tourism | IpohWorld's World

picture courtesy of NST Happy Thaipusam, from all of us at:

We have here Chen Seong Yin and his wife to be, Briggita, posing with a trishaw – as part of their wedding photo shoot. This was taken in August 1996 at the Darling Honemoon Villa in Ipoh Garden. Did you have a unique location for your wedding photo shoot?

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.

This is a licence from the Municipality of Ipoh to Hung Chin Ling, i.c. PK.028579 of K-2, Kepayang, Fair Park, Ipoh who has a coffee shop. The license, of course, was issued in accordance to the Sales of Food and Drugs Ordinance 1952. There were also the following conditions, which had to be adhered to: […]

This is a photograph of one of the cars which was participating in the London to Sydney Marathon. The drivers were Rick Bates and Jenny Brittan. The cars were gathered in the centre of Ipoh, near the Municipal Building (Dataran Dewan Bandaraya Ipoh) before they took off on the next stage of the rally. One […]

We thank Chee Ong Ngai for this one. Pardon me if I’m wrong…but are those Japanese characters, written above the English words? If so, this picture could have been taken during the Second World War (or a little after).

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?

Have you been to the Sinhalese Bar in Ipoh? We’d love to hear your thoughts – especially if you know something about its history 🙂 We thank Chee Ong Ngai for this picture.

picture source: Star Online Whether you’re celebrating the 15th Day of the Lunar New Year (Chap Goh Mei)…. picture source: Star Online or Thaipusam, we wish you a joyous celebration. And remember to always stay safe!

Nothing like a good ‘ol Lion Dance Troupe to welcome Chinese New Year. Speaking of which, has anyone here been part of a troupe at some point in your youth? (maybe you were ‘part’ of the ‘lion’ too?) This guy certainly wanted to join in the fun! Read more here. picture source: NST online

Here’s a shout out to those travelling home for the holidays. Have a safe journey and happy holidays! We thank our donor Chee Ong Ngai for this picture. Yes, this was part of the FMS Railway…just after the Bukit Gantung Station.

No, this isn’t part of a circus troupe. Neither is this a Chinese New Year celebration (yes, I know some of you spotted the ‘lion’ in the background). This is actually part of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival parade. We thank our donor – Ann Kesselring Hamon – for sharing this with us. Here’s another […]

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 month of August is usually known as “bulan Merdeka” (Merdeka/Independence Month). But did you also know that the earliest cinematograph first came to Ipoh in August 1906? Initially the cinematograph market was monopolized by one company, the Matsuo Japanese Cinematograph Company, who used to hold nightly shows in a tent for 7-weeks running, moving […]

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 […]

The people of Ipoh had an opportunity to witness an aeroplane for the first time on July 1 1911! G P Kuller – one of the earliest aviators – staged a 4-day flight exhibition in Ipoh. Thousands congregated at the race course, with 150 Europeans occupying the 1st and 2nd class seats. The 3rd and […]

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.

We thank LingLi Tan for sharing this picture with us. Maybe someone familiar with Teluk Anson (or Teluk Intan, as it is called now) could tell us more 🙂

This is 1 of 4 of the hand painted posters, measuring 81cm x 100cm, produced in 1961 for the Visit Malaya in Orient promotion. Does anyone recall seeing any of these posters around the town in the 1960s?

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)

This year on 21st March 1989 marks another milestone in the history of Perak. It was the signing of the declaration to accord twin-city status to Ipoh and Fukuoka of Japan. The declaration is expected to strengthen the bonds of friendship between Japan and Malaysia. It paves a new era of strong economic and industrial cooperation […]

According to this advertisement (from 1988), this place offered a “City Day Special”. Does anyone remember where Cowboy’s Inn was? And, perhaps what’s become of the place?

Believe it or not, this picture was taken in the late 1800s in Taiping. Bet the experts have already identified these buildings 🙂

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 […]

The Ipoh Bodega was the first European restaurant to open in Ipoh. Its doors opened on the 6th August 1904. Initially catering mainly to the lunchtime crowd, it began serving dinner shortly after and a month later began to stay open until 11pm, with music to entertain the liquor-drinkers. The weather was the death of […]

Here’s your “homework” for today: Study these pictures carefully. How many of these places do you recognise? Some clues can be found here. 😉

This press cutting reported that on March 1st 1983, a new $14 million central market (Super Kinta), was expected to be fully opened for business. Also, this was said to be the largest in South-East Asia!

