Ipoh Mali

My holidays are coming to an end (cue crying). It was a great 1 week break i should say. Like what I said in my previous post, cleansing. I didn't do many spectacular things, nor did I travel to like say Europe, Japan etc (you get the idea). It was just a nice laid back holiday back home, surrounded by family (and friends who are like kings and queens, so susah want to ajak out! Yes, I'm pissed).

Played lots and lots of tennis (more like coaching the small kids around) and just resting. Oh yea, I did really enjoy my time down in Ipoh when it was all food, food and more food! There goes my diet plan.

Nga Choi Kai (Chicken with bean sprouts) with chicken feet, fish balls and inners of chicken

It has been embedded in my mind from when I was younger that nga choi kai was like THE BEST food in Ipoh. It was during my first trip down Ipoh for Ong Kee Hui Swimming Meet when my dad first brought us there. I remember the place being in a dark alley, kinda creepy, but food was oh-so-good! I had this at Lou Wong Restaurant (photo below). My phone died on me, so I couldn't get a hold of my four square. If I did, I don't think we would have eaten there, but instead went to Ong Kee which is situated directly opposite this restaurant, as it was slated to be THE PLACE for Nga Choi Kai for Ipoh-reans. Let's try there next time. But all in all, I was so full after the meal and nga choi kai ticked off the list. How was the food you ask. I would say that I think my expectations was like sky high, so it was just average for me. As for the tauge, it was wonderful! I think I enjoyed that much more than I did the chicken.

In front of Lou Wong Restaurant

So before I proceed any further, some pictures of Ipoh  I guess.

So here's a view from the Apartment that we stayed in.

Here you can catch a glimpse of Hospital Permaisuri Bainun, Ipoh

I think because I hadn't visited Ipoh for so long, I was actually expecting Ipoh to be like more.. how do you put this, modernised. Like with some sky scrapers around and just new buildings. Something like a small Kuala Lumpur. But then it was like all old town, with mainly buildings of 2 storeys high. Like the photo below. 

Here we are again, Lou Wong

Although there was like Old Town and New Town, basically the buildings just look older to me. Not the modernised type, but like buildings built in the 70's latest. The Old Town is separated from the New Town by the Kinta River. We stayed in the New Town, but went to Old Town for food. And yes, we did go to the original Old Town Kopitiam.

Ipoh at night

As I was saying Old Town. I couldn't forget the Old Town Kopitiam there. Cheap and good food. This time, it certainly did not let me down.

Not a fan of coffee, but this is their signature White Coffee

According to Papa Dear, the taste of this coffee from the packets that you buy from the supermarket or even those that you buy from the franchise was different. Smoother and tastier if I am not mistaken from what he said. So you would ask, why am I so excited about going to the kopitiam when I don't even drink coffee? Tadaa~ my answer..

Freshly baked from the oven, Egg Tarts!

 It tasted as good as I remembered. Crunchy on the outside, and on the insides, it was soft and warm and just warms in your mouth. It was so good! I'm craving for 1 even by just looking at the photo. For those egg tart lovers, please please try the egg tarts here. I myself am not a big fan of egg tarts, but these were just too heavenly to resist. Nyum!

Bringing out the child in me, lots of colorful windchimes in Old Town

I did not visit many places down Ipoh as it was a short 2 days 1 night trip. But I think I am happy enough with just this short trip. I did not include all photos here of course. I did try the Indian Restaurant in the Old Town, which served like the best Vadai's, as well as Funny Mountain for the Tau Fu Fah. How can you visit Ipoh and not try the Yim Guk Gai (salt baked chicken). I hadn't tried it before, first time trying it and I must say, the chicken tasted good, and salty. There's only that much the stomach could take, so he had it packed back home.

One of the shops in Bidor. Not a big fan of Hello Kitty, but they looked so adorable!

Our trip came to an end and of course we stopped by at Bidor for a taste of their famous Wantan Mee and as for me, their Wu Gok! It was not as nice as I could remember again (sigh), but still good, still good. As I was there, mummy dear had to buy like so much of biscuits for me to bring back to Sabah (Sabah no nice biscuits ahr!). 

So here, at the shop in Bidor. Spoilt for choices.

And of course, the fruits here is also amazing. I mean if you like Guavas, Jambu Air or mangoes, here's the place to go. However, the mangoes weren't that fantastic this time around, so all I had was guavas and jambu air, which was good enough for me!

At the fruits stall

All in, a wonderful short trip down Ipoh. All fueled up with good food in the tummy for my next battle in Sabah. This time around, Paediatrics! One of the toughest postings ever (I mean all postings are tough in year 5). Oh well, fingers crossed and hope for the best! Till the next post!

-KaRLeEn-