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skin by: Jane
Friday, November 14, 2008 @ 1:49 PM
Ipoh fun & adventure (Part II)
On our second day in Ipoh, we tried to wake up early to fulfil our caving plans cuz the last admittance to the caves was 12noon. Asked the hotel to arrange for transport to Gua Tempurung and that costs RM70 to and fro (approx 30-40 min), plus an hr's waiting time by the cabbie (this depends on which cave tour you go for). But after doing some calculation and comparison, seems like it was more worth it to go with a tour agent.
The cabbie was pretty nice. Along the way, he even acted like a tour guide, pointing out the more well known landmarks.
Ramdom photos of what we see en route into Gua Tempurung. Reminds me of the good ol' days when I so frequently went trekking.
It was already 11.30am when we reached, too late for us to try the wet tour, plus a minimum group of 8 was needed to start one tour. If we'd gone on the wet tour, we'd be able to crawl under the caves through the stream =( We saw some teenagers coming out all wet and muddy and it looked really fun! It's ok, I'll be back!
So we had no choice but to go for the easiest of the four cave tours. Our guide pointed out to us the many different rock forms which resembled animals, humans, objects etc. He was really quite a funny guy. The place reminded me a little of the limestone caves Ying brought me to in UK.
And then... there was light!
That's our guide in the last photo! (The first uncle bears a resemblance to Saddam Hussein with that thick bushy moustache.)
After Gua Tempurung, we got the cabbie to drive to the old town. Ipoh has an old town and a new town. From what we know, there are some shops in the old town with pretty long history that serves really wonderful white coffee!
K I know some of you must be expecting the coffee to be white or something. But no no, it looks just like any other normal coffee.
Quoted from Wikipedia:
Ipoh "white" coffee is a roast of coffee prepared using a unique method that combines elements of modern approaches with traditional Malaysian brewing practices.
Traditionally, Malaysian style "black" coffee roast (also known as Hainanese coffee; not to be confused with the serving style of coffee without milk) is produced by roasting the beans with sugar and margarine. "White" coffee, on the other hand, is produced with only margarine and without any sugar, resulting in a roast that is less dark, hence the term "white" coffee. Note that the idea that white coffee is produced from a different species of coffee is a common misconception; the species normally used in this roast is the Robusta.
The name "white coffee" is associated with Ipoh, due to it originating from Ipoh (in particular, its Old Town). Exceedingly popular in Ipoh, "white" coffee is slowly but steadily gaining a following in other regions of Malaysia and abroad.
For the sake of convenience and to keep up with the changing times, it is now widely available in the form of pre-packed instant coffee sachets which are freeze-dried.
Pam at her first cuppa white coffee. That girl had two cups in one shot ok! It was THAT GOOD. I had one cup of white coffee and one cup of grass jelly, which was also really refreshing!
Can't be happier gulping down my white coffee. Why can't we have this in Raffles Place?!
What's she lookin' at?
That's what she was lookin' at! In cantonese, this is Gai dan gou (ji dan gao)! Apparently, the locals love it! And so did we after trying!
The cake is baked in the shop. It comes out in batches, still warm and fluffy, and gets snapped up within minutes each time! What you see above is half a cake. And one cake costs RM1. According to Pam, the brown spread you see above is actually brown sugar. We just had to takeaway some for later! Eating it coupled with a cuppa white coffee is just pure enjoyment. Like having high tea or something. Hur.
We had some famous curry mee too! It was cheap (RM3.50) and deliciousssss! I'm craving for it now! =( It's actually like yong tau foo with curry soup (I think there's no coconut milk) but it tasted super good.
And there's also prawn mee! Also RM3.50. Very very yummy stuff there!
After satifying our tummies, we decided to walk around the old town, then the new town and eventually reach the hotel. No map. Anyway the cabbie told us it was like 20 mins walking distance to our hotel.
That's the bridge which divides the old and new town, according to the cabbie.
That's the old town.
And that's the new town. No difference right? I know. Haha.