Mark your calendars, folks. Come witness the launching of a unique book by H. Berbar on 21st March 2020, at Tin Alley (3 Lorong Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh).

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 […]

In previous blog posts about the former Yau Tet Shin Round Market, many of you talked about the stall(s) you frequently visited. Well, for those who knew the Round Market like the back of their hand….here’s a ‘quiz’ for you: Do you recall what was sold at Stall No. 12?

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…

Heard about the Ipoh Food Festival? Check out the posters below: Here’s a message from the organisers: We have many exciting workshops and experience for tourist to sign up. Some are also free. Including 1) Dine in the Dark (rm15 per pax) Register via WhatsApp name > 012-4128038 Rattan Basket Weaving Workshop [1 seat left] […]

Don’t know what to do the coming long weekend? Well, why don’t you head on out to Ipoh Old Town. Lots of exciting events will be happening on the 19th and 20th of January 2019 – you wouldn’t want to miss it! Curious? Want to know more? Visit the Sama Sama Perak Facebook […]

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 […]

Where were YOU back in 1979? Did you witness the Castrol ASEAN Rally? Do you remember seeing this car (picture above) in action? Although the photo is not too clear, but do you recognise the driver? 😉

Yes, “Visit Malaya” posters existed back in 1961! Here’s one which some of you may have seen… (you can read more about this poster here).

“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 […]

Here’s a picture of the FMSR Locomotiv Class G. The locomotive was built by R. Stephenson. It was placed in Perak Railway with the name FMSR 47 in July 1901. It was scrapped on November 1931. A series of 34 4-6-0 locomotives were built by Kitson (16), Hunslet (5), Neilson Reid & R. Stephenson. And […]

Ever wondered what happened to the building that housed the first Post & Telegraph office back in 1883? Yes, I’m talking about that building in Jalan Stesen, Taiping. Well, it is now a Telegraph Museum!

Yes, this IS Peoples’ Park…with part of Hugh Low Bridge on the right.

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 […]

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 😉

Calling all you nimble-feet folk! How many of you remember the Celestial Dance Bar?

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).

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?

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.

Drop us an e-mail at info@ipohworld.org if you are interested in joining our team of part-time guides at Ipoh World at Han Chin Pet Soo

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 🙁

Of late, Ipoh old town has been getting increasingly popular — it’s great, but everyone also goes to the same spaces for the same experiences.We know there is plenty to learn of Ipoh old town, many more places and stories to explore and uncover. So we’ll be working with Doodle Malaysia to draw out a […]

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 […]

We don’t go around blowing our own trumpet…but this is something we’re really proud of, and it’s worth shouting out from every roof top in Ipoh town! picture from: Ipoh Guide Thank you for your reviews / comments, which helped us stay within the top page of Trip Advisor – and thus being awarded the […]

picture from: Gogan Singh According to our donor, he and his friends were part of the few non-Chinese devotees who took part in the 9 Emperor Gods festival back in 1970. If you remember this particular event, did you meet them at the procession?

From past blog posts, we’ve had Readers sharing their memories about some of the many smaller departmental stores in Ipoh. With the coming of hypermarkets and malls, these small businesses eventually folded. On that note, does anyone remember Angel Departmental Store? Do you remember where it was located?

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 […]

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 🙂

On the morning of 30th April 2016, Treacher Street was all abuzz with activity. That day marked the grand opening of the Ho Yan Hor Museum – a museum which tells the story of Ho Kai Cheong, who began as an operator of a humble tea stall and later became a famous entrepreneur and philanthropist. […]

click to enlarge We mentioned the Bougainvillea Parade a long time ago on our blog. Here are MORE photos from that same parade, back in 2004. I don’t recall ever seeing these floats along Jalan Abdul Jalil….did any of the Greentown folk witness this back then?

Yes, this is what a Malayan Airways airline ticket looked like back then! 🙂

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 […]

Our photographer tasted this at Wing Kee – yes, it’s the ever popular dry curry chicken noodles. This serving (above) costs RM 4.50 Where do YOU think is the best place to find this tasty morsel?

Left picture source = ipohWorld; Right picture source = Star Publication From what we were told, there used be street processions in Ipoh during the 9-Emperor Gods Festival! Today, we’re featuring a Then and Now photograph. On the left is a picture from 1947, on the right is a recent photograph (from the Star).

