Here’s some trivia for you, taken from The Yamato News. This newspaper dates back to 13th February 2602 (which actually means 13th February 1942). We thank Chee Ong Ngai for sharing this with us. If you’re wondering about the strange date (2602), then click here for the explanation.
No prizes for guessing where this was taken. However, we do thank our donor – who prefers to be called “Canning Garden” – for sharing this picture with us.
From what we know, the first control tower at the Ipoh Airport was built in 1938. Hence, with reference to this photo below (from Edwin Seibel), could this be dated somewhere in the 1940s? Or, perhaps later…after the Second World War?
Yes indeed…according to this article (below) from Times of Malaya & Straits Echo.
We have here an example of uniforms worn by the Federation Armed Forces. From left to right: Walking-out Dress, Ceremonial No.3 Dress, and Battle Order Dress. We thank Ipoh Remembered for sharing this photo with us.
No, this is not an estate manager’s bungalow. Neither is it a holiday resort. This is the Perak Armed Police Commissioner’s Quarters. We thank our donor Chee Ong Ngai for this picture. (This could be Taiping, but I could be wrong. What do you think?)
We thank Harvant Lisa Harper for sharing this picture with us. She also had this to say: This is the army regimen house by the Ipoh Specialist Center. It was at one time occupied by the British. My dad was the guard there. Then the Japanese took over. Before they got there, he told me […]
If you’ve been to Temoh, you may have seen this building. No, it’s not an empty and abandoned house. It’s actually a post office. We thank Rahman Majid Khan for these interesting photos.
This house (in Pasir Salak, Perak) was said to be built in the 1980s, to resemble the house of the late Dato Maharajalela. It later fell into a sorry state (as seen above). But, the good news is……it was later restored! If anyone could shed more light on this restoration project, we’d love to hear […]
What’s this funny looking contraption, you ask? Why, it’s a one-man battery-operated street cleansing vehicle! Back in the 1960’s Ipoh had a well deserved reputation of being the cleanest town in the Federation of Malaya….
No, I’ve not taken up architecture 🙂 This is in fact a drawing of the proposed multi-storey car park, at Station Road.
We usually hear about historical landmarks being torn down to make way for modern structures. Here’s an old article about a famous landmark in Taiping…which was rescued!
Looks like a beautiful painting, doesn’t it? This postcard shows the hot springs at Tambun, Ipoh. It was posted to France on 28 August 1913. It shows three men in front of the geyser; behind the geyser are the famed Limestone cliffs of the Kinta Valley. This, of course, is a Kaulfuss postcard 🙂
The photograph actually shows the ‘First Battalion Perak Sikhs’, the armed military arm of the Perak Police Force. The Battalion had its roots in the ‘Perak Armed Force’ which was a mix of races (Sikhs, Punjabi, Malays and Chinese), first commanded by Captain Swinburne and from 1879 by Major R S F Walker CMG. The […]
This was what the Japanese Garden (sponsored by the Perak Turf Club) once looked like. Of course, this picture was taken back in the 1980s. Sadly, this lovely tourist spot fell under poor maintenance and neglect over the years. It even fell prey to vandals 🙁 I don’t know what has become of this place […]
What’s so special about this ashtray, you ask? Well, it’s made from an artillery shell! We believe it’s from 1942; there were some numbers engraved at the bottom, which has faded over the years.
We’ve always featured old photos of this famous bridge. Here’s something new – from V Radnell. Yes, it’s non other than the Hugh Low Bridge (now known as the Sultan Iskandar Bridge). This is a recent view, probably a year or two ago.
With Raya round the corner, many will be travelling back to their hometowns this year. Of course, such kampong houses (like the ones above) may no longer be around…but they were once a common sight.
Yes, believe it or not…this is an early view of Anderson Road. We believe it’s very early 1900.
We thank Philip LaBrooy for sharing the above article with us. Unfortunately, we’re not sure of the date of this article (nor the newspaper it was taken from). This is a list of historical buildings, monuments and sites compiled by the Museums Department. Here’s a close-up of the Perak column:
This picture is taken from a Werf Conrad Tin Dredges Catalogue. Here’s a close up of a dredge, showing the dredge buckets. The picture below shows a dredge bucket, from two different angles.
The above badge has the words “Christian Brothers’ Schools” and “Signum Fidei” clearly printed on it, one at the bottom of the badge and the other at the top. In between there is an image of Peninsula Malaysia as well as a figure of a Catholic Brother. At the top end of the image of […]
Here’s another picture from Eugene Lee. This one shows an old building in Taiping. Does anyone recognise it?
We thank Eugene Lee for sharing these pictures with us. This is said to be the Royal English School, in Batu Gajah. Probably dating back to 1916. In Eugene’s words, “It’s now left half abandoned and most of the building is left empty. The beams at the porch have cracks in them that need to […]
We thank Edwin Siebel for sharing this picture with us. Yes, it is none other than the E W Birch Fountain 🙂
Here’s a familiar villa 🙂 What’s even more interesting is the interior – where once there was a portrait of the owner! (picture below) We thank Lennie Brookes for sharing these pictures with us.
We thank Anthony H S Law for sharing this picture on Facebook. He also added: “Water Fountain …. This must be the forgotten Ipoh’s oldest, the rare and perhaps the only fountain of Ipoh city. Dated 1900 or 122 years old, the fountain was “PRESENTED BY LOW FOO ESQ TO THE IPOH HOSPITAL” Maker : […]
Yes, folks! An 8km foot trail, with 32 stops, is expected to be launched in two months. This trail will be called the Ipoh Cantonese Heritage Trail. (read more here)
Here’s an interesting find – a membership card for the People’s Progressive Party! Also note the signature of a VERY prominent historical figure….
According to the donors of this photograph; “18 December 1956, was a day of heavy rainfall all the way from Tapah to Cameron Highlands. As the 2 Troop C Squadron of the 15/19 The Kings Royal Hussars (TKRH) were heading up in a 12-truck convoy the troopers in the leading Saracen Armoured Personal Carrier came […]
…well, belated birthday actually. Nevertheless, birthday greetings to St Michael’s Institution (SMI) – born on 4th December 1912. Here’s a 1920s drawing of the school, which was in an old Malay bungalow.
Yes, this is part of the famous Ipoh Padang. And the building in the background is of course the Ipoh Club. This was taken off a postcard, which seemed to date back to 1912. Hence, we believe this picture was taken around 1910.
Did you know that the Perak Sultan once had bodyguards comprising members of the Mounted Police? Here’s an article from Harchand Singh Bedi, which appeared in The Star recently. HRH Sultan Abdul Jalil, the Sultan of Perak, and his consort surrounded by their Sikh bodyguards comprising members of the Mounted Police from the Federated Malay […]
We thank Mun Chor Seng for sharing this picture with us. Yes, it’s Gopeng Pipeline! (and we believe the handsome young man in the picture is none other than our donor, of course)
Here’s another blast from the past – rickshaws in a row, in Taiping nonetheless. 🙂
Dated 1st July 1983, this article mentions the Sun Cinema making its way for a skyscraper. Do any of you remember that fateful day?
Believe it or not, this picture was taken in the late 1800s in Taiping. Bet the experts have already identified these buildings 🙂
The first issue came out on 4 July 1894; a quarto 4-page bi-weekly edition, which evolved into a 4-page folio journal. By 1 January 1901, the Pioneer was converted into a tri-weekly issue – which soon expanded into 6 pages. By 1 March 1905, this paper transformed in a daily paper. It had 8 pages, […]
A long long time ago, there was a wooden temple built onto the side of a limestone cliff. It had a zinc roof. Members of the Perak Heritage Society had visited the place in October 2007. It was located at a limestone hill halfway between Tambun town and Tanjung Rambutan. This modern structure has since […]
This photograph shows a view of the first timber building of the Anglo-Chinese School (Ipoh) at Lahat Road. Completed in May 1896. Amazing, innit! 😉
Here’s another photograph from Ruth Iversen Rollitt’s collection. This 1950s photo shows “Margaret Ladies Hair Dressing Salon”, which was said to be in Canning Estate. Does anyone remember this house/salon?
Yes, staycation is a word 🙂 It means “a vacation spent at home or nearby”. Well, now that you know what a staycation is….where do you plan to spend the coming holidays? Here’s an idea (ref. to picture above); why not do what the Jennings’ did? In the above picture, J A S Jennings and […]
We were told that this building was along Togo Street. Our donor (Ruth Iversen Rollitt) also told us that this photograph dates back to 1933. Do you know what building this is? 🙂
Looks familiar? Then perhaps you could tell us where in Ipoh this place is. We’d like to thank Ruth Iversen Rollitt for this gem. Ruth, if you’re reading this…SHHHH! Don’t give the readers the answer yet 🙂
Here’s your “homework” for today: Study these pictures carefully. How many of these places do you recognise? Some clues can be found here. 😉
Believe it or not, this was the first church building for Our Lady Of Lourdes Church, Ipoh. This photo dates back to 1905.
The Cenotaph came into being as a memorial for those from Perak who died in World War 1. Initially planned to be erected shortly after the war ended in 1919, building was delayed; only to be unveiled in 1927 in a ceremony organised by ex-servicemen. We believe this photograph shows that unveiling ceremony on Armistice […]
The Sultan Idris Training College (also known as SITC) was built in 1922. It was the first education training institution in Malaya. The above photo shows the inside of the SITC dormitory. Any SITC alumni out there? We’d love to hear from you….
Those of you who’ve guessed it already know this to be part of the Elim Gospel Church. But what was this building used for?
We came across this article in the Star newspaper. If this plan goes through, perhaps we’ll be able to see the once iconic Station Hotel back in all its glory. Here’s a recap of the inside of the Station Hotel, from the early 1920s, when a retirement dinner was given to the 14th British Resident […]
Yes, there was a park such as this (pictured above) in Gopeng. Sadly, it is no longer there… Do you remember this park?
