Scenic Wonders in Ipoh!

I've been away, travelling within my own country, in the manner we locals like to call 'Cuti-cuti Malaysia' combining sight-seeing with a food trail! We travelled up north from Melaka to Perak, then to Penang Island and down south again to the Cameron Highlands in Pahang. So that's why this blog has been forsaken by its owner for weeks, who went in search of good food, lovely scenery and friendly people.

We'll start with the town of Ipoh in Perak. This year is the "Visit Ipoh" year for Malaysian tourism, so we had to test the vibes in Ipoh, of course.

These photographs were taken at Eco Park, where people go for their jog or walk, feed the catfish in the lake, catch the evening breeze. I can't believe how beautiful this time of the day is, here. I felt privileged to have captured these beautiful images of Ipoh.


The evening breeze...








A sunset made for lovers...

crafted precision
crimson burst of sunset charm
binds two hearts in love



Magical twilight time...






The next morning, from the balcony of the house of our Ipoh friends, I witnessed this beautiful sunrise. I thought this kind of scenery could only be found in far-off lands. But here it was, right in Malaysia, the layers of shades like a Chinese painting of the mountains in China...all here in beautiful Ipoh.

Reflections

What do you see

in the reflection in a lake

mirror images that beguile, or do you

reflect?

Do you ponder on the meaning

of reflections in your life

do you contemplate on the parallels

divine

Some people see the surface 

and miss entirely the depth

the beauty of mountains and skies

replicated

Who would have guessed

at the hidden treasures

that a little contemplation

reveals?

Like an artist's paintbrush
 on compliant canvas dabs

patterns of mountain and sky

expound!

The dramatic unfolding 

of a fiery sunset

or a sunrise dawn against misty mountains

reverberate...

The discovery of wonders

and the wonder of discovery

mysteries for the mind to

speculate!

Linking to:


W4W
Sensational Haiku Wednesday
Poets Rally
Watery Wednesday
Outdoor Wednesday
Share The Joy Thursday
Skywatch Friday
Haiku Heights
Haiku My Heart
Poetry Picnic

Valley of the Yellow Dragon "Fairyland on Earth''

Huanglong or Yellow Dragon Valley, in the Songpan County of Sichuan Province is a world Heritage Site which is so  beautiful that it is known as "Fairyland on Earth''. This valley resembles a yellow dragon winding its way out of the forest, when seen from an aerial view. 

When we were in Huanglong it was mid Autumn, but it might as well have been mid winter! From the plane, we could see the snow-capped mountains piercing through the clouds.That was a spectacular sight, and many of the passengers had their cameras out. There was excitement in the air!







The beauty of the mountains, the brilliant colours of the ponds and the splendour of the luxuriant forests are the inspiration for the songwriters in this region, we are told. Most of the songs they write are not love songs, but are tributes to the scenic beauty.

This is Flying Waterfall on Lotus Platform.

It was a winter wonderland that greeted us as we climbed higher up. Huanglong Valley is 3,000 metres above sea level, you see. The mountains are 5,000 metres!

 

The wooden walkways were covered with frozen ice...

Despite the snow on the ground, the sky was blue, the sun was shining.



It was all in all, a lovely place to visit. We were riding on the back of the Yellow Dragon...how much better could it get?

A Fairyland

from the forests dark
Yellow dragon surges forth
creates the River Min
to stop the disastrous floods
for this gracious deed
Emperor is beholden
the valley is blessed
a fairyland that dazzles  
 ponds' shimmering hues 
beckon and bewitch our minds
what sorcery is this 
that led my wanderings here 
what alchemy seeks 
to overwhelm my senses
I gazed, succumbed to its spell

(a choka form of the waka)




Travel-inspired-Tales

tales of legends, myths
from places where I travel
 I resolve to tell

the tales manifest
the secrets of ancient times
of beings mystic

smell the ambience
taste the local colour
sense the history

(haiku set)

Linking to:
Outdoor Wednesday
Watery Wednesday
Share The Joy Thursday
Skywatch Friday
Sensational Haiku Wednesday (Prompt : Resolve)
Poetry Picnic (Week 20)
Poets Rally (Week 59)
Weekend Reflections
Haiku Heights (Prompt: Travel)
Haiku My Heart
Scenic Sunday
Shadow Shot