Nope, we didn't go to any cow farm. This was a random patch of grass by the bridge. And we saw those cows and just started posing with them. It was only when that big brown-black cow started noticing us and moving toward us that we decided we had enough pictures. And as we were walking back up to the bridge, a man told us that it was dangerous for us to go so near to the cows especially when Pam was donning a red t-shirt.
Just some sights along the way. This car is a wreck, ain't it? We actually passed by a pet shop and it sells the weirdest pets. Think porcupines/hedgehogs and chameleons. But there were normal pets too like bunnies, birds, hamsters, cats and dogs. No pictures of those though.
Amazingly, we could find things to buy in Ipoh! Girls just love to shop eh!
Pam's purchase! I think it's a really nice big spacious bag!
Mine! White strappy shoes at 50% discount.
Actually, we went to City Square when we reached JB and bought another two pairs of shoes each. =P
Pam with her inflated (fake) Mickey travel pillow.
K so that's pretty much it for Ipoh adventure. Hope you've enjoyed reading! It's time for me to go make some white coffee - we bought 3-in-1 sachets (Old Town brand) back! =)
p/s: When I get the photos of the terrible state our hotel room was in on the second night, I'll post 'em up!
Labels: Ipoh
Thursday, November 13, 2008 @ 6:02 PM
Of disaster, Ipoh fun & adventure
I've been really free recently, and so I have alot of time (maybe a tad too much) to think. Too much time on hand may not be such a good idea afterall. But I guess I really can't complain since I've been sleeping till like what, noon, almost everyday for the past two weeks! I can see my accumulated dark eye rings go from the pencil grade 2B to HB now. Hur.
Anyway, thank you my dearest babes who had to listen to my ramblings even when it's already late into the night. I know I have you all to lean on no matter how trying times can be, and I'm really grateful for that. I love you all! I'm strong, I know it, so don't worry for me k? =D
***
On to happier stuff, last week, Pam and I escaped to Ipoh for some fun and adventure! Yes yes, I know two girls venturing to Malaysia alone ain't such a good idea. K I know I'm a bad girl here but I was desperately in need of a breather man! =P Lucky thing Pam was on leave and all ready to go!
If you don't already know, Ipoh is a good 9-hr bus ride from JB ok! Our butts were nearly fried when we reached. We met at 9.30am and reached Ipoh at like almost 9pm. Gosh. But no regrets ok! In fact, I'll be back for more caving adventures which we unfortunately didn't get to try cos 1. we woke up a little too late 2. not enough people. If you know me well enough, I'm always game for such outdoor activities, so I definitely gotta go back again! 'nuff talkin', photos!
Poor Pam, she used all her might to inflate that travel pillow she bought from China. My song dedication to her - Breathless. Haha.
Anyway, our adventure started the moment we reached JB (at least for me). For Pam who barely goes to Malaysia except via like Five Stars or something, everything was majorly new. Plus, our trip was really a last-minute and spontaneous one (decided the day before), and we ended up going without even having our accomodation settled. I thought, Ipoh is such a small town, who ever goes there anyway right? There won't be any problems getting a room. Alas! There were no twin rooms available AT ALL that fateful night in all 3 hotels we asked in the Ipoh new town vicinity. *Smacks myself for being too smug* From our research, there were like only what, 5 hotels in the small town Ipoh, not counting other dubious ones. And it was rather scary walking around trying to find the hotels cuz the streets were quiet.
We met two policemen on our way to one of the hotels, and they even questioned us, like where we're from and why we're in Ipoh. Worst thing is, you don't get the kinda security you get when you see our local policemen. In fact, I was quite fearful. Must be all the bad things I've read about what the policemen in our neighbouring country have done. Eek.
In the end, we had to pay a little more and settled for a triple room in Hotel Exelcior -_- Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.
After settling our accomodation, we immediately went in search of good food cuz we were super hungry. After much directions-asking and following our gut feelings, we managed to find what we were looking for! =)
I tell ya, this is one of the famous stalls in Ipoh serving the most famous dish - tau ge chicken kway teow! Apparently, this stall, called 安记, has another 'branch' opposite. According to an uncle (who sells really yummy soya bean milk and chendol along a night market we walked past), this stall is opened by the mother while the stall opposite is tended by the son (pictures below). We were in luck cuz the eateries usually open till very late (like 11 plus at night).
