EXPERIENCING CULTURE : IPOH HERITAGE CITY

Hello there!Here am going to share the experience I had during my trip to Ipoh. As usual, experiencing culture class would bring me somewhere to experience and to learn. This time luckily, our lecturer decided went to Ipoh. Why it is lucky? First, I had been spent a lot to Europe for last Experiencing Culture trip and second because I really want to know Ipoh well cause I know there is something in Ipoh not everyone have found out like what people had found out in Penang. At first, when my lecturer said we are going to a place with full of heritage, everyone guessing that we are going to Penang. Yes! I love Penang to and I always went to Penang with my family. So I do not feel like going to Penang for our Experiencing Culture Trip. Then, once our lecturer announced that we were going to Ipoh, there is some excitement poking out of me. So this trip was started with full of excitement and hopes! Lets see if my hopes and excitement achieve the goal or not! Jom!

7th February 2015

The day of our trip begun! Everyone have to woke up so early on that Saturday because the scheduled bus was on 8 am. But 8am was never 8 am, cause somebody will always late. Time management is always hard things to do. Even we were waiting for bus that morning, because lot of friends already there we still had fun and used the time well with each other. Around 10 am we departed from UCSI by bus. A journey was about 2 and a half hour to Ipoh.

As always, whenever have a chance to selfie we sure to have one! Everyone already there but bus was not there yet.

Had a great companion around me on the bus for the whole journey. 

The whole journey from Kuala Lumpur to our first destination in Gopeng, Perak was totally fun and happening because those two people infront of my seat keep asked to play a game with them. But because of them my journey was not that boring as usual cause before whenever I travel somewhere I never able to sleep during the journey and just wasted my time daydreaming. But since I have them, they always keep me laugh and spend my time well. They all totally insane people I ever met but I'm so grateful to have them. After spend 2 hours plus with crazy people, finally we arrived at Gopeng Heritage House located in Gopeng town.

Artwork of Gopeng Heritage House Facade displayed in the house.

The moment I step inside the Heritage, I can recapture the simple yet dazzling lives of the people of Gopeng back then about 125 years ago through the numerous antiquities, antique, old furniture and calligraphy paintings on display. By visiting this museum it gave me a sentimental feeling that reminds me about my grandmother story during her young era around 1930-1950. Another factor that caught my attention was the space planning or the arrangement of the spaces in this building. By having courtyard and attics the building humidity always comfortable for the user and act as ventilation system to made the space colder even in the hot sunny day.

Antique item displayed.

Antique equipment from previous era.

Front Facade of Gopeng Heritage House

Everyone started to get hungry after Gopeng Heritage House visit so we dropped by around Tanjung Tualang. It is my first time went to Tanjung Tualang, once I step out from bus I caught by the view of the place. It was so peaceful and calm even I stand in front of their main road.

Peaceful view of Tanjung Tualang.

Street stall snack for lunch.

Most of my Chinese friend had their lunch but I chose not to have my lunch because still full from breakfast in RnR Rawang on our way to Ipoh.

 After the short lunch stop in Tanjung Tualang, we went to Kg Batu Gajah, 30 minutes away from Tanjung Tualang. We scheduled to visit Koperasi Industri Kampung, Pulau Tiga and had been given a chance to try the process of making clay pot, known as Labu Pulau Tiga. Another first time to tried and received the knowledge of Labu Pulau Tiga. After get to know about Labu Pulau Tiga, I was realized that Labu Sayong is not the name of the container but actually the container was only named with Labu but the back name of Sayong, Pulau Tiga actually the name of the places where they made the container. Labu was named from the history of the container. In previous era, before they found the technologies of clay pot maker, rural people used to have pumpkin which Malay called as Labu as  a water container. Therefore after found the technology they made the clay container with pumpkin.

Our memories at Koperasi Industri kampung Pulau Tiga

We spend for about 3 hours in Koperasi Pulau Tiga before we proceed to our next destination. At first our program scheduled we should be going to The Last Dredger before we go for hotel check in, but because of the time constrain and it was quite late, we straight away went to Ipoh town for hotel checked in. We arrived in hotel around 7 pm and everyone was so tired from the journey. But for me, I was totally excited and hungry once reached in hotel. Excited because our hotel was located in the middle of the city and hungry because still have not taken my lunch. So I asked my friend Nano to go and stroll around the nearby places to find a food. Luckily we found out that there is nearby Medan Selera and Ipoh downtown in walking distance.

Simple but yet cozy and calm twin room.

