Perak, West Malaysia
If you asked me what there was to do in Ipoh a month ago, I’d have told you to drink Ipoh white coffee and eat Ipoh hor fun, and the conversation would end on an awkward note. I knew nothing else until I realised there were direct flights to Ipoh from Singapore. And so I left on a jet plane – flown by Malindo Air to Ipoh, the state capital of Perak.
Ipoh is a city that isn’t big on the extravagant or the flashy. But hey – you can enjoy whitewater rafting with outdoor-loving friends, soak in hot springs with your loved ones, and even bring three generations of the family to an incredible family-friendly theme park. If you’re ready to find out what Ipoh has to offer, buckle up your life jackets and prepare for the ride.
1. Enjoy White Water Rafting on the Kampar River
Ahoy!
I’ve always liked rapids and waterfalls – they provide a very calming, zen-like atmosphere. That is, until you’re on a raft, rushing and bumping your way through the wild Kampar River in Gopeng. It sounds dangerous, but be rest assured – I saw with my own eyes how experienced the rafting guides were at ensuring our safety.
Before the journey, they gave a 15-minute safety briefing, and we were all issued life jackets so everyone could take part – even those who had no swimming experience.
Photo source: Timothy David
Overall, it’s an engaging activity and one that bonds friends and families. Your arms will ache after a few hours of rowing, but it’s an experience you’ll remember forever – especially if, like me, it’s your first time trying whitewater rafting. Gopeng is approximately half an hour’s drive from Ipoh.
Note: If Gopeng sounds familiar, that’s because there’s a road in Singapore named after it which you may have seen before – Gopeng Street, in Tanjong Pagar.
Address: Kampar River, Gopeng
For more information, check out the whitewater rafting package offered by Destination Perak.
2. Soak in the Banjaran Hot Springs
At the Banjaran Hot Springs, you can book a villa for the whole family to chill in luxury. They’re Malaysia’s first luxury natural hot springs and boast an incredible variety of spa and wellness treatments from traditional Malaysian massages to hydrotherapy and detoxification.
Address: No. 1,Persiaran Lagun Sunway 3, 31150 Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia
3. Get acquainted with nature at Kuala Sepetang
This 40,000-hectare Matang Mangrove Forest lies near the town of Kuala Sepatang, about an hour’s drive from Ipoh. It’s home to over 155 species of birds and 28 true mangrove species. Take as much time as you want to stroll along the boardwalk and soak in the tranquil atmosphere – there’s no one to rush you.
Birds of a feather DO flock together.
A rural fishing village, where time hasn’t moved an inch.
Next, we enjoyed a river cruise through a rustic fishing village. It reminded me very much of those school tours to historical exhibits in Singapore museums where they talk about what Singapore was like in the 1920’s and 30’s.
Opposite the Matang Mangrove Forest is a charcoal factory. Logs are harvested from the forest reserve and are brought there – however, the State Forestry Department regulates these activities to ensure the mangrove forest isn’t depleted.
It’s also worth mentioning the food of this area – the prawn mee at Kampung Dew. We got to try the Mak Jah Mee Udang prawn noodles, which were remarkably decent. The dish is brought to life by the fresh prawns from the sea, and the special, well-flavoured homemade sauce that’s sweet but not overly spicy. I’m not a fan of prawn noodles in general, but this dish won my approval.
Address: 34650 Kuala Sepetang, Perak, Malaysia
4. Lose yourself in the Lost World of Tambun
We’re back to Ipoh! A theme park, spa, hot springs and hotel all-in-one – the Lost World Of Tambun almost feels out of place in the laid-back and unhurried town of Ipoh.
It would be wise to keep those two apart – or you’d be left with just one attraction.
And now, the little birdie will fly through the hoop!
There’s also a petting station, where visitors can get up close and personal with the friendly animals – and I do mean up close and personal.
Finally, there’s a hotel right across the road under the same company – Sunway. It’s a great place to bring the whole family for a day or two – everything here is family-friendly. Children can be entertained for many hours in the animal exhibits while the parents can have some Malaysian tea, and the whole family can enjoy a soak in the hot springs afterwards.
Don’t soak too long – the water is hot enough to cook an egg.
Address: No.1 , Persiaran Lagun Sunway 1