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.
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.
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.
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!
There is a structure installed at Railway Station Park. Obviously this is a frame for an LED screen, if I got it right. Anyway, there is still no sign of screen installation but yet the frame itself is considered the best looking one among all LED screens in the city. Anyone ready to advertise here, or this may be reserved for the local authority only?
Today is a nice cloudy day for outdoor activities. A group of young footballers are having their training at Ipoh Padang this evening. Some of these young boys may become state or national player in the future.
Food trucks are no longer strange to Ipoh citizens. Some local and outstation food trucks often visit tourist hot spots of Ipoh to promote their unique and delicious food and beverages. If we recall the history of street hawking during 1960's, 70's & 80's, there were many mobile hawkers around the city, which appeared in much simpler setup, tricycle or three-wheel motorcycle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Everybody hates the haze from Indonesia, but it keeps haunting us in the past few days. And situation is getting worse today, where we could simply judge by naked eyes. This is really annoying........speechless......
The Indonesia forest fire is, again, causing thick haze attacking Malaysia & Singapore. From east Malaysia to Southern states of Peninsula Malaysia, the haze is now entering the atmosphere of Ipoh. The first disappearing object from our sight are the surrounding hills & mountains. High rise buildings in the city are then become a simple but straight forward indication of the situation. It seems we will be living in such hazy environment for days, or even weeks, depend on how fast the forest fire can be put out.
Located at cross junction used to be an advantage in the past for bringing more business because a cross road is normally more crowded and able to catch people's attention for numerous directions. That was true when there were more pedestrian than vehicle on the road in those old days. Situation has changed when the roads are now full of roaring motor vehicles and cross roads turn into traffic light junctions. It is now becoming dead zone where no parking is available and not people are too lazy to walk from distance. These 3-storey shophouses at Lahat Road are probably the "victim" of modernization and most are unoccupied. Eventually, it may bite the dust and replaced by some eyesore buildings, just like the one adjacent to it.
Remember the promise by Cititel Express to open by end of 2014? As there is only one more month to end the year, its current condition from exterior doesn't seem optimistic for delivering its promise. Anyway, the interior works could be progressing simultaneously and it may still make it just on time to open their door for welcoming the new year of 2015.
Cititel Express is putting up a giant banner to commit its opening by end of year 2014. The construction has reached its top floor but yet there are plenty of detail works to be done before it can open to public. It seems the hotel really need to gear up to an express mode in order to hit this aggressive target. Comparatively, the progress of Cititel Express construction is certainly ahead of another major hotel project in town, Weil Hotel, which kicked off earlier than Cititel but no sign of completion in near future.
Ipoh, the capital city of Perak State, Malaysia, is the city that tin built. Located at the famous tin mining area, Kinta Valley, it used to be the world's largest tin mine since 19th century. Not only of its tin mine, but Ipoh also famous of its delicious food, beautiful mountain ranges, mysterious lime stone caves, attractive history & friendly citizen. Being the second in Malaysia that gain the status of city in year 1988 after Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh is one of the major cities in Malaysia with the population around 700,000. Began as a small village in 1870's, tin mine industry had brought in Chinese and Indian that boosted the town development since 1890's. The rapid growing town later upgraded to be the capital of Perak during the Japanese occupation at World War II. The rich tin resource had brought prosperity to many Ipoh miners that even make it once known as the City of Millionaires. Today, Ipoh has grown to cover a large area including the neighboring township such as Bercham, Tasek, Jelapang, Menglembu, Pengkalan, Simpang Pulai & Chemor. The city is still developing continuously while maintains its beauty of nature and harmony.
We are living in a busy world. We often have no time to appreciate the moments in our daily life. Take a break, stop & look around. There are many beautiful things, although it is simple & humble. I learn to gain a better life by appreciation & would like to share the images in my world.
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