10 things to do in Manjung
With Visit Perak Year 2017 rolling along at full steam, Ewe Paik Leong recommends 10 things to do in Lumut and Sitiawan, both located in the district
Masjid al adly
Located on Jalan Iskandar Shah in Lumut, the mosque has great historical significance as it was built to commemorate the transfer of Tanah Merah (now Lumut) in 1935 to Perak which was part of the Federated Malay States.
The mosque has no centre dome but three smaller domes and a two-tiered roof. The walls are of brick and the windows are tinted, suggesting a renovation from the original structure. Carpeting in the prayer hall is blue to complement the domes.
Pioneer Methodist ChurCh
In 1903, Pastor Lin Chen Mei and two other missionaries led a group of 484 Christian clans people from Fuzhou to sail to then Malaya with the aim of settling down in Sitiawan. Only 363 survived the journey.
They built the original structure of the Pioneer Methodist Church in 1905, which was later destroyed in a fire. In 1907, a new building came up. In 1927, it was replaced by the present brick building. The structure has a steeple-less side tower and its floor plan conforms to the shape of a cross.
tua Pek kong teMPle
Giant statues of deities at the entrance of this temple keep shutterbugs happy. Inside the compound, the mouth of a massive dragon leads to a passageway where scenes of hell and the torture of sinful souls are depicted on both walls.
There is also a food court which sells hawker fare and souvenirs. A kiosk sells the mind-altering weasel coffee but its prices are not for the faint-hearted. The temple is located in Jalan Pasir Panjang, Sitiawan.
Wat sitaWanaraM
Jalan Lin Chen Mei in Kampung Koh, Sitiawan is home to Wat Sitawanaram, a Thai-Buddhist temple.
The main structure showcases Thai architectural elements in the roof such as the lamyong (decorative undulating structures on the bargeboard) and chofah (finials).
A smaller shrine houses the White Tiger deity, which is of Taoist origin. Wesak Day is celebrated yearly with offerings of vegetarian meals to devotees, releasing of birds, a blood donation campaign and prayers.