Poem to the Mid-Autumn Moon

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival

Poem to the Mid-Autumn Moon

By See Teik Guan

Incense smoke the midnight sky

As lighted dragons come to life

Laughter, prayers soaring high

Happy children, husband, wife

Mountains carved in moonlight sheen

Rivers rustle through the land

What finest gem within this scene

That feasts the eyes and hearts of Man

Tea imbibed with sweet delight

Lotus paste and song birds croon

Poets chart the maiden's flight

With paean to the autumn moon

Portrait of a Hidden Path

Portraits are usually representations of a person or any tangible object of interest. But how do you capture a portraiture of something which is not there - like a hidden path in the midst of a thick forest?

The sun has just broken through the storm clouds at the Penang Botanic Gardens, as I walked past the empty orchid house. On the left is a broken bridge which overlooks the valley below. As I peered into the thick undergrowth, the sun rays began to penetrate the crown of the trees above and illuminate a forgotten path lined with unkempt smaller trees and bushes.

This path was laid back in the mid 80's when there was a revamp of the park. I remember walking down the road with a group of friends during our senior high school years to scout for locations for our group portraits. We were all dressed up in long trousers and shoulder padded overcoats in the style of Miami Vice and had fun taking each other's pictures in various poses.

Today, the light that shines on this hidden path, rekindles the happy and carefree days of our youth. It's memories like this that shapes the portrait of a hidden path in our minds.

Looking Back

Looking Back

Childhood memories are like old photographs resting quietly in between the yellowed pages of a photo album; stashed away somewhere in the deep corners of forgetfulness and hidden from sight by our blind yearning for newer and happier memories. And then suddenly, they are awaken from their sleep; projecting themselves onto the canvas of our conscious minds like a repeated screening of an old movie.

Such memories can tease the tears out of our eyes - sometimes tears of joy and at other times, tears of sorrow. And as the memoriam of our childhood play on in our minds, we are cradled in warm embrace and nostalgic ambience.

As I sit under the gazebo, looking at the cluster of giant palms on the slopes of Penang Botanic Gardens, I remember the old family photographs which were taken in front of these majestic trees. It was a family outing with my parents and siblings, and we were all dressed up for the occasion. At that time, colour photography was just beginning to become a rage.

The photographs are still around, though the colours have faded slightly. But the palm trees remain alive, strong and healthy, just like the memories of that day which stay fresh in my mind.

The Sky, The Sea and The Pinang Tree

The Sky, The Sea and The Pinang Tree

Of turquoise sky and emerald sea

An island with a Pinang tree

Where clouds of white float light and free

’Tis the the place I want to be

Abundance in life, in food and play

Though prayers plied in different ways

In spirit unite, hence comes this day

A pearl in an oyster shines its rays

So here it is, come one and all

Who celebrate freedom’s auspicious call

Of tolerance and respect, together stand tall

With welcoming arms, embrace, enthrall

By See Teik Guan

Welcome to Penang, my island in the sun.

This picture was taken on a hot sunny afternoon after a bout of heavy thunderstorm the night before. The white clouds look like they have just been freshly laundered and left hanging in the clear blue sky to dry. The sea appears like emerald with textured tones and inclusions, just like what a genuine emerald gemstone should look like.

The Island of Penang, with its former name of Prince of Wales Island, has been welcoming traders and settlers from both the east and west for centuries, enriching it with a multitude of colourful culture, delicious food and a rich historical heritage. Penangites have always prided themselves for being sort of different from the rest of the country, and yet always welcoming to all, irrespective of creed or colour.

Perhaps, living together on a small island is one of the factors that gave birth to our great tolerance and respect for each other throughout all these years.

Water Lily Pond

Water Lily Pond

There have always been ghost stories about the Water Lily Pond at the Botanical Gardens, just like any other old places and buildings in Penang. It is not surprising, given that our little island has a long colourful history. There must have been at least one tragic death in each square mile of the island throughout all these years of settlement. More so since Penang was also one of the hardest hit states in Malaya during the Second World War.

The pond is located in a secluded area within the park itself, and is accessible via two parallel walking track along the river that it flows into. It is said that during the Japanese Occupation, many insurgents were brought here and executed. Walking along the dark path, which is covered above by the thick canopy of towering tropical woods, can be a solitary and daunting task. People walking ahead of you will soon be swallowed invisible by the thick greenery flanking the route, and people behind you remain as muffled footsteps and chattering murmurs.

It was during my primary school years when I first experienced the haunting effect of this famous pond. My childhood friend and I were walking halfway through the path, when we stumbled upon a newspaper cut-out, which looked like an obituary photo of a man, hanging from a branch.

Fear is like a cold spark that triggers a chain of trembling weakness throughout the sinews of the body. It's contagious too! For when I started running, my friend did too, and we both raced along the uneven track, trying to reach the main road as fast as we could. Whether we shouted or screamed, or whether we ran past the pond or not,  I could not remember. But the bone chilling experience remained in my memory until today.

If you look at the picture of the beautiful sunlit water lilies now; branching out like starburst of a firework, I bet you would not believe a single word of the story I just told you.

Or would you?

Light of Samsara

Light of Samsara

Birth, life and death. The cycle of life is captured in this picture taken at the Penang Botanical Gardens' Lily and Lotus Pond which is located at the main entrance to the park. The blooming lotus flower will soon wilt, and a pod will form, bearing seeds, thus ensuring the propagation of the species.

Alas the Sea of Samsara is vast and full of temptation and suffering. To cross it, one will need to walk the middle path to Enlightenment - a challenging but not impossible journey; for each and everyone of us has the potential to undertake this long and arduous voyage.

Gone

Gone

Back in the times when the Penang Youth Park was synonymous with roller skating, my parents used to take me and my best friend BC there during the school holidays. Those were carefree days when gliding precariously round a concrete track, wearing metal skates weighing as heavy as our school bags; was one of the most exciting events we look forward to throughout the school year.

But this picture is not about Youth Park, and the story is not about roller skates.

This picture was taken at the Botanic Gardens recently, and the story is about what happened here after one of our holiday skating sessions during that time, long ago.

On that day, my parents gave BC and I a special treat, by taking us to the nearby Botanic Gardens after skating. Both my father and mother sat under the luscious shade of this old tree, watching over us as we walked down the slopes towards the river. Suddenly a group of monkeys appeared and started to chase us. We ran as fast as we could, back up to the tree, and my father had to drive away the attacking monkeys.

It was a memorable event - both scary and exciting at the same time.

But alas, both my parents are long gone now. What remains are the beautiful memories under the comforting shade of this old, and still surviving tree at the top of the slope.