Back To Bricks & Dust

Finally, the building at Clare Street disappeared, leaving only bricks & dust. Old Ruby cinema at adjacent may not escape the same fate if one day it cannot serve any commercial value.

Street Artist

It is not usually seen in Ipoh an artist painting on the street. Outside Kinta Heights, this man is capturing the scene of Leech Street in the morning. I am sure he still can find many other nice spots around Ipoh for painting.

Screens to Welcome Crowd

With two giants of retailing landed in Station 18, this area is now a golden triangle of southern Ipoh. A brand new AEON Jusco is going to open early next year, which is just few yards away from the currently operating Tesco. Commercial units that surrounding these two malls are now of the best valued properties in town. With expected increase of traffic along Pasir Puteh Road, two LED advertising screens are being setup at two major entrances to the Station 18 commercial park.

Good Morning Ipoh

An awesome scene of sun rise in the morning welcomes all Ipoh citizen to start their day in this beautiful city.

They Love Toys

If you think garbage truck is not worth for any decoration, then you may be wrong this time. This team of scavenger may like toys a lot. Although being dumped by their original owners, these poor bears & dragon are now enjoying their ride around the city to serve the public.

Scene at Clare Street

The scene at Clare Street is changing with this row of shop being torn down. The main structure was still intact when seen in August, but it is going down today. Looking at the broken pillars & distorted structure, I believe it will be completely demolished very soon.

The Memory Lane

This Sunday flee market used to be located at Market Terrace (Tingkat Pasar) few decades ago, probably in 1970's. There were selling second-hand or used goods. Later it was moved to People's Park and stayed for many years until a landscaping project carried out there. Finally the city council relocate the flee market to Horley Street & name it as "Memory Lane". We still see crowd on Sunday like in the past but the visitor has changed; it used to be majority local Chinese but now I see there are mostly Malay & foreign workers.

Sunset at Klebang

It's almost the end of a day. Sunlight refraction starts creating beautiful scene in the sky. The brightness above Kledang Range versus the soft reflection in the east which looked like an aurora. Although this is not a breathtaking scene but it's just an eye-catching moment.

Irresistible Display

Found your favorite characters here? Well, this is the window display of a gift shop in Ampang, Gunung Rapat. Indeed, toys are not children's privilege but also interested to the adults, especially the game characters. Well, you know what I mean, it's the Angry Birds. This is just irresistible for me to snap & share this colorful & funny scene.

New Skyline Seen from Ipoh Padang

Now it looked different when viewing from Old Town Cafe across the Ipoh Padang. In between Wisma Taiko & Islamic Bank Building, the two blocks rose from ground reaching its full height now are the Kinta Riverfront Hotel & Condominium. Ipoh city center skyline is now added with these towers which are touching the height limit of Ipoh's high rise building. When seen from a farther distance, it's clearly noticeable that Kinta Riverfront Towers are in same level with Tower Regency Hotel, sharing the crown of tallest building in Ipoh city center.

God Welcoming Ceremony

This was another long working day for me. While on the way back after dinner, I found some extraordinary crowds in downtown. I realized it immediately that was the people coming to participate a God welcoming ceremony during this Nine Emperor's Celebration. Although I am born & grown in this city, I have never witness the God welcoming ceremony for the past decades. And that moment, I decided to park my car and join the crowd. As I know the ceremony begins at the Kinta River bank near Hugh Low Bridge. On my arrival, I could see the pathway to the river was lighted up by candles & joss sticks. And when the parade started march back to the temple of Tow Boh Keong, there are scenes that had been disappearing from my life for many years resumed & recall so much of my childhood memory. This is certainly a special night of mine.

Another New Tenant at Lau Ek Ching Street

Busy workers are transforming these shops into a bistro. It's great to see a new tenant coming into Lau Ek Ching Street. I am sure this will make the street a more attractive place to visit. I am quite looking forward to see the outcome of restoration. Let's see what will it be several weeks later.

Stories of My Home Town

We probably have heard a lot of stories about the rich & famous in Ipoh since its establishment over a century ago. Stories of tycoons in the industry of tin mining, plantation, properties & so on. Those big names also marked on our road map to commemorate their contribution to the city's development. Somehow we have a chance to hear the story of the ordinary people of Ipoh, those whom might be the girl or boy next door in our life. And the stories are just like many of our experience in the early years. Thanks to a dedicated team lead by Commander Ian Anderson, a book named "Ipoh, My Home Town" is launched today. The team, which is running the website Ipoh World, has spent years to collect information & photographs of local residents and finally edited into this book, probably the first volume of it which possibly more to come in near future. I feel so grateful to have such dedicative people who put so much effort in preserving the history of life in Ipoh. I am sure this book will touch the heart of Ipohites & people from the towns at its surrounding. The launching ceremony was held in Royal Ipoh Club. It was simple but meaningful with the speech presented by Commander Ian Anderson & Tun Lim Keng Yaik. I have got my copy right here. If you like to order the book, you can visit the website of Ipoh World.

Congratulations to the team!!

Morning With The White Coffee

When first time heard about "white coffee", I believe many would have the same thought as mine in the past; is there really coffee in white color? Well, later when get to know about the real reason of calling it "white" coffee is just because the coffee bean is fried to be lighter color compare to normal bean. From knowing nothing about it until almost addicted to it, white coffee is now a must for many people in the morning, just like me :-)

Traditional Biscuit Shop, Ching Han Guan

Ching Han Guan, in Cantonese "Zhong Hon Yuin" (鍾漢元) is a well known name in Ipoh as a popular traditional biscuit shop. Founded in 1949, it has been based at Hugh Low Street for more than half a century & almost every elderly Ipoh citizen knows about it. There varieties of biscuits sold here, which attract many migrated Ipoh people come back to find their familiar tasty biscuits. Despite running traditional business, Ching Han Guan is now also found in cyber world at http://www.chg.my. And a new signboard with modern design coexists with it's original main board is telling us the traditional biscuit shop is ready to enter the new era.

