Malaysia (Covid 19 - Transition to Endemic Phase - My Staycation No 22 to Ipoh, Perak) Sunday July 17 2022

Mount Lang Recreation Park
Ipoh, Perak

Concubine Lane, Ipoh, Perak

Ling Sen Tong Temple, Ipoh, Perak 

" LIFE is a one time offer. Use it well "

" My Staycation No 22 (Transition to Endemic Phase) free & easy visit (06.30 > 16.30) to Ipoh, Perak travelling by my own vehicle together with my wife & sisters Inn, Peng & Mei; my 55th outdoor trip after a National Lockdown (Movement Control Order / Emergency) imposed by the Malaysian Government on May 6 2021 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases; a National Vaccination campaign is currently being implemented by the Malaysian Government (Phase 1 started in Feb 2021), as at Feb 5 2022, a total of 22.9 million individuals or 97.9% of the adult population in Malaysia have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations; Malaysia is now under the Transition to Endemic Phase starting from April 1 2022, an exit strategy that could allow Malaysians to return to near-normal life after nearly 2 over years of battling the pandemic "

My travel buddies: My wife & sisters Inn, Peng & Mei

Total Expenses incurred: Rm70 (petrol) + Rm40 (toll) + Rm20 (Food) = Rm130 (US$28.90)

Travel itinerary: Subang Jaya > Taman Equine > Tanjung Malim > Ipoh > Taman Equine > Subang Jaya (total mileage 518km)

Subang Jaya > Taman Equine
> Ipoh (247km one way)

Ipoh > Gunung Lang Recreation Park
> Dr Seenivasagam Recreation Park >
Concubine Lane > Ling Sen Tong Temple
(approx 23km) 

" Don't count the days. Make the days count"

My last visits to Ipoh were in May 4 & 29 2018 (two train trips to Ipoh within a month with different group of travel buddies) ! For this Sunday weekend, I decided to make a day trip using my own vehicle to visit a few touristy places, in particular, Gunung Lang Recreation Park, the Concubine Lane (an intriguing story of a mining tycoon & his 3 lovers in Ipoh Oldtown from 1892 > 1908) & a cave Taoist Temple (Ling Sen Tong) in Ipoh (an ex-tin mining town located approx 220km from Kuala Lumpur). My wife & three sisters last visit to Ipoh was some years ago hence this is a down the memory lane visit for them & also to savour some local Chinese food in the oldtown of Ipoh ! 

Ipoh, the 3rd largest city in Malaysia is the capital of Perak state. During the 1880's, Ipoh became prosperous due to a flourishing tin mining industry but since 1970's with the collapse of world tin prices, the city suffered decades of decline & neglect.

Travel Highlights:

Stopover No 1 Gunung Lang Recreation Park, off Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh, Perak - a favourite place for locals especially during weekends; opened in Oct 2000, this 30 hectares recreation park is developed around a scenic backdrop of the limestone hills of Gunung Lang & Gunung Bilike, consists of a scenic lake & facilities like a jetty for boat rides, a children playground & a mini zoo.   

Jeti Gunung Lang, Ipoh, Perak - boat rides around the lake for visitors, Rm3 for adults & Rm1.50 for senior citizens. 

Petting Zoo, Gunung Lang Recreation Park, Off Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Ipoh, Perak - a small mini zoo. 

Stopover No 2  Dr Seenivasagam Park, Ipoh, Perak - just a brief stopover & drive through the Park ! 

The story of a mining tycoon with 3 lovers in Ipoh Oldtown, Perak - Concubine Lane is the most well known street name in Ipoh, there is a total of 3 related lanes ie Wife Lane (Tai Lai Hong), Concubine Lane (Yee Lai Hong) & the second Concubine Lane (San Lai Hong); these 3 lanes were built with shops after a fire which razed down the old town of Ipoh in 1892, after the reconstructions by a wealthy mining tycoon, the tycoon gave each of his 3 mistress a lane so that they could collect rents & lived on with their lives ! 

Stopover No 3 Tai Lai Hong (Wife Lane, Lorong Hale) dedicated to the first wife of the rich mining tycoon, the longest lane with more shops but now a quiet & less visited place !  

Yee Lai Hong (Lorong Panglima, since 1908) - this very well known (most famous) lane was dedicated to the 2nd wife of the mining tycoon in Ipoh Oldtown during the good old days, another folklore story was that this lane was the hiding place for concubines & mistresses of the rich & influential Chinese tycoons, also the old shophouses here were once upon a time the favourite haunt for opium smokers, gamblers & prostitutes; but now the both sides of this lane is lined with eatery, gift & souvenir shops & has become the most busiest lane, packed with tourists & visitors especially during the holiday season & weekends !  

San Lai's Lane (Market Lane, since 1895) - dedicated to the 3rd wife of the mining tycoon, the area then was notorious for its opium dens, casinos & brothels up till the end of the World World 11 when it became home to many rich miners' concubines; now a popular tourist landmark & attraction ! These pictures were taken during my last visit to Market Lane, Ipoh in May 2018 ! 

Yee Lai Hong (Lorong Panglima, Since 1908) - pictures taken during my last visit to Ipoh Oldtown in May 2018 ! 

Kong Heng Coffee Shop & Hostel for Actors, Jalan Bandar Timah, Ipoh, Perak -  built in 1920s, this old coffee shop is famous for kai see ho fun (chicken prawn kuey teow soup) & local Chinese cuisines, this 3 storey old building was a hostel for actors who trained & performed the Chinese Opera Theatre (began operation in 1891) besides it !  

Old pre World War 11 shops / buildings in Ipoh Oldtown near the Concubine Lane. 

Ho Yan Hor Museum, Jalan Bijeh Timah, Ipoh, Perak - located next to the Han Chin Pet Soo Museum; museum has exhibits, share & relate interesting stories of the household brand herbal tea, Ho Yan Hor founded by Dr Ho Kai Cheong since 1940s, free tea sampling & free admission but booking was full at the time of my visit ! No luck for me !  

Buying home some local Chinese pastries (siew pau, heang peah, peanut candies, caramel Chinese pastry or sachima) from a nearby food & confectionery shop opposite the Concubine Lane, Ipoh Oldtown.   

Siew Pau Rm3.50

Sachima Rm7

Makan Makan (Small Eat) - enjoying a bowl of taufu fa (Rm4) with my group members in Din Feng Dessert Tau Fu Fa, Jalan Bijeh Timah, Ipoh,  a treat from KM.  

Taufu fa (Soya Bean Pudding)
Rm4 (US$0.90) 

Makan Makan (Small Eat) - a lunch, mainly small eats (popiah, loyak, chicken prawn kuey teow, squid & morning glory in shrimp paste sauce) with my group members at a local coffee shop opposite the Concubine Lane, Ipoh; a treat from my sister Inn & Mei.  

Ipoh Chicken Prawn Kuey Teow
Rm7.50 (US$1.65)

Squid & morning glory in shrimp paste
sauce Sotong Kankong Rm10 (US$2.20)

Popiah 2 pieces Rm5,50 (US$1.20)

Loyak Rm8 (US$1.80)

Stopover No 4 Ling Sen Tong Temple, off Jalan Gopeng, Ipoh, Perak - the name literally translated as Rocks of Heavenly Spirits, a beautiful Taoist temple located at the foot of a limestone hill, featuring numerous colorful Chinese god statutes; our group last visit before heading home !