These blogs are my non-cave photos and stories. The older ones are taken from my Multiply site, which closed in March 2013. I have a 2nd blog for the SE Asia cave items and a 3rd blog for non SE Asia caves.
I had some spare time in Ipoh and finally managed to see the murals, which have been painted by local artist Eric Lau. He did the first ones early in 2013 and has done some more early in 2014. See article in The Star.
Paintings are popping up in other streets in Ipoh, but the main ones are near the junction of Jalan Sultan Iskandar and Datuk Onn Jaafar. Look for the rainbow shoplots on Sultan Iskandar, the corner shop being Red House Coffee.
The murals are in a back lane Datuk Onn Jaafar.
Pity about the rubbish
Whilst there it is worth seeing the Panglima mosque
On 5 May 2014 there was a wonderful sky during sunset. Where the sun was sinking the sky was an orange colour. On the opposite side in the east the sky was still quite bright. In the middle it was really dark.
These are panorama shots taken on the camera
The camera then got confused and would no longer take a complete panorama, it kept stopping when the light/dark contrast got too much
Fri 2, Sat 3 and Sun 4 May 2014, 3 Bomba helicopters were flying past and over my condo each morning. Bomba is The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia).
They started at 8am. The front 2 were trailing flags - Malaysian and bomba flags -
9M-BOD
9M-BOC had no flag. Note the difference in sky, from 8.58 and 9.17 am -
The 3 together
BOD again, this can take 15 passengers -
the flag has 'disappeared'
They did many large circuits and on the last one the three flew directly over my condo -
flag looks rather tattered
On the 4th they again flew straight over my condo on the last circuit -
They are AgustaWestland helicopters, described as search and rescue / light utility. Info from helis.com :
9M-BOB = AW109E Power, built 2003 [BOA crashed 2004]
9M-BOC = AW139 acquired by Bomba in 2010 (ex I-EASY)
9M-BOD = AW139 acquired by Bomba in 2010 (ex I-PTFT)
The Sinhalese Bar in Ipoh is the only Sinhalese bar in the country. It is a unique piece of history. It is located in Old Town, on the corner of Jalan Bijeh Timah (Treacher Street) and Jalan Market.
There are trees outside and wonderful swing doors lead into the bar
The walls are painted bright pink with pale green tiles below and a green floor. There is a deer skull above the swing doors
The bar was established in 1931
Alfred bringing the beer. Note the folding screen separating the seating area from the serving area. There are always calendars showing 3 months on the screen
Apart from beer, many of the regulars drink spirits
2011 prices
Liquors stacked in the old dresser
Notice on the outside wall
Snacks such as fried sausages can be ordered and there is always a plentiful supply of tidbits such as muruku. The owner is Buddhist and always celebrates Wesak Day when a vegetarian lunch is served (this year it will be held on 13 May 2014). It is a charity meal and proceeds are given to the underprivileged in the area.
It's a great place for a drink and absorb the atmosphere of a time gone by!
