O my Ipoh!

Ipoh, my Ipoh!

Slow and steady, you stay sturdy,

facing the currents through waves of tide.

But there are storms we cannot weather,

lashing the old soul that's seems almost eternity.

Wake up, people, wake up!

How strong we think we are,

yet when the time has come we have to go.

Iconic Ipoh tree in front of Ipoh Railway Station. Uprooted by storm in 3 May 2017.

1920s Cenotaph in front of Ipoh Railway Station. Originally built in memory of Perak Warriors.

 The British Architect that designed Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, Arthur Benison Hubback, left quite a few marks in Ipoh.

Ipoh Town Hall. Built around 1914.  Designed by A.B. Hubback.

Ipoh High Court. Another of A.B. Hubback's design. Completed 1928.

And this century old Ipoh Train Station. Built in 1914 by the same designer A.B. Hubback. 

Hubback really liked Roman-Greek grandeur in the later years of his design in Malaya. And of course not forgetting, this is the guy that introduced "onion dome" to many of the buildings (especially mosques) in Malaysia.

 

Fascinated by this thorny rail. Wonder what's the purpose of this rail.

 This place is wedding photo shoot favourites for local couples.

Don't forget the famous Ipoh Kacang Putih. Before leaving Ipoh, grab a couple of spiced/flavoured nuts and crackers. Ipoh's kacang putih is fresh and crunchy.

A panorama view of the Ipoh Railway Station Square. Come at night for a good stroll with plenty of little stalls offerring skates and mobiles for rental.

The Park

Many Ipoh children from the 70s-80s have some fond memories of D.R. Park (Taman D.R. Seenivasagam). When there was limited shopping complex/supermarket. When play, run and falling were norms.

The main entrance into D.R. Park.

Now children gets variety of structures in the playground. Back then it was the cement slide and monkey bars. Anything else?

Been there since...

Children can also rent bicycles and ride around the park. There are mock traffic road and signs that caters for the children.

D.R. Park is accessible by car. It is nice even for a car ride.

Waller Court

Almost as old as the country. A project by D.R. Seenivasagam. It is the first public housing project in Ipoh. There were a total of 17 blocks with over 500 units catered to the public. Back then many families squeeze into a unit. Some will have relatives staying nearby in different units. The community back then was a close knit one. Everyone knows everyone. 

As time goes by, many left the flats as their financial standing improved. Those left behind are stuck and hopeful for better replacements by the government, but help never came. The builings became bare and open to crime and destruction.

 But those who have stayed there could still clearly recall the places where they bought their breakfast fishball noodles or desserts or tuckshop for titbits. They recall the rooftops that they as kids jumped and run about. The open space that the kids played and explored freely. Life then may be lacking in wealth but never in love.

The Cantonese used to call these flats "Buck Caap Ook" (pigeon house) due to the small size and stacked like a pigeon house. Each unit is provided with a room, some with 2 rooms and a living area and the back balcony as kitchen and washing area.

Along the way into Waller Court, there are majestic rain trees that stood against the test of time. Giving life and keeping watch. Waiting its cue to call it a day.