.....times of refreshing.....

To most of us, the CNY seems over although the festival has just reaches its mid-point of the 15 day celebration. Yes, I am back for work after a short holiday in Ipoh. This year's CNY was kinda quiet as my brothers were not back, thus, we had a simple reunion dinner at home. It was nice to have a steamboat on an unusual rainy CNY eve's evening.

Nothing fancy ... just some abalone, sotong, prawns, tofu, fish ball, squids, liver...etc.

I was out most of the time and I was also surprised that Ipoh was not that jam compared to previous years. I guess it's most likely due to the short school holidays and most folks rather don't want to travel. Coming home was a breeze but going back to JB was terrible. I was stuck in a 6 hours plus jam starting from Seremban.

Well, I took some pixs around Ipoh. Let the pictures do the 'blogging'.

Below and above, shopping at Yee Hup Confectionary in Gunung Rapat for delicacies.

Having lunch at the famous Old Town Kopitiam

The char kway teow ... sadly, the standard diminished , probably due to the bulk orders from the crowded patrons.

The Kopi ice still good.

Freshly baked egg tarts. The filling was thick and hot!Nice !!

Fried Carrot cake ...the food that I love since I was a kid but sadly this one really cannot make it. I didn't finish it.

Shopping next door for exotic produce and notice these ... snakes gall bladders.

Dried star fishes...

I drove around looking for wall mural paintings but only found some ...

 

Above and below, the busy stretch of streets which was turned into a pasar malam.  A street of taugeh chicken eateries starting from Lou Wong.

Got some cute delicacies

oh... I love this one... the 'tok tok' malt candies. It's been awhile since I had it.

Have a good week and drive safely if you are planning a journey.

The majestic Titiwangsa range at the east with Mount Korbu, the highest peak in the range.

Birch Memorial Clock Tower - Built in 1909 in memory of the first British Resident of Perak, J.W.W. Birch.

Sultan Idris Shah State Mosque - biggest mosque in Ipoh.

My Alma-Mater, St. Michael's Institution

The Ipoh Padang... love the buildings in the background

Happy Chinese New Year everyone!! I just got back from Ipoh and Seremban and though the trip is short, it was a pleasant one! I especially love the time spent on sight seeing in my beloved hometown, Ipoh, on the second day of CNY and noticed the changes that took place!

I was at Nam Heong kopitiam, which is known for the origins of Old Town White Coffee, for a coffee break. My family and I were quite lucky as we managed to find a place in the midst of a crowded kopitiam. However, too bad, not all the stalls were opened especially the hor fun.

Crowded !!

Yummy popiah!

Curry Mee!

Dry Curry mee

The famous Ipoh White Coffee ... woah ...!

After the simple meal, we walked around the quiet Ipoh Old Town and that place is really peaceful on the second day of CNY, compare to normal days where it was bustling with heavy traffic due to banks nearby and wholesale traders.

The corridors of the pre-war shophouses...so nostalgic!

Quiet and peaceful

One of the heritage buildings that should be preserved ... the Eu Tong Sen building built in 1907.

Another old shophouse ... notice the design of the house.

It's really like walking down memory lane in Ipoh. I thought of visiting the so called 'concubine lane' which features one of the oldest buildings there but my wifey decided to go elsewhere before evening.

Kg.Simee egg tarts

Finally, I am back in Ipoh after two years. After reading blogs like Images of Ipoh and All about Ipoh on facebook to keep myself updates on my hometown, I thought it's a good idea to drive around and snap pictures. However, I forgot it was CNY where all the Ipoh 'lang' were home and the end  results was heavy traffic! Thus, I was not really able to stop my car at certain places to snap pictures leisurely. Anyway, because there are jams everywhere, I still manage to snap from my car.

It was a hot day in Ipoh...

'Lou Wong' and its rival, 'Ong Kee' beansprout chicken were so crowded!

Didn't know 'Lou Wong' also opened a shop selling biscuits and local made products

There were really lots of  shops selling local made products around the 'new town' and this attracted many visitors as well as Ipoh-born folks who settled down at another place like me.

That's 'little india' of Ipoh at the 'old town'

Back to the jam at one of the main street ...