J & J in Taiping and Ipoh

Light from heaven

It was on a lazy Sunday morning, 24th August 2008 2.31p.m. to be exact. Janice raised me a question, “Shall we go on a holiday this Merdeka?” With an excited ‘Yes!’ I utter, “Where shall we go?” What a natural question to ask, deserving an Oscar award for that… thank my mother and grandmother stuff.

We shortlisted several places; some within Malaysia and some that could put Neil Armstrong to shame. “Tahiti! Phuket! Singapore! Timbuktu!” “Timbuktu?” Sweat! Okay, back to the future…errr… I mean topic. As I reached for the handphone in my pocket, I noticed that I’ve a few coins. Hold your pony! Or is it hold your horses? Nevermind. I don’t mean to go destination with a toss of a coin because if it landed on the Bank Negara side (old 50 cents coin, you unpatriotic scum!), I don’t wanna go there.

What I mean to say is that I’m dead broke. I’ve only about RM2XX.YY left in my bank book (forgive my way of putting figures, note to self: don’t apply accounting stuff in blog). Anyhow, keeping a long blog short, we decided to challenge Destinasi Bajet™. If he can do it with RM300, we can do it less than that. Penang lang boleh!

So that’s how we came to conclusion of our Taiping trip. We decided to utilise the Merdeka weekend due to the perfect timing but too bad perfect weather doesn’t come as a package. Sigh! On the 30th August, we started our journey from the Penang ferry terminal at 9a.m and stopped at the famous Raja Uda Curry Mee stall for breakfast. I bet we could have eaten an elephant despite of it being listed as endangered. Anyhow, after feeling our stomach, we continued our journey through the North-South expressway. We decided to exit through Kamunting so that Janice can learn more geography.

We reached Taiping at 11.00a.m. A familiar sight greeted us. The Taiping Jail! Tada! Please clap for us. Please? (Small clap heard) Thanks! We decided to push our luck as it is clear my amnesia is affecting my memory of this beautiful, pleasant, magnificent, fantastic, marvellous……….(please fill in the blanks in less than 20 words) place. We decided to take a left turn and lo and behold, the Taiping museum burst into it’s glory. Errr… this seems more like a description of renaissance.

Oklah. Let me spare you of my gibbrarish typing as you are using your lunch break to read my blog. Thanks for the support first. We went into Taiping Museum but part of the section was closed for repair. We took several snapshots of the train and planes. Feeling the heat, we decided to enter the museum. The section opened to public was the bones and preserved animals. The skeleton of the elephant head is naturally the biggest of them all.

After the Taiping museum, we moved on to find our ‘hotel’. It was nearly lunch time. We seek assistance from the townspeople of Taiping and found out to our delight, they are helpful. I wish those Hong Kong people can see this. Disclaimer: This is not what I say but basically an opinion from a victim that experienced such a situation. God bless her. The Samaritan guided us to the hotel which was about 500 metres from where we were. Whew, talk about a place easy to find. Our ‘hotel’ is actually something like YMCA, providing us with a basic shelter from the sun, the wind, the rain, the moon, the noise, the pollution…you know what I mean. You’ll never guess in a million years how much it costed us? Guess? RM25 per night only. Show me a place in Penang where you will get this type of rate and I’ll show you a durian tree. We checked in after walking 6 flights of steps and panting like a poodle.

After a refreshing bath, our first destination was Ipoh considering the fact that the attraction like Night Safari only opens at dusk. We adjourned to the highway at 1.30p.m. Let me ask you a question; do we learn how to read a map in Geography? Fumbling through the map like a man fumbling through his newspaper when he’s taking a dump, yours truly try to ascertain the direction just like Indiana Jones trying to decipher the relics in the Kingdom of Skull, only that it is just a piece of 50cm x 50cm of clearly printed and labelled map. Lolz! .

We reached Ipoh after half an hour of geography lessons. Oh ya, just a bonus note to my dear reader. The toll has been shifted about 100 metres to the front and the old one is not being used anymore. If you’ll like to enter Ipoh from the north, do turn immediately after the toll booth. We missed the north toll and entered through the south toll into a massive traffic jam. Throngs of cars lined up to bring their masters to spend their hard earned money at the Jusco. We, of course, were stuck for quite sometime and I continued my lessons with Janice on how to read the map and method of referring to the legend. I bet Ms.Wong will be darn proud of me.

On the way

We went straight to Ipoh Parade. Although it had been couple of years since I’ve came here, my photographic memory immediately started to upload to my 2MB of cache for near future uses. Arriving at our intended destination without a sweat, (actually, I was sweating a lot due to the hot weather) we searched for a car park and the spiral brought us up 7 levels just like Gurney plaza. No offense but we found out that the people of Ipoh have a very funny way of parking their cars. They tend to park head in first, then reverse, then park again, then reverse (repeat this sentence for seven times and you’ll get what I mean). Anyhow, we managed to find a parking spot at the rooftop.

