlds.
(Video of Yi Wern Pikachu)
Our groupmate Yi Wern gave such detailed instructions that our member is able to complete it in less than 20 seconds. Telepathy!
President’s different expressions. Wahahha evil.
Crazy Japanese people joined in the socialising too!
I think I’ve a new interest in a photography style: Portraits.
Our group even won ourselves a prize! Woohoo.
(Video of Yam Seng)
Yam Seng!
Thanks, huh!
Xuan Yi and Sin Yi are great in finding this kinda arrangements.
A pity the other Beijing interns Joanne and Yi Ting didn’t want to join us.
Concluding speech. Thank you SSA!
(Yam Seng Video)
