Sun Set at Kuala Kangsar Road

It has been quite some time no colourful sunset photo posted in this blog. Just that I couldn't get a better scene to share. On my way to downtown after work, the colour in the sky caught my eyes. Without any delay, some photos were captured with my mobile phone before the traffic turn green :)

The Work is Almost Done

As reported, Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic is sponsored to present seven murals in Ipoh Old Town. So far, most of the murals are done, leaving the final huge one "Tin Mine" at Treacher Street, where the famous Ho Yan Hor herbal tea started its business (currently known as Hovid) still in painting process. Before this, Ernest has completed "Yellow Humming Bird", "Old Man Drinking White Coffee", "Boys in A Paper Plane", "5 Packs of Coffee" and "Waste Collecting Old Man", while he added on a new dress and a bird cage for "The Little Girl". To ease finding these murals, I make use of Google Earth to mark the locations. Hopefully this is helpful for those who wish to visit the murals without much difficulties to hunt them in Old Town.

The Flaming Sky

The sky is covered by clouds this morning. This probably could explain the reason of warm feeling because the heat accumulated after a hot day yesterday was still entrapped in the valley. It looked like flame is burning behind the clouds and steaming the Earth. As the Malaysian Meteorological Department predicts this dry season will prolong until September, most people are so uneasy and uncomfortable with the warm atmosphere. Worst still heavy haze is very likely to strike the country soon, which will cause so much inconvenience and harmfulness to health.

Arlene House, Previously Chung Thye Pin Building

Arlene House, an unfamiliar name to the Ipoh citizens. Perhaps many would recognize this building as Chung Thye Phin Building (once called Sztolee Building), which is right opposite to Burbs & Giggles Café. The 3-storey colonial style heritage building is one of its kind that is remarkable in the city. However, it had not been fully utilized for years until some renovation works carried out recently. It's has just installed with its new name, Arlene House this morning to mark a new milestone in its journey of life. With the resurrection of neighbouring shophouses, including the SPH de Silva Building, Chung Thye Phin Building will probably finds its new occupant soon. My personal opinion is that it will be best for a heritage boutique hotel and restaurant. There are more precious historical photos of Chung Thye Phin Building available in the website of Ipohworld's World, which take us back to the Ipoh of beginning 20th century.

Ipoh SoHo Phase 2

One of the focus commercial properties projects in the city, Ipoh SoHo phase 2, has been launched recently and set for completion by end of year 2016. From the completed phase 1 commercial units, the developer seemed to put good effort to deliver quality product, where it is found to be one of the closest-to-design buildings in Ipoh. Phase 2, not only offering SoHo and office suites, but also a 10-storey cylindrical-shaped office tower, the SSI Tower. If the developer maintains its constructing quality, it is foreseen Ipoh SoHo phase 2 will be a new landmark of Ipoh that welcomes its visitors from the city's southern gate.

Remember the Old Star Cinema?

When someone mention about Star Cinema, most people may remember Seri Kinta Building. The old Star Cinema building at Lower Chamberlain Road and Hussein Road might have been forgotten for long time. This old cinema is also well known as a haunted building. Its location which is lacking popularity for commercial activity can hardly succeed the business running here. From cinema to night club, the last occupant had left and leaving the building vacant for many years. Perhaps the situation begin to change since the operation of neighbouring hotel, restaurant & pub, and launching of a commercial project adjacent to it. It is seen renovation work is carried out, which probably will turn the old cinema into a new amusement centre.

Speeding Up in Making the Convention Centre

The construction of Ipoh Convention Centre is clearly entering another milestone where above ground structure will be taking shape in faster pace. Second tower crane has just been installed on site to gear up the progress. Together with The Octagon, The Majestic & Cititel Express Hotel, these new member of high rise buildings will soon changing Ipoh skyline. Moreover, there are several other projects in the pipeline that have not seen commencement of major work, such as The Signature which is right opposite to this convention centre.
 

More of Ernest's Mural in Old Town

It seems the Lithuanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic is still busy with his work in Ipoh. After completing three major paintings, i.e. "the little girl", "yellow humming bird" and "old man drinking white coffee", these are two more awesome murals appear in Old Town recently. The giant mural of "boys in a paper plane" which drawn on a 4-storey high building is extraordinarily awesome because it is so remarkable, even can be seen from the traffic light junction in front Tun Razak Library. Whereas another in progress mural in front of Maybank head office building with 5 very Malaysian-style coffee packs that kind of telling the "story of coffee drinking". Surprises are no stopping with more and more beautiful and artistic murals gifted by Ernest in Ipoh. As we know there will be all together seven murals to be completed, let's expect more to come soon.