We went to fill up our growling tummy at the food court. We ordered the Yeong tau hu that is packaged together with chee chiong fun and also some ‘thong sui’ namely the Ai yu bing and the sea coconut dessert. Sampling the local delicacy, however, was a bitter disappointment. My grandma can cook better dishes than that. The time left us with not much choice but to gobble up and make a move. We decide to bowl first conforming to my typical habit; to bowl and watch a movie wherever I go. I managed a 128! Yeah! What a game! Janice did quite well too. Hint! Hint!

After some tactical planning and opportunity cost calculation, we decided to adjourn with a movie as the time is about 5p.m. and we’ll hit the road by 7p.m. Janice selected the sequel to Money No Enough. I’m not going to review this movie here though. Check out our movie session for more details. After the movie ended, we went for a walk around the complex and found that it is a haven for ladies’ shoes and sandals. Janice bought one and she’s happy till today. If you don’t believe me, go ask her.

After fulfilling her fantasy in the mall of a thousand women shoes, we headed straight for Ngah choy kai. The time was about 8.15p.m. then. It wasn’t very hard to find the place from Ipoh Parade. Just head left when you see Syuen hotel in the opposite direction of the mall. If you are lost, just ask around. We ordered a plate of ‘white chicken’ for two. As we were eating, a lottery ticket seller came around and attempted to sell us the tickets in an aggressive manner. Although we refused and shook our head like we’ve just taken Ecstasy, he shoved the tickets straight into my chest considering mine matches that of Michael Phelps. “How lude!” (try pronouncing it like Jar Jar Binks in the Phantom Menace) I’ve made an important discovery but not amounting to Nobel prize, of course. Ordering chicken during night time in Ipoh can be fun.

We went to buy some Ipoh titbits after that. After that, we wanted to go to the night market but it started raining. With a heavy heart and a heavier stomach, we decided to call it a night and return to our cozy room. The journey took longer than expected as it is harder to spot locations at night. Somehow, we managed to reach our room at 10.30p.m. What a marvellous day! Zzz!!!!!

“Rise and shine!” That was the first sentence uttered at Janice on the 31st August, 2008 before a disgruntled figure rose up and replied “Urrgghhhh!” Not wanting to waste the day away, we freshen ourselves and by 7a.m, we were on our way to a garden quite near Lake Garden. We strolled up towards the top of the hill and waiting for us at the end of the road is the mansion of the pegawai daerah Taiping.

We continued to the multi racial cemetery which was quite interesting as they have a section for Indian fighters, one for the Muslim counterpart and the majority of the Christian. Next, we proceeded to the base of Bukit Larut and snap some photos. A couple was kind enough to lend us a hand with the camera. We had our breakfast there. Two plates of nasi lemak and drinks cost us RM8.20.Quite a decent price, I’ll say. After that, we drove to Lake Garden and parked our car at a nearby parking lot.

The first thing that caught our attention was a monkon. (monkey + baboon=monkon, tiger + lion = tigon) It has the physical of a monkey yet the @$$ is red and bald like a baboon. They must be multi racial too, I think. Anyway, we took some photos of the surrounding. The lake bicycle was tempting but due to the heat, we decided to forego it this time.

Leaving lake garden, we went to the outskirt of the town and discovered by accident that there are lots of luxury houses in Taiping. We ‘voyeured’ the place and took some photographs. Due to the privacy of the residents involved, we have decided not to publish the photos here. Photos are available only by special request and please prepare RM5 per pic. After the ‘Taman Jesselton’ of Taiping, we went to a unique church beside Masjid Hanafi Taiping. The architecture uniqueness can only be described by this picture.

Entering the city again, we took a snap shot of an old resthouse converted to hotel in Taiping. We also took several pictures of the landmark in Taiping like the St.George school opposite Kelab Rekreasi Cina for your viewing pleasure. After that, we headed to a historical spot known as stesen keretapi Taiping. This is the place where the Ghee Hin clan and Hai San clan transport their tin ore to Kuala Sepetang.

We went back to our room to check out and then passed by Avena Pastry café on our way to lunch at the nearby market. Janice ordered a plate of Char Koay Teow (RM2.50), and I ate tonyam maggi (RM3) with big prawns doing the backstroke on my soup. She had Ang Tau kar whilst I satisfied my sensory urges with a bowl of ice-kacang. The food here is cheap but definitely no match for Penang food.

Selamat Jalan

We head on to Ipoh again and passed through the selamat jalan sign. Bye bye Taiping! See you again soon with my loyal blog readers. Back to the topic, we went straight to the Sam Poh Tong cave. I felt my car door being opened after I’ve barely turned off my engines after parking. An elderly woman attempted to sell us ‘peng aun chai’ to feed the terrapins. She was also very aggressive, refusing to barge until we buy the kangkung from her for RM1. A pond greeted us as we entered the area. We took some snapshots of the place. The stalactite formation was cool! I wished my home have this decoration. Entering the chamber of the caves, there was a cool gust of wind from the other side.

