Malaysia: Sam Poh Temple

In a torrential downpour, I dashed from the car into the gates past two golden lions and a sleepy monk into the Buddhist temple in Brinchang.

The first room housed an enormous golden Buddha flanked by a number of equally large golden characters. The main gilt-bronze Buddha statue sat at the back of the prayer room behind three smaller ivory statues, a few oranges and a packet of rice noodles. The only sound was of the heavy rain on the roof.