Cross Road Dilemma

There is a coffee shop at cross junction along Pasir Puteh Road closed down. Its signboard has been removed but the old painting beneath the signboard surfaced again. Commercial units at cross road used to be popular in the past as it can be accessed & viewed from different directions. However, I find out this is not really true nowadays. With increasing vehicle & heavier traffic, major cross roads are usually installed with traffic light system & parking is prohibited at its surrounding. Almost everyone in Ipoh going out by driving nowadays. As a result, people unwilling to visit shops at those major cross roads due to the inconvenience of car parking.

An Old Milestone

Milestone tells us the distance to a particular destination and it often appeared from town boundaries and outwards. It was the time when imperial system still applied, the milestone was really "milestone" where it displayed the distance in mile. After switching to use metric system nationwide and most of the countries around the world, milestone nowadays applies metric kilometer for distance. It was the time when Ipoh was not expanded like present, the town boundaries was within current city center and some old milestones would appear in town streets. Anyway, many have been removed that almost none can be found. However, at an unexpected location along Chamberlain Road roundabout, I find this old milestone standing lonely and no longer catching road user's attention. The "130" on it must be the distance in mile to Kuala Lumpur (approximately 209km) as this is the direction heading the capital. As we may not be able to find more this kind of milestone, I hope the authorities will not remove it but leave it as a souvenir for our coming generations.

Flying To Singapore

This is my first experience of viewing aeroplane taking off from Sultan Azlan Shah Airport. The airport was once ceased operation due to the poor demand of flight between Ipoh & Kuala Lumpur. Anyway, some flights between Ipoh & Medan, Indonesia had brought the airport back to alive. Since 2009, a very strategic air route between Ipoh & Singapore established by a local budget airline, Firefly. It takes only about 1 hour 20 minutes from Ipoh to Singapore at cost as low as less than RM100 (of course, only if booked far advance) and it is now 2 trips available daily. Just for curiosity, I came to the Pasir Pinji riverside garden to witness the take off moment of morning flight. Another trip will be at 4:45pm.

Miniature Golden Gate Bridge

As part of the Kinta Riverfront project, beside building the hotel & service apartment, the developer also adding some special features along this section of Kinta River to attract visitor. Just like the Mini Harbour Bridge that was shared on 14-April-2009, this is another iron structure crossing Kinta River appeared as a mini Golden Gate Bridge.

However, it is closer to the construction site and there is still very isolated area with very little pedestrian. Therefore, the structure is not yet installed any lighting facilities and so far not many people has came to it. Whereas the Mini Harbour Bridge which is next to the food center & better equipped is more popular.

A Beautiful Skyline

Half an hour to noon, downtown is going to get very congested. However, I have to visit the Telekom Malaysia head office at Brewster Road. I was trying to avoid the frustration of heavy traffic, finding parking lot & paying parking fee, I realized a nice & free location to park the car, Kinta Riverfront's car park. I was reaching at the right time where the surrounding at St Michael School was yet to be crowded and I found plenty of parking lots at the car park. However I have to sweat a bit by walking to the destination about half a kilometer away. While walking on the east bank of Kinta River, I find a beautiful skyline by looking towards west. The 12-storey Wisma Taiko is so outstanding under the blue sky.

Rain Tree Shelter

Taiping Lake Garden is famous with its giant rain trees along the lakeside where some branches bent to touching the lake surface. In D.R. Park, there is also array of rain tree planted at the lakeside, just not as old as those in Taiping Lake Garden. Anyway, it still creates a shelter from the hot sun. Staying under the tree with breeze in the afternoon would be definitely an enjoyable and sleepy moment.

Walking Under The Sun

It is so hot when walking under the sun in the afternoon. There are barely trees or other plants on the street to shade the pedestrians. Only few particular spots in town would find big trees like this, but normally these are some isolated places. Although trees always give way for urbanization but I am sure the architects and town planners will not prefer to walk under the direct skin-burning sunlight. If they can face the challenge to build a city which is balance between green & concrete, just to put a little more thought in building design & town planning, the environment we lived will certainly become better.

Swaying Thatch

Sunny days & rainy days, grass & thatch growing rapidly under the sunshine & rain. The vacant land at forefront of Klebang Ria turns into a field of green & white. Thatch swaying in the wind, the grass field become a sea of white wave. A relaxing weekday afternoon, living free, or living useless?

Street Advertisement

Advertising along the street may not be only putting up billboard on the road side, but we also seen banners hanging on lamp posts on the street divider. About 2 weeks ago, one of the mobile communication service providers has installed advertising boards with light on the entire upstream section of Kuala Kangsar Road, from the flyover to the expressway interchange that stretch about 3 kilometers. In the city where driving is an unavoidable part of its citizen's life, street advertising would play quite an important role in commercial strategy.

Pending for Tenant

This 3-storey shoplot on downstream of Brewster Road is restored and looked nice with its original decoration patterns. Obviously, it is much better looking than the adjacent shoplots that have been changing in appearance or fully rebuilt. On further right after the blue-white abandoned building, there are 3 shoplots that only remained with the front wall still exist. That is the site of a 7-storey hotel which was mentioned in this blog on 25-Apr-2009. I would say, fortunately the project does not kick off till today. Since boutique hotel operaing in heritage building is so attractive to tourist, especially foreign visitor, if I am the owner, I would maintain the 3-storey original building for the hotel and restore it just like this one in the photo. It would be much more charming & attractive.

