The Snake Temple, Penang

Maybe we were very lucky, maybe because it was a while ago ... though we experienced the Snake Temple in a very special way. After showing a pic of the Temple and after telling these snakes were "fakes" my Harper's Bazar director-friend joined me to visit the Temple. Her scream was loud and clear when one snake looked up at her at the entrance-door of the Main Prayer Hall. I managed to convince her these creatures were "sacred" and didn't bite ... the Temple was overcrowded with snakes at that time and I was amazed ... NOT included the three snakes marked with red, for high-priced pics together with tourists!

Built in 1850 this temple is dedicated to the Goddess Char Soo Kong. It's told a Chinese monk took care of some snakes that moved into the temple when completed (also known as the Temple of Azure Cloud). He brought Char Soo Kong's statue, too. People tell that the many snakes are paralysed by the smoke of burning incense. Recommended for the intrepid visitors!

If you find yourself at one of the most popular temples, The Snake temple, then this is as close as you'll get to a snake. When the attendant place it on your head.

Unfortunatley, the other larger inhabitants are neatly tucked away under their cosy rocks. I've being there twice and nothing. Let's be honest the zoo is better.

This is a fascinating place, somewhere to go if it's quite hot as it is in shade. You can get your photograph taken draped with snakes - carefully arranged by the workers. The snakes are poisonous vipers, but the smoke from the incense burned in the temple is believed to lull them into a trance-like state and make their venom not harmful. Don't worry, they won't bite! I've had snakes around my shoulders and on my head several times at the Snake Temple and I'm still here to tell the tale!

The snake Temple was one of the stops on the round island tour.
If you don’t like snakes then perhaps this isn’t a place to visit. Although it is called the Snake Temple and there are snakes in the trees at the side of the altar, they are not all over the place. The pit vipers seem to be drugged by the heady smell of incense, which pervades the place. If you are brave (or foolish) enough, you can have your photo taken with a snake coiled around your neck and another on your head. Needless to say I didn’t bother!

During my visit in this snake temple, there is only 3 tiny little snake in the such a big temple . :(

What else can i say ?