Durian Feast

When it is durian season, this famous local fruit would certainly become irresistible to many durian lovers, who always don't mind to taste it anywhere, even alongside the street. This durian stall beside Sin Yoon Loong coffee shop is surrounded by young durian lovers that are enjoying the durian feast.

 

Colorful Fan

When the colorful fan displayed in front of an old toy shop in Leech Street, you would realize Old Town may not always looked old. Fan is probably simple & common but no doubt it's an attractive item especially when all of them spin together. I truly love this scene where old building is adorned by colors.
 

Hari Raya Decoration

Today is the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri. The streets of Ipoh are packed with vehicles while many restaurants and shopping malls are flooded with crowds. From the posting of Brewster Road at night which seen the beautiful & colorful lights, now we see the scene of day time. The green "Ketupat" is the must-have Hari Raya decorative item that normally appear in tv screen, on the street & in the greeting cards.

Busy Brewster Road At Night

Hari Raya Aidilfitri is just around the corner and the one-week school holiday begins tomorrow, many Ipohites are back to hometown today. Ipoh downtown is seen to be unusually congested tonight, especially at Brewster Road. The Muslims are out for last minute shopping to celebrate their greatest festival.

SOS

This new amusement centre which undergoing renovation is known as SOS (Sensation Of Sound). Workers are busy installing lights in the "pyramids". I believe it will change the scene of New Town when completed. It seems there are more & more fun pub & bistros opened around this area (Cowan Street) which would bring Ipoh's night more bustling.

Lonely Sun in the Morning

I always like to see "egg yolk" sun during sun rise or sun set. However, today's sun rise doesn't seem to be a pleasant scene because the "egg yolk" is indeed a result of hazy atmosphere. The sun looked so lonely in the sky because the mountains that normally accompany the sun rise are nearly disappeared.

Traditional Chinese Art Exhibition

There is a 4-day exhibition on traditional Chinese art being held at Ipoh Town Hall. Several artisits from China are presenting their painting & caligraphy & live demonstration. Although the event does not attract big crowd, it successfully drawn attention on a significant number of visitor that consist of young & elder generation.

"Hotel Setesen" is Gone

Today when I pass by Ipoh Railway Station, immediately I spot a difference on this heritage building. The signage of "Hotel Setesen (Station Hotel)" has been removed & exposing the hidden wall in a different color. Since the Majestic Station Hotel shuts down few months ago, the great building is now only less than half occupied & appeared dead especially at night. I believe most Ipoh citizens wish the railway station will regain its glorious very soon.

Waking Up Old Town

I can foresee Old Town is waking up from silence. After the launching of Sekeping Kong Heng, the under renovation SPH de Silva Building may turn out to be a boutique hotel. And not far from there, I just find out some work is going on in this old shop lot. The name of restaurant has been put up, Burps & Giggles. Although it is still under renovation but somehow I like the way it looked like at this moment. I hope the existing exterior condition will be maintained since it gives me the real taste of the old building; the feeling of traveling back to the old days.



Supper at Hillview

Many coffee shops in Ipoh downtown are not operating day & night. Those open during day time would close in late afternoon, while those open at night would start business in the evening. That's why the bustling spots are always different from day to night. Hillview cafe is one of the crowded food courts at night. The outdoor seating provides more comfortable dinning especially in the hot days. When the hotel adjacent to Hillview completed, probably next year, this area would be more lively.

Who Will Grant It New Life?

A 4-storey building at Chamberlain Road right beside the roundabout is suppose an obvious structure. As I remember it is called Wong Kok Commercial Building. However, I believe it is now a forgotten building in Ipoh. Except the ground floor units are still occupied, it seems the upper floors are mostly vacant & in bad shape. I got to know its name from the top left missing signboard. This building is less than 100m from the site of demolished Majestic Theater. While there are more & more commercial shop lots under constructor around the city, will Wong Kok building at its strategic location in city center eventually undergoing refurbishment & granted with new life, or it may just vanish like Majestic Theater?

Another Transformation Is Underway

As most of us would recall this is a bridal showroom at Cowan Street (Jalan Raja Ekram), so called Love Signature. The building was one of the popular cinemas during 1970's, Grand Cinema in Jubilee Park. After the fall of conventional cinema in 1990's, it was converted to be a bridal showroom. Until it ceased operation recently, the building is seens to have new structure at its exterior and I guess it will probably become an amusement centre.

City in the Haze

Continuous hot days has brought back the haze to Ipoh. When looking from Kinta City toward city center, the buildings almost missing from sight while we even hardly see clouds in the sky. This is certainly not a good feeling and I hope the situation will not continued for too long.