There was a time when parks (such as the one pictured above) were considered ideal ‘dating’ spots 😉
The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the Tamil month, Thai, and the name of a star, Pusam. This particular star is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a Vel “spear” so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman. We at IpohWorld would like […]
Did you know…that the foundation stone for the present building of St John’s Church was laid on 15 December 1910? Here’s a picture of the church when it was just completed (in 1912).
There are many clock towers in and around the state of Perak. According to the above article from Vicinity Perak, Perak is home to three clock towers which were constructed to commemorate Independence Day. Where are these clock towers you say? Well, they can be found in Kampar (built in 1957), Parit (1959) and Sungai […]
Anyone here a fan of spelunking? Hmm…maybe I’ve lost you guys for a minute 😉 Spelunking is the exploration of caves, especially as a hobby. So, back to the question in hand; anyone here been spelunking before? If so, have you come across this cave (picture below)? This place is somewhere in Ipoh, by the way…
How sharp are your eyes? Can you identify some of the familiar/popular buildings in this aerial view photograph? Some of you experts out there may already know which part of Ipoh this is too 😉
No, we’re not being ‘bitter’ about it…but did anyone realise that this beautiful floral clock is no more? For those who’ve never had the chance to see it, here are two pictures for you; both are from Ann Kesselring Hamon. The lady in white (left image) is Ann’s mother Florence Kesselring. As for the right […]
Remember this memorial? Any idea where in Ipoh Town it stood? Or…maybe you might know WHO built it?
Ever wondered what was at the back of the Ipoh Railway Station? Well, here’s a late 1930s view (picture courtesy of Winson Saw):
Remember the Times of Malaya? Well, here’s a photo of their second building; probably around the 1930s (we could be wrong though). Last we heard, this building was rented out to the Yayasan Perak company.
Yes, folks…believe it or not, this is what the YMCA building looked like back in 1954. Pity the beautiful garden is no longer there today 🙁
We’ve all heard (and seen videos) of shopping-adventures (and misadventures too). For those of you who’ve been to Emporium Perak, do share some stories with us 😉
Perhaps this was once a familiar sight in Ipoh town – dulang washers walking through the town, either going towards or coming back from the river. Anyone wants to guess which part of town these ladies are passing through?
Hypothetical scenario: Imagine you’ve just inherited a LOT of money…and you’ve decided to build a beautiful mansion. Well, let us ‘help’ you with some interior decoration ideas 😀 We have here some photographs of what the inside of the Kinta Kellas Estate bungalow once looked like. Yes, this wooden bungalow once belonged to none other […]
Some of you may recognise it. Some of you are still scratching your heads. Worry not, this is in fact the ruins of a brick bungalow built by none other than William Kellie Smith. Last I recall, these ruins were within the grounds of the famed Kellie’s Castle (hope they haven’t disappeared or made way […]
Yes, you read it right. This is the old Town Hall…in Taiping 🙂 We think this photograph was taken in the early 1900s (we could be wrong). Anyone from Taiping reading this? We’d like to know what’s become of this building.
“Fancy travelling down the memory lanes in Ipoh? Commander Ian Anderson would bring you through the tourist trails of Old Ipoh, to allow you to relive the good old glorious Ipoh. The speaker will guide the audience along the first published tourist trails of Ipoh in 1914, continuing with a look at the differences created by […]
According to the writing on the back, this postcard dates back to 1930. Quite a view, eh?
This coach was said to have ferried passengers between Taiping and Padang Rengas before the completion of the railway. And yes, this is a Kaulfuss postcard 🙂
Yes, there was such a place called Perak Club. It was founded in Taiping, in 1880. Thanks to Bernard Moss, we have some pictures of it on our database. Here’s one of the pictures – just to show you what the building looked like.
Yes, this IS Peoples’ Park…with part of Hugh Low Bridge on the right.
This picture was taken from a postcard, which was sent in 1936. Of course, this may not be the exact year the picture was taken. What drew my attention to the picture was the person sitting on the river bank – wonder if he/she was fishing…or simply appreciating nature?
In this 1959 photograph, our donor (Charlie Choong) can be seen posing on the steps of the Birch Clock Tower. Note the bust in the background 😉
Back in the day, if you didn’t know what to eat on a Saturday night you could just head to the Station Hotel. Their dinner menu on 15th October 1955 would definitely NOT leave you hungry 😉
On the left is a picture of Ngah Ibrahim’s fort, which was built in 1865 (picture courtesy of Ipoh Remembered). On the right is a picture of the same building, taken in 2009 by Ian.
A long time ago, a featured two sketches from a local artist (who’s also an alumni of ACS). Some of you may recognise his work (see picture below). Yes, this is another drawing from Amiruddin Mohd Daud’s collection. Together with his wife, they are quite involved with charity and fund raising activities; 10% of the sale […]
This photograph was taken high up from a nearby building. Yes, it’s the Yau Tet Shin Market. You can also see some of the shophouses in Cockman Street.
Remember the time when palm trees lined up Club Road? Neither do I 😉 Jokes aside, I’m sure those trees stood there for quite a while, before bowing to ‘development’. Since the Town Hall can be seen in the background, I’m making a wild guess as to the date of this postcard; I’m thinking…1920? Perhaps […]
Those flats look familiar, don’t they? Also note the river…back in the late 1980s, the water was still clear 😉
Yes, we’ve featured this famous bridge and street numerous times. But what I’m curious about is the building next to the Lam Looking building. In the tinted photo, it looks like just another shophouse. In the 1989 photo however, this same building seems to have undergone a massive makeover. Can anyone tell us more about […]
Yes, this IS Clayton Road – named after Mr R J B Clayton who retired as British Adviser in Kelantan, in November 1930. He was also the brother of Tubby Clayton, founder of Toch H during the Great War.
That’s what the caption of the photograph said. This is a rather interesting view of the Kinta River, with the houses on both sides of the bank. If you squint, you can see the bridge too. Which bridge this is, your guess is as good as mine 😉 Special thanks to the National Archives, […]
Here we have the living room of Charles Alma Baker’s residence (once upon a time) in Batu Gajah. This large space included a 12-seater dining table, several sofas and easy chairs, and Chinese antiques. The Master of this house and his guests were kept cool by a punkah. If you look closely, you’ll also notice […]
This postcard, from the J. J. Series, shows Selibui Road in Ipoh. We believe the postcards from this series ranged from 1905 – 1910. From what we found out from the book ‘Perak Postcards: 1890s-1940s‘, this photo probably shows the early intake dam and waterworks in Selibin (Silibin today). To quote from the book: “Water […]
Come visit us at Sarang Paloh. Our exhibition will be from today 5th Sept till 10th Sept 2017, 5pm – 9pm. This exhibition is part of the festivities of The Other Festival, organised by Kakiseni. ps: bring along your cameras 😉
No, not our website….but this beautiful icon of Ipoh is said to be turning 100 years old this year! This special heritage building was even mentioned in the Star recently (read the article here).
These two postcards show a Then and Now view of the famous Hugh Low Bridge, which connects New Town and Old Town in Ipoh. We know such pictures often lead to a debate between preserving the ‘old’ and embracing the ‘new’. However, we’d love to hear your thoughts on this 🙂
picture source: Heritage Asia magazine, January-March 2007 The first headquarters of the British in Kinta was Kota Bharu, the lowest landing stage on the Kinta River, and also the river port for the important mining centre of Gopeng. However, Kota Bharu was so malarial that it had to be abandoned, and in 1884 the capital […]
This picture was taken off Heritage Asia magazine, back in 2004. The description reads as: Perak, as in many parts of Malaysia, has a large number of pre-war and colonial shop-houses. Distinctive in their decorative sturdy look with sculpted openings and large columns guarding the shaded five-foot ways, they were the mainstay of retail business […]
It’s obvious that the writer of the above article had a good time in Perak recently. We’re glad he and his friends enjoyed themselves. We’re also glad that they visited our Hakka Museum (ref. to the area highlighted in blue). ps: Have YOU visited the Hakka Museum lately? If not, what are you waiting for?
“Commonly made of bamboo, plastic, wood or stainless steel, Chopsticks were first used by the Chinese. This later spread to various parts of the world through cultural influence or through Chinese immigrant communities. How does one use chopsticks? Well, the lower chopstick is stationary, and rests at the base of the thumb, and between the ring […]
photo from: Lay Jin Chew Here’s another river scene, from one side of the Hugh Low Bridge. Can you see the wooden bench near the lamp post? I doubt there’s such a thing there today. Even the bridge is different now. But don’t let all the changes discourage you from enjoying this nostalgic photograph.
Looking at this picture (from Lay Jin Chew), I couldn’t help but wonder how much Ipoh’s landscape has changed over the years. Could that bridge (far left) be part of the Hugh Low Bridge, or part of the Birch Bridge? I would also like to draw your attention to the area on the left of […]
That’s what it says on the back of this postcard. So, ‘detectives’…can you guess which road, or where this place is? I’ll admit I’m stumped 🙁
Shocking but true. While we’re busy building new structures, our heritage sites are paying the price. Some are either ignored or just left to ‘fend’ for themselves. One such place is the famed Tambun Caves which recently fell victim to vandals. As the Star Metro report states: ” The prehistoric cave drawings are still there, […]
Recognise this place? Familiar, right? Perhaps the next two pictures will give you more clues. In case you’re wondering why we put these up, this is just to show you what’s become of those food stalls in the area. They have their very own food court now….and as you can see, the area […]
picture courtesy of: Star Online Lemang Kelamai is said to have originated from Pagar Ruyung, Indonesia. What gives it this lovely shade of brown? Gula Melaka, of course! The other extra ingredient is kerisik (toasted coconut). This variant of Lemang is also quite popular in the villages of Gopeng. Have you tried this variant before? If you […]
We featured the above picture in a previous blog. Do you know what this looks like today? The pictures below are courtesy of Charlie Choong. Here’s more proof…that with a little hard work and determination (and love for heritage as well!), historical buildings like these CAN be restored (instead of being demolished).
