Ipoh

I'm back in Ipoh, my peaceful little hometown, for a few days during the study week. The main purpose for the trip back, beside to get some rest and to be with my family, is to scout for places to bring my fellow coursemates around during their visits this coming November. This would be my second time being a host and since some of them had been to Ipoh (and three of them were the one I brought around last month or so), I need to keep things a bit fresh.

Honestly, Ipoh is truly famous for two things and those are the tongs (caves) and foods. Really, there's plenty of tongs here in Ipoh such as the famous Sam Poh Tong Temple with Ling Sen Tong, Nam Thian Tong and Kek Long Tong all clustered around there, Perak Tong Temple, just to name a few. All these are Chinese temples built on caves by monks back in the old days. Besides that, there's a natural cave in the form of Gua Tempurung if that's what you're looking for.

Perak Tong Temple
Gua Tempurung

For the food department, there's nothing that represents Ipoh more than nga choi kai (chicken with beansprout). Whenever the name of Ipoh was mentioned, nga choi kai surely will pop out from the mouth. And there's dim sum, kai si hor fun (noodle with chicken floss), curry mee, and, most importantly, Ipoh white coffee, my personal favourite. I really do love to drink white coffee, and while typing this, I'm savouring for a cup right now!

The architectures of the building in the Old Town are also a sight to behold as it has those pre-colonial feels to the British architectures. One of the most famous building is the Ipoh Railway Station which is often referred to as the 'Taj Mahal' of Ipoh (according to a website la). The last time when I brought my friends there, we saw a couple shooting their wedding photos at the station. I guess it's a testament to its beauty.

So, here's the rough places to bring them for their 3 days, 2 nights stay at Ipoh:

13th Nov

• breakfast/lunch once they arrived (depends on the time of arrival)
• tour around old town
• lunch/tea
  
• Perak Tong
• Dinner ==> nga choi kai
  
• pasar malam

14th Nov

• breakfast at Foh San Restaurant
• Gua Tempurung
• lunch
• Kellie's castle
• Sam Poh Tong
• dinner
• supper at Tong Sui Kai
  

15th Nov

• breakfast at pasar pagi
• heading to Taiping

My duty lasts until the morning of the 15th November as we'll be going to Taiping and from there onwards, there'll be someone taking over the duty of a host.

Kellie's Castle

Looking back at the schedule above, I can't help but feel that it's rather spacious, for lack of words. I have a feeling that there will be a lot of time in between the plans and I don't really know how to fill it. I need HELP!!! Fellow Ipohans, any suggestions????