The Beautiful Sunset After Work

It's a warm day with only little cloud in the sky. When driving to dinner after work, the colorful scenery at western mountain range chased away my tire. It has been quite some time I did not capture beautiful sunset like this.

Who Will Fix Me Back?

The road sign at traffic light junction in front of Kinta City Shopping Center is being knocked down by someone. It has been laying on the road divider for some time & I don't see the relevant department come to fix it back or replace a new one. This happen everywhere in the city. Apart from road signs, street lamp is also a usual victim of road accidents.

A Hope for SPH de Silva Building

As compare to the photo posted in June 2009, SPH de Silva Building has been further deteriorated today. Anyway, I find the building is recently covered at one side. Could it be some restoration work is going on? I really hope there is a new owner giving it new life & return the beauty of the building

Value of An Old Building

Metal frames are installed onto the exterior of this old shophouse at Hugh Low Street. This building used to house one of the best curry noodles in town many years ago, so called Chuan Fong (泉芳). The front side of this shop was once bang by a car & collapsed its front portion. The curry noodle stall then moved to another shop at the opposite row & this building is left vacant until today. I believe the metal frame will be carrying billboard but I have no idea the shophouse will be occupied or it just used for hanging advertisement on the exterior. If the latter is true, I feel so sad where old shophouses in town become such lack of value nowadays.

Crowd At "Dim Sum" Street Again

Leong Sin Nam Street, some also call it "dim sum" street, is getting crowded again. Visitor from outstation come to have Ipoh's famous Hong Kong dim sum. Three restaurants, Foh San, Yoke Fook Moon & Ming Court are making this street hub of dim sum & usually seen with traffic congestion around this area.

Flying National Flags, The 54th Independence Day

Yes, today is the last day of August, and it's the 54th birthday of this nation called Malaysia. Flying flags has become a tradition to celebrate the independence day. Kinta Heigths is seen with lots of Malaysia national flag "Jalur Gemilang".

A Familiar Structure

I was driving towards south and passing by Gunung Rapat. When I saw this rocket-like post & it looked so familiar. This is the same structure appears in Tasek's KFC & Pizza Hut outlet. It seems Gunung Rapat will continue with the battle of fast food, after having McDonald's, Station One, Secret Recipe, Domino's Pizza, Burger King & Old Town. Gunung Rapat, as the southern gateway to Ipoh is now growing to be another hot spot apart from Ipoh Garden, which is at the northeast.

The Shopping Craze

Long holiday, what would be the most welcome activity in Ipoh? The answer is eating & shopping. Apart from enjoying tasty local food of Ipoh, spending time in shopping mall is almost a must. As there are only handful of shopping malls in Ipoh, they usually get crowded at this time. From the fully occupied car park, obviously Kinta City is one of the hottest spots attracting Ipoh citizens & visitors.

A Special Auto Show

To promote the new cars, old generations are gathered to attract our eyes in an auto show. Nevertheless, it had really catch my attention while these old & nicely decorated cars lined up at the front car park at De Garden. Apart from attracting people, these old cars also help to gain potential customer's confidence on robustness of this brand

New Style of Desktop Advertising

Advertising on eating shop & food court tables isn't a new idea. It used to be a piece of printed poster pasted on the table. However, it is quite limited space to advertise more details & not so flexible for updating latest post. This kind of desktop advertisement had been disappearing for some time and here come a new style, as seen in this photo. Flipping cards are placed on tables. I guess it will provide sufficient information on product or service & updating new advertisement can be done anytime.

The Leaning Wall

When talking about preservation of heritage building, safety must be taken care too. Constrcution requirment at a century ago might not consider the building robustness after hundred years. We can see some buildings started to deform & leaning wall like this shoplot is usually found. Hopefully something will be done by the owner before any unwanted tragic incident happens.

Beautiful Mosque

This mosque in SPPPK Housing Estate has just been renovated & looked beautiful. It is called Al-Furqan Mosque. I find it so attractive especially under the nice blue sky with clear white clouds.

Faded Paint

The faded paint at this pillar probably can tell us how long the shoplot has been left vacant. While I was thinking this radio shop is no longer exist, I am surprise to find it has moved to the opposite row, which seen in background of this photo. By the way, the building occupancy is quite poor along this part of Anderson Road. The corridor always quiet day & night.

Construction Chased By Time

Citizens of Ipoh are all quite concern about whether this shopping mall will complete according to schedule. Since the last post about its status in July, it seems the work is progressing smoothly & the building is now growing to more than half of its planned height. To complete & open to public by February 2012, it still need some more effort & hard work.

Balloons Under The Sun

In the warm & sunny afternoon, she is walking from street to street, crossing the busiest traffic in town struggling to sell as many balloon as she can. These balloons are probably the only shade to her under the hot sun. Life is not easy, but it still goes on....

Airport Under Expansion

It had been talking for years, finally work of expansion started at Ipoh's Sultan Azlan Shah Airport. Despite argument in the community of whether to move this airport to a farther location from Ipoh city center to enable the city's high rise building development & build it bigger for international flights, or to slightly expend it in the highly populated area, the government decided to proceed with the latter. To give way for renovation, more than half of the airport terminal is closed & is operating in a poor condition. Hopefully the construction can be completed soon & appear in a new look just like the picture displayed at the site. Anyway, I believe the control tower will remain unchange.