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 […]

ONE NIGHT ONLY!Tapestry performs for the first time in Ipoh at the Event Hall of the Sarang Paloh Heritage Hotel. Come experience an evening of songs in this beautiful and striking heritage space.Friday, 9 October 2015 @ 8:30 PMTickets are priced at RM35 (free seating), and can be purchased from Sarang Paloh, and also […]

picture from: Star Newspaper Recently, there was a report about the public pool (near the Perak Stadium) being closed for renovations. From what I’ve observed before it closed, this pool is rather popular among Ipoh-ites – especially the little ones. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know WHEN the pool was built?

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 🙂

courtesy of Ruth Iversen Rollitt Here’s another angle of a once famous hotel. I’m sure most of you recognise this building (and Iversen-design, if I’m not mistaken). Does anyone know what shops occupied the left part of the photo?

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!

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.

‘As Indians prepare for Ponggal, which falls today, earthen pots were snapped up at Little India in Jalan Lahat recently.’ Shoppers had the choice to either buy the plain pots or those with colourful designs. Besides the pots, other essential items for the harvest festival that shoppers bought were sugarcane, milk, brown sugar, firewood, cashew […]

At one time, you could buy this for 42 cents……of course the coupon was only for ONE dance. However, it came in a booklet of five coupons. This sample here is from Robin James (from London). Anyone remember this Dance Coupon? Did YOU ever buy/use such a coupon at the Jubilee Cabaret?

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

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 […]

…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?

picture from: Rosemary Palmer At first glance, I thought I was looking at the entrance of the Ipoh Club. This building however is the Kinta Golf Club, in Batu Gajah! But then again, you can’t deny the similarities, can you? I wonder when this club came into existence…

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 […]

Fellow Foodies will be very familiar with this restaurant. On our food blog today, we’d like to feature an all-time favourite snack – the tasty, crispy Yau Char Koay (or Chinese crullers, as some may call it). Yes, for those who didn’t already know…there is a stall in New Hollywood which sells Yau Char Koay, […]

Imagine my surprise when I saw this matchbox….I never knew there was such a place in Kampong Simee. According to the address, it used to be opposite the Perak Stadium. Does anyone remember this place? I don’t remember ever seeing Penthouse Lounge.

Not much is known about this park. We’re wondering if anyone could fill us in on its history. Of course, the Memorial Park is not there anymore – this picture (from Angie Yeow) was obviously taken before the park made way for the state mosque. Does anyone know more about this?

Love it or hate it, this beauty is regarded the King of Fruits in this part of the world. The durian may have a strong odour which puts people off, but once you get past the smell to taste the creamy flesh – well, need I say more? 😉 Leong (our photographer) managed to capture […]

Yes, you really never know what you might find to surprise you on our heritage trail. This delight was more than a little surprising just after we passed Concubine Lane at the Treacher Street (Jalam Bijeh Timah) end. Yes it is, it really is – a water meter right in the middle of the […]

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 […]

Between the first (curry puff) and second (siew pau) picture, which one is YOUR favourite savoury snack? Our photographer took these pictures at Jalan Bandar Timah (Leech Street) in Old Town. Besides the ones pictured above, they also sell other treats.

Some years ago this site held two of the original Panglima Lane homes from 1893. Then one literally fell down into a pile of bricks. Fortunately no one was hurt. Then because the second one was considered dangerous it was also taken down. For a while it became a sort of recreation site but […]

For today’s food-blog, we’re featuring the ever popular Popiah. Does anyone know the origins of this delicious dish? Is it uniquely Malaysian? On that note, do you know the best place (in Ipoh) one might find this dish?

The Ipoh Railway station forecourt underwent a major renovation recently and one of the first things the tourist sees when he arrives is a large round fountain area surrounded by nicely constructed boundaries which hold engraved pictures and words about the delights of Perak. I took friends down there and here is a sample of […]

This is one dessert Ipoh has long been famous for……Tau Foo Far for those feeling a little peckish, and Soya Bean Milk for those who want something cold on a hot day. We wonder if Funny Mountain’s tau foo far is as good as the one Ipohgal’s father used to make 😉

No, there’s no grammatical error in our title 😉 We’re talking about this shop at Panglima Street (click to enlarge pic). We were told that their Pork Noodles are quite tasty. So, dear Foodies….what’s your opinion?

We were told by our donor (Angie Yeow) that she thought this was part of the Japanese Garden. But, when you take a closer look…it seems to be part of a cave temple. Now we’d like to know which cave temple this is 😉 Anyone care to guess?

