Funfair Nowadays

Funfair used to be very popular amusement center in Malaysia back in 1970's-80's. It's normally a mobile contingent that stays at one place for few weeks and then move to another location. The most iconic item must be the Ferris wheel which stands as tallest structure & decorated with colorful bulbs. And it was one of my favorites because this is the only chance I can view the surrounding at a higher spot. Other attractive features including merry-go-round (carousel), bumper car & pitching game stalls. However, children in modern days are more addicted in video game & other electronic amusement stuffs. Funfair like this attracts lesser and lesser visitor nowadays. I still remember the old days funfair practiced paid entry but now it's free & yet there it is not attracting big crowd.

McDonald's Is Coming To Klebang

Few months ago I heard about McDonald's will establish one outlet in Klebang but I was thinking it will not be so soon because population in this area still at moderate level. But without paying much attention at the site behind the metal plates, a building has been completed ~60% and apparently it is a McDonald's restaurant. As found from the banner this will be another drive-through outlet. It seems this famous fast food giant likes Ipoh pretty much, as judge from the number of outlets opened in recent years.

A Brighter Night of The City

As seen from the roof top car park of Kinta City Shopping Centre, Ipoh's city skyline at night is not brighter than in the past. Despite the spotlight of Sultan Azlan Shah Hockey Stadium had brightened up the skyline, colorful signs on high rise buildings in city center are also enhancing the charm of Ipoh night scene. As announced by the mayor last week, the city council has received request of constructing two new hotels at 20 storeys & 24 storeys respectively under the loosen DCA building height limit. If these projects turn true, Ipoh skyline at night should be much more attractive.

Brown Sky

This Sunday was started sunny & warm. The afternoon is just like yesterday, bright day & blue sky; just another typical hot day. However, the face of sky changes so fast in the evening. When I was staring out from the window around 6pm, the atmosphere is completely different in color; it's a yellow world out there. Everything appeared like coated with a layer of yellow powder & I have a creepy feeling like end of world. I can see clouds are getting thicker & thundering is heard. When time passes, the sky is slowly switching from yellow to brown. I am feeling like living in fantasy where this scene could only appear in fiction. And rain starts to fall when it gets completely dark.

Mount Korbu in Sunny Day

The atmosphere in Ipoh become fresher after morning rain & the view on surrounding mountains is so clear. Mount Korbu as seen from Kuala Kangsar Road at Klebang section is amazing. When I reach Klebang Ria recreation park, the beautiful blue sky with Mount Korbu at background simply form a great picture in this afternoon.

New Coating of Seri Kinta

Seri Kinta Building is more than 25 years old. As I remember it's exterior had been re-painted several times, where its original color was white. Anyway, I find this time the color matching is done right & the building looked younger than its real age.

MH Hotel At Night

MH Hotel does not have any exterior decorating spotlight at night. Therefore, except the green logo "mh" at roof top, it's a little difficult to see the building from far at night. Or else, it could be a good landmark building as it's located right beside the North Ipoh exit of North-South Expressway. Well, almost all high rise structures in Ipoh do not spotlight the building, except special occasions, some will light it on for a night or two. That's why many would find Ipoh's skyline at night is dull.

Beautiful Sunset After Rain

It was raining heavily throughout Ipoh in the afternoon. The Kledang Range is surrounded by thick clouds during sunset. I am lucky for being able to reach De Garden's car park roof level at the right time to witness this awesome scenery & amazed by the color changing of the sky.

The Other Side of Signboard

When driving along Cockman street, this signboard of The Store Supermarket is in sight after crossing Hugh Low Street junction. It used to be neon-lighted logo of Ocean Supermarket, the predecessor of this building. Anyway, the other side of this signboard perhaps very rarely seen by the public on ground because the entire Cockman Street traffic is an one-way direction towards this board. I find the iron bar structure supporting the signboard is a little messy & it's apparently a cost-saved approach since the rear side is not seen by the public.

Sunny Evening at Clarke Street

It's a sunny evening in Ipoh. Today is also a public holiday after the installation of new King of Malaysia. As usual, people tend to rush to shopping malls rather than shops in downtown. Traffic on New Town streets is quite smooth & in order. Strong sunlight shining on Excelsior Hotel. It reminds me about the massive 8.7 magnitude earthquake just happened around 4:45pm off the coast of Aceh, Indonesia. The tremors were felt in neighbouring countries including some Malaysian cities. And it shocked many people, especially those staying in high rise buildings. Anyway, Ipoh did not reported as the city that feel the tremor & everywhere seem to be peaceful & calm.

Heritage of "New Village"

In those years when British colonial government in Malaya still fighting the Malayan Communist, a huge population, mainly Chinese, at rural area had been regrouped to heavily guarded concentration camps nationwide. This was known as Brigg's Plan & these new settlements are called "New Villages". The immigrants had suffered so much for decades, especially the beginning years where they almost lost everything in their live. It has been more than 60 years & situation has completely changed after the Malayan Communist dismissed in 1989. Nowadays new villages are still Chinese community & there are about 10 located within the Ipoh city territory. Pasir Pinji is the largest among all & one of the closest villages to the city. Many houses have been rebuilt but we may still find pioneers like this. By looking at these old houses, I try to imagine how difficult was their live during the unrest period.

The Upward Growth Continues

I am standing at the same spot as in 22-Feb and snap again the view of the under-construction Tin City Hotel at Brewster Road. As I know it is planned to be a 7-storey high building but it seems the upward growth does not stop after 7th floor. I am really looking forward to see whether the appearance of entire hotel building will be integrated into the original architecture. If this is true, this building could be a masterpiece in the city.

Relieved Kinta City

Since the opening of AEON Station 18, congestion at Kinta City Shopping Centre has been so much relieved. The crowd during weekend is obviously reduced and it makes the mall a more comfortable place for shopping & leisure. Now we can enjoy visiting Kinta City without much worry about the terrible jam in car park, long queue at cashiers, full house restaurants & squeezing inside the crowd.

City Skyline from "Ocean"

I am all the while trying to look for more locations for snapping the great view of Ipoh city skyline. I have tried it on Kinta Heights, Tower Regency Hotel, Ipoh Parade, Klebang Hill & etc. Today when I pass by The Store Supermarket, I find out the multi-storey car park is, in fact, free of charge. And this is the highest car park (11 storeys) in Ipoh which Ipoh citizen normally known it as "Ocean" because it was initially constructed for the Ocean Supermarket. I realized I just find a new location for photographing. However, due to the poor maintenance, I only able to drive to its 5th floor & have to walk all the way up to the top floor. Finally there are many photos captured mainly towards the direction of east, south & west from city center. Also 2 video clips are attached for the view of Ipoh in motion.

Lam Looking Building

Whenever mention Lam Looking, most of the Ipoh citizen would always remember Lam Looking Bazaar at Laxamana Road. Perhaps some people might call it Lam Looking Building. Anyway, I just find out today Lam Looking Building is, indeed, a different building. Unintentionally I found this name at Brewster Road, opposite to Yik Foong Complex. Some small embossed letters that hardly catch people's attention is marked as "Lam Looking Building". The building is currently occupied by a furniture shop. A large area of the building is covered by signboard & therefore its complete real face cannot be seen. I really wonder any historical facts can be found on this building & am curious about its relationship with Lam Looking Bazaar.

Sun Rises Behind The Chiffon

After an all night long rain, weather turned out to be cloudy this morning. A layer of cloud hung above the eastern mountain range covering the peaks. But when the sun rises, atmosphere started to change. The cloud slowy faded away & I began to see the round sun behind the chiffon-like thin cloud.

New Observation on Pasir Puteh Road

While driving on Pasir Puteh Road from south towards city center, the architecture of buildings along the road changes from new to old. At the session closer to Pengkalan, I find shop lots in recent years' design. When reaching mid span of Pasir Puteh, where it crosses Sultan Azlan Shah Road, there are buildings in typical 90's architecture. Then I see 80's, 70's design while approaching city center. At this cross junction with Tokong Street, the feeling of 50's, 60's is seen on this shop. I just started to observe in this way recently. Probably my next move is to confirm the actual age of these shops along Pasir Puteh Road & plot a history map of it.

Qing Ming 清明 2012

The scene has not changed much since 2009 while the view on northern Kinta Valley was taken from the hill of cemetery on the Qing Ming Day. A big crowd of Chinese came to pray their ancestors at Han Jiang Cemetery (韩江义山) this morning & causing serious traffic congestion, which trapped many drivers at the mid-hill slope for about an hour.