Temple and Pagoda in Sunset

Golden sun set as seen in these photos usually seen during the evening of warm days. Scattered cirrus clouds that reflecting sunlight looked like golden flakes in the sky and this always adorn the scene of sun set. Shadow of the pagoda and Chinese temple arch is charmingly outlines its attractive decorative features in a golden background. The peaceful scene could settle down one's mind after living a busy and tiring day. 

Spikes to Avoid Birds

You may find these spikes on the HSBC building in Old Town which intend to avoid bird standing on the building structure because it will bring the very irritating bird dropping on the corridor and building surface. It is specially needed for HSBC building because there are many pigeons staying around Ipoh Padang and the fountain in front of the bank. Anyway, these spikes are not commonly seen in other buildings in Ipoh. So one may find there are very unhygienic condition of five-foot way or building surface that is contaminated by bird droppings. 

 

The View that Doesn't Look Like Ipoh

Ipoh is well known as hill city, where people's impression is there are hills and mountains always seen at the horizon. In fact, the mountain ranges at east and west are stretching from north to south, in which the flatland of Kinta Valley is getting broader from north to south. Therefore the view towards south which seen a straight line at the horizon that join the sky and Earth is completely deviated from our impression about Ipoh.

The End of An Old Grocery Shop

Lee Kwan Cheong at Leech Street (Old Town) is the oldest grocery shop in Ipoh. The 100-year old shop still maintains its very original appearance and arrangement. However, I am pretty shock to see the "for sale" banner is hanging in front of the old shop this morning. It is sad to witness the end of this century-old heritage shop closed down because the younger generation is generally not interested to run this kind of business anymore. I believe it will be unlikely to have a new owner to continue running the grocery shop. 

How Long Would the Clear Skyline Remain

A clear city skyline is still seen at the beginning of dry season. With the low civic consciousness of Malaysian, this may not last too long when the atmosphere start getting hazy resulting from the excessive carbon dioxide emission and open burning during the prolonged sunny days. Apart from this, the poor consciousness of water saving among the people will be eventually causing water supply crisis, which had badly affected the neighbouring states of Selangor and Penang just two months ago.
 

El Nino is Coming, It’s Dry Season Again

The Meteorological Department of Malaysia has predicted another round of hot & dry days from May to September. This is a long period of dry season which effected by El Nino. Despite continuous rain day since a month ago, followed by downpour at Ipoh in last two days that caused flash flood in many areas, today’s weather seems to be calm and mild. The pattern of clouds in the sky seems to be changing when observed today. Instead of rain cloud quickly formed in the afternoon, there is only normal cumulus hanging in the sky. I have a strong feeling that the warm days has begun, after experience in several rounds of weather change in recent years.

 

Some Other Ernest's Murals

While Ernest is still busying with more of his great murals in the city, these are the few that we have located. You can find all of them in Old Town, and it is always the best choice to have these paintings in Old Town, which is one of the most historical, unique and charming place in Malaysia. The greatest thing that Ernest has done is not just his gift on the wall, but his creative paintings shall inspire  our local artists of their creativity and inspiration.

 

Espressolab Greentown

Espressolab, after its first café landed in Ipoh Garden, the second one is now in Greentown. It serves really nice coffee that is rich in aroma. And this branch in Greentown is occupying an old building, probably at the age of 40 years old. Despite similar good coffee and delicious food, Espressolab Greentown is different in decoration. The chessboard background is pretty unique and attractive, which I especially like the distorted images seen from the bottle. It's really good to have one more nice café in town.

Baseball Match at D.R. Park

Talk about sports, perhaps we Malaysian are so familiar with badminton, football, basketball, tennis and hockey. It is rarely to see or hear someone is playing in baseball team. I always find baseball is popular in United States, Japan and Taiwan. Somehow today I bump into an event where several baseball teams are competing on the field of D.R. Park. It is fun to watch the matches and I can feel the youngsters are so energetic, and it reminds me of my wonderful teenage life too.