"Images of Ipoh" is 10 Years Old!!

I have been ceasing to post photos since January 2017 due to relocation of my career to Kuala Lumpur in August 2016. However, I am traveling very frequently back to Ipoh. This is a quite tiring practice and therefore I have been lacking of motivation to continue the postings. Anyway I wasn't stop taking any photo of Ipoh. So I can still post those photos back dated to maintain the continuity of this blog. It was never any expectation of how long this blog would survive when it was initiated. Coincidentally there is a very popular "10 years challenge" in the social network, which reminded me of this forgotten baby of mine. I feel so grateful that there is still comments asking me to continue posting photos here despite the inactivation for 2 years. Today, "Images of Ipoh" is reborn and I will do my best to continue sharing beautiful images of this beloved city. And this is the scene at the same shooting angle from my very first post in 17 January 2009.

Waiting in the Sun Set

Waiting......most of the time isn't a pleasure moment. However, sometimes waiting can be relaxing if there is no hurry for any events. Especially when there is beautiful and colorful sun set scene feasting the eyes, waiting, could somehow wished to be prolonged......

Restored and Move Forward

I have posted several times about this building, back in 2009 and May this year. From the very beginning as a hotel during the years when I wasn't exist in this world, to the fast food restaurant in 1980's (Gandy's, any Ipoh folks still remember?), to electrical appliances shop. The cycle of getting abandoned and occupied had been repeated several times. This building has gone through ups and downs, and recently just being restored again to become a supermarket. Amazingly, the new owner appreciates the building original architecture pretty well, where it is repainted to outline the window frames and the embossed old Chinese characters on its facade. I hope the building will be continuously well-maintained and I am sure this is one of the masterpieces in Ipoh that worth to be preserved for our future generations.

Another Sky Painting

You may think this photo has been edited of its color, but it is not. The color of the sky was truly awesome when I snap this photo. Reflection of sunlight by the clouds during sun set would create all kinds of unexpected amazing painting in the sky.

 

Wall Disappearing

In the heart of busy downtown, some upgrading and beautifying works are carried out by the city council along Osbourne Street to make this one of the most visited spots of Ipoh more charming. Underground drainage system is being rebuilt, where trenches were digged very close to the shophouses. Due to the side wall of trenches were not reinforced, and it was passing by right beside the pillars of shophouses, one of those eventually collapsed and torn down partial of the wall at upper floor. This is where my parents get to know each other and they used to stay in the upper floor decades ago.

 

An Unknown but Unique Small Forest

You may not know or not even notice that there is such a small forest locating right beside the busy Kuala Kangsar Road in this rapid growing area of Klebang. Unlike typical tropical thick forest, here you will find trees with thin and tall trunk lining up, which gives you a unique scene. Anyway, I am not optimistic of its survival in this growing area. Eventually bulldozers and heavy machineries will march in and bring them down for constructing houses or factories.

The Heritage and Modern Towers

A view from Station Road that sees the heritage tower of OCBC Bank (formerly The Straits House) and the modern tower of The Octagon. Fortunately Ipoh is not overwhelmed by modern skyscrapers, which still make heritage building prominent and outstanding.

Wanna Say "Hello" to Kitty?

Well, I just don't need to elaborate much on this photo. Apparently this is the car owned by a fan of Hello Kitty. And there are many more out there showing their loyalty to Hello Kitty with their cars. Anyway, I do like this as it always brings excitement to the public.

Social Bistro, We Are Waiting....

It was quite an exciting news when knowing Social Bistro is going to open in Old Town and contributes to its growth. However, the progress of renovation is extremely slow since 2014. And we yet to see any visible schedule of its completion and opening for business. Let's just wait and see by crossing our fingers that it won't turn halted.

Weather "Switch"

In my recent posts, there are many complaints about hot weather in Ipoh. Although the Malaysian Meteorological Department had announced more than a month ago that the effect of El Nino ended and we would experience long rainy season in the second half of 2016. It wasn't turn true which very much disappointed me, whom very fragile in fighting high temperature environment. However, the weather changed dramatically since last week, just like turning on a switch. Rainfall, or sometimes downpour, would hit the valley almost every afternoon. There were even few full raining days in the week. This has eventually removed all the accumulated heat in the past few months and return a fresh and comfort atmosphere for living.

Poor Old Man

I am not sure others realize that there are many senior citizens are collecting recyclable trash in the city. They normally picking polymer containers, papers, cartons, aluminium or other metal stuffs. Some would carry along by hands, some use trolley or tricycle. It seems they are consistently doing it. All these trashes could only bring them very tiny earning, which tells us they are most probably living in very poor and difficult situation. This reminds me of the scene that I published 2 years ago and the same question shall be asked.

We Are Number 6

This is truly a big surprise news, not just to Ipoh but the whole nation, that Ipoh is listed at sixth among the ten best Asia destinations to be visited in 2016 by Lonely Planet, a well-known international travel guide publisher. Over the years, Ipoh is probably a secondary destination of most travelers or just a pass-by city between Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Despite the increased number of tourists are plotting Ipoh in their traveling route, most Ipoh citizen do not realize the focus on this valley city. This could be resulting from the natural growth of many new tourist attraction spots without too much publicity and the effect of social networks that promote Ipoh through personal sharing. 

Ipoh has just reached a new milestone and much more effort needed from the locals to develop the tourism industry. This is a gifted home which surrounded by natural mountains & clean water falls, irreversible history & beautiful heritage, delicious food & hospitality, which would certainly impress our guests. We would go further by appreciating and appropriately utilizing these resources and advantages. Good luck Ipoh!

Looking Out from De Garden

Looking out from De Garden multi-storey car park top floor, the skyline of Ipoh city center changes significantly resulting from the completion of several high rise projects. It seems there are more buildings rose on left part of first photo as compare to the scene captured in 2013. The view continues to change but will not be impressive.

The Moment Before Storm

An afternoon storm is approaching. Thick clouds are covering almost the entire Ipoh city. Even though downpour on certain days in the past few weeks, the rainfall is pretty unpredictable and we still not fully relieved from the heat which accumulated since last few months. It's everyone's wish to chase away the sultriness and I am looking forward to having continuous rainy days soon.