Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel

I posted the shot above on All About Ipoh sometime ago, and this image almost brought tears to many pair of eyes. A little too melodramatic? Maybe.

But not if you are a child of the 80′s and spent most of your childhood and teenage days shopping at Super Kinta, or gradually developing the slight-rebellious nature and ventured over to Kompleks Yik Foong for the arcade games after school. I am sure you can relate to the heart-wrenching tales of how this Ipoh landmark tried desperately to stay relevant in the late 90′s, yet succumbing to the modern charm of Ipoh Parade and Jusco Kinta City sometime around 2003.

This post is a compilation of images taken at the former Super Kinta and its vicinity last weekend. Gather your parents, grandparents or even great grandparents if you will. And grab that tissue box, just in case. Let’s talk a walk down memory lane …….. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you ever wondered who Motormouth really is? Or where I came from? (From the womb la … duh. But I mean as in which part of Ipoh?) It has always tickled my fancy; revealing my identity to old school mates, friends, colleagues or even relatives whom have chanced upon this blog, or led to here (more like misled) by fellow hungry peers.

“You like to eat so much meh? Never seen you eat also …”

“Wait. You write on Motormouth From Ipoh? But I thought you had a day job!! My sympathies …”

“Don’t bluff la …. you don’t seem to be the kind who can even string a proper sentence together! Talk nonsense oklah …”

On that note, I’ll leave you with my monochrome epilogue of Pasir Puteh market in Ipoh. The place where I was born and raised until I was 12 years old. Childhood memories are deemed the most precious; naive thoughts and joyful sentiments cherished until the day one takes his last breath. Read the rest of this entry »

A ray of sunlight falling on the peeled pomelo; a fruit indigenous to Asia and here in our country; the small town of Tambun in Ipoh steals the limelight for mass cultivation of the citrus fruit.

“The pomelo (Citrus maxima or Citrus grandis) is a crisp citrus fruit native to South and Southeast Asia. It is usually pale green to yellow when ripe, with sweet white (or, more rarely, pink or red) flesh and very thick albedo (rind pith).” (Source : Wikipedia)

Pomeloes are also known as ‘limau Bali’ referring to its island of origin more than a century ago where legend has it that a Chinese trader brought the fruit to Malaya, and also ‘limau Tambun’ since the Perak state government had laid claims to the citrus fruit that has become a hot favourite of publicity/media coverage and incorporated into a key development segment in agro-tourism for the state.

However, Tambun is not only famous for the pomeloes. There is also the renowned hot springs of Tambun, the Lost World of Tambun (a theme park near Sunway City) and a Tibetian Buddhist Temple lying by the foothills of Ipoh’s impressive stretch of limestone hills.

Read the rest of this entry »

And now …. ladies & gentlemen, put your hands up for the FINALE of the series … the last “Tong” (Cave Temple) in Ipoh that I’d like to entice you with;

“KEK LOOK TONG”

Kek Look Tong (official website) is a winner of many local best landscape awards; accolades from the local government for non-Muslim houses of worship; rewarding that extra mile the temple committee went through to build and maintain a world-class facility with breath-taking scenery.

No doubt locating this gem in Ipoh takes a few daring turns, and the driver’s instincts come into play more often than not. Hands down the most secluded of all the other cave temples in Ipoh (aside from one Tibetian temple, that’s even more remote, but let’s leave that for another day), Kek Look Tong is hidden deep within the residential area of Gunung Rapat (of the well-reviewed Heong Peng fame).

Ready for the onslaught of pictures? Here goes ….. Read the rest of this entry »

I guess among all of the cave temples in Ipoh; Perak Cave (also named “Perak Tong”) has always been a stranger to me.

And I mean that in a non-biased way. I remember the vague details of our tortoises-feeding frenzy at Sam Poh Tong back when I was still a toddler. The squeal of delight when me and my brother tried to outdo each other when posing for shots with the colourful statues at Ling Sen Tong. Not forgetting the etched in memories picturesque scenery of Kek Look Tong and its many sublime rock formations; resembling real deities and animals.

But mention Perak Tong, and this black spot on my memory will block out any familiarity with the structure, location or the charm that lies beyond the cave temple. (There is a reasonably vast area behind of the cave; dotted with concrete stairs and lush natural flora where you can climb uphill, to podiums/pavilions where you can see the Ipoh city from way up there).

Thus, I mustered up the courage and ventured out to this mystifying place situated around Tasek industrial area. And here are the results ….. Read the rest of this entry »

This old lady was a vagrant. Or beggar, if you insist to name her that. But that did not stop her from praying for a better life. And probably for a better Malaysia?

I still remember vividly the sheer excitement and a perpetual smile pasted on this chubby face back in my pre-schooling days; whenever my parents suggested for a visit to one of the most famous landmarks of Ipoh; the Sam Poh Tong cave temple on Gopeng Road.

My brother and I would be dressed in our smartest Kiki-Lala or Kiko outfits, and strap on the sneakers while Mum would be hastily combing our hair (with extra hard hair gel, I remember … before Brylcreem took over our lives once we started schooling, since hair gel’s forbidden in school) and Dad would get his gear in check; not an SLR or any fancy camera, but one that worked as well. Loaded with a roll of 24 or 36 Kodak film (ISO 100, since we have never visited the cave temples at night, and films with higher ISO cost a bomb back then).

More insight of this Motormouth’s childhood passion and pet peeves after the jump. Be warned that once again, LOADS of photos ahead …. Read the rest of this entry »

“What’s the significance of 11.11.11 to you?”

For me, the date will be forever etched in memories as my last day of work in the current workplace. Remember that huge leap of faith; departing from an undeniably comfort zone last December? (read THIS POST to find out more)

That was a marginally braver step; leaving my beloved hometown of Ipoh and the 4-odd years of contribution in the civil service.

Today’s no difference either, but I believe that I can cope with the swift changes in environment just as well. If not better. So dear readers, pray for me.

On this very significant Friday, allow me to tie all loose ends at work, skip the incessant ramblings Motormouth’s usually good for (or bad at) and present you with a slightly different story; one that presents Ipoh in a more flattering light …. (LOADS of photos after the jump) Read the rest of this entry »