This is said to be the original building of the Batu Gajah Police Station. Our donor, Daljit Singh Guram, told us that his late grandfather is in this very photograph (back row, 11th from the left). Daljit’s late grandfather – Gurcharan Singh Guram – was in the Malaysian Police Force from 1920 to 1945.
This photo was taken in the late 1950s / early 1960s. Yes, it’s none other than the Straits Trading Building, in Ipoh!
click to enlarge Do you recognise this panorama? Can you guess which part of Ipoh this is? While you’re trying to name the buildings and streets, can you also give us a rough date? We look forward to your comments 🙂
Did you know about this unique style of embroidery? I’m sure it’s no easy task – sewing such intricate patterns on velvet cloth! Let’s hear from the arts and crafts lovers out there. [I’ve only gone as far as sewing loosened buttons….no where near this level of creativity ;)]
Do you recognise these panels? They can be found on the four sides of the Birch Clock tower. Still wondering what I’m talking about? Well, the next time you pass by the clock tower, take a closer look 🙂 THE J W W BIRCH MEMORIAL CLOCK TOWER PANELS The Growth of Civilization. The following is […]
Sometime ago, we featured this building – the former Oriental Hotel, which was turned into an electrical store. One of our readers, Charlie Choong, sent us the following photographs recently. Looks like the electrical store is closing down….or perhaps they are relocating….we don’t know. Does anyone know what’s going on?
Sometime last year we gave all of you hints about a project of ours – at No. 1 Treacher Street (Jalan Bijih Timah) in Old Town. Yes, the blue building next door to Han Chin Pet Soo. The story is in today’s Star Metro (15/1/2016) – “Telling A Tale Of Tea”. This new exhibit will […]
source: NSTP Sometime ago, the NST featured the Taiping Central Market – which was built between 1884 & 1885. Yes, the market is 130 years old! The above picture shows the wood and cast iron latticed structure which is a prominent feature of this landmark. Taiping folks, we want to hear YOUR stories / […]
We thank Sally Everist for the above postcards. Does this building look familiar? We’re wondering what it is – is it a house, or some kind of monument? We’re also wondering which village is pictured in the postcards…
picture courtesy of Star Publications We admit that it was not easy, but through much hard work and determination we managed to restore the Han Chin Villa (Han Chin Pet Soo) and turn it into a museum. As can be seen in the above picture, the restored Villa stands proudly amidst the other shops. Our […]
Any Sam Tet alumni reading this? Well, I’m sure you recognise this building. According to our donor, Ruth Iversen Rollitt, her late father – B M Iversen – designed it!
Ipoh-ites reminiscing the good ‘ol days when Jubilee Park was an entertainment hub – back in the 60s and 70s 🙂
We thought we’d share this interesting article with you, about the 6 mile long bridge in Gerik. What’s so special about this bridge? Well, it has no pillars! 😉
As you can guess from the above photograph, something is definitely happening at No. 1 Treacher Street (Jalan Bijih Timah). Look out for updates on our website / blog / Facebook page 🙂
special thanks to Ruth Iversen Rollitt Believe it or not, this was what Ipoh looked like back in the 1930s. The area under construction is none other than the Mercantile Bank!
This book, by J. J. Chen and L. Y. Chung, is currently being sold at Han Chin Pet Soo – at RM 80 per copy. See Ipoh’s authentic beauty and charm through the camera lens of the authors!
Xiangqi is played on a board nine lines wide and ten lines long. As in the game ‘Go’, the pieces are placed on the intersections, which are known as points. The vertical lines are known as files, and the horizontal lines are known as ranks. Centered at the first to third and eighth to tenth […]
Yes, folks. This trap door opens up to a tunnel! The door can be found in the court room floor of the Ipoh High Court building, and it leads to the Town Hall. During the Emergency, it was used to moved prisoners in temporary lock ups in the Town Hall (which at that time was […]
“Lady Justice is most often depicted with a set of scales typically suspended from her left hand, upon which she measures the strengths of a case’s support and opposition.She is also often seen carrying a double-edged sword in her right hand, symbolizing the power of Reason and Justice, which may be wielded either for or […]
Wayang kulit is a unique form of theatre employing light and shadow. The puppets are crafted from buffalo hide and mounted on bamboo sticks. When held up behind a piece of white cloth, with an electric bulb or an oil lamp as the light source, shadows are cast on the screen. The plays are typically […]
We thank Ruth Iversen Rollitt for this photograph. It was taken in 1947, showing her father B M Iversen at Fair Gardens? Does anyone know WHERE Fair Gardens is?
Picture from Ruth Iversen Rollitt “Rental was $60 a month, a bargain in the immediate post-war years with the shortage of housing. Each house had 3 bedrooms upstairs; and downstairs. a living room, dining room, a modern flush toilet (very rare for Ipoh at that time), a small kitchen and backyard. There was a built-in […]
We received this (one of the MANY) from Ruth Iversen Rollitt. Do you recognise this row of shop houses? Do you know which street this is? Well, we think it’s somewhere along Cowan Street…but then again, we could be wrong.
This was formerly the headquarters for the Dunlop Rubber Company in Ipoh, which was behind the railway station. As you can see in the pictures (above and below) this building has long been abandoned. These pictures (donated by Kinta Heritage Group) were taken back in 2009; from what we were told this place has been […]
We thank Martin Allen for this photograph – showing an aerial view of Cameron Highlands, back in the 1930s. So different from what it looks like now, eh?
Our donor Martin Allen tells us that this road is near Ipoh. I’m sure the experts out there know where this is – especially with those iconic hills in the background 😉
For those interested, do come for this talk by Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat, on 28th February 2015. The talk is at 4.00pm, and will be held at: Perak Academy No. 71A, 1st Floor, Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Ipoh (opposite Maybank) Registration is RM 10 per person. Please contact Ms Jaya or Ms Jasvinda for reservations […]
We’d like to thank Chin Choon Yau – one of the Instructors at Perak Institute of Art (PIA) – who painted this souvenir for us. Incidentally, PIA did the murals for us at Han Chin Pet Soo. What murals you say? Well, take a trip to Han Chin Pet Soo and find out!
To all our fans, thank you for being so patient with us 🙂 Here we have the e-flyer of our latest project – ipohWorld @ Han Chin Pet Soo! This private exhibition opens on Thursday 5th February, by appointment only. Reservations may be made at www.ipohworld.org/reservation We look forward to welcoming you to […]
There was a time when you needed a visiting card to enter the hot springs in Tambun. Besides the pool and egg boiling, apparently there was also a bowling alley! I don’t recall this (probably before my time 😉 ) but I wonder if YOU remember this.
Imagine having a picnic at such a place! No rubbish about, no unpleasant odour from the river, clean and clear running water…etc. Blissful isn’t it? This is none other than the Perak River (at Parit). Yes, folks…believe it or not our rivers once looked like this 😉 picture courtesy of: Ruth Iversen Rollitt
Much has been said about preserving our heritage buildings in and around the Kinta Valley. But alas, profit always seem to over ride conservation efforts. The following photos (taken this afternoon) is yet another incident whereby pre-war shop houses are forced to make way for more modern structures…. One of our local dailies covered this […]
Don’t know where to go during this long break? How about Kellie’s Castle? No, we’re not advertising for this place. Rather just showing you what this iconic landmark looked like – way back in 1957! This is a photograph of Ho Hoo Wan with his siblings and friends, posing just outside the famed Batu Gajah […]
A couple of months ago, one of our readers – Hasbi – sent us these pictures. This grand old building is the Rumah Besar of none other than Raja Bilah. The gentleman in the picture is Hasbi himself with his wife. They had visited Kak Saadiah – the maternal great grand daughter of Raja Bilah. […]
This is one of the many colonial-style bungalows which once stood proud against Batu Gajah’s landscape. Sadly, not many of them are still around today. This one, sent to us by Rosemary Palmer, has stood the test of time – and is still being used 😉
…the Papan Mosque? Initially I thought this was part of a typical kampung house, but was sorely mistaken! It is in fact a mosque. This Mandailing-styled mosque was built in 1888 by Raja Bilah. It was later restored and reconstructed by the National Museum (Muzium Negara) in 1999. Has anyone seen it?
We thank Ruth Iversen Rollitt for this gem. We estimate the year was 1925 – yes, it was that long ago folks!
I dare say that apart from the Ubudiah Mosque, the Royal Palace is the next famous landmark in Kuala Kangsar 😉 This picture here, courtesy of Ruth Iversen Rollitt, shows a different view of the palace – probably before the renovations were done. Could anyone help us with a rough date?
Ever wondered what happened to this famous Gopeng Landmark? Well, wonder no more! Thanks to our photographer Charlie, we have these pictures for your viewing pleasure! As the State Government once promised, a section of one of the pipes on its original structure has been saved and turned into a sort of a memorial to […]
We don’t mean to confuse you again, but here’s another photo of a local market 😉 This one isn’t in Ipoh….it’s actually in Batu Gajah (according to our donor Wendy Lewis). Notice the shape of the roof – quite unique for a market building, don’t you think? Any Batu Gajah folks around? Perhaps they could […]
picture courtesy of Ruth Iversen Rollitt We’ve featured this Club on our blog before, but here’s a different view of it. Notice the structure on the far left. I wonder what’s happened to it. And if your eyes are sharp enough, note the vehicle on the far right too!
Wendy Lewis tells us that this holiday resort was in Pangkor Island. Back then (probably the 1950s) there was no air-condition – only fans and mosquito nets! I wonder if this resort is still there….perhaps it has been upgraded with more modern facilities (besides air-condition, perhaps free wi-fi too?). Any frequent visitors to Pangkor? Do […]
The man wearing a hat is none other then the famous Dr Tweedie. The lady next to him is the wife of B M Iversen. This photograph was taken in 1966, in Sungei Siput. In the background you can see the beautiful hills of the Kinta Valley. We thank Ruth Iversen Rollitt for this photograph.
