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.
 

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Some pedestrian traffic lights in city center have been replaced by this animated LED and countdown indicator, such as this one at junction of Brewster and Cockman Street.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.

Going Red This Month

It's two more weeks to go to celebrate Chinese New Year. Red has become theme color in the Chinese community and also restaurants, coffee shops & shopping malls. Apart from red lantern, pineapple in red or yellow is also one of the favorite decoration items because it carries the close pronunciation in Cantonese and Hokkien dialect as "prosperity approaching" (旺来). In view of the busy modern life, to me, having 2 weeks to prepare for the new year celebration is consider "last minute". Anyway, while we indulge in the joyful celebration, let's not forget the unfortunates in our society and do share our brilliant moments with them.
 

A Disappointing UTC

Since the project of UTC (Urban Transformation Centre) began, I had been looking forward to return to this building of Super Kinta to recall my memory of this legendary supermarket & departmental store of Ipoh. I am not curious about what is running inside but just wish to refresh my experience in this floor. And this day has come. Upon arrival at the main entrance, the staircase that lead us to the lobby at 2nd floor still remained but dressed with nicer tiles & paint. I still feel good when reaching the reception counter because I can recognize the surrounding and trying to recall how it looked like in the past. However, when proceed further, I feel great disappointment because the previous spacious environment and tall ceiling have been replaced by just an ordinary office-like interior. And I start realize this is simply another building that bring some government service counters under one roof, whereby these departments' office are indeed not too far from here. This idea has been applied before in the Greentown Federal Building, but later many departments moved out to setup their individual building at Meru Raya. Now the similar game is being played right here. I am wondering how much taxpayer money has been spent for this white elephant project. Is this anything to do with "transformation"? Worst still I find most counters are having no visitor, leaving the government officers chit chatting in the comfortable environment.

 

Jose & Deli Eatery

This is breaking my own record in "Images of Ipoh" to have 10 photos in a single posts. Well, I just couldn't stop myself to add one after another photo to share the charming environment of Jose & Deli Eatery. It has just commenced business for about 3 weeks & I believe many still find no idea with this nice & cozy place. Probably some might aware of the recently fully renovated French Hotel at Cockman Street (Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar), which is right next to the previous Lido Cinema. And you will find Jose & Deli at 1st floor that is accessible from the main staircase from hotel lobby.

Jose & Deli is being chosen as today's buddy gathering venue after recommendation from friend. And it seems the choice was appropriate. Such a nice cafe is rarely found in Ipoh & it is grateful that we are now having a new name in our list of choice for dining & reunion. Natural light shines in from the glass window during daytime while interior light bulbs create the warm & romance atmosphere at night.

 

I could spend significant amount of time in here if to really observe the objects & decorations at every corner of the cafe. And yet there are quite some choices in the menu to indulge ourselves. This is definitely one of my favorite dining & visiting places. If you wish to explore & know more detail about Jose & Deli, this blog post is certainly a good one to read.

 



Successor of Super Kinta is Coming Soon

Many of us in Ipoh may have realized the abandoned floor of Central Market that previous housed the Super Kinta Departmental Store is recently under going intensive renovation. This is a program by the Federal Government in the name of transformation, but I am not optimistic about it because the commercial foundation of this building is no longer strong enough to guarantee sustainability of business. I am afraid this is just another project that drains the tax payers' money. I was hanging around inside Central Market this afternoon and I can see workers are busy installing new staircases accessing to the floor. However, I am a little sad when find out two of the old Super Kinta entrances have been sealed.
 

Mount Chabang

Citizens of Ipoh may have been familiar with the mountain ranges that surrounding the city. The hills & mountains are the great background of our day-to-day live. However, majority of us are not able to name the significant peaks on both Titiwangsa Range & Kledang Range. After a quick research, I find this unique peak seen from Central Market on the direction of Clare Street is Mount Chabang. And it was captured from another angle & posted in April 6, 2009.
 

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.

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.

The Board Is Gone

If you remember one of my post in April about an old board in front of Lido Cinema that used to advertise the latest showing movie, it is not gone with only the concrete pillars remained. There may be no intention to completely remove all structure because the pillars are re-painted. Perhaps a new board will be put on & it continues its mission to advertise, but not movie anymore.

Walk At Your Own Risk

This is what our local authorities can do for the citizen. If you choose to walk here, you are walking at your own risk. This kind of poor infrastructure is found everywhere in the city and I had been few times almost fell onto the road because of misstepping on these uneven tiles. There is just no accountability from the responsible department.

Empty Eyesore Building

Almost everyone in Ipoh knows this eyesore building at Cockman Street. It's a product of early 1990's where economy was picking up and new buildings & supermarkets were mushrooming. Ocean Supermarket was a big name at that time and it landed at Ipoh in this building. An office block is built on top of the 5-storey supermarket. An 11-storey car park is attached and this should be the tallest multi storey car park in Ipoh. However, the building was not well accepted and has low occupancy rate since it's completion. It is architecturally poor and with its age reaching almost 20 years, it's now an eyesore to the city skyline.

Embedded Post Boxes

New technology has changed modern people lifestyle so much in a relatively short time. Nowadays post office handles many other transactions such as bill payments than only mails. The post boxes outside of the post office may not receive as many mail as in the past. Communication with people at distance no longer relies on paper mail but through electronic devices.

Scene at Cockman Street North

Cockman Street is starting for the junction with Chamberlain Road at south and crossing two trunk roads of the city, Hugh Low Low Street & Brewster Road, ends at north junction with Anderson Road. Along the street, the two most happening spots are sections near Central Market & old cinemas at north side. Although the cinemas are no longer exist and replaced by restaurant & retail shop, but the supermarket, shopping complex & fast food restaurants around here still attracting crowd, especially foreign workers during weekend.

Wallet Court Flats

Wallet Court is one of the oldest flat in Ipoh that managed by city council. Since its establishment in 1962, the low-cost flats have gone through almost half a century. There are so many blocks lining up in 2 rows making it looked like a train when seen from higher spot. It used to be highly populated despite the very narrow houses. Waller Court does not looked to be well maintained where I can see clogged drains, litter on the floor and stainful wall. There were several proposals to upgrade the flat, among those there was one planning to transform it for commercial purpose. Somehow the plan was turned down due to strong objection from the public, especially the residents of Waller Court.

Board for Movie of Today

What movie is on today? A board standing at road side used to be displaying poster of the movie of a particular day in this cinema, Lido Cinema. However, the cinema is no longer operating and has been converted into a Chinese restaurant. The board is, therefore, lost it's purpose. Luckily it still exist to the present day despite the closure of cinema many years ago. Anyway no one can guaranty its existence in future especially when its condition further deteriorate and endanger passing by pedestrian.

The First KFC In Ipoh?

KFC is seen at almost every session in Ipoh nowadays; Silibin, Menglembu, 1st Curve, Pasir Puteh, Ipoh Garden, Gunung Rapat, Bercham, etc. But the most familiar to many Ipoh people (I mean those at the age of 30's and 40's....haha) is this one at Cockman Street. I am sure many would remember how lucky & luxury to have meal at Kentucky Fried Chicken (at those days, it's not yet called KFC). Only during special days, especially birthday, we would be able to enjoy the fried chicken over here. And this is not only the place we enjoyed food but also the favorite place for part time work during year end school holiday, especially those who had just completed the SPM or STPM examination.

This KFC is located strategically at the previous hottest spot of Cockman Street, which is surrounded by hotel, restaurant, cinema and all kind of shops. Anyway, I am not sure when was this restaurant established & was it the first KFC in Ipoh?. May be someone could enlighten me.