Standing on a hilltop at Air Itam, near Penang Hill, Kek Lok Si is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. The temple began construction in the early 1890’s and is still going on today. The complex is divided into three zones while the temple grounds comprise the hill entrance, souvenir, food and drinks stalls and the turtle liberation pond. The mid section of the temple houses temples, gardens, the pagoda and the four heavenly kings pavilion; meanwhile the hilltop plays host to an enormous statue of the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin as well as more gardens and temples. The temple’s enclave including a pagoda and a huge statue of the Goddess Kuan Yin is prominent. Besides the monastery, a seven-storey pagoda of 10,000 Buddha images displays the essence of an eclectic mix of Chinese, Thai and Burmese architecture.

credit: Marufish

The 2014 Kia Optima refresh its face, but many people may not even notice any difference from the 2013 Optima sedan. Kia’s Frankfurt-based design team worked on the Optima’s front and rear fascias and the brand’s now signature tabbed grille. The D-segment sedan’s bold image is further accentuated by updated rear diffusers and a sweeping boot lid. The Optima also offers an updated top-of-the-line trim level, SX Limited, that includes niceties like 18-inch chrome wheels, LED fog lights, and Nappa leather upholstery. Additionally, both SX and SX Limited trims now come standard with an exclusive Drive Mode Select system that tailors transmission shift points and steering effort to your individual driving style. Pricing will be announced closer to the 2014 Optima’s launch, set in the third quarter of this year.

credit: intdev