raytoei@gmail.com
Veteran
"Ten Courts of Hell" at Haw Par Villa, Singapore *Viewer Discretion Advised*
When we were young and growing up in Singapore in the '80s,
our parents would inevitably bring us to the Haw Par Villa theme park.
This was a family theme park, will lots of exhibits depicting chinese
folklore and rides, and among them, the "Ten Courts of Hell" exhibit.
This exhibit is a nightmarish world of the ten levels of hell, it starts
where the dead are judged by their past deeds and then proceed to be
sentenced in the various courts and ends with a judgement on
reincarnation. This is seeped in the Tao-ist mythology.
We grew up being traumatized with this, and last Saturday, I went to
see the exhibit again. I thought it would be great to share some of the
pictures and maybe give you guys a good scare.
On the technical side:
=============
This place has the usual issues found in
photography, low light, strong contrasts, smaller subjects that needs
more emphasis, but needed the background as it forms the basis of the
story-line.
I decided to bring my M6 and for lenses, the Collapsible Summicron and
the 90mm Elmarit f2.8. For film, I brought a long two 40-exposure
Kentmere 400 pushed to iso 1600 and one roll 20-exposure roll of the
same film.
By and large, everything worked as it should, contrast was a problem as
it was overdeveloped, the next time, I will be more judicious in the
development time. Several frames were blurry, especially with the
Elmarit 90mm lens, but i found the 90mm images very creamy,
something worth exploring further.
--------------
The Ten Courts of Hell is among the various exhibits in HPV. This
warning at the entrance loosely translates as "the sea of misery has no
boundaries. repent and return to shore"
This is First Court of Hell. Here you it will be decided if you (a) Cross the
Golden Bridge because you did good (b)or the Silver bridge if your good
deeds outweighed your bad or (c) You face judgement and receive
punishment.
Those who committed grave sins are led away to face punishments in the other Courts.
This is the Second Court of Hell and here a prostitute is thrown
into the river of blood to be drowned.
-------------
You can view the full series here (with notes):
https://www.facebook.com/ray.toei/media_set?set=a.10151613795472602.1073741828.691207601&type=1
When we were young and growing up in Singapore in the '80s,
our parents would inevitably bring us to the Haw Par Villa theme park.
This was a family theme park, will lots of exhibits depicting chinese
folklore and rides, and among them, the "Ten Courts of Hell" exhibit.
This exhibit is a nightmarish world of the ten levels of hell, it starts
where the dead are judged by their past deeds and then proceed to be
sentenced in the various courts and ends with a judgement on
reincarnation. This is seeped in the Tao-ist mythology.
We grew up being traumatized with this, and last Saturday, I went to
see the exhibit again. I thought it would be great to share some of the
pictures and maybe give you guys a good scare.
On the technical side:
=============
This place has the usual issues found in
photography, low light, strong contrasts, smaller subjects that needs
more emphasis, but needed the background as it forms the basis of the
story-line.
I decided to bring my M6 and for lenses, the Collapsible Summicron and
the 90mm Elmarit f2.8. For film, I brought a long two 40-exposure
Kentmere 400 pushed to iso 1600 and one roll 20-exposure roll of the
same film.
By and large, everything worked as it should, contrast was a problem as
it was overdeveloped, the next time, I will be more judicious in the
development time. Several frames were blurry, especially with the
Elmarit 90mm lens, but i found the 90mm images very creamy,
something worth exploring further.
--------------
The Ten Courts of Hell is among the various exhibits in HPV. This
warning at the entrance loosely translates as "the sea of misery has no
boundaries. repent and return to shore"
This is First Court of Hell. Here you it will be decided if you (a) Cross the
Golden Bridge because you did good (b)or the Silver bridge if your good
deeds outweighed your bad or (c) You face judgement and receive
punishment.
Those who committed grave sins are led away to face punishments in the other Courts.
This is the Second Court of Hell and here a prostitute is thrown
into the river of blood to be drowned.
-------------
You can view the full series here (with notes):
https://www.facebook.com/ray.toei/media_set?set=a.10151613795472602.1073741828.691207601&type=1
Ranchu
Veteran
Excellent and fascinating, thank you! I repent!
:angel:
:angel:
Contarama
Well-known
I don't do Facebook because it is like the secret court of Hell or something!!!
Interesting thread...
Interesting thread...
pakeha
Well-known
interesting post for me as i lived in Singapore for a while in the 80`s.Can`t say i ever visited the 'ten courts of hell' but i sure know that Orchard road is the 11th
Chris101
summicronia
I love it. And I think Hell is making a big comeback.
rluka
Established
These bring back nostalgia.
My parents took me there when we went for vacation in the early 90s.
But in recent visits, seems like these kind of place has fallen out of the sightseeing radar in favour of the newer attractions, the Universal for example (and Peninsula Plaza, but that's for specific crowds)
My parents took me there when we went for vacation in the early 90s.
But in recent visits, seems like these kind of place has fallen out of the sightseeing radar in favour of the newer attractions, the Universal for example (and Peninsula Plaza, but that's for specific crowds)
JMQ
Well-known
Thank you for sharing Ray. I lived in Singapore in the 70s, and remember being traumatized by these scenes when we were taken this place. Brrr, still give me the chills when I looked at the photos. Nicely done in B&W.
JMQ
Well-known
Did they change the name? I somehow remember it as Tiger Balm gardens.
froyd
Veteran
What a fascinating place! Reminds me of the holy mountains of Europe with their peeling paintings and decrepit sculptures depicting scenes from the bible or lives of saints.
Monochrom
Well-known
Great!
Great!
Excellente, please post some more!!!
Great!
Excellente, please post some more!!!
Jack Conrad
Well-known
Lol... I agree.
willie_901
Veteran
Me too. If it's on Facebook I'll never see it.