56th Independence Day

It's 31st August, the Malaysian National Day. This is the day to celebrate the nation's 56 anniversary of independence. As usual, national flags are flying everywhere and parade is held in front of Town Hall in the morning.

 

Old Man Walking

Downtown of Ipoh has been changing drastically in the past 3 decades. Scene of bustling streets during years of 1970's and 80's no longer exist. For the generation that lived here for more than half a century, it would be dreary when walking with his lonely steps on the previously busy five-foot-way.
 

Hottest Character of the Day

If you don't know him, you are certainly disconnected from the modern world :) Being the hottest character nowadays, this little yellow creature Minion is seen everywhere. You can find it on balloon, stickers, smartphone cover, profile photos in social networks, school bags, t-shirt, slippers, you name it..... To be honest, it is really funny and adorable and I am also a fan of it.....LOL...... Bee do bee do bee do ~~~~~~
 

Reversed Camera?

Just wondering this a case of ignorance or lack of responsibility of the worker when fixing this traffic camera signboard. Should I consider it a "reverse camera" just because it is placed up-side-down? The work quality of our government is never on par with the facilities provided and salary given (or tax paid by the taxpayers). Under the slogan of moving towards developed nation, simple and unforgivable mistakes still occur everywhere. While we claim we are a successful country with our man travelled to the outer space, what a joke that the people on the ground still make mistakes like stone age man.
 

Eyesores are Everywhere

Performance of the city council is getting worse in maintaining the city appearance. Rubbish is found everywhere on the road, five-foot way, road shoulder, drain, garden and park. Plants and trees grown by the council years ago were not taken care and many have been missing or replaced by a little jungle like this. I have just visited the southern Thailand city of Hatyai, which I found they are doing much more better than our local authorities in keeping their city clean. What a shame to our MBI.
 

Changing Skyline

Ipoh skyline is changing in the recent years, though not a drastic one, it's still noticeable. Scene is not the same from the previous post in 2010 which taken at the same location. Cranes and buildings are rising. There are also many more new businesses and fresh ideas landing in the city. Ipoh is entering a dynamic era after decades of stagnancy.
 

Sunset, the 1000th Post

This blog have been established for more than 4 years, which I was never expected at the beginning. For many of my post, there are colourful sun rise and sun set photos. And in this post of 1000th, another beautiful painting in the sky is posted. Although the blog seemed to move a little slow due to my busy working life, but I will continue to share beautiful images of Ipoh as reciprocation to those who love to read this blog. Thank you for your support all the while :)
 

Times Square Ipoh

I bet there are still many Ipoh citizen do not aware that we have already got a Times Square in the city. It is, indeed not a new commercial centre but just renamed from previous 1-Casuarina by Team Keris. Anyway, for a place that carry the name "Times Square", it is always a landmark of trendy, elegance and glamorous. And this commercial park is certainly not on par with our expectation.
 

Tree at Station Road

The city council is planting various types of tree around the city, but I find this is one of the best, tidiest and nice looking. The tree normally don't grow oversized and its multi layer umbrella-like shape looked beautiful. Its small leaf would have reduce burden to the scavenger. And from my personal view, it could even make the historical Station Road more charming.
 

To Be Green or Developed

Most people love to live in the environment which is full of green. However, people also wish to be prosper through intensive economic growth. Manufacturing industry development is always in contrast with environment preservation. When we expand industrial estates for more factories, green has to always compromise and give way. For convenience and greed for wealth, it seems human being still do not attempt to stay at the balance point.
 

Old Clinic Signboard

I believe this old signboard has been here for few decades. It seems the operation time for old clinic was longer than present. I just wonder whether it is still operating according to this schedule. The current practice to spell clinic in Malay is "klinik" but this one still remain "kelinik" with an extra E. So this this simple board can be a collection item for those who like old stuff.
 

No Motorcycle

In most developing countries, motorcycle is usually a popular vehicle because of its affordable cost and high mobility. Due to the advantage in mobility, motorcycles always appear in almost any places, including some unimaginable locations. In order to protect people from being knocked by motorcycle, some pathways or corridors have to implement access prohibition of motorcycle.

The Walking Light

Some pedestrian traffic lights in city center have been replaced by this animated LED and countdown indicator, such as this one at junction of Brewster and Cockman Street. The device also plays sound with different pulse to indicate pedestrian of the traffic status. However, this pioneer animated LED indicator may not draw people’s attention because most of us do not walk on the street nowadays, but rather travel by motored vehicle.