Ipoh downtown Jalan Dato Tahwil Azhar

I love everything I tried in Ipoh because the prize are so reasonable. Tired of expensiveness in KL. LOL :)

the whole first day spent well and we headed to hotel room for rest~

8th February

We assigned to do a foot trail around Ipoh Old Town and been divided into four group. I and my other group member were assigned to do a Historical Foot Trail. So on the day we were kind of excited and looking forward on what Ipoh Old Town has. We woke up early and had some breakfast near Jalan Horley. Since it was Sunday, we were lucky to experienced Ipoh flea market located on Jalan Horley. After breakfast we strolled around and interviewed few seller about the history of the flea market. But that morning the most thing that shocked us is, Ipoh people did enjoy satay as their breakfast meal and so that is why we too had some satay again that morning. What a great experienced we had that day just a great start for the day. After our small experienced around Jalan Horley, around 10.30 am we were take off and went to Old Town. We thought we gonna stay a little longer on bus so we can rest for a while with our full stomach.

But later five minutes after take off we already in Ipoh Old Town. So we begin our foot trail just before the Tourism Centre. Unfortunately, the center was closed for renovation. So we decide to download Ipoh Foot trail map from google and chose few building that we wanted to highlight. Then there we goes started with St Micheal Institute. Our excitement seemly more and more faded under the hot sun and the difficulties we been through. First, the Tourist Center was closed, then we went to St Micheal also closed and we continue to Royal Ipoh Club also closed. Then we decided to just asking people around but most of them kind of new generation there so they dont know much about the old town history. On the edge of loses hope suddenly one of us noticed JWW Birch Memorial Clock Tower and was pointed on it. So we just headed to the clock tower and start our task of making video. We shoot under the hot sunny day but still we had fun and still laughed a lot while shooting. Who knows, after our short visit to JWW Borch Clock Tower we slowly get lucky, On the way to our next building after clock tower which is Ipoh Railway Station we had bound on two nice and dedicated policemen and allowed us to interview them briefly about Ipoh. Moreover, they were willingly shared about most of the thing they knew. 

Can you see in every picture above how hot is the weather? But even it was hot but I really feels great by looking at the sky. See, it was so beautiful and blue without haze and cloudiness. This place have not been polluted. So I hope I would not be polluted forever. Please Ipoh people, please take care of your state. Hopefully after 5 to 10 years later if I come back to Ipoh again the weather will still be the same or lot more beautiful. After few hours and it was time for lunch and every stomach already grumbled so after satisfied with the information me succeed to collect, we headed to Sekeping Kong Heng, the revival building that owned by a young successor.

On that night everyone should be going to Kinta River but since I have my brother stay in Ipoh so I decide not to join them to Kinta River and borrowed my brother's car. So I took 4 of my classmates to visit M Boutique Hotel, which is one of our case study.

Then we tried to experience the food and services provided at the Grand Oldtown White Coffee that owned by the hotel. It was so great that we thought the price gonna be a bit expensive compared to normal Oldtown White Coffee but luckily it was the same price with great service.

9th February

On our third day, after last two days tired with all visit we went to had fun in Lost World of Tambun.
It is a theme park! and it is not my cup of tea. Haha :) But I did had fun because all of my friend were excited. So I decide to just had fun and follow whatever they tried except a few ride that I dont think I will regret if I not join them. We have less photos in the theme park since we keep all of our belonging inside rental locker.

The only picture I have before entered the theme park :)

After the whole day spent in Lost World be headed back to hotel for rest, and planned to go find food around 8 pm. So that night we went out and there is another thing we experienced which is ABC(Air Batu Campur) Foot Trail nearby our Hotel area. So we had been to three different places and tried their ABC.

That was how we spent our last night in Ipoh. Really great and fun night we spent. Even everyone was so tired from the activities we had in Lost World, still we eager to walk around just to had different and cheaper ABC.


10th February

The last day and we were going back to Kuala Lumpur. But before went back we had stop at Kuala Kangsar to visit Kellie's Castle. The mysterious and historical building that was abandoned since long time ago. It was quite scary for me to walk around this building. But still I eager to know and was left alone at the ground floor while I busy my self read the information about this house. After finish read all I found am the only one that still at the same area so I decided to just continue walk around alone after I met my friends on the rooftop. But since it was my first time there I tried to collect all the information that they provided around this building. The funny part is I do not collect the information about the architecture of this building but I eager to find about how the building become so mysterious and abandoned. After satisfied with the story about the building I spent all the remaining time taking photos with my friends.