Upon exiting the place, we found a hidden forbidden temple. Tada! Heh heh, sounds like another Indiana Jones plot leh! There was also a very beautiful fountain and a turtle sanctuary. We took more snapshots and bid our farewell to the crawling citizens. Before we left the place, we bought some sugarcane juice. As we gulped it down, the coolness laced our throat with an unheavenly sweetness. Ahhhh, sugarcane had never tasted so good!

We proceeded to Nan Tian Tong. As Janice was in a high mood, she made me climb the stairs that I haven’t the faintest idea where it will lead too. It was already 4.30p.m. and was about to be closed to visitor but she insisted, cracking her kangkung stick, daring me to look back. Heaving my 86.7kg of hydrogenated fat, we began to make our way up. As more and more flights of steps became visible, our spirits weakened and knees trembled. We walked for about 150 steps before deciding to step down, not as a prime minister but rather, to descent.

Satisfied with our achievement towards the cause of this trip, we went to a row of pomelo shops. There are many pretty girls standing in front to greet us towards their shop. Reminds me of the betel nut girl in Taiwan. Janice insisted on the shop with the most decent looking girl. Too bad!We bought 3 pomelo and walked some distance towards a nearby shop selling Ipoh’s specialty biscuit.

Too bad, no pomelo girl in the picture

Finally, we hit the accelerator and went straight back to Penang and reach at 7.30p.m. What an interesting journey kept to a minimum budget.

参观观后感：
太平是一个宁静的小镇。天气有点古怪，时而晴朗，时而下雨，细细的雨丝飘散在空中，感觉雨点轻抚着脸庞，空气还挺凉爽的呢！即使空中顶了个大太阳，不要感到奇怪，在同一个时空里，你会感觉到脸上的湿润和渐渐沾湿了的衣裳。雨神的降临非能是凡人所能预料？

这里的人很热情，对我们这外地人也毫不吝惜他们的援手。在我们“不小心”迷路，找不到去旅店的路时，碰巧的我们遇到了刚好停泊在路旁的一家人。我们的救星-一位和蔼可亲的老太太熟知太平的每个小地方，不辞劳苦的领着她的儿子驾着车子带领我们到达了意见不很显眼的会馆/旅馆。多亏有她，不然我们可要在城内多兜几个圈了！此行让我们体会到太平是个人情味浓厚的地方！

嗯，这几天内，我们拜访了好几个值得一提的地方，而其中一个就是Bukit Larut。对我来说，这地方是新奇的（我从没来过这里），对他来说，算是跨别几年后重回旧地。我们沿着小小的柏油路，慢慢的走向山的斜坡。远处就已看见山顶白雾弥漫，像层薄纱轻披在绿油油的山顶上。路途中不乏人潮，但却不见人声吵杂，反之人人都很有默契的闭上嘴巴，细细的品尝片刻的宁静。

我们的下一个目的地就是太平闻名的“太平湖”了。它有如其名，太平又宁静。我摇下了车窗，让早晨的阳光洒进车内，让冷风吹醒还有点糊涂的脑袋。一路上，坐在车里的我，眼看着出来晨运的年少老幼漫步在湖边，两旁的风景不停的随着车速向后倒退，就像有人在操控着遥控器倒带。湖旁的老树低垂着枝桠碰触着湖面，把湖泊点缀成一幅很中式的风景画。阳光透过厚厚的绿叶洒在身上，整个人顿时精神了起来。湖边漂浮着三三两两的浮萍，与绿色的湖水相映成趣。湖水犹如一面明镜，反映着天空的倒影。天空一片浮云，水中一朵云彩，犹如双生姐妹。。。

有别于太平，怡保是个很热闹的城市。因为时间紧凑，我们没能拜访很多地方，只是去了趟Ipoh Parade,洗清洁保龄球场里的水沟和看了一场让我止不住眼泪的电影（钱不够用2，强力推荐！）。难得来到怡保，我们当然没有错过怡保芽菜鸡啦！晚餐时分的“安记”，人潮很多，吃人的嘴软，我们只好勉强挨着空肚子，尽管五脏腑已大唱“空城计”！等了好一阵子，美食终于送上来了，yummy~

来到了怡保，绝少不了去参观闻名的三宝洞。我对它其实只剩下残留的印象，我最后一次到那里应该是中学旅行吧？旧地重回的惊喜是，洞外有天，在洞的另一个出口坐落了一间犹如“紫荆城”的庙宇，红色的瓦片，白色的墙壁，庙外种了一棵棵绿色的小树，让“紫荆城”看起来很是堂皇，四周围绕着绿油油的山脉或山洞的岩石。。。

离开了三宝洞等，拐个弯，我们就到了一整排的土产店，出乎我们预料的是他们的商业阵容！何解？那前排的店屋几乎每一间都用同一种手法-美人计也！每一间店前都会有一、两个十七、八岁，身穿短裙、小背心、靴子的小女生摆着美美的post猛招客人。一旦有车子停下，她们就会一窝蜂的涌向前，七嘴八舌的推销着本店代表作-柚子、香饼等土产。那种架势让我联想到台湾的“美女政策”，让我叹为观止！