Ranjit’s dream is that he gets to work in the factory again.

Ranjit is currently sitting in front of an old restaurant on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. He used to work in a nearby factory, making aluminum parts, but he was replaced after his cataracts got too heavy and he began making mistakes. Ranjit does not like being a burden on his son, who doesn’t come to see him much anymore. He says, motioning off into the distance behind me, “The boy is in Putrajaya, living in government house.” He keeps reaching out in that direction, groping around, as if he is trying to find a light swtich in the dark.

Diwali, also called Deepavali is a major Hindu festival. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” it symbolises the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind. The festival of Diwali is about harvesting. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional diyas. (from Wikipedia)

The ones I visited this weekend were at the Batu Caves here in Malaysia. Below, you will see Lord Murugan there in Gold. He s huge, standing as tall as all those steps to the top of the caves.

This is Rikah.

Rikah’s dream is for the light to triumph over the dark.

Rikah is currently celebrating Deepavali at the Batu Caves in Kuala Lumpur. She has been coming alone for the past four years ever since her husband died. She did not want to talk about that. I asked if her children ever joined her in celebrating Deepavali, and she shook her head no slowly while watching some small children run past.

This is Lisaka.

Lisaka’s dream is the same as her parents’, that she stays healthy after almost dying last year.

She is currently with her Chinese dad and Indian mom giving thanks at Deepavali. Her dad tells me how he came to the Thaipusam festival and placed hooks and ropes in his back, in a form of self-flagellation prayer that helped secure his daughter’s health for one more year. Now, he says, she is saved. He bends down and fixes her dress.

Not smart.. not smart at all…

Here are the Patronas Towers up against a few “normal sized” skyscrapers so you can see how huge they really are.

I took this first picture last night. There are a bunch of fires in Indonesians from clearing the land and all the smoke comes and settles right on Kuala Lumpur. It really sucks and it’s rough on my system. In this shot, you can see all the smoke in the air.

The second one is of a sunset on the coast.

Suma’s dream is to have his children get rich in America.

Suma is currently returning from a day of intense prayer at a Hindu shrine. He asks if I am American with a hopeful gaze. After I tell him yes, he nods appreciatively and looks like he has a thousand questions but is too shy to ask any of them.

Brad Pitt and his decidedly non-Asian features are everywhere.

Here is a Hindu father and daughter, whose head has been shaved to prepare for an important ritual. I don’t know what that ritual is, exactly, but it appeared to involve a lot of sweating and crying.

Here is a shot of the Petronas Towers on a low-cloud day.