A Tired Old Man

Walking at Cockman Street, we hardly see big crowds like yester years. There are only cars roaring on the road. At the entrance of previous well known IT college, Informatics, the door has been shut for many years and the scene of groups of student moving around only appear in memory. It is now a relatively peaceful place for a tired old man to sit down and take a short nap.

Last Image of the Fencing

Ipoh Parade is undergoing major renovation, transforming to be a modern shopping center. The fencing at 4^th floor car park will most probably be removed. This view on Ipoh city through the fence will no longer available. Anyway, the building management shall ensure new safety feature will be installed to prevent any possible accident.

Cycling Under The Sun

While most of us choose to drive a car, some senior citizen still prefer cycling, for one reason is that they do not have a driving license. And it is kind of torturing to cycle under the direct sunlight especially in the afternoon. Therefore, an additional arm cover and a big round hat are something must be worn in such extreme weather. In my opinion, it would be better if there also a pair of sunglasses.

 

Works Are Progressing

Ipoh has recently became an aggressive city in constructing new buildings. Different from my past experience of hearing proposal to make big buildings which ended up as drawings on paper, this time I see physical works are progressing at several locations. As seen from the location nearby Tower Regency Hotel, I can see there are three construction projects being carried out, namely the Laman Bougainvillea Convention Centre, Ipoh Parade upgrading work & The Weil Hotel. If everything running well, I shall expect very different scene right here by next year.

 



Guard Dog at The Octagon

That's right for a construction site to be a restricted area to the public. But this is my first time seeing guard dog sign to caution people from entering the compound. These pictures are snapped at construction site of The Octagon and it seems a little funny to me when find this sign of "Beware of Guard Dog" appears here. I am wondering whether they do really keep a ferocious dog inside?

 

Bright Sky

This is the dry season in Peninsula Malaysia. Although it is not cloudless day but it simply not bringing any rain for the entire day. Sometimes the layer of cloud that capture heat would make it even warmer at night. As seen this afternoon, there is no way the clouds to block strong sunlight from cooking creatures on ground. Oh I just wish we will have a downpour at soonest, it's so warm!

Never Ending Home Deco Fairs

I am wondering whether Ipoh citizens aware about this; furniture or home decoration fairs and exhibitions are like never ending show in the city nowadays. One after another home deco fair being carried out almost the entire year by different furniture galleries. Does it reflect that this is a good business or perhaps the competition is just to tough? Somehow I still find there are new galleries joining the battle to share the piece of cake, meaning that it is still a profitable business despite tough competition.

 

A Flowery Pine Tree

Although I know very little about plants and trees but I am pretty sure pine tree do not bloom with flowers as seen in this photo. It really draws my attention when I drove by Gopeng Road and find this phenomena at the first time. When approach closer, I realize it is indeed a giant bougainvillea tree growing against the pine tree that give us this unusual scene.

 

Battle between Haze and Rain

I can imagine the happy faces on most Ipoh citizens when rain starts to fall this afternoon. It was raining quite heavy at most parts of the city and it has improved the air quality tremendously. Visibility on the surrounding buildings, trees, hills & mountains is now much more better. Timing of the rain is just nice to chase away the haze. We are so lucky to get back fresh air after two days living in the choking atmosphere. Battle between haze and rain, rain wins!

 

A Cute Graffiti

I just don't know when this picture was drawn here on a side door of traditional kitchenware shop. Anyway I find it very cute and simply matching nicely with the business here. Indeed this is something we should promote in Ipoh to enhance its uniqueness. Of course it has to be quality drawing and done upon agreement of the building owner.

 

Invasion of Dust Army

And Ipoh has fallen today on the hand of dust army. The haze is covering us from the sun and blue sky while there is burning smell everywhere. The hill city became smoggy city since this morning. Even objects within a kilometre seen to be misty, just like the Weil Hotel & Tower Regency Hotel in above photos. This is a completely bad feeling when bad air quality and accumulated heat come together. Hoping this situation will disappear as soon as possible, although it is not optimistic since Singapore also suffered it for almost a week.

