Each year, since the old days, during the 9th Lunar Month, there is a pilgrimage where devotees from as far away as Thailand and Indonesia would visit Kusu Island to pay respect to Tua Pek Kong (Da Bo Gong).
This year, Siong Leng continues this tradition, visiting the temple on 26 Oct 13. More than a hundred participants join the evening trip to Kusu Island where Siong Leng members and devotees pay their respect to Tua Pek Kong and the resident deities with two Nanyin sacred songs.
After a light dinner, like the good old kampong (village) days, participants gathered and sat at their favourite corners of the temple while the young Siong Leng members prepared for their performance for Tua Pek Kong. Nanyin songs and music ranged from the famous old Nanyin pieces to the more modern ones comnposed by the late Mr. Teng Mah Seng, which provided the Nanyang connections to the Lao Jia back home in China.
Unlike the old days when the older folks would watch, listen and chatted amongst themselves as the musicians performed for Tua Pek Kong, this time, shutterbugs sat near to the musicians to capture the actions. Young and old, big and small cameras, and even handphones, all joined in the shooting. You could see the number of spot lights hitting the faces. (^^). Tua Pek Kong must have watched in amusement reminiscing the old days where handphones were virtually non-existent.
The older and younger members played their part in this evening of performance with a light breeze blowing through. Unknown to us, a storm bypassed Kusu Island and headed for the city.
Many who were new to Nanyin and Kusu Island too came away delighted with the experience. A feel of what it was like decades or even centuries ago. As the city moves rapidly, like the bypassing clouds carrying the storm, Kusu Island Tua Pek Kong Temple stood still. A scene of the ancient time was replayed.
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