Saturday, August 11, 2012

Ipoh Heritage Walk


Hi all, I know it’s been a while since the last time I updated my blog.. Well I guess it’s just the human nature where we kind of got lazier and lazier from day to day. We will get to my life story some other time. For now, I am thinking of doing something different.
For those who didn’t know, I have been living in Ipoh, the capital city of Perak state for more than 2 years now. Ipoh it’s not that big hell of a city but yeah I still got lost once in awhile. (such a shame). And also, Ipoh is one of a heritage town back in the early 1900 in Malaya. It has gone thru a lot of changes and development of course. Well, I’m not gonna crap all bout the Ipoh’s history and stuff as I myself also not very sure bout it.. so, lets just leave that to the experts. What I gonna bring to you all is the ‘Ipoh Heritage Trail’ map 1. It has been introduced as a part of the local tourism plan back in year 2010. I went through the trail several times myself, out of sudden I got the idea to go and do it all over again and capture new pics just for u guys. ( whatddup!!)

So, it was a Saturday morning (11\08\2012)… and the journey begins…………  



1.Railway Station
For some reason, when tourists come to Ipoh, the railway station will be one of the place of interest that they were brought to. Maybe its because of the unique Moorish architecture and its also known as the Taj Mahal of Ipoh. I seriously don’t get it, as this railway station it’s not build by some lover boy to express his love towards his love one. But still, the majestic railway station of Ipoh is a must visit place. Being one of the entry ports in Ipoh, the railway station held a lot of wonderful stories back at those days. There was once the most luxurious Hotel named Majestic Hotel / Station Hotel in the Railway Station. What is so special about the hotel it’s none other than the unique elevator. Just in front of the railway station there is the Epu Tree (Pokok Epu), where the name of Ipoh derived from this kind of tree.

The picture of this cenotaph i took it last year before the renovation project started. :)
2.War Memorial
This cenotaph is built to commemorate the brave warriors during the 2nd world war and also during the Malaya insurgency. It has bronze plat which written the name of the fallen soldiers who fights for their country and freedom.

3.Town Hall And Old Post Office
The town hall and post office were attached to each other. The town hall is in the front and the post office at the back. But somehow the post office no longer using that building and it was shifted to somewhere else. Anyway, the town hall is still functioning. The public can actually use the hall for various ceremony and celebration with prior booking. I happened to know that last time the town hall was a police station. And sumthing very cool bout it is, there was actually an underground tunnel that links from the town hall to the high court across the street. How far it is true? I wish I could find it out for myself.

4.High Court
Before it was used as a high court back during the occupation period, this building actually is the residence of the malay chief in Ipoh. Fun fact : the high court, Town hall and also the railway station of Ipoh was actually built by the same English architect, A.B. Hubback. He also was the architect for the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station as well. Therefore we all can actually see the similarity between these buildings.


 5.Royal Ipoh Club
The oldest club in Ipoh. Founded back in 1895 (was actually much earlier than that). It was known as ‘IPOH CLUB’ back at the early days. Where it was the ‘all white club’. Only the Englishmen were accepted as members of the club. It was a very luxurious club where all the whites will come here for their entertainment or had their meals. At the back of the club was an open field (Ipoh Padang) which still exists until today. Crickets was the most popular game during that time and while the guys playing on the field, the ladies will be sitting on top while sipping their cup of coffee or tea watching their men on the field.
During the Japanese occupation, the Japanese invaded this club and uses it as a laundry house for the Japanese army. A very unique long bar table in the club were destroyed and used as the fire wood by the Japanese. 



6.Church Of St.John The Divine
This morning, its my 1st time ever entering this church. The gardener of the church kindly letting me in to snap a few pictures of the church. It is old, but still well preserved. After I took a few pictures of it, I stayed for a little longer to enjoy the peaceful environment of the morning. 

Anyway, a little fact.. this church was once used by the Japanese as a noodle factory. I was thinking, the Japanese indeed was a bad ass back at the war period. But now, Japan is such a cool country and we Malaysian actually love Japan. The food, the culture, the porns. (opps~~)

 7.St.Michael’s Institution
One of a la salle’s school. This school holds a memorable history since its establishment in the year 1912. Started by a la salle’s brother with only 12 students in a small wooden hut. During the Japanese occupation, this school was used as the administrative centre by the japs. Today, St.Michael Institution is one of the top secondary school in Perak. As always, all boys school somehow will still have some disciplinary problems. But still, the excellent academic results are remained. Just like St.Anthony School in Teluk Intan, Perak. (take some opportunity to sale SASTI)


8.Town Padang Mosque

9.F.M.S Bar & Restaurant
Founded in 1906 by a Hainanese brothers. F.M.S basically means ‘Federated Malay States’ bar. But the locals called it as the ‘Father Mother Son’ café. It serves one of the best western food and other Chinese food as well. It was a very popular café among the local residence and also the Englishmen during the british colonial era. Unfortunately, it has been closed down for renovation. When I started came to ipoh in year 2010, the building was already closed down and up until today, the café is still closed. But one thing different from the first time I saw this shop is they already painted it yellow. It was blue in colour back in year 2010. Lol.

