Flame in the Sky of Real Hot Days....

The unusual hot days have been prolonged for more than 2 weeks due to the effect of El Nino, which not just prevents rainfall in Ipoh, but limits the amount of clouds in the sky. When direct sunlight hitting Ipoh's ground all day long, everyone feels like being grilled alive....... Look up at the sky, it often appears only some cirrus clouds, which have no way to filter any heat from the sun, and turn out like burning flame during sunset. A very symbolic scene for the recent extreme hot days.

Cloudless Sunset

The cloudless day is finally over. In order to stay away from the torturing warm and humid atmosphere, spending time (and money) in shopping centers would probably be the best solution in this Sunday.

Greeting in The Year of Monkey

The giant signboard in front of Tun Razak Library is always the platform of Ipoh City Council (MBI) posting festive greetings and publicity of the city's major events. Just not too long after the 2016 new year poster, the signboard has been replaced with a big red poster for the year of Monkey. With continuous increasing of cost of living nowadays, I wish all Malaysians Gong Xi Fa Cai (wishes of wealthy) so all of us will have prosper and peaceful life in year 2016.

Spotlight on Mount Korbu

In a sunny evening, the bright sunlight is spotlighting Mount Korbu and Titiwangsa Range which highlights the details of mountains and displays its contour and layering clearer. Such a clear picture of Mount Korbu making me feel that it is closer than other time when it only shows the online.

Octagon Has Reached Its Top

The Octagon, the 23-storey tower stood in the middle of downtown is now the tallest building in Ipoh city center. Despite the construction works still progressing, the owner has installed the sign of the building. While works continued at the interior, one iconic exterior feature still yet to be constructed, the projecting shell roof, which looked like spikes growing from the roof top. This is inherited from the famous Yau Tet Shin Bazaar, which stood at the same site last century. It should be constructed on the roof of podium and the tower.

Dataran Ipoh in a Sunny Morning

It's a beautiful sunny and peaceful morning in Ipoh. I was standing in the middle of Dataran Ipoh (Ipoh Square) taking photos and video of the surrounding, which sees the nice blue sky and some modern buildings of Greentown. This is now probably one of the best modern scenes of Ipoh city center.

Move On with Tin Tower

The first phase of Tin City project at Falim which consists of 3 and 4-storey shop houses has been completed. Although there is still no any business activity commences on these commercial properties, the project moves on to the construction of the condominium, Tin Tower. I was once skeptic about the feasibility of the high rise condominium proposal at this location, but it is now cleared after seeing these tower cranes setup at the site.

Some Close-Up Views

Most of the Ipoh citizens are living in landed properties. Therefore we use to the scene as seen from ground. Indeed, viewing from higher ground or tall building is a complete different experience. Buildings, towers, other man-made structures or even hills that used to be far apart could come into sight simultaneously and appear close to each other or overlapping. It makes the entire city suddenly shrunk into just one glance which would topple your usual impression about distance in the city.

Ipoh Skyline of January 2016

In the first month of year 2016, let's have a glance at the latest skyline of Ipoh city center from Kinta Heights. I always choose to stand at its top floor, 19th floor and snap photos from east, through north to the west. Due to the building's orientation, southeast part of Ipoh is normally out of range. As there are several high rise projects taken place or completed, the skyline seems a little different from 2 years ago. And the change continues with more high rise buildings coming up, such as Pullman Hotel, SSI Building @Ipoh SoHo, Tin Tower and the housing project at Kampung Paloh. The video at below would probably provide a better view of the city with the camera swings from west to east.

The Shadow

I have been many times standing at the top floor of Kinta Heights to enjoy beautiful skyline of Ipoh and its surrounding mountain ranges. Being too focus in looking along the horizon, I never realize it is also amazing when looking down to the ground. The slim shadow seems very different from our impression of the wide & flat building of Kinta Heights.

How Long Would It Last?

Sungai Pari Towers, one of the oldest flats in Ipoh, has been standing at Sungai Pari river bank for more than 40 years. However, it is poorly maintained in recent years and the flat is probably only 5% occupied nowadays. I overheard rumor about these buildings will be demolished, and I understand there is a plan to develop high rise housing project at Sungai Pari, Therefore, I believe this nearly half-century-old Sungai Pari Towers may disappear within a decade.

Year 2016

2015 wasn't a peaceful year where there are many unintended and shocking incidents happened around the world, and also in my personal life. Regardless of bitter or sweet experiences, life still goes on. Upon entering year 2016, we shall be better prepared for tougher challenges ahead.

Scary Damage on Tower Crane

When I passed by the Perak Stadium roundabout, something unusual caught my attention. The tower crane at Ariva Condominium site is "twisted" like a candy cane! I was wondering what kind of great force or mass could cause such damage to a tower crane. So far I can only relate to the weather condition yesterday afternoon, where the crane might be carrying some load while the strong wind was blowing. As at this point of time there is no report or relevant information available regarding this incident.

Continuous Rainy Afternoon

Year end is always a rainy season where the Northeast monsoon wind brings more rainfall. Almost same time in every afternoon the sky would turn dark and followed by downpour. Malaysia was quite badly hit by heavy rain last year end, and caused massive flood in many areas. Hopefully this will not repeat this year so we could wrap up 2015 peacefully.