Done exploring cum as food-hunting in Penang, we proceed down under to Perak. Last year was Tahun Melawat Perak (Visit Perak Year) yo!
First of all, we went to Kuala Kangsar, because my sister in law is attending her best friend's engagement day... E-day on Friday? hmmm While waiting for her friend to come, we had our lunch at one of Nasi Campur & Ikan Bakar stall by the Perak River. Sedap! We also tried Cendol and Kuey Teow at the other small stall. Also sedap! If the weather wasn't too hot, probably we had try the River Boat ride. And if the weather not this humid, maybe we had try the local durian. Maybe we also can find and buy the Labu Sayong as well.
All this while I didn't know that this Royal Town can be this beautiful. Seriously I'm in love with the design of the Kuala Kangsar train station, and the roundabout where the Clock Tower and McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk are located.
Then, we heading back to north to Taiping for 45-mins journey and check-in at Flemington Hotel. The hotel's rate is less than RM 200 per night, but since I'm using my Agoda's Gift Point, I only pay for RM 35. I choose this hotel because they provides breakfast and because of the location; facing the Taiping Lake Garden and close to Taiping Zoo. But on the other hands.. as I'm not going to recommend this hotel, because the hotel is not clean, as we found two cockroaches in our room; the mattress is hard, and the parking space is so limited - we need to park our car at the public area of Lake Garden.
When in Taiping, we need to decide either to spend our night with firefly at Kuala Sepetang OR with animals at Taiping Night Safari. Obviously we choose the Taiping Night Safari because my husband doesn't want to drive far (actually 30-mins drive only) to Kuala Sepetang.
The Taiping Night Safari ticket is @ RM 21.20 per adult inclusive with 6% GST. Luckily we arrived just in time, because the ticket counter opens at 8pm. Managed to avoid the loooong queue. Perhaps, because of school holiday, the parents are taking their children here.
Oh, our expectation was too high. I'm quite frustrated because I was thought that the safari was similar to Taman Safari Indonesia (nearby Puncak) - where those animals are free to mingle around. If the animals are stay in their cage, for me that is considered a Zoo, not a Safari. After the round trip by a tram (thankfully the tram driver also cum as commentator), we are allowed to explore on our own feet, but no thanks.. because it was too dark, we were barely see the animals and of course we are not allowed to use a flash light.
From the long list suggested in the internet and YouTube, apparently none of the restaurants are open during the night time *sigh* . But luckily we have found the best place to have our dinner at Tigers Corner - a small restaurants with other small stalls. We had the most rare Curry Noodle - because it was served with Sambal Kerang (surprisingly delicious), Chicken & Beef Satay (also damn good and tender), and also Sotong Kangkung (this one is a bit spicy for me).
Before we leave Taiping for Ipoh, we took our chance to take selfie wefie at this beautiful Taiping Lake Garden - the oldest public garden in Malaysia (opened in 1880).
To Ipoh we go!!!
We made a mistake by taking the 'jalan dalam' via Sungai Siput. From Taiping to Ipoh by highway only takes about an hour driving. But taking the outskirt road... the travelling duration became double.
Once we arrived Ipoh, the first place we went is... Nasi Kandar Ayam Merah, also known as Nasi Ganja (Marijuana Rice) or Nasi Vanggae @ Kedai Kopi Yong Suan, Ipoh. Served with a salted egg. Seriously delicious and addicted. No wonder the queue was damn long, and the shop was damn full. Since there's no table available, we just take away and enjoy the meal at the hotel.
Book our one night stand stay at Impiana Hotel Ipoh. It is an old hotel, but it was under our budget. Only @ RM 145 per night.
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| List of Best Place to Eat in Ipoh |
For dinner, we went to the Medan Selera (food court) Dato Tahwil Azar for the famous Satay Endut. But honestly, I prefer the satay in Taiping more. The Mee Rebus from the next stall is quite delicious. You may try. It was a Saturday night, there's a night market along the street next to the Medan Selera. But it was raining. Forget shopping, let's get back to hotel and rest.
Here's the best place to have a breakfast in Ipoh - New Hollywood Restaurant at Taman Canning. You need to be extra patience because it's very difficult to get a table. But of course, it is worth waiting! We ordered Mee Kicap, Fried Kuey Teow, Yong Tau Fu, and the best meal is - Toast with Telur Goyang. Perghhh!!! Awesome! It's a Chinese Shop but no worries, it's actually Halal.
It's time to explore Ipoh!
I heard about the famous Concubine Lane a.k.a Ipoh Art Street - a new attraction in Ipoh, but for us it's just another frustration ~ when the art street is only 100m long. I can finish walking from one point to another end for only 1-minute. No kidding! We also try to find the Yasmin Ahmad Museum, but the signage was totally 'misleading', I mean, bad direction. Such a waste of time! Due to the hot weather, we end-up buying the Ais Kepal.
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| so-called InstaWorthy |
And had a cup of tea at the cozy and fancy restaurant of STG Ipoh Oldtown, also nearby the parking spot.
Continued our journey to south, to the historic Kellie's Castle at Batu Gajah - the best place we have been visited so far. Again, due to the weather was too hot, and afraid of the risk of heat stroke; we decided not to go farther to enter the castle. Parking fee @ RM 2.00
who was the owner of this castle?
Without wasting any more time, we hit the road and stop at Warung Kak Lina for the Mentarang Bakar (charcoal roasted style), Sekinchan. Her cozy open-space mini stall is located next to Surau Al-Taqwa. I love Mentarang so much but I don't know how to cook it. It's really delicious, especially when it served with sambal belacan and fresh coconut.
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| zoom in! tempting tak? #ngencis |
