Cheryl

Datuk Shrine in Bukit Jugra with Image of Hills in Back

The Jugra Connection

July 25, 2017

This Datuk resides near Bukit Jugra, on the west coast of Malaysia, at the mouth of the Langat River. The image of the hills behind him reflects the importance of that area to Malaysian history. The Jugra hill was a…

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The Datuk – Adaptation To Place

July 25, 2017

All along the coastlines of Malaysia, at the mouths of rivers, early immigrants arrived with hopes of making a living. They found landowners willing to rent them land, tin-mine tycoons who would give them jobs, and towns and cities in…

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A red altar

How To Worship The Datuk

July 25, 2017

Datuks come from all walks of life. They are most often of Malay origin, but they can be Chinese, or Indian or Indigenous. They are most often men but sometimes women. Datuks have very individualized personalities. Many have warrior characteristics,…

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Crypt

How “The Datuk” Found A Home In Malaysia

July 25, 2017

No one really talks about the history of Datuk worship. So, what I am writing here reflects my musings on the historical geography of Malaysia and makes no claim to be “correct”. I’m taking some educated guesses. It is interesting…

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The Datuk – “Orang Bunian”

July 24, 2017

This image is of the “Orang Bunian”, considered to be a Malay spirit of the forest with strong associations to place. “Lan” means blue and “Zhou” means Fairy and this deity is often depicted as a warrior with a blue…

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A Photo With a Writing Side Angle

Gerak Geri’s beauty

April 10, 2017

Photographing intangible cultural heritage is integral to my being. “Gerak Geri” was a wonderful way to share that joy with so many friends and colleagues as we came together to appreciate the traditional performing arts in Malaysia. The power of…

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Gerak Geri Invitation in Black and White Copy

Gerak Geri

March 1, 2017

There is a therapeutic magic in the theater of rituals, a power to heal us with the echoes of ideas that carry us back through time and forward into the journey ahead. This body of work resonates with the power…

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A kid holding stacks

Nine From Hong San Si Temple in Klang

October 16, 2016

Earlier this week, I visited this lovely Nine Emperor Gods temple in Klang. It’s been around for 60 years and, by the looks of it, it’s got a long life ahead of it. With strong Buddhist influences, this temple is…

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Men walking on the street

Let the Dance Begin!

October 10, 2016

It’s only a few days until the ninth month. My world is beginning to stir with the expectation and the joy of it all. I’m going through last year’s images, just for fun, and as soon as I saw this,…

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A restaurant at night

Loong Tien Gong (The Dragon Temple)

October 5, 2016

This has to be the most mysterious Nine Emperor Gods temple that I have visited. It sits up on the hill called Bukit Mewah (Luxurious Hill) in Kajang, in a huge, modern complex that exudes prosperity. It is a beautiful…

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