Larry Sawyer tells us: “Pangkor was our choice of holiday spots. This photo shows the boat landing at the island. The road across the other side was mud. The waterfront was reputed to have been a opium haven.” Well, anyone from that side of Perak care to tell us more? I’m sure the jetty looks […]
We hope those familiar with Kuala Kangsar can help us out with this – is this a past or present depiction of the Kuala Kangsar Post Office? This was taken off a souvenir postcard, issued by the local post office. We also have a 1967 picture of this building (on our database) to compare with, […]
picture courtesy of: Michael Ho That’s what the small signboard on the left (on the palm tree) says. We don’t know if this is Ipoh, but the car facing the camera is definitely from Perak. The number plate reads as A 9462. Was there a Peel Avenue in Ipoh?
(click to enlarge) Have you heard of the ‘Kinta Weed’? These plants usually grow in tin mining ponds (they are probably hard to find now). The funny thing is, this ‘weed’ doesn’t really grow in the water; they actually perch on top of other aquatic plants – preferring the sun rather than the shade! Have […]
Deep inside Kampung Tanjung Bangkung (Malim Nawar) was once a Japanese Carbide Factory. The picture above is that of the former guard house. It is said that the factory was part of a complex that manufactured armaments for the Japanese – which were then sent to Burma. All that remains of this factory now is […]
Situated at 2A Market Square, Taiping, this is the project of Tan Kok Siew (Kapitan Antiques) who has leased this old house and filled two floors with antiques and collectables from days gone by. Entrance is RM5.00. The museum is opem every day from 10.00 am to 7.00 pm. Apart from the items on display, […]
(click to enlarge) Yusof sent us these wonderful photos. From his email, we know that he lived in Greentown from 1969-1981. Yusof also had this to say: “The house is one of six detached govt quarters surrounding a palm tree lined field within a circular lane off Jalan Iskandar, named Lorong Said Tauphy. As depicted […]
We thank Taffy Owen for this one. I’d like to draw your attention to the unique signboard – this was taken around 1997 (according to Taffy); note the spelling of the word ‘workshop’. Also take note of the mountain in the background – yes, folks….it looks like Gunong Panjang….or could it be another mountain?
Most photographs of dulang washers show the ladies almost knee deep in water, while they rotate their dulangs. This photo here (from Alison Cotterill nee Caldwell) shows the dulang washer in a field instead! This area was probably near Kramat Tin (Bidor). Notice the 1 cubic ft box (bottom left), and the white bowl (above […]
Familiar? Well this is none other than the Veterinary Research Institute, Ipoh. This 1953 photo is from Ruth Rollitt. Recognise the building? I wonder if the facade has changed over the years….
We received this from Alan Steel, with the words Wilkinson Rd from the back seat of a bus. Do any of you know WHERE Wilkinson Road is? Since many road names in Ipoh have been changed over the years, I wonder what the new name is. Or, perhaps I got it wrong…and this place is not […]
For those who didn’t know, Chung Thye Phin once had his own currency! No, I’m not joking….take a look (see below). We thank Jeffrey Seong for sharing this with us. If YOU had your own currency, what would it look like? 😉
Some call it Perak’s version of “The Leaning Tower of Pisa”. I’ve never been there, but from recent pictures it does seem like it’s leaning a little to one side. However, here is an early 1900 picture of the same water tower in Teluk Intan (see below) – and it seems rather STRAIGHT to me […]
Yes, this is indeed a beautiful pair of beaded slippers. So, ladies…do any of you own such a pair? Or perhaps, you know someone who (still) makes such pretty footwear? These Baba-Nyonya style slippers were once a rage – are they still in fashion? You tell us 🙂
I remember passing this building quite often on my way to St Michael’s Institution. But I never really paid attention to what it was. All I know is that this is the Sri Perak building. Any idea what’s inside? Was it one of those government offices? Or, was it like the present UTC (former Super […]
One look and most of you can already guess what this iconic building is. Of course, so much has changed now: the small field in front of this cinema is no longer there; instead there’s a row of food stalls. Also, right next to the cinema is one of the entrances of Sam Tet School. […]
….this was Kampar Town back in 1907! Just wondering: is this the main road? Are those shop houses (in the background) still there? Kampar born people, we’d like to hear from you 😉
Just look at this grand old postcard from the 1920’s. Recognise the place? Well I guess most of you will not be able to pin this down, but as the postcard caption shows, it is the People’s Park, Ipoh. Historically the land was gazetted as the ‘People’s Park’, a gift from the government to the people […]
Don’t worry about the markings on this photograph. They are for a proposed signboard for the realty company. Where do you think this building was? Anyone remember the name of the street? I’m sure there are sufficient clues for you to guess 😉
Yes, folks – this is none other than Anderson Road! Taken in the mid 1950s, you can see that not only is the traffic light…the skies are clear too! Here’s hoping that the haze situation resolves itself soon. By the way, anyone know what building that is on the far right corner? From the words, […]
For those of you who’ve already guessed this building, give yourself a pat on the shoulder. Yes, this is none other than St Michael’s church – which is along Brewster Road, behind the former Odeon Cinema. What I’d like to point out is the road leading towards the church itself. Notice how it seems almost […]
“Sited at the key junction of Hugh Low Street, Gopeng Road, Tambun Road and Brewster Road it welcomes travellers to Ipoh from all directions.” Yes, we’re talking about the Sultan Yussuf Fountain (see picture below). While many of you have interesting stories about this unique landmark, we’d like to draw your attention to the plaque. […]
No, I’m not referring to the famous cowboy series. I’m talking about this row of shops along Hugh Low Street. At present, seven of these shops have been painted according to the seven colours of the rainbow. This picture however was taken back in the 1950s. We’re not offering any prizes for guessing, but all […]
This isn’t a hard one to guess. Yes, it’s another photograph of Ipoh Motors Ltd. What I’m curious about is the street vendor – far right of this photograph (click to enlarge). What was he selling at that time? Can you also spot the petrol pump (below the sign Fargo Truck)? This photograph is part […]
This was Jubilee Park then….when they first started business. Later, the Shaw Brothers gave it a ‘facelift’ (see picture below). Today, a night club has opened at the corner of Brewster Road and Cowan Street. But this side of Jubilee Park still remains. Anyone knows what’s going on inside? Are the stalls still there? We […]
Anyone remember the ‘Hai Heng’ Bar? The building does look familiar, but then again most of the shop houses in Ipoh had roughly the same design 😉 Perhaps someone out there frequented this bar… This photograph is from John McAuley, a former British serviceman who served in Ipoh from about 1956-1957.
“Hi. I’m the bicycle standing at the bottom left of the picture. I usually know my way around the streets of Ipoh – since I ALWAYS follow my owner around 🙂 But this time….I think I’m lost! Could you tell me which street I’m at?”
…no, we’re not talking about UFOs! Look closely at the shop house in the middle. Yes, the shop that says ‘Chop Thong Heng’… Are those petrol pumps? I’ve never come across such a scene before. Does anyone remember these? On another note, does anyone recognise the row of shop houses or the street? This was […]
This picture, courtesy of Ruth Rollitt, was taken in 1979. We’d like to draw your attention to the white building (far left). If you squint, you can make out the words ‘Good Luck’ on the wall. Anyone have any idea what this building was? Take a closer look…
Today’s blog we’re featuring a picture from Ruth Rollitt. According to her, this was part of the Batu Gajah hospital. Recognise it? Folks from Batu Gajah might be able to tell us more 🙂
This is none other than the Grand Theater & Jubilee Park – before the Shaw Brothers renovated it. From the clues in the picture, some of you may be able to roughly guess the year this was taken. What was YOUR early memory of this famous landmark? Were you a patron of the Cabaret? Did […]
Here’s more from Keith Nelson’s collection. Are these part of a garden/park? Or, could they be part of a temple (note: second picture)?
Keith Nelson sent us this some time ago. Looks familiar doesn’t it? Well, I’m sure you all know where this landmark stands….. 😉
We thank Edwin Seibel for this rare picture of the former Sun Cinema. Can anyone make a rough guess as to which year this picture was taken?
Does anyone recognise the mansion in the background? If you can read the words, do tell us what it says…
…what the Isis Theatre looked like? My generation have most likely never heard of this cinema hall. We’re more familiar with it’s ‘new’ name – Rex! Yes, for those of you who don’t already know, Isis was renamed Rex when the Shaw Brothers renovated it 😉
We believe this picture was taken in the 1940s (we could be wrong, though). Does anyone recall this dispensary? Perhaps something about the building might give you a clue as to where this place is located? We’d like to hear from our Ipoh-experts 😉
Want to do something different this year for Earth Hour? How about joining this fund-raising event? (click poster above to enlarge) Part of the proceeds of the ticket sales will be donated to the WWF-Malaysia. Your generous contribution will also pay for 40 underprivileged children from various charitable organisations – who will be able to […]
Yes folks! This IS another B M Iversen creation. This one ‘resides’ at Cockman Street….and it’s still standing proud today 🙂 I do wonder when the extension/new block of this building was done….(perhaps, Ruth could tell us…if she’s reading this)
In June/July 2012, twenty students from University Malaya and the National University of Singapore embarked on a two-week long learning journey…of IPOH! Their discoveries prompted this much awaited publication – Familiar Spaces, Untold Stories; Encounters with Ipoh – as well as an exhibition. To know more, do visit this exhibition at: Gallery Lim Ko Pi, […]
We thank Nicholas Jennings for this one – yes, you all know this building 😉 Any idea what year this was taken? I do wonder what is on the extreme left of this picture (the partially blocked shop house).
