2010

The rains finally came to Ampang today and, poetically, it’s nice to think of it as the Emperor saying goodbye. The cosmos has regained an order, yin and yang are properly in balance and prayers for peace and prosperity have…

The week has gone by so quickly! Here we are with only two days remaining in the festival. It’s an interesting time to be at the temple – the energy is high and there’s a lot to do, but a…

The firewalking ceremony at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang is the culmination of the festival and brings the world into balance. Huge crowds turn out to witness hundreds of men cross the firepit as this is the most…

Yellow is the colour of sunshine. And, more importantly for us here, it is the colour of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival. Yellow is the oldest sacred colour of China and therefore appropriate for a ritual festival, steeped in secrets…

The Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Ampang is well underway – today is the 5th Day of the Ninth Moon. Last evening the festival seemed quiet, but that is compared to the crowds and chaos of the weekend. It was…

I dreamt last night of yellow and streaks of light in the night sky and so am glad of a day of distraction from the temple to give my imagination a rest! A couple of things happened yesterday to prompt…

Welcome to the Ninth Moon and the Nine Emperor Gods Festival!! The vendors are set up, the street food is fresh and delicious, the opera troupe is in place and the scene at the temple is smoky, smoky, smoky. Let’s…

Mr Lim has been painting lanterns at the Nine Emperor Gods Temple in Ampang since he was 19 years old – more than 50 years! He has seen a lot of changes and is proud to be part of the…