bakedbean

Unfortunately I've not got much to say about Ipoh, capital of Perak state, but have whizzed by it on the North-South highway a few times. It's on my ever growing list of places to visit. Anyone got anything to say about Ipoh?

I have been to Taiping Lake Gardens and they really are quite special. It was developed on an old tin mine apparently. It looks strangely like something out of a UK National Trust Garden... just a tad warmer. I'll see if I can upload a couple of my pics on here.

ex reg

The branches on those trees are fablus.

The Flame tree branches here are similar but nowhere near as long.

bakedbean

Yup, really old raintrees. I think I read somewhere that this is the wettest town on mainland Malaysia. Thankfully it didn't rain the day we went there. Took so many photos. Think I must start up a photo gallery on BE one of these days.

Harlow Lad

Ipoh did you say? I'm an Ipoh Lad till 10. Just food, food and more food. Famous beansprout chicken, get there early though otherwise all the chicken will be sold out very quickly.

Occasionally you can visit the caves where the buddism set up lots of temples there. I think theres 3 or 4 caves more or less the same. Or if you have children you can go to Sunway the Lost World. Spent RM208 for the whole family with the in law and its start downpour at 3 pm what a turn off. Just back from Ipoh a couple of weeks ago.

We did visit the Taiping zoo. We all loving it! Its a lot better than the London zoo. Well probably lots of differences animal there.

Living in Ipoh? Yes and no, Yes: Its a quiet and peaceful town for retirement. No: its boring.

bakedbean

It's quite a big area though, isn't it? Where's a good place in Ipoh to base yourself for a short break? For a retired couple, I mean. Any nice parks there? Pubs and eateries?

Harlow Lad

Hi Mrs Bakedbean,

Sorry for the delay, just got in the office & its 11c outside brrrr! I bet you dont miss the weather here .

Anyway enough of the English weather. In terms of pub & eateries my brother suggest Ipoh garden.

Theres only 1 park in the city central I'm afraid. I'm not quite familiar with Ipoh even though I was born there but I grew up in Wootton Bassette in Wiltshire.

But I would suggest temple in the cave? They quite fascinating I never come across.

Have fun in Ipoh if decided to visit there.

bakedbean

Thank you young man. Ipoh is on my 2012 touring list.

Ya... you're very welcome to 11 degrees.... brrrrrr. I thought you lot were getting a late heatwave over there. I guess it passed.

Harlow Lad

You are more than welcome! Hope to see you & Mr Bakedbean in 2012, we can go for Kopi if all goes to plan. Hopefully we'll be moving back to Malaysia around June (hopefully no get stuck in the Olympic traffic ). That will depend when we can sell our house in Harlow.

ex reg

I arrived back in UK last week with promises of an October heatwave the hottest in years.
Now my neighbour tells me there may be temperatures of minus three this coming weekend.

Do weather forecasters ever get it right?

Harlow Lad

Alright Ex reg,

Heatwave was 2 weeks ago. Yeah I hear that snow thing in October in Scotland highland may be.

Oh, I miss Malaysia climate. I cant wait to get out there.

bakedbean

There ya go exReg you got the wrong week nice n warm back here

ex reg

Yeah I know but the missus tells me they've had a lot of heavy rain and strong winds in Singapore.
I'm only here to sort out the weeds that have grown like blazes in the three months we were away.
But we've moved into our new place and we've finished the reno so the missus is finishing the unpacking there while I do the hard work in the cold here.

Strider24

I had a long hard think about Ipoh. Its pace is definitely slower, but Ipoh has everything you need with beautiful limestone hill backdrop, is without major traffic jams and has the food. However its so central to other lovely areas such as Cameron Highlands, Lake Temenggor, the Royal town of Kuala Kangsar, Taiping, Lumut and Pangkor Island, even the last remaining tin dredge near Batu Gaja (for us boys the toys), has high speed train to KL and not too far from Penang. Can have fun trip to East Coast via Gua Musang and Lake Kanyir. So I guess I'm saying that if one just stays in Ipoh, it can get boring, but if you like nice drives in the country, then its a top spot.

bakedbean

Where's that lake exactly? Where would you stay in or near Ipoh?