 

Begin of The Grey Days

It is obviously the haze of Sumatera illegal wildfire is moving north. While Singapore, southern Malaysia states, such as Johore and Malacca, have been suffering the choking air for days, Kuala Lumpur has fallen today. And Ipoh's atmosphere start deteriorating. High rise buildings are seen to be blur whereas our guarding mountains, Titiwangsa & Kledang Ranges are now hardly visible. In the last photo, we can see the background has become grey that I find it difficult to identify the outline of Kledang hills. Ipoh citizens shall be prepared to face the invasion of dust.

 

When Will The Warm Day Ends

Yes, we need rain so desperately. There have been continuously days, even weeks of warm weather. Singapore and southern Malaysia are attacked by thick haze which flew from Sumatera due to the illegal wildfire. We can hardly see big or thick cloud appear on top of us but usually a big hot sun directly burning all creatures on ground. If this warm weather prolongs, sooner or later Ipoh will be another victim of haze.

 

I Florist & Gifts

Today is the opening day of I Florist & Gifts, the shop by a friend of mine. It is now ready to meet its customers after several months of preparation which claimed sweats and tears. Well, it's not that horrible but somehow there was certainly plenty of hard work needed beforehand. I do not use to visit florist shop but it gives me very nice and warm feeling when surrounded by romantic bouquets and adorable dolls. How nice if I could own a shop like this :)

 

For any enquiries, you may reach I Florist & Gifts with the following contacts.

 

Natural Colouring Show at Medan Ipoh

This is dinner time where the sky starts to display colouring show. While the billboards begin to light on with variety of colours, I still find colours from the nature to be amazing and charming. I have witnessed the sky changes from blue to yellow, then orange, then purple-orange and finally the show ended in darkness.

Today's Meru Raya

In February last year, when the hypermarket, bus terminal & shop lots were still under construction, Meru Raya doesn't seem to be attractive. However, the central part of this township is taking shape after the completion and operation of Mydin hypermarket and Amanjaya bus terminal. Meanwhile, some of the first phase shop lots already running business while more commercial units and Casuarina Hotel & Convention Centre are set to complete by either end of the year of beginning next year. So far Meru Raya is one of the fastest growing area in Ipoh which gain special care by the state government. Nevertheless, some infrastructures are still not being well designed, constructed and managed that make the township still looked pretty messy.

 

Scar On the Hill

I am wondering why someone need to damage the hill around Ipoh while the valley has plenty of empty land for development. From Kinta City, I saw this serious scar on Kledang Hill making me sad & angry. These mountains play the role as the lung of our city and it is so beautiful to be seen as giant green belt that surrounding us. Unfortunately there are more and more construction projects, quarries have conquered the hills at Kledang Permai, Meru Raya and Lahat. I hope the authorities shall put a stop on this kind of damage and set stricter rules in preserving the hill forest.

 

Golden Wave Above Railway Station

A colourful sun set again in this evening. So happen I was passing by railway station and able to capture this photo of the famous heritage building in the beautiful natural and colourful background. However, it is regret that the Majestic Hotel has no schedule of resurrection leaving the great building only partially alive. I am worrying the unoccupied nostalgic hotel portion would deteriorate that eventually face the doom of demolition.
 

Casuarina Hotel Will Be Back Soon

Since my previous visit to the site of new Casuarina Hotel at Meru Raya one year ago, the construction seems to progress swiftly where all three blocks of the hotel are now taking shape. I believe it will be completed and commence business by early next year. This will be another landmark after PTTC Tower that welcomes visitor to Ipoh right at the northern gateway, the Jelapang exit of North-South Expressway.
 

Face Lifting Ipoh Parade

If not the renovation program kicking off, I just not aware that Ipoh Parade has been operating for more than 15 years. The face lifting project which will bring to it a completely new appearance that changes the 1990's architecture into a modern shopping mall. The artist impression is also displayed in front of the mall entrance and this new look should synchronize with the under construction Weil Hotel. The transformation started with demolition of several metal roofs on top of the building and some renovation work is also seen to take place inside the mall. I am sure this will be a great and nice looking building that could make us proud.

Rise of A New Landmark

Tower crane has moved in and setup at the site of The Majestic. The construction is entering another milestone where we will soon see the building structure rising from ground. Being one of the tallest buildings in city center, The Majestic will share the domination of Ipoh skyline upon its completion and probably become a new landmark of the city.