10.Hongkong & Shanghai BankThis building was once the tallest building back in the 1930’s.. it was build to attract and impress the businessmen and other big companies in Ipoh to do savings or investment from the bank. HSBC is using this building until today.

 11.S.P.H. De Silva Building

12.Chung Thye Phin Building
It was build in 1907 by Chung Type Phin, the last Chinese Kapitan of Perak. It was used as a medical hall and also medication dispensary. Today it is just an abandoned building.


13.Straits Trading Building (OCBC)

 14.The Chartered Bank

15.Mercantile BankThis building is now catered by one of the MLM Company ELKEN.

16.Residence & Law Office Of The Seenivasagam Brothers
This raw of little shop houses is very unique in its on way. Sitting just in front of the IPOH PADANG, these unique shop houses it’s the only 10 of its kind. Used to be the offices of lawyers and therefore the streets name is called the ‘lawyer’s street’. Today, all the law firms had ended their firm or they already shifted to another part of the town. Some of the shop, were taken over by cafes and pubs. During night time, this lawyer’s street is a quite happening spot in Ipoh.

17.Perak Hydro BuildingToday its known as TNB. It was also used as an electric power company before this. The Perak Hydro Eletric Power Company .

18.Birch Memorial The birch memorial clock tower it’s another interesting landmark in Ipoh Old Town. It’s a newly painted tower that just completed earlier this year. With wonderful landscape and it certainly has a better eye viewing experience compare to what it was few years ago. This tower had a story of its own as well. It’s a memorial clock tower built by EWW Birch for his father (JWW Birch) back in 1909. The best part is, the bell still chimes until today. And it sounded exactly like the Big Ben in London. Cool huh?

19.Jan Sahib’s Office

20.Mikasa Photo Shop
The Japanese spy premise. It seems this premise might look like a normal photo shop. At the back of the shop will be a base where the Japanese spy sending information about Malaya back to Japanese army. Today, as  you all can see in the picture, this building is totally shut down. 

21.Dramatists’ Hostel
In Malaysia, one of our entertainments would be going to the cinema for a movie. Back in 1920’s, their entertainment would be opera show. Especially for the Chinese in Ipoh. This building is the dramatist hostel where all the actors and actresses of the opera group stays. Today, the hostel has become a coffee shop, ‘Kedai Kopi Kong Heng’. However, it seems the place is up for rent as a backpacker lodge on the 2nd floor. That’s what I read in ‘Ipoh Echo’ few months back. Look for more information in the internet. 


22.Perak Ku Kong Chow AssociationNo info bout this building. Moreover, its kinda boring to me. Just that it once being the association of the Cantonese Chinese.

23.Han Chin Pet Soo
This place is also known as the miners club. This is a place where all the rich miners during the old times gathered around and chill. If I’m not mistaken, this miner’s club it’s the only club that has the gambling license provided by the British Government and its valid until today. This club no longer accepting new members since then. I once peek inside and I saw a very unique triangular shaped table. Most probably is used to play the ‘3-legged-mahjong’.. lol

Took this pic back in 2011 before part of the concubine lane were collapse. 
24.Panglima Lane (Concubine Lane)
this final landmark of the heritage trail brings the most stories of all.. I bet there are tones of stories that can be found in the internet. How it was build, and its famous for opium dens and brothels. Most importantly it’s a place for the rich tin miners to keep their concubines in these houses. That’s where the name of the street came from. However, the 4 out of 27 pre-war houses in this 2nd concubine lane once tumbled down in the year 2011 due to a storm that hit Ipoh that time. It has been restored and it seems the state government is going to develop this concubine lane into a tourism spot. Oh ya, extra fact… during at night, the concubine area will be crowded as there are restaurants and most people come here for the special ‘Snow Beer’ (雪花啤). 

Well, that’s about it. the whole trail duration took me about 1hour 45 minutes walk. So, it’s a very good exercise as well.. Some of the buildings may not looked interesting but they surely brought a thousand tales back at those days when Ipoh is still on its high rising era. There are some buildings were no longer exist, or under renovation, but that is what the Ipoh old town has to offer. And that is just a part of the old town. Some of the buildings I might don’t have explanation or caption bout them, so feel free to read them from the brochures i put in this blog.

So, that all folks.. hope u enjoy my new blog entry in a different kinda style. Hope u guys will like it, and drop me some comments if possible.. will be very glad to reply each and everyone of u. For more pictures for today’s walk, do view it in my facebook. The link its just right here. Thanks once again for the support and see ya.