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Title: Welcome to Ipoh [怡保]
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:01am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Ipoh is located in the rich tin bearing valley of the Kinta River. It grew up as a mining town. During the British Colonial Era, Ipoh was the second city of Malaysia. The buses in Ipoh are decades old but it is reliable - unlike those lousy and expensive buses in Kuala Lumpur.

Title: Shoe Box Design?
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 8:52am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

Some rather odd looking shoe box buildings.

Title: Giant and Mini-Me
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:02am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A three storey building next to a shop house.

Title: The Buildings
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 8:58am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

More buildings.

Title: 1973
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:10am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A low cost residential building built in 1973. I'm not even born yet :)

Title: Biscuit Anyone??
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 8:50am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

I saw two biscuit shops in Ipoh. The famous one is Ching Han Guan Biscuit Manufacturing - pictures in Part 7B.

Title: UNIQUE
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:16am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

Five different shops with individual design.

Title: White
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:15am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

There were lots of buildings painted in white.......not sure of the reason.

Title: The Chennai Potty's
Location: Leech Street, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:16am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Strange and funny name :) This outlet is not selling toilet potty but Indian consumer goods.

Title: DISCO Mania
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 8:39am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

Ipoh city is ALIVE at night time. There were loads of karaoke, disco and massage parlour in Ipoh.

Title: Perak Kaying Association Foundation
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:17am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A Chinese association.
Read more http://www.kayinchu.org.my/perak/index.htm

Title: The Post Office
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:26am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

This post office is located right next to Ipoh Railway Station. Interesting building.

Title: Ipoh Station Square Cenotaph
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 10:00am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

The Ipoh Station Square Cenotaph commemorates those who died in the first and second World Wars. Most major towns in Malaysia (including Singapore) has a Cenotaph in memory of those who died in the world wars. These monuments were erected after the first world war, but when the second World War was finished, some amendments were made to the Cenotaph to incorporate mention of those who died in it as well. The cenotaph has the following inscriptions "Memorial to the dead of the two world wars. Sacred to the memory of the men from the state of Perak who fell in the Great War. 1914-1918. And those who died in the 1939-45 war." Source: http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/ipoh_cenotaph.htm

Title: Ipoh Railway Station - The Building 2
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:57am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

The Ipoh Railway Stations is affectionately known to locals at the Taj Mahal of Ipoh. An impressive landmark which combines Moorish architecture with modern embellishments designed by AB Hubback. The station was the second concrete building constructed in the town.

Title: Ipoh Railway Station - The Building 1
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:57am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/9.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

A MAJESTIC building.

Title: Ipoh Railway Station - The Building 4
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:31am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

A different view of the building.

Title: Ipoh Railway Station - The Building 3
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:33am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

An UP, CLOSE & PERSONAL shot.

Title: Ipoh Railway Station - Boarding Platform 2
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:38am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

This railway station is HUGE! It has multiple boarding platforms and modern facilities.

Title: Ipoh Railway Station - Boarding Platform 1
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab,Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:50am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 100

The boarding platforms are spacious. Ipoh Railway Station is one of the largest station in Malaysia.

Title: Ipoh Railway Station - Boarding Platform 3
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:36am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 100

I walked into the boarding platform without even buying any tickets! It was very quiet that morning. The next available train was going to Singapore in two more hours.

Title: Ipoh Railway Station - Grand Entrance
Location: Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 9:55am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100

Intercity trains are available in Ipoh Railway Station. Ticket fares are cheap but the trains are painfully slow! It takes more than 14 hours for the train to travel from KL Sentral to Kedah.

Title: WALL-E was here
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 8:40am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100

Can you spot WALL-E in the picture??

Title: Start Pumping
Location: Somewhere, Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Date: 6 June 2009, 8:38am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100

A small petrol station in Ipoh.

On the third day of my solo trip to Perak, I decided to explore Ipoh city by foot. I started my journey by walking all the way to Ipoh Railway Station. Along the way, I saw endless row of traditional shop houses and buildings. Also visible were groups of Bangladeshi foreign workers taking the day off to explore the city.

After walking for almost one hour or nearly 2.5km, I reached Ipoh Railway Station. The marble white building is simply beautiful and majestic. Strong Islamic and Morrish architecture influence can be seen from the building. I snapped some photos from outside before moving to the inner station.

Later, I walked across the road to Ipoh Station Square. I saw the Ipoh Tree in the middle of the square. The Ipoh Tree (Antiaris toxicarial), also known as pokok upas or pokok epu, is the tree that lend its name to the city of Ipoh. Next to the tree, there is one big cenotaph in remembrance of men from the state of Perak who fell in the two world wars.

Across the main road, there is a huge white castle that belongs to the royal family of Perak. Later, I spent another two and a half hours exploring Ipoh City. I managed to see the Birch Memorial, Belfield Street, HSBC building and a few other tourist attractions.

I was walking back to my car when I chanced upon a traditional cookie shop known as Ching Han Guan Biscuit Manufacturing. There were lots of customers that time. I move closer to survey the shop before making any purchase. The Chinese big boss is an old man wearing a simple white singlet. He was a courteous man. Customers felt at ease talking to him. On the inner part of the shop, I saw workers busy packing freshly baked cookies into small plastic bag. I bought nearly RM50 worth of Ipoh's authentic YUMMYLICIOUS cookies.

Overall, I spent three days trying to explore all places of interest in Perak. But, it seems Perak is a much bigger place than expected. I only managed to explore Taiping (Matang Mangrove Forest, Matang Charcoal Factories, Taiping Zoo and Taiping Lake Garden) and Ipoh city (Perak Tong, Sam Poh Tong, Ling Sen Tong and a few other cave temples + buildings in Ipoh city). The Buddhist cave temples are an eye opener to me. Being a humanist and nonbeliever, I was blown away with the religious rites and settings in the caves. The cave temples in Ipoh, Perak are truly amazing and far grander than Batu Caves in Selangor.

Remember to catch Part 7B for more pictures on Ipoh City.

Ipoh City - Getting There:

Most visitors reach Ipoh by car or bus. Exit the North-South Expressway (E1) at the Jelapang Interchange (Exit 141), if you're coming from Penang. If you're coming from Kuala Lumpur, exit the expressway at the Ipoh Selatan Interchange (Exit 139).

Refer to Google Maps below for more info about Ipoh's Tourist Attractions.

More Info?

Read these articles before you travel:

http://www.asiaexplorers.com/malaysia/ipoh_travel_guide.htm
http://www.peraktourism.com/
http://www.cuti.com.my/guide_perak.htm

Ipoh City Tourist Destinations - Google Maps:


View Ipoh in a larger map

3 comments

  1. Anonymous Says:
  2. We do have many excellent buildings in Malaysia!
    Too bad, people don't look after them well.
    Sad...

     
  3. shloke Says:
  4. @1ondoncalling,

    Yep, lots of buildings dated since the colonial times.

    It takes time and some extra money to restore these buildings.

    Cheers!
    mylo

     
  5. Krish Says:
  6. Hi,
    Here is the explanation why usually buildings are painted white in tropical regions - http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/05/climate-change-white-house/
    And the name Potty's is actually Pothy's in India.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pothys
    Don't know how it became Potty's in Malaysia. However it is just a brand name. Noting to do with toilet accessories.
    - Krish

     
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shloke
Traveling & photography are the most rewarding & enriching experiences in my life. Photography is all about discovery, enjoying myself, having adventure, learning people & nature. The greatest experience for me is the connection I felt with NATURE. If you haven’t seen Malaysia, you haven’t seen the world! My photography works are licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported.
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