From the pictures, we think that this float was one of the many at a Merdeka Parade back in 1967. Does anyone remember this parade? If you do, where was it held – at the Stadium, or along the main streets of the town? Also notice the old Malay used in the description and the […]

In previous blog posts, we’ve had Readers talk about the famous ‘Police Station Curry Mee’. I do wonder if this (Restoran Xin Quan Fang) is the place you guys were talking about. If you answered yes to the above query, then perhaps you know these gentlemen. [And they in turn will know you as a […]

Anyone remember this parade? Can you guess WHO the children are waving at? I’m sure this was not too long ago… We thank Alison Caldwell for this photograph.

I’ve never been to Teluk Anson (or Teluk Intan, as it is now called). Wouldn’t know if the market looks the same now, perhaps some of the Teluk Anson folks could tell us more 😉 Special thanks to Alison Cotterill nee Caldwell for these photographs.

(Picture 1: Run Run Shaw) (Picture 2: Runme Shaw) We pay tribute to Run Run Shaw, of the famed Shaw Brothers, who passed away in Hong Kong yesterday. The Shaw Organisation began in 1924, with operations in Singapore screening their own brand of silent movies. Frustrated by local distributors, they set up their own cinema, […]

We received these from Vince Cooper. Taken in 1948, these are scenes from the Taiping Jungle Pool. Do any of you remember this place? We’d love to hear from you – especially the Taiping folks!

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 🙂

The picture may not be that clear, but it’s obvious what it is…yes, even in those days we had pretty girls posing with sports cars! This was taken from a Triumph Owners’ Club Magazine. The picture is said to be from the 1970s. Can the car lovers out there guess what car this is? […]

Foo Pak Khean (Standard 1 C) and Foo Leong Khean (Primary 2 A) built this model of the Shum Cheong Fook Circus. These students of ACS Ipoh built this as part of a school project back in 1949. Does anyone remember this circus? Did this circus frequent our shores yearly?

This picture is from Keith Nelson’s collection. It’s not Ipoh, but we thought we’d share it with you all the same. Perhaps, someone out there grew up in or visited a fishing village. We’d love to read about your experiences 🙂

Have you been to the Perak Emporium? Was it one of those high-end places like Whiteaway Laidlaw? Did it have an escalator/elevator? We’ve had Readers talking about this place, now we’d like to know MORE 😉 Picture courtesy of Stex Stev.

As can be seen in the photograph below, the Ipoh Boys are just as stylish! According to the donor of this photograph (Nick Coffil), these boys were apparently going home for the holidays. Well, Readers…..are YOU somewhere in this photograph? 😉

One look at this photograph and you will notice that not only were the Ipoh Girls pretty, they also dressed in style 😉 If you look close enough, you can probably deduce where in Ipoh Town these buildings are. But we’d like to draw your attention to the sign behind the lady with the handbag […]

Sometime ago, someone mentioned the Green Fern Coffee House as one of the places Ipoh’s (then) youngsters used to frequent. Here’s a little ‘advertisement’ from Stex Stev. Anyone know what’s in place of the coffee house now?

A couple of days ago I happened by chance to meet up with a group of KL tour guides in Old Town. They were with a Perak member of our Tour Guides’ Association and I joined up with them for a while to tell the heritage story as per ipohWorld. When we were close […]

We thank John McAuley – who was once part of the British Military serving in Malaya, back in the 1950s – for this photograph. Yes, folks it’s none other than the Majestic Cinema :). Although it doesn’t show up clearly, but if you zoom in you can actually see some vendors just outside the entrance […]

This is part of a matchbox collection emailed to us by ‘Stex Stev’. Do you remember the Chicago Coffee House? I don’t…perhaps it was gone by the time I was born. Or maybe it changed its name? You tell us 😉 However, as the discussion grew it reached the mystery of a bread also named […]

Remember this visit? From what we know, this was back in the early 1970s. Does anyone recall Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s visit? Were you one of the fortunate individuals to have met this royal couple in person? Similarly, do you recognise the building in the background?

Here’s a coloured picture of the Ipoh Swimming Club. I do wonder: was the taken before or after they renovated the pool? Our thanks goes out to Ruth Rollitt for sharing this photograph with us.