Storm Is Coming

It was dinner time where dark clouds were covering the sky and it seems the city will be hit by storm tonight. Strong wind was blowing along Cowan Street. Without suspicious tthere will be downpour soon and I certainly grab an umbrella before entering restaurant. However, out of my expectation, there was no rain until I finish my dinner. The only one thing I can think of is the strong wind had brought the clouds elsewhere before rain fall.

Chasing Time

The construction of MH Hotel is progressing aggressively. I can see one floor would be completed in every 2~3 days and it is now achieving 15th floor. That means only another 5 floors to be built to reach the top and it could be realized in the next 2 weeks. Recent sunny weather might have contributed to the fast moving work. Blue sky like today must be greatly welcomed by the project manager.

Homemade Almond Cookies

There are so many nice foods eaten during the Chinese New Year, from nice dishes to snacks & cookies. No wonder a lot people claim gaining weight over this festive period. Among all that I tasted, I like this homemade almond cookies the most. In recent years, most families choose to buy from the market some branded cookies & snacks rather than baking oneself. Homemade is getting less popular nowadays.

Another Repainted Hotel

After capturing the image of exterior repainted Eastern Hotel yesterday, I only realize that Fair Park Hotel is also changing appearance. It could have been done for quite some time but I just did not find out the change, moreover I was rarely using Fair Park Road during day time in the past few months. Somehow I find it looked much better with white compare to its previous yellowish color.

Eastern Hotel's New Coat

If one is familiar with the famous western restaurant in Ipoh during 1970's-80's, Cafe de Rendezvous, he or she should know Eastern Hotel as well. The restaurant has changed become Eastern's Brasserie but the hotel remains. It used to have a metal curtain surrounding the building but has been removed recently & exposing the underneath surface with scar & stain. Anyway, it is now applied with new coat that make the hotel looked newer.

Looking For A Brighter Future

Looking up, I see a nice blue sky with some scattered clouds. Although it's just another day to others, to me today is a milestone in life. Good or bad, it's hard to judge but life is a progressive journey. An end always tied to a start of another chapter. Lessons learned in every part of the journey and most importantly is to appreciate the experience gained. Let's move on for a better future!

Shower In The Evening

Yes, this is exactly what we are looking for. The sky turned dark in the afternoon & finally shower during dinner. It cools everything around us and certainly many people would have better sleep tonight.

Another Hot Day

Although the typical Chinese New Year hot weather is not very torturing for this year, the heat accumulated over the day still creating an uncomfortable warm & humid atmosphere. The sky become hazy after a busy day and sometimes getting worst when someone doing open burning. The sun is still seen quite far above the horizon despite it's already dinner time as sunset time is delayed in the begining of year.

Medical College Is Taking Shape

The construction of medical college new building at Greentown seems to achieve a milestone reaching its roof top recently. Although there should be still a lot more works to be done but its basic structure is completed. That means Ipoh is having another relatively big building taking shape and it may be a nice looking one, hopefully.

PTTC Building at Sunset

When driving along the North-South Expressway passing by Jelapang toll plaza, one would sure find this high rise building beside the expressway. It is the Perak Techno Trade Center (PTTC) as the hub for information technology development by Perak State Government. Although the building has been completed about a decade, there is no obvious purpose or contribution was found and it is said the floor occupation rate is poor due to its location at suburb which has access to nearly nothing except some housing estates. Being part of the Meru Raya township, it is believed the state government built this tower as a landmark although it could end up become a white elephant structure. Despite the lousy government management, PTTC building is quite impressive with its unique appearance (somehow the upper part makes me feel like it's a devil). Today I capture the sunset reflection from its glass wall, which I find it looks like a giant LCD display.

Sunset Viewed From The Playground

The big playground at First Garden has a wide view over the Klebang Mountain Range. I have not been coming to this field for many years. And this evening I am at a good timing to capture a colorful sunset scene right here. Unlike the past, today I am alone at this playground. Childhood experience only kept in memory & many people has left. Probably my turn soon.

Welcome The Year of Rabbit

Gone the year of tiger, we welcome the year of rabbit in Chinese calender. Today is the first day of Chinese New Year and all are wishing to have a great year ahead with healthy, wealthy & happy life!! Ipoh is certainly getting crowded at all shopping malls & restaurants. Many would choose not to get into the crowd but visiting relatives & friends at their house. The typical Chinese New Year warm weather strikes despite rainy in the past few days. Anyway, I believe many would rather like to feel the heat in this warmness moment than raining.

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Happy Chinese New Year!!

Return of The Red Lanterns

Today is the eve of lunar new year. Since weeks ago there are many red lanterns put up in residentials & shops. Some are added with decorative blinking lights making the night more charming. Children & adults are all looking forward to celebrate the Chinese New Year and traffic in the city already started getting congested. Tonight, the Chinese families will have reunion dinner with all members. Nowadays many families are growing bigger after several generations rooting in this country & the dining hall at home could be too small for reunion dinner. Therefore, restaurants in town are fully booked for the dinner.

Waning Crescent Before New Year

This is the final month of lunar calender. Waning crescent appeared in the morning meaning the month is going to end soon. It is only two more days from now to celebrate Chinese New Year. I begin to hear many people already started their holiday and going back hometown for reunion. Traffic around Ipoh seen to be slightly heavier and probably getting congested in the coming few days.