Special thanks to Ruth Rollitt for the one – yes, you read it right….this is none other than the Eastern Hotel. This was taken in the 1940s; according the Ruth, he father (Danish architect B M Iversen) had an office here. Today, the facade seems so different – and the hotel is now known as […]
See that little circle below the arch? If you look closely, you can make out the Freemason symbol. This was probably one of the buildings used by the masons before a permanent one was built (along Tiger Lane, next to the Royal Perak Golf Club). Last I checked, the building was still there….but I didn’t […]
We thank Nicholas Jennings for this panorama – showing the famed Times of Malaya building.
Once again, we’re stumped with this 1980s picture. Do the houses look familiar to you? Could it be part of the new villages? Could it be the other side of Greentown, as mentioned by some of our previous Readers?
In the background is none other than the Fraser & Neave Ltd Aerated Water building. At the bottom right, there are railway tracks leading towards the F&N building. We don’t know who the gentleman on the bicycle is…neither do we know the date this photograph was taken. We look forward to your comments – especially […]
We were told that this is part of Greentown. But where exactly is it? Is this building still there…or is it gone?
We’ve put up quite a few pictures of Brewster Road in the past. But this one caught our eye – notice the words Lam Looking Building written above the entrance. I wonder how many building Towkay Lam Looking owned here in Ipoh….
For those of you who didn’t know, Batu Gajah was once the headquarters for the British Administration back in 1884. We have here a 1910 picture of part of the town (picture below). More about the history of Batu Gajah can be found here.
Some may call it artistic…some might say it’s just a badly angled photograph. But if you look closely, you will notice a fountain in the middle of a roundabout. Familiar? To those who are still squinting, this is none other than the Chamberlain Road Fountain 🙂 We thank Ko-chi Wai for this 1963 picture.
This was taken off a postcard, which describes this place as a “monastery of ‘The Heart of Great Sympathy’”. Do you know where in Ipoh this place is? Is it still there?
I’m sure many of you recognise this building – yes, it’s the St John’s Ambulance Hall! The design is rather unique, since most halls are rectangular (especially on the outside). I do wonder who built and designed this place…?
The above photo, from Sybil, was taken in the front porch of No.8 Caldwell Road back in the late 60s (note the Mercedes on the left!). 4 or 5 years ago, Sybil came back for a visit and this (picture below) was what the house looked liked. Besides No.8 Caldwell Road, Sybil’s family had another […]
Yes, Eu Tong Sen’s chateau used to be a vocational school at one point. Anyone know if the school is still there? Or, have they moved to another premise?
Noting the concern of some of ipohworld’s loyal followers about the apparent near-death state of the famous Ipoh Tree in the Station gardens(!) I contacted the Ipoh Echo with a request that they investigate. James Gough immediately swung into action and today (8 December 2012, posted a report on the Echo Website at http://ipohecho.com.my/v2/2012/12/08/dying-ipoh-tree/. Basically it […]
From what the Star tells us, this is the proposed design for the new Yau Tet Shin Bazaar (see picture below). This new building will be called ‘The Octagon’, and construction of this landmark will be undertaken by One Octagon Sdn Bhd (a private company, which was formed by the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce […]
Yes, that’s what it says on the fountain. Does anyone know WHO Yeoh Hong Seng is? Is this fountain still at Chamberlain Road/Jalan Bendahara?
Ko-chi Wai sent us this one – showing his aunt (back in 1964) posing with one of the mini rock pagodas at the Japanese Garden in Ipoh. Are these pagodas still there? I admit I’ve not seen one since I last visited the garden…maybe someone out there could tell us more!
Is it someone’s mansion? Maybe part of an office/club? You tell us 🙂 We’re also wondering WHERE this place is (is it even in Ipoh?).
Since this fountain was erected, many Ipoh-ites have posed for pictures at this very roundabout. I suppose it was possible back then when there wasn’t much traffic – imagine doing photo shoots here in this day and age! And what about those buildings in the background? Any idea what they are?
Yes, you read it right! The above picture, taken in 1973, shows a couple at D R Seenivasagam Park. Through email, Ko-Chi Wai tells us that: the rocks at the far side of the lake are still there today. however, the wooden platform where they are standing, and the wooden zigzag bridge across the lake […]
Familiar? This is the Taiping Bus Station, back in 1959. Has this place changed much over the years? Taiping folks, we’re hoping YOU could tell us more 🙂
This was taken off a postcard; the date on the stamp says 1938, so we think the picture was taken a few years earlier. Nevertheless, on the far left of the picture is the sign that reads as Huttenbach, Lazarus & Sons Ltd. Did any other business take up residence at the Chua Cheng […]
In a follow up to a series of pictures of buildings in Kuala Kangsar (refer to Where Is It? & Where Is It? part 2), we’d like to share two more – showing the Ubudiah Mosque and the Royal Mausoleum – which were sent to us via email from Nicholas Jennings.
This was sent to us by Keith Nelson. Are those government quarters in the background? If so, where is this place?
Here’s another mystery for you: Do you know what building this is? Is it a government building or perhaps a Towkay’s mansion? Could this be in Ipoh? Or maybe somewhere within the Kinta district? This picture was sent to us by Nicholas Jennings.
Ipoh was clearly more green back then. And there was less traffic too. Here we see a lone figure with two baskets balanced on a coolie pole, walking towards a bridge. Which bridge was this? What about the shady trees – are they still there? We thank Alan for this 1960s picture.
Here’s a little puzzle for you: Where can this building be found? Is it somewhere in Perak? Or, perhaps in another state? We think it’s a mosque….but we could be wrong. We await your feedback 🙂 We thank Nicholas Jennings for this picture which is from his grandmother’s album of the 1920’s.
[click to enlarge] Familiar? Looks like a street near your neighbourhood? Could this place be outside Ipoh? You tell us. We thank Nicholas Jennings for sharing this photograph with us.
Know this street? Recognise the buildings? We await your comments! 🙂
Being an alumni of the Main Convent, Ipoh, I was surprised to note that there was once a kindergarten within the premises. Do any of the Convent alumni remember it? Is the building still there…or has it been converted into something else? The above picture is from Dr Ho Tak Ming.
Ruth Iversen Rollitt sent this to us some time ago. It is said to be the house of the former Secretary of the Perak Turf Club. Ruth’s father B M Iversen designed this beauty.
Is this place part of one of the famous parks in Ipoh? Do you know where it is? Is this place still there?
We thank Ruth Rollitt for these pictures. The first picture (top) shows the quarters, back in 1931. The bottom picture shows the stables. I’ve never seen the inside of the turf club, but I’m sure those of you who have can tell us if much has changed.
Recognise this church? Do you know where it is? Is it still there? Judging from the response to our previous posts, I’m sure you observant lot have NO problem guessing this one! 🙂 This picture was taken back in 1959 by Keith Nelson.
We had previous comments about what the Oriental Hotel used to look like. Hence, here is a coloured one of the hotel (which has sadly seen better days). For those who don’t know, this building is now an electrical store.
…that Brewster Road was this ’empty’ back in 1959? From the traffic I see today, I can hardly believe it myself! This picture is courtesy of Keith Nelson, a former British National serviceman.
Keith Nelson, a former British National serviceman, sent us this picture. This was taken in 1959. Do any of you recognise this coffee shop? Is it still around?
Due to popular demand, we have here some of the pictures taken of the interior of the former Lido Cinema – after the recent fire. Left to Right: the lobby; the false ceiling Left to Right: the stairs leading to the balcony; the balcony For more pictures, do visit our Facebook page.
In a previous blog about the Rex Cinema, our fans talked about dragons. Thanks to the helpful staff at the former cinema, we managed to take these pictures (see below). These were taken from the balcony (now full of mattresses) of the former Rex Cinema. As you can see, the right hand dragon is ‘suffering’ due […]
Dr Ho shared this picture with us, and we’d like to share it with you guys – especially the Alumni of the Main Convent! Convent Girls, do you recognise this part of the school?
Remember what Lido Cinema used to look like back then? the foyer the ticket booth A special thanks going out to Ruth Rollitt for sending us these lovely gems! 🙂
[click to enlarge] Dear Ipoh-ites…..can you guys guess the year this photograph was taken? The familiar landmarks may give you some clues 🙂 Here’s another hint: at the bottom left there seems to be some construction going on (at the back of Waller Court Flats) – this site later became S.K. Coronation Park 😉 Happy guessing!
Believe it or not, the Pasar Besar in Ipoh New Town isn’t that ‘old’! This early 1900s picture (taken from the Kinta Valley book) is quite unique – has there been that much change since Towkay Yau Tet Shin built this place? I’ve noticed that those large rattan baskets are still in use today….
Before it was converted into the Darul Ridzuan Museum, this 10-room bungalow (along Douglas Road) was built for none other than one of Ipoh’s famous miners – Foo Choong Yit – back in 1926. Later, in 1940, two air raid shelters were constructed in the compound (in anticipation of Japanese aerial attacks). Ten years later, the Government took over […]
No, this is NOT a product of Photoshop! There was a ‘Parkson Ria’ shopping mall in Ipoh, somewhere in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Does anyone remember it? Did it close because of the fire….or before the fire broke out? [ For those of you still wondering, let me put you out of your misery – […]
Sent to us by Norman Doctor from the UK, these aerial shots were taken in the 1950s. The shots were probably taken during the routine supply drops. Does anyone out there recognise these forts? There aren’t that many clues, but we’re hoping someone out there knows a bit more about these places.
Thanks to Ruth Rollitt, we now have some interior pictures of the Lam Looking Bazaar. For those of you who were curious to know what the interior looked like, feast you eyes on these! 🙂 the staircase inside the building left to right: the top floor, which became a cinema hall; the corridor on the […]
….that THIS (picture above) was the ORIGINAL design of the Lam Looking Bazaar! (click image to enlarge) Thanks to Ruth Rollitt (daughter of the late B M Iversen), we have here the drawing of this famous building. Ruth also had this to say in her email: The firm of Keys & Dowdeswell left Singapore in […]
Yes folks, your eyes are NOT playing tricks on you – that IS an F&N bottle on the rooftop of the Lam Looking Bazaar! This form of advertising seemed quite common back then; there was a similar bottle on the other side of the rooftop (front part of the building) – which can be viewed here. […]
This street scene seems familiar, but we can’t quite identify the place. Could it be Ipoh? Gopeng? Kampar? You tell us! Perhaps some of the shop signs might help.