We’re pleased to have received a nice set of photographs from John McAuley – who served with the British Army in Ipoh from 1956-57. The picture below is from his collection. Take a good, long look at it and tell us if you recognise this place. The only clue John gave us was that many […]

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 […]

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 […]

We are currently planning to run an exhibition called “A Mining Family” at Falim House. This is not about one family, but an amalgam of more than 200 photographs and a large number of artifacts that show the lifestyle and labours of several of Ipoh’s Mining Towkays. The exhibition is targeted to open on 1st May 2013 […]

This arch was put up by the Perak Chinese Celebration Committee (you can vaguely make out the fine print if you zoom in). Today, there’s still an arch above Brewster Road (roughly the same location as the above picture states). I wonder who decorates it now? Does the Celebration Committee still exist?

Despite Ipoh’s long romance with all things food-related and the abundance of hotels, restaurants and clubs in town, Ipoh has never before taken part in the international tradition of the waiters’ race. On the 25th of May 2013, that is about to change. Organised jointly by the Ipoh City Council (MBI), Perak Tourism Association […]

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, […]

Here’s a nice one from a family album. We thank Alexander for this gem. According to him, the girl (standing) is his grandmother Madam Ursula. Behind her are her parents Mr Arokiasamy and Mrs Iruthayamary. The little one on the car is Ursula’s sister Kolanda Theresa. Incidentally, Mr Arokiasamy was involved in the textile & […]

Try not to be distracted with the pretty ladies 😉 We’d like to draw your attention instead to the large sign on the far left of the picture. It seems to be an advertisement for a cinema. Any idea which cinema this is? We thank Keith Nelson for this photo (we believe he may be […]

Looks like a fun fair. Or could it be a day at the Farmer’s Market (Pasar Tani)? We don’t know…but we’re hoping someone out there might tell us. Maybe you’re one of the little boys in the picture? 😉

We received this from Stephanie Keenan. She thinks this was taken around 1962/63. She also pointed out the banner hung across the street (where the words appear in reverse). Apparently, the banner is said to be advertising a film. Can anyone tell us what’s written on the banner? Does anyone recognise the street? Could this […]

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 […]

In one of our previous blogs, a place which we thought was Ipoh turned out to be Tanah Rata/Camerons instead. Well, to our Experts out there, where do you think this place (picture above) is? Ipoh? Another town in Perak? Perhaps another state altogether? 😉

Remember these buses? Wonder what’s become of them. What drew my attention were the unique signal lights – notice the left and right arrows below the windshield! I’ve not come across such a sight before…. 😉 For those of you who rode such buses around town, how much was the fare?

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….

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 […]

I can see Cathay Hotel, and almost opposite is the Ritz Hotel. Yes, this part of Ipoh is STILL as busy as ever – even back in the 70s. Notice the building complex on the left of the picture? Does this complex have a name?

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!

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 […]

Does this street look familiar to you? Can you spot any famous buildings? Is this Ipoh town…or some other town in Perak?

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 sent to us by Keith Nelson. Are those government quarters in the background? If so, where is this place?

We’ve noticed that the past few blogs have prompted our fans to talk about the good food in Ipoh. Artistic angle aside, if you look at the above picture closely you can see some ‘work’ in progress – yes, folks….the man is making Popiah! There isn’t much background in the picture, but perhaps someone recognises […]

Our thanks goes out to Alan, for sharing this picture with us!

THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF EU TONG SEN – A PERAKIAN PIONEER A public exhibition in conjunction with Visit Perak Year History & Heritage at the lobby of Syuen hotel from 30 August till end of October Eu Tong Sen was born in Penang 23. July 1877, the year of the Ox. In 1898, […]

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.

We thank Keith Nelson for this gem. Just a thought: these young men were obviously checking out the sites of Ipoh Town during that time…..where were YOU back in 1959? 😉

This photograph is marked 1966 on the reverse but, When was this hotel built? Who owned it? What’s become of it now? Yes, we have SO many questions about this place……that’s why we’ve turned to YOU – our Readers – to help us out. 🙂

This is Mano, with part of the cast from the movie ‘Anna and the King’. (Mano played ‘Moonshi’ in the movie) This picture was taken on location, back in 1999, and we were wondering: WHERE are the ‘Royal Children’ now? Recognise any of them? Or maybe you recognise yourself here? We’d love to hear from you!

In 1999 the Perak State Government published a very nice heritage trail map of Ipoh. It was produced by our good friends from Penang, Lubis and Salma. One of the buildings featured was in Kampong Jawa and clearly the Government thought it had some heritage value as they included it in the map. It was abandoned then, but […]