Gua Bahagia cave temple, Gunung Lang, Perak

The name of this cave temple in Perak is written in several languages. Cave of Happiness, Gua Bahagia, Fook Phu Tong as well as Indian and Chinese characters. It is also known as Wat Phupa Rattanawarararm.

It is a Thai style temple, one of many springing up in the Ipoh area.

It is located just north of Ipoh, on the southwest side of Gunung Lang. Access is off Jln Kuala Kangsar, and there are signboards.

My first visit was in Oct 2008 and the place was painted in bright yellow. This has since faded.

2008

2014

There is no apparent cave.The temple is built along the cliff face in a rock shelter. The first shrine on the left is a Hindu one

this was the 2008 version that was in front of the vihara -

The main area consists of a row of Thai style Buddhas with altars in front -

Luang Phor Tuad on left, Ajahn Toh on right

 This one is new since 2008

 Next is a whole selection of Chinese figures

note the extra power sockets in the 2014 photo above compared to 2008 below

There is also a small resurgence which is interesting. I wonder if there is any cave passage behind

 

In the centre is a strange wall with lots of fruit 'money boxes'

I don't know who this figure is

100 baht notes!

 

the donation board

a tiny cave chamber with Phra Lersi statue

Outside a new hall is under construction -

There were a lot of rock thrush on the cliff

 Gua Bahagia register number Prk 29/13.


© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission

Jomblang Cave, Kidul, Yogyakarta, Java

Jomblang Cave is located near Semanu, which is at Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta. This is on the island of Java in Indonesia.

The cave is one of about 400 surrounding Jomblang Resort. This is quite a new resort, a green oasis in a karst landscape! It is owned by Indonesian filmmaker and caver Cahyo Alkantana. Semanu is southeast of Wonosari which is southeast of Yogyakarta.

Luwang Jomblang is connected to Luwang Grubug and the system is known as Luwang Grubug-Jomblang". It was explored by a British team in 1982 and surveyed by a Belgian-French team. For more info see Atlas of the Great Caves and the Karst of Southeast Asia Vol 40 & 65.

I haven't been into Gua Jomblang, I have only seen the entrance from the top -

A nice video of abseiling into the cave has been posted by Ricky Martin, and is called "My Assignment to Jomblang Cave.

See also Jakarta Post 11 March 2014, "Shimmering splendor of Jomblang and Grubug caves".

Batu Kurau update 2014

In July 2012 I did a blog on the barber shop at Batu Kurau in Perak. This shop is built right along the limestone rock face.

The names can be confusing, as the rock is called Batu Kurau and is located at Anak Kurau which is about 6 km from Batu Kurau town!

I was back at Batu Kurau in April 2014 so took some more photos. There have been quite a few changes.

Firstly a large new school has been built on the paddy fields between Batu Kurau town and Anak Kurau.

Major work is being done at the Sg Kurau. This river flows alongside the rock face and there used to be thick vegetation between the water and the cliff. Now it is all cleared and the river bank seems to be widened

View looking downstream across the road -

New kampong sign

Riverside café and cave

The amount of graffiti has increased. This one says River Side Café

 

The motor bike and PAS sign were there in my 2007 photos

but these seem to be 'new' pieces -

The barber shop has been painted since my last visit. I don't know if it is still used as it was closed and there were no signs

Some of the  houses in the village were also painted with this pink paint!
Batu Kurau register number Prk 59/01.

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission