Ever since I started photography, I have always wanted to visit Batu Caves during Thaipusam. I missed it last year as I was way too inexperienced and the equipment that I have at that time is not suited for night photography. This time around, I think I have more experience and my gears are better suited for night photography.
So, there I was in KL Sentral, waiting at Platform 3 for a train straight to Batu Caves.
It was scary. An entire platform filled with people, all going to Batu Caves for Thaipusam. What's more scary is that I am the only Chinese that I can spot there. It was hard to move around. I didn't want to walk around and shove my way pass them too much as I do not want to irritate them. I see many angry faces because of the heat in the sea of people cramped in a small place and also because I feel that I am the only outsider there. Surprisingly enough, they were pretty nice people there. A few talked to me, asking what I'm doing there, am I alone, and other simple talks. It was nice.
Every train that came was already jam packed with people. We were 7 stops from Batu Caves and the train came from Port Klang. More than 20 stops before reaching us. So, naturally, we will be in deep trouble getting in. 4 trains left before I finally boarded and it was at 2.00am. I waited for almost 2 hours. People were pushing and shoving their way into the trains. They literally squeeze everyone in, all body to body, face stuck to others' faces. It was even funnier where I saw one man with his hands up holding the bar to balance himself and when the door opened, people again started to squeeze their way in and one young lady, I think in her 20's, quite pretty looking actually, she was squeezed so tightly along with a few of her friends, her face ended up stuck to the man's armpits as the door finally closed. I dont think there is any room for her to remove her face all through the 7 stops. HAHAHAHAHA... I cant help but laugh when the train left and there were actually a few others beside me who shared my view and laughed together with me. :D
A few happy faces that managed to get onto the train. Even posed for me and later waved bye to me as the train left.
Finally, I reached Batu Caves at 2.45am. It was even more of a shock to me as I stepped out of the train. Seriously I stood there stunned beside the road for a little while before I finally stepped out of it and took out my camera to start shooting. It was like I entered an express train that took only 45 minutes to reach India. I was actually scared at first, not knowing if I should hop back onto the train to go back but after waiting 2 hours for a train, it's pretty darn stupid to be doing that so, I began my adventure.
Every train that came was already jam packed with people. We were 7 stops from Batu Caves and the train came from Port Klang. More than 20 stops before reaching us. So, naturally, we will be in deep trouble getting in. 4 trains left before I finally boarded and it was at 2.00am. I waited for almost 2 hours. People were pushing and shoving their way into the trains. They literally squeeze everyone in, all body to body, face stuck to others' faces. It was even funnier where I saw one man with his hands up holding the bar to balance himself and when the door opened, people again started to squeeze their way in and one young lady, I think in her 20's, quite pretty looking actually, she was squeezed so tightly along with a few of her friends, her face ended up stuck to the man's armpits as the door finally closed. I dont think there is any room for her to remove her face all through the 7 stops. HAHAHAHAHA... I cant help but laugh when the train left and there were actually a few others beside me who shared my view and laughed together with me. :D
A few happy faces that managed to get onto the train. Even posed for me and later waved bye to me as the train left.
Finally, I reached Batu Caves at 2.45am. It was even more of a shock to me as I stepped out of the train. Seriously I stood there stunned beside the road for a little while before I finally stepped out of it and took out my camera to start shooting. It was like I entered an express train that took only 45 minutes to reach India. I was actually scared at first, not knowing if I should hop back onto the train to go back but after waiting 2 hours for a train, it's pretty darn stupid to be doing that so, I began my adventure. 
Kavadi bearers. The one thing that I would like to see most for my outing this time. Many of them carried one and many of different sizes and shapes. It was indeed interesting to see. Some where so gigantic and heavy that the bearers actually need assistants behind, holding a chair so that they can sit and rest while on their march to the cave.
Besides Kavadi bearers, there are also those that are on trance, with piercings all over their body. If I'm not mistaken, it's done I think to repay to the gods because of the blessings received or to cleanse themselves of sins committed.
These were the highlights of my trip. Seeing those piercings for myself. Have always seen them in the forum as well as magazines but never by myself. I feel the pain taking the photos but to them, it's nothing. They are in a state of a trance and feel no pain from all the hooks. The devotees were pulling themselves forward, eyes always looking at the cave. It was like they are trying their very best to reach the cave, to where the holy gods are but there were those behind them, pulling them back with the strings attached to the hooks, trying to prevent them or to slow their progress to the cave. I do not know what the meaning of doing that were but seriously, the sight was an eye opener. They were accompanied with drumbeats and religious chantings.
What scares me most about this is, the hooks arent hooked in deep into the flesh but just about 1cm or so deep. With the amount of pressure applied when the devotees pull themselves forward, along with the pressure from those trying to pull them back, I see the extend the skin stretches, I was really worried that the skin actually tears apart. WOW! That would definitely be painful, mainly for me as a spectator than to them who's in trance.
This is how they hooked the things in. During this process, I do not think that he is already in trance as I could see the pain in his face expressions when each hooks were placed into the flesh.
Finally, the shots important to take were the cleansing shots by the riverside. Devotees must first shower here, clean themselves, then make their way into the river below for another round of washing up and prayers before they are deemed clean for the possession.
OK, another funny thing that happened. The water that the kid is bathing in is actually pumped up from the river. It is not to say exactly clean but there was this fellow photographer, he is a blonde man, so I think he does not know about this water. He saw many people praying and washing themselves and he can't help it but went and washed his face. It was OK to wash his face but then he started to rinse his mouth with it. I tried to stop him but he was so happily posing with a thumbs up to his friends so, I let him be. Was funny seeing his actions though.
Besides Kavadi bearers, there are also those that are on trance, with piercings all over their body. If I'm not mistaken, it's done I think to repay to the gods because of the blessings received or to cleanse themselves of sins committed.
These were the highlights of my trip. Seeing those piercings for myself. Have always seen them in the forum as well as magazines but never by myself. I feel the pain taking the photos but to them, it's nothing. They are in a state of a trance and feel no pain from all the hooks. The devotees were pulling themselves forward, eyes always looking at the cave. It was like they are trying their very best to reach the cave, to where the holy gods are but there were those behind them, pulling them back with the strings attached to the hooks, trying to prevent them or to slow their progress to the cave. I do not know what the meaning of doing that were but seriously, the sight was an eye opener. They were accompanied with drumbeats and religious chantings.
What scares me most about this is, the hooks arent hooked in deep into the flesh but just about 1cm or so deep. With the amount of pressure applied when the devotees pull themselves forward, along with the pressure from those trying to pull them back, I see the extend the skin stretches, I was really worried that the skin actually tears apart. WOW! That would definitely be painful, mainly for me as a spectator than to them who's in trance.
This is how they hooked the things in. During this process, I do not think that he is already in trance as I could see the pain in his face expressions when each hooks were placed into the flesh.
Finally, the shots important to take were the cleansing shots by the riverside. Devotees must first shower here, clean themselves, then make their way into the river below for another round of washing up and prayers before they are deemed clean for the possession.
OK, another funny thing that happened. The water that the kid is bathing in is actually pumped up from the river. It is not to say exactly clean but there was this fellow photographer, he is a blonde man, so I think he does not know about this water. He saw many people praying and washing themselves and he can't help it but went and washed his face. It was OK to wash his face but then he started to rinse his mouth with it. I tried to stop him but he was so happily posing with a thumbs up to his friends so, I let him be. Was funny seeing his actions though.This outing has really been an eye opener for me. It was my first time taking the KTM, first time entering KL Sentral, first time to Thaipusam and witnessing this Holy event and also definitely my first big scale event done alone besides the little macro works that I do alone.
My journey started at 10.45pm from my home and I reached home again the next day at 10.30am. A total of 12 hours for me outside taking photos.
I first came home and looked at the pictures I took. I thought it was OK but it was a disaster actually. I wasted 12 hours and a good night sleep taking lousy pictures. I failed to capture the intensity and mood of the event as pointed out by fellow members from the forum. All because I did not do my homework. I did not do more research on spots that I should be in to take pictures and also the themes that I should take. Maybe next year I will tackle it again. Will use this time to gain more experience, more knowledge and maybe next year will be better. All in all, it was a good experience for me.
0 comments:
Post a Comment