Here’s a printable black and white copy of the Gopeng Heritage Trail Map. We hope to get a better copy in the near future; when we do, we shall put a copy up on the blog 🙂
This is the house that was taken over by the church from the mining company French Tekka on Tambun Road for the original Novena. Designed by my father pre-war. It was demolished and a hotel stands where it once graced Tambun Road. Such were the words of Ruth Iversen Rollitt (daughter of the famous Danish […]
A while ago, we featured a post about the on-going ‘renovations’ of the Station Gardens. So far, we’ve heard no news about what’s going on behind those boards. Has there been any progress lately? If anyone has noticed anything, do let us know. In the mean time, here is a 1950s picture of what the […]
Some of you out there asked for a printable copy of the Batu Gajah Heritage Trail Map. Here it is: Just click on it to enlarge.
Here’s a rare picture of the former Post Office (behind the Ipoh Town Hall). Notice the stalls beneath the shady tree – and the crowd of patrons too! We thank Ruth Rollitt for this gem 🙂 Charlie reminds us (#13 below) about Savings Stamps and immediately Hasbi sent us these scans. Thank you both so […]
In a previous blog, we mentioned the Ipoh Tutorial Institute. When Ruth Rollitt sent us this picture (below), we couldn’t help but wonder: Were these institutes one and the same? If so, when did they move to the bigger building? In case some of you are wondering, this building is STILL THERE today…but it’s not […]
This is the other end of Leech Street. On the left is the Sun Cinema (yes, the SAME Sun Cinema that our local cartoonist Lat drew in his cartoons!). Does anyone know the building on the right? We thank Ruth Rollitt for this rare gem 🙂
We received this picture from a STAR Alumni. The donor of this picture also gave us a list of the marked places in this picture. Marked in green: 1. Tiger Lane (Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah) 2. Dairy Road (Jalan Raja Muda Mahadi) 3. Sekolah Izzuddin Shah 4. Pejabat Kaji Bumi & Minerals 5. Canning Garden […]
Not too long ago, I received an e-mail which talked about the simple things in life. The e-mail ended with the phrase “Life was simple when Apple and Blackberry were names of fruits”. Hence, when I saw the following pictures (below) from Charlie…. …..I began to wonder: what was life like back then? Do boys […]
Yes, folks. Time to test your Geographical knowledge of Ipoh 🙂 We were told that this is part of Greentown. Do you know WHERE in Greentown this is? Is 3rd Avenue still there, or has this road been renamed?
….that the first Elim Gospel Hall was built in 1920? As the assembly increased in number, a bigger hall was needed – there was also the idea of having separate halls for the Chinese and English speaking assemblies as well. The picture we have here is of the first building (1920) which was built by […]
Today we’re featuring the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is along Silibin Road. Long before the idea of a church in Silibin came about, the needs of the Tamil Catholics of Ipoh were taken care of by visiting missionaries of St Michael’s Church. Later on, more families began to settle towards Silibin area […]
This picture here was probably taken in the late 1960s or so. I’m just curious: did the clock (behind the little boy) actually work or was it just part of the garden’s landscape? If it did run, is it still there now? Anyone been to the Japanese Garden lately? Do let us know 🙂
Come on Sleuths! I’m sure some of you have seen this unique traffic light (far back) SOMEWHERE in Ipoh 🙂 Know the place? It is at a park? You tell us 😉
IpohBornKid shared this little story with us through email. Here’s his take on a memorable outing. Happy reading 🙂 Convent Girls by demand – at Kledang Hill Many teenagers walked up the Kledang Hill in the 1950s (see previous blog). It was a good natural outing where a big group of Menglembu neighbours […]
Ah yes! MORE pictures showing Ipoh’s pretty lasses 🙂 For those of you who are wondering, this picture was taken at the Tambun Hot Springs – sometime in the early 1970s. A special thanks to Sophie for this picture. Sophie, if you’re reading this: are you in this group? Could you tell us the names […]
A special thanks to Jeremy (a.k.a. Paloh Chai) for these pictures. Yes, folks…..this was what Panglima Lane (or Concubine Lane, as some Ipoh-natives call it!) looked like a year ago. 😉
Yes, folks…this is what the People’s Park used to look like in those days!
Ladies and Gentlemen, we present to you 99 Anderson Road, Ipoh! This building was originally owned by Foong Seong. Later, the Cheong family bought it. When the Cheongs lived here, the front part of the building was a men’s hairdressing salon while the back portion was a famous tailors shop from where hundreds of made-to-measure […]
A big ‘HELLO’ to all Writers out there! I’m sure some of you have done strange/awkward things when trying to overcome writers’-block. I recall one of my online buddys telliing me that he attempted growing his beard and didn’t shower for a week – just to write about a homeless man! Well, what ever works […]
Remember this company? Recognise this street? Well, this picture was taken around 1961/62……I’m sure some of you remember 🙂
The shop 3rd from left is ‘Chop Cheong Chin’; next to that is ‘Syarikat Perak Travel Agency’, which is also an agency for Singapore Airlines. That’s about all we could make out from this picture. Now, across the street from this row of shop houses…..(see picture below) ….is another similar row. Notice also that at […]
We have here the 3rd installment of UV’s account….about his teaching experiences in and around Ipoh. Happy reading 🙂 the waterfall at Buntung Teaching In and Around Ipoh Episode 3 Teaching is not merely the passing on of knowledge to students. It involves and interaction that is rather complicated. A student learns through various ways. [This […]
Familiar? Well, we believe that this was part of the Jubilee Park ……..yes, the FUN-Section where there were carousel rides, game stalls..etc. How much did such a ride cost? Did they have a day-pass or something similar (as what Lost World of Tambun has today) ?
the famous Bridge a view from the Bridge These are from the collection of the late Geoffrey Clark. Believe it or not, Ipoh DID look like this about 64 years ago; the bridge (1st pic) definately looks different now…..even the view from the said bridge (2nd pic) has changed so much.
Know this road? Way back in 1945, this was part of the Singapore-Penang route. This picture shows the road passing through Ipoh (although, we don’t know which part of Ipoh this is). Yes, there weren’t many cars on the roads in those days; in the picture are a couple of bullock-carts. Must have been a […]
Seen this place somewhere? Know where it is? Do tell us…. From what we know, this place was probably one of the houses where the British soldiers were billeted after the Japanese left (the photo is dated December 1945). Is this building still around? You tell us 🙂
This was taken in 1945 by the late Geoffrey Clark (of the 4th Regiment Signals Troop). Here we have 3 dulang washers, complete with their wide hats and long sleeved shirts, working hard along the river. On the reverse of the photo he identified the place as Ipoh and guessing that this was taken from […]
Recognise this street? Well, put those thinking-caps on, people 🙂 I’m sure some of you are grinning madly…while typing away your answers! This picture is part of the late Geoffrey Clark’s collection. (We featured one of his pictures in a previous blog post) Clark served in Malaya from about 1945-1947 under the 4th Regiment Signals […]
Here’s a picture of the PCADA (Perak Chinese Amateur Dramatic Association) Building, taken on the day of the association’s Golden Jubilee. At the time the picture was taken (some time in 1953) the 3rd floor had been completed. Foh Sun restaurant used to occupy the groud floor, before it moved. I do wonder what’s become […]
Some time ago, we featured a picture from the Jennings Collection – showing part of Panglima Street, which was under water in 1919. Here we have another look at the same street. This was taken in 1926/1927, when yet again Ipoh suffered another great flood. Notice any difference from the 1919 photograph and this one?
note: picture is RTM Copyright Familiar? Well, for those of you who are still wondering, this is the Perak RTM building 🙂 I heard that there’s some renovations going on at the present site….perhaps anyone who knows more could help us out. Also, we’d like to know a little more about the history of this […]
..well, not quite! This 1914 picture shows the Gunong Cheroh Taoist temple (in the background) and part of Anderson Road (just after where the present YMCA building is). The one driving however is Freda Jennings, wife of Jack Jennings (Editor of Times of Malaya). She can be seen driving (a lovely white car) along the wooden […]
You just KNOW you’ve seen this building somewhere before….but can’t quite put your finger on it! Well, put your thinking-caps on folks 🙂 Perhaps a closer look at the picture might give you some clues……
….the Abdul Samad Building? (see picture below) Was this what the building looked like in the early 1900s? Or, perhaps its an entirely different building altogether? We’d like your ‘expert’ opinions on this one……… This picture is taken from the collection of the late Percival Moss, who tailored the uniforms for the Malay States Guides.
Here’s a lovely coloured postcard of St Michael’s Institution. Care to guess the date of this picture? Needless to say, those palm trees aren’t there anymore….and the space behind the school building is now where the new Primary Block is. You can also see St John’s Anglican Church; notice also a green-roofed mansion (top most […]
We know some of you out there love mysteries! Well, here’s one for you (see picture below). Familiar? At first I thought it was the Shaik Adam Mosque (along Clayton Road, next to St Michael’s Institution)…..but then, could there be another building around the country with a similar design? By the way, this picture was […]
Familiar? Recognise any landmarks? Let us know 🙂 By the way, this picture was sent to us by IpohBornKid……
Here’s another gem – the Iskandar Bridge, Kuala Kangsar! Anyone care to guess the year? Perhaps you could tell us MORE about this bridge…..
Bet you didn’t know that THIS (picture above) was what the Turf Club‘s grandstand looked like back in 1919! 😉 Of course it’s different now, after all those renovations. But we’re lucky to have such a unique picture to add to our collection. A special thanks to Nicholas Jennings who sent this to us 🙂
Ah! Some of you might be recalling fond memories of this place 🙂 Yes, this is none other than the Japanese Garden, along Tambun Road (Jalan Raja DiHilir).
