I should say this visit was the second start of the new year. The actual first outing was to capture the super moon on January 1. It didn’t go well. First my fixed F/4, 300 mm was way to long to capture anything but the moon, and I didn’t bring another lens! Then the moon came up between two trees. I got the moon sharp, but the tree branches were soft.

So, we’ll begin my year at the Bok Kai Temple in Marysville and the Sikh Temple in Yuba City. We started with the Bok Kai Temple. Our docent Ric Lim gave our group of about 6 photographers an amazing tour. The Chinese history in Marysville is rich and still continues today. The Temple is small, but we managed to take photos anyway. He also took us to the former school house which is now a museum.

Gold is what brought the Chinese to this area many generations ago and loyalty keeps some of the older Chinese in the community. Carrying on the legacy is important. Parades are still celebrated, the Temple is open for worship and occasionally the community is called upon to pray that Marysville does not flood.

After lunch, three of us wandered into Yuba City and found the Sikh Temple of Yuba City. I found a worker and asked if we could go in. “Sure,” he said. He helped us cover our heads after we took off our shoes. I also asked if we could shoot inside. “Sure, no problem,” he said. We did eventually get asked to leave. I think it was because we were getting too close to the alter. I’m sorry we didn’t arrange for a tour which would have given us a better understanding of what we were experiencing.

Be prepared–there’s a lot to look at! This may not have been my first outing of the new year, but it was great!

This was a labor union building that is across the street from the Temple.

A cabinet full of herbs in the labor union building.

One man is recreating this mural out of concrete on the adjacent lot.

He created the pattern by dowsing.

This is a foot of the dragon.

We are going into the schoolhouse.

This dragon has led many parades. The original dragon, Mulan, was retired and now resides in a closet.

This is a sample of some of the tapestries.

These doors are inside the museum.

A closer look at one door.

The Temple entrance.

The Temple doors.

This incense cone helps prayers to up to heaven.

Inside – the back alter.

Another part of the alter.

Match sticks.

Oil lamps outside also help prayers on their way.

A gazebo near the entrance.

We’re now at the Sikh Temple.

The outside is painted blue and white.

The front door.

Inside the building.

I moved closer.

This was as close as I dared to go. I would love to know what all this means.