Thursday, February 19, 2015

Ipoh

Ipoh, the 3rd largest city in Malaysia and mostly off the tourist trail, is the most Chinese of any place we've visited so far on this trip. Men and women came from all over Asia, particularly China, to make their fortunes in the tin mines.

Mining started with picks, shovels, and panning in the 1800's and ending with gigantic mechanical floating dredges in the 1980's. Ipoh experienced one boom after another, hence the Old Town an the New Town, eventually becoming the capital of the state of Perak.

Evidence of Colonial rule is everywhere with British-built schools and government buildings still in use today. However, the Chinese also did well for themselves and Chinese shophouses, schools, and guildhalls, are all over.

After a long-ish hot walk from the bus station, we established ourselves at the Hotel French in the New Town.

We loved eating in Ipoh. Minutes after checking into or hotel we were eating lunch at this corner, open-air vegetarian restaurant where a plate of rice and tasty vegetarian dishes is about 5 ringget ($1.75 US). Price decided by the carefully trained eye of the owner.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

The cricket pitch at St Michael's Institution (SMI) - a secondary school.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

And behind the school, Scouts practicing their lashings.Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

The Ipoh train station, designed by Arthur Hubbard in Neo-Moorish style (circa 1917).
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

There are several efforts by locals to revitalize the Ipoh Old Town. Plan B, an "edgy alternative" to traditional coffee bars and shops; located in heart of Old Town; aiming at drawing the younger crowd and tourists.....
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

.....and there is ipohWorld who are currently presenting a Tin Mining Exhibition in the renovated Han Choo Pet Soo Miner's Association building in the Old Town. We took the free guided tour. It was awesome.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Recreation of the Miner's Dining Room.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Tin ore ready to be bagged and shipped to Singapore.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

"Members only" gambling room.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Chinese shops in Little India were full of shoppers buying Chinese New Year gifts.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Plus the usual sari shops, jewelry, and wedding planning stores.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Arcaded Chinese shophouses line the streets of the Old Town.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Row houses in the New Town.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

And a couple of Art Deco buildings in the New Town - both theaters.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

A non-vegetarian Chinese open-air, corner, restaurant; found all over Ipoh.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

Vegetarian eats at Restoran Sayur Sayuran Yun Ji. Most tasty was the pile of mushrooms and fried potatoes in sweet and sour sauce.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

The Cathy Theatre near our hotel.
Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia

2 comments:

Crash Eddy said...

Sort of silly, but you sent me to Wikipedia for "tin". Of course, I know "tin can" but not of all the alloys. So the colonials came here for tin? And to build these classic buildings.

Liz said...

The Art Deco buildings are beautiful.

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