For those of you (the younger generation like myself!) who didn’t know, THIS is what the Hugh Low Bridge used to look like 😉 Yes, this was before those strange towers were erected along the bridge…. We thank Edwin Siebel for this beautiful picture.
Here’s a little nostalgia from IpohBornKid, about a trip to the famous Kledang Hills. Happy reading 🙂 A Nostalgic Climb up The Kledang Hill circa 1950s. Dear Ipoh and Menglembu Old Timers Everyone has heard of Cameron Highlands (off Tapah), Frazer Hill (Off Taiping) and later on Genting Highlands but not many have […]
You know the Sri Maju bus station? Well, this was what the main building looked like before the bus company took over (see picture below). To what we know, this mansion was once the family home of Dato’ Yeoh Kian Teik (Michelle Yeoh’s father). We thank Ian Latham for sending us this picture 🙂
I wonder how many of you saw Rhett and Scarlet at this cinema! Sadly, such experiences are only memories now…..since the cineplex-craze began 🙁 Like other cinema halls, Ruby has also seen better days……
This picture was sent to us by Hasbi, who also provided us with some information: 1. 6th December 1927 – The Grand Hotel building which housed The Anglo-Chinese Girls School turned again into hotel. 2. 29th December 1928 – Grand Hotel new Dance Hall and Lounge were opened Saturday night by Mrs. E. A. Dickson, wife […]
Making a rough guess, I think this was taken in the early 1940s (although I could be wrong). Is the arch still there in the present Kinta Swimming Club building? Tell us MORE….especially all you Ipoh-natives out there who know your hometown so well! 🙂
We had a request for a picture of the famous Rose Villa. Here is one taken around 1982 (to see what it looked like inside, click here). This mansion was once owned by Towkay Leong Tian – a miner and philanthropist. Sadly, the mansion (which was along Gopeng Road) is not there anymore. After it […]
We have here a rare picture of the Capitol Cinema, which was along Anderson Road, Ipoh. From what we’ve found out, this cinema was a ‘victim’ of a fire almost 20 years ago. Since then, the vacant site was turned into a car park. Sometime last year, the car park closed and the site is […]
Mark Lay of Kinta Heritage recently informed us about the demolition of these pre-war shophouses – along the corner of Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil and Jalan Lau Ek Ching . (see pictures below) Notice that in the second picture (above), the frames of the door and windows are STILL in good condition. Sadly, they will soon […]
This, the latest Kinta Nature Park flyer, has contact details and guide information, top right. As the text is a little small, a click on the picture will take you to a slightly larger image. Enjoy.
We have here a picture of Cedric and an antique car (note the number plate!). This picture of Cedric and the Austin 7 was sent to us by Nicholas Jennings. Now, what about the building in the background, which is under construction? Here’s a tiny clue: this picture was taken around 1961….so, this building was […]
Believe it or not, this is what Ipoh’s first railway station looked like in the late 1800s (before the present Taj Mahal-like structure). Amazing isn’t it? It is interesting to note that: “…the first section [railway construction in Perak] was an eight-mile line running between Taiping and Port Weld….[which] opened for traffic in June 1885. […]
Courtesy of Jerry de Witt, this photograph taken from a MAS aircraft in 1975 clearly shows the Kinta River winding its leisurely way across the valley on its way to Teluk Intan. But don’t miss the tin mines – those large brown patches alongside the river – for in 1975 there was still a tin mining industry […]
Do you know what / where this place is? Any clues? Well, I’m sure there are some sleuths out there who are cracking their brains – trying to figure out this little mystery! Good luck to you all….we hope for LOTS of feedback/comments 😉
Those of you who grew up in Kampar might recognise this landmark. Yes, this is the Great World amusement centre – almost like Ipoh’s Jubilee Park! We’d like to hear stories (as many as possible, of course!) about this place….I’m sure some of you out there have fond memories……
This was sent to us by Nicholas Jennings. Does anyone recognise the building in the background? The only clue we have is that: upon close inspection, we noticed that this building was built in 1914. Other than that, we’re stumped! Looking forward to some feedback 🙂
Persatuan Pemulihan dalam Komuniti Buntong & Sutra Foundation proudly present ODISSI STIRRED – from Tradition to Transformations. Odissi Stirred explores the 3 different choreographic styles of: Sharmila Biswas (Kolkata), Madhavi Mudgal (New Delhi) and Ramli Ibrahim and Guna (Malaysia). These 3 styles will give the audience a ‘glimpse of the power and dynamism’ of Indian […]
I’m sure many of you recognise the bridge in these two pictures. A lot has changed, hasn’t it? The bridge doesn’t look like this now – and the traffic has increased too! Can anyone guess the year these pictures were taken? Looking forward to your comments 🙂
We’ve come to know of an incident involving soldiers and poaching (from Perak News). The news thus far claims that there’s been “…a photo posted on the Facebook profile of a Malaysian soldier who proudly (shamelessly) poses with his fellow soldier friends, with a Rhinoceros Hornbill which looks like it has just been slaughtered.” It […]
We received this from Diana McGavin. This picture was taken at her christening, in December 1947, at St Andrew’s Church. In the background is the manse (featured in a previous blog), where Diana and her friends attended Sunday School (around 1955). Like some of our readers, she too hopes that this building will be saved!
From what we’ve heard, Ipoh’s legendary Station Hotel will soon be closed. Does anyone know more? We’d like to know the details, please……. I do wonder what will become of the hotel once it’s closed :-O
Professor Ken Taylor, from AusHeritage, will be presenting a lecture titled “Cultural Landscapes – Tangible and Intengible Heritage”. This lecture will begin at 3pm on 24 March 2011, at the Ungku Omar Polytechnic (Civil Engineering Lecture Hall). This lecture is open to all, entrance is free.
This scenic haven can be found just outside Ipoh – on the Simpang Pulai/Cameron Highlands road. This dam is rather unique, because it has a hot spring at the picnic area (further downstream). We thank Coleman Chin for the picture and the short description. Have anyone of you been to this place? We’d like to […]
We have recently learnt that: the vicarage adjacent to St Andrew’s Church will be demolished by the Parish. The church is located at Golf Club Road, Ipoh. The building is said to be ‘too old’ and will be replaced with a more modern structure. This building once housed Tenby School; which was set up in 1960 […]
Here we have a picture of St Joseph’s Church, in Batu Gajah. From what we know, the church was built in 1882. This picture was taken around 1957.
The Good News: the roof of St John’s Church has been restored. The Better News: the restoration work looks GOOD! (see picture below) The church had previously suffered a ’bout’ of white ants. Now fully restored, it’s standing proud as one of Ipoh’s heritage buildings!
At Garden Vill, No. 5 Gopeng Road, Ipoh. 20 to 28 February, 1030 to 6.00pm.
Yes, folks! Today’s blog is a tribute to the Ipoh Tree – the picture we have here was taken (by S Y Lee) just outside the Ipoh Railway Station. Below is the plaque with an explanation. Besides the Railway Station, the Ipoh Tree (also known as the Epu / Upas Tree) can also be found at […]
It is said that the main building of the Angle Chinese School (ACS) was ‘erected and opened in 1914’. It was also said to have a ‘landmark, Edwardian-style building’ which stood ‘parallel to Lahat Road’. Interestingly, this building was designed by C H LaBrooy! (for more on ACS, click here) This picture here was sent […]
We have here a picture (sent to us by Phoebe) of the Kinta Lodge. Notice the members in their Freemason Regalia – particularly the interesting designs on the Aprons! From what we’ve gathered, the first Masonic Hall was along Maxwell Road. The building was later taken over by Anderson School. Then, the Masons moved to […]
Familiar? For those of you who are stumped, this is the Raja Perempuan School (RPS) – which is along Chung Thye Phin Road (opposite Main Convent Primary School). We’d like you to have a guess at the date of this picture (we don’t know ourselves!). Maybe if anyone of you know the history of the […]
Here’s a copy of the 1st Heritage Trail Map. This trail covers Old Town and is held every Saturday morning at 8am, starting at the Ipoh Railway Station. A full size printable copy of this map is now available on our database athttp://db.ipohworld.org/view/id/3875 in PDF format.
We have here a picture of a dredge in Pengkalan. This picture was taken quite some time ago, when it sank and rested neatly on the bottom of the pool, hence it probably looks different today. I do wonder what’s become of this dredge: were there plans to save it, like the TT5? Or, if not maintained…it might […]
Remember the old fire brigade at Brewster Road? Here we have two pictures of the fire brigade’s compound – showing the girls from the Main Convent. These girls were part of the Firefighter Cadets Club, which was established in the school in the 1980s. The fire brigade has moved to another premise (opposite the Perak […]
This myterious bungalow was supposedly built during British rule in the early 20th Century. It was once the home of a rubber estate Manager. Later, a Chinese Miner bought it. Since 1 January 1960, the Perak Local Defense Force used it as its base. Now, this bungalow has become the HQ for the Markas Rejimen […]
…..this little boy got all dressed up and posed for a photograph! This photograph was taken in 1954; notice the large shady trees in the background – something Ipoh once boasted about! Do you know WHERE this place is? Perhaps the fencing would give you a clue…
This is No.14, Tiger Lane (Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah) – back in 1948. To what we know, the Clemetson family lived here and they were well known to the Iversens (B M Iversen‘s family). After the family left, the house remained empty. Sadly, now it is almost ‘invisible’ from the main road – with the grass growing […]
This is the first Times of Malaya building, which was along Post Office Road. The first issue of Ipoh’s first newspaper was published on 9th March 1904. 2 years later, the newspaper was taken over by J A S Jennings – who remained the paper’s most influential editor for a good 30 years! In the […]
At that time, this $ 600,000 cinema was considered luxurious. It was declared open by His Highness Raja Sir Izzudin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Jalil (the Sultan of Perak), on the eve of Chinese New Year. Designed by B M Iversen, this fully air-conditioned cinema (with its ‘colossal 75-foot tower of jade tiles’), stood […]
This is the 2nd FREE map in this series – the first one was featured in this blog late last year. This map/brochure is published by Kinta Heritage Group Sdn Bhd, in collaboration with Perak Tourism and the Perak State Government. Inside shows another heritage trail which covers: Belfield Street, Cross Street, Leech Street, Treacher Street, Jalan Datoh, and […]
Familiar? Yes, this is our very own natural jacuzzi! I remember visiting this place once – before Lost World of Tambun was built – and my brother and I would relax in the pool while watching the world go by 🙂 There was a very distinct smell of sulphur in the air, but it didn’t seem to […]
This villa was build around 1910, by none other than Eu Tong Sen; Eu used this as an annex to his Chateau (Forest Lodge). We were also told that this Anglo-Malay Bungalow was the home of Japanese senior officers (between 1942-1945), and was where Ipoh residents queued up for rice coupons. Garden Villa was also […]
This exhibition entitled “Ribbon of Life” will open at Garden Villa, No 5 Gopeng Road at 11.00am on 16th October 2010 and run daily from 11.am to 7.00pm until 26th October 2010, not 10.00 to 6.00 as stated on the flyer. All exhibits are for sale and all proceeds raised will be donated to the Pink Champions […]
Those who frequently travel along Tiger Lane (Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah) would have noticed this building (see picture below). This is the Freemason’s Lodge, which was built by B M Iversen in the 1930s. This was the second Lodge; the first one was at Maxwell Road (which was also used by Anderson School in the late […]
Fellow Main Convent Alumni……….recognise this? It is said to be the kitchen. I don’t recognize it……this was WAY before my time 😉 Maybe some of you out there know which part of the Main Convent building this is……do let us know. And do tell us if this building is still there today (perhaps it has […]
Does anyone out there know WHO this house once belonged to? It seems to have been abandoned for many years now – notice the plants growing in and around the building! Judging from the design and the land around it, this house must have been the home of a rich Towkay. It’s a pity, such […]
Eu Tong Sen and Chung Thye Phin (two of Ipoh’s many Towkays) once built a weekend retreat, Forest Lodge, at Gopeng Road. It had a large stable – befitting the common interests of these “blood brothers”, which included motorcars, racehorses, and country houses. Later, when Eu Tong Sen was appointed to the Federal Council, Chung Thye […]
While in Falim some time ago, our friend Charlie stumbled upon this curious building (picture above). Not to be confused with the ‘lions of Hugh Low Street’ – but they DO somehow look similar. These ‘lions’ have been ‘living’ in Falim since 1906. We wonder what this building was BEFORE it became Syarikat Electrik Kong Ah. […]
We refer to a previous posting about a traditional Malay-type house in Gopeng (here). Our good friend Charlie brought to our attention the following NST article, as an update on this Gopeng mystery (see pictures below). Azim Abdul Aziz, an architect, had decided to restore his grandfather’s 80-year-old house. Since the main road was being widened, the house […]
These ‘friends’ live at Leech Street – opposite the low cost flats, next door to the old Kinta Aerated Water building. Who owns them now, we wonder….and what’s become of them? We see the one on the extreme right has been painted pink; which now sells groceries (at wholesale price). What about the others? Anyone […]
Meet Mr and Mrs Tan – the diligent and creative couple, who produce ‘lion heads’ (and ‘bodies’ too). We featured Mr and Mrs Tan’s store in a previous blog; we can’t help but feature them again – together with some of their masterpieces (pictures below). Such an art seems to be fading as time goes by. It’s […]
I’m sure many of you have seen this place (picture below). It’s said to be near Kok Kee Restaurant. Familiar? Here’s another shot of the mansion, a different angle… Some of you must be smiling and nodding your heads. What we’d like to know is what’s become of this place? We hope it won’t be […]
Those who frequent the Pasar Besar (Main Market) of Ipoh might be familiar with these (picture below) Yes, these shop houses have stood the test of time; and they’re STILL going strong! The 3rd shop from the left is particularly interesting – the one painted yellow, with the words ‘Market Terrace’ at the top. As […]
The above pictures were taken inside Falim House, which was once the abode of Foo Nyit Tse. Much of the old furniture and trimmings have been preserved – which attracted the production crew of the local drama Sybil. The pictures below were taken at the set. For Sybil, Falim House was used as the home […]
Here’s another puzzle for you: where can this (picture above) be found? It’s somewhere around Ipoh town. Is it on a building….or an arch….or above a doorway? I’m sure some of you out there have already guessed it – maybe it’s a little too easy…. 🙂 Happy guessing!
This place was said to have a large hall on the top floor. During the war, the hall was a Japanese mah jong den. Later (after the war), it was turned into classrooms for the Sam Choy Primary School – this was during the day time; at night, it was the venue for the Chinese […]
Some time ago, the Perak Heritage Society visited Teluk Intan (formerly known as Telok Anson). Among the highlights of the trip was visiting the famous ‘Leaning Tower’. Yes, Perak has her own ‘leaning tower’ – just like Pisa. We have here some pictures of the inside of the tower…(see below) On the left is a […]
Most of us are familiar with the Birch Clock Tower (along Post Office Road). In one of our previous posts, we were wondering what building seemed hidden in the background, far left of the picture (see below). Well, the mystery has been solved – the building is none other than the old Court House! Yes, […]
Remember them? (see picture below) (These lions can be found on either side of the front porch, of the Falim House) Yes, these are the two faithful lions who ‘guard’ Falim House; we were also told that these lions were made of cast iron, not stone! They are painted red, obviously for “good luck”. I […]
Here is one way of restoring and using a heritage building….. Garden Villa is located at No.5, Jalan Raja Dr Nazrin Shah (Gopeng Road), Ipoh. It was originally an annex to Eu Tong Sen’s mansion (Eu Chateau-Forest Lodge). Now, this place is managed by Kinta Heritage group. This Anglo-Malay architecture can be a venue for […]
Foo Nyit Tse started off as miner, under Foo Choo Choon; he later opened his first mine in 1898. In the 1920s, Foo Nyit Tse (who by then was a well known mining Towkay) built Falim – ‘a self contained housing estate, with a large num of low cost terrace housing and 40 shop houses’. […]
Remember this shop? Here’s a clue: it’s at Market Street….. If I’m not mistaken, I think the shop is still there – going strong after all these years! They specialized in Kain Pulikat, (the locals might know it as sarong) which was said to be made in India. They also sold Kain Batek (Batik). Here’s another […]
Landmarks of Perak records the richness and diversity of Perak’s architectural fabric. Structures depicted in the book include palaces, mosques, schools, temples, churches, memorials, government offices, banks, shophouses, bridges, and even private residences. More than 160 landmarks are featured, from each of the State’s nine districts, with particular attention given to the State’s historic urban […]
This is a front view of No.188, Hugh Low Street – which used to be Ipohgal’s home. The picture was taken by Aaron Ong, who was inspired by Ipohgal’s description of her colourful childhood. The design of this house deserves a special mention – particularly the 2 lions on the roof (see picture below) Like […]
Designed by A B Hubback, who also designed the Ipoh Railway Station, this work-of-art was completed in 1916. The east end of the building was used as the Post and Telegraphs Office in 1928. This building is still used today – be it for concerts, wedding banquets, official functions, etc. It’s also had some restoration […]
This interesting proposal came from Perak Tourist Association.
Here’s a section of Ipoh Old Town, said to be taken from the top of the state mosque’s minaret. In the background (left) is the Ipoh Padang and a row of giant common ru. Further back, are the limestone hills – something Ipoh has always been noted for! This was what the area used to […]
This postcard shows the Victoria Bridge, which is the oldest railway bridge in Malaysia. The bridge was officially opened on the 21st of March 1900 by Sultan Idris Murshidul’adzam Shah of Perak and FMS High Commissioner Sir Frank Swettenham.
This picture was taken by Jon L Tan at the 2004 inaugural Ipoh Bougainvillea Parade. He kindly gave us permission to use it. He wrote the following about the picture: “This little cub generated a lot of excitement. Kids and adults alike were immediately excited by the appearance of this special guest star… Poor tiger […]
‘Limestone Hills & Caves of the Kinta Valley’ is the latest publication by the Malaysian Nature Society. Inside are astonishingly beautiful pictures by Cheang Kum Seng, paying tribute to Mother Nature. Written by SL Wong, this book is a “tribute to that rare beauty [limestone hills and caves]” and at the same time encourages the […]
This picture was taken as we were walking to the cave where the skeleton of Perak Man was found. It is a short walk from the Lenggong museum, but very “Kampong” and definitely at peace with nature. The Kapok tree is very special and in the Maya culture, of the pre-Columbian America (2000BC) it was considered […]
Perak, with its limestone hills has many beautiful waterfalls. Indeed it is suggested that there may well be several not yet discovered in the more remote parts of the state, but this one, Lata Kinjiang, is well known as it can be seen from the North South highway close to Tapah. We have posted it […]
You might wonder why these three men are pushing their boat up the Perak River towards Kuala Sepetang, originally known as Port Weld, the site of the first railway in Malaya that connected the port to Taiping Station (the then capital of Perak), rather than doing the obvious thing of riding in it. But the title of this post […]
As I have just returned from a bone-dry part of Africa which is suffering a serious drought, with grazing animals dying from ingesting dust and nothing but dry brown stalks to eat, I thought it would be nice to remember how nice Perak’s countryside was – and despite the damage caused by mining and development […]
Mangrove forests are one of the Earth’s most rapidly disappearing ecosystems. These coastal forests, with trees adapted to growing in salty soil and water, protect coastlines from erosion and are a natural barrier to strong coastal storms and tsunamis. The tangled root systems are a nursery for shrimp and many species of fish that go […]