Again, if you know me quite well, I hate bean sprouts!! But the bean sprouts there, don't taste like bean sprouts! Pam and I both agree it's mainly cuz of the sauce, but I really think there is a difference in the quality of the bean sprouts there. They're really sweet and crunchy. It's so good I can just eat it on its own. Superb stuff there. (When I say that, you better take my word for it! =P) This is a must-try if you ever visit Ipoh.
The chicken and kway teow are also really good!
Sitting and eating by the roadside at night just adds to the whole laid-back atmosphere. That's what I like about Malaysia. And the food is like so cheap. The above meal was just RM7 per person. Yeah.
K more yummilicious foooood and caving adventures in my next post! =D
Anyway, thank you my dearest babes who had to listen to my ramblings even when it's already late into the night. I know I have you all to lean on no matter how trying times can be, and I'm really grateful for that. I love you all! I'm strong, I know it, so don't worry for me k? =D
***
On to happier stuff, last week, Pam and I escaped to Ipoh for some fun and adventure! Yes yes, I know two girls venturing to Malaysia alone ain't such a good idea. K I know I'm a bad girl here but I was desperately in need of a breather man! =P Lucky thing Pam was on leave and all ready to go!
If you don't already know, Ipoh is a good 9-hr bus ride from JB ok! Our butts were nearly fried when we reached. We met at 9.30am and reached Ipoh at like almost 9pm. Gosh. But no regrets ok! In fact, I'll be back for more caving adventures which we unfortunately didn't get to try cos 1. we woke up a little too late 2. not enough people. If you know me well enough, I'm always game for such outdoor activities, so I definitely gotta go back again! 'nuff talkin', photos!
Poor Pam, she used all her might to inflate that travel pillow she bought from China. My song dedication to her - Breathless. Haha.
Anyway, our adventure started the moment we reached JB (at least for me). For Pam who barely goes to Malaysia except via like Five Stars or something, everything was majorly new. Plus, our trip was really a last-minute and spontaneous one (decided the day before), and we ended up going without even having our accomodation settled. I thought, Ipoh is such a small town, who ever goes there anyway right? There won't be any problems getting a room. Alas! There were no twin rooms available AT ALL that fateful night in all 3 hotels we asked in the Ipoh new town vicinity. *Smacks myself for being too smug* From our research, there were like only what, 5 hotels in the small town Ipoh, not counting other dubious ones. And it was rather scary walking around trying to find the hotels cuz the streets were quiet.
We met two policemen on our way to one of the hotels, and they even questioned us, like where we're from and why we're in Ipoh. Worst thing is, you don't get the kinda security you get when you see our local policemen. In fact, I was quite fearful. Must be all the bad things I've read about what the policemen in our neighbouring country have done. Eek.
In the end, we had to pay a little more and settled for a triple room in Hotel Exelcior -_- Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.
After settling our accomodation, we immediately went in search of good food cuz we were super hungry. After much directions-asking and following our gut feelings, we managed to find what we were looking for! =)
I tell ya, this is one of the famous stalls in Ipoh serving the most famous dish - tau ge chicken kway teow! Apparently, this stall, called 安记, has another 'branch' opposite. According to an uncle (who sells really yummy soya bean milk and chendol along a night market we walked past), this stall is opened by the mother while the stall opposite is tended by the son (pictures below). We were in luck cuz the eateries usually open till very late (like 11 plus at night).
Again, if you know me quite well, I hate bean sprouts!! But the bean sprouts there, don't taste like bean sprouts! Pam and I both agree it's mainly cuz of the sauce, but I really think there is a difference in the quality of the bean sprouts there. They're really sweet and crunchy. It's so good I can just eat it on its own. Superb stuff there. (When I say that, you better take my word for it! =P) This is a must-try if you ever visit Ipoh.
The chicken and kway teow are also really good!
Sitting and eating by the roadside at night just adds to the whole laid-back atmosphere. That's what I like about Malaysia. And the food is like so cheap. The above meal was just RM7 per person. Yeah.
K more yummilicious foooood and caving adventures in my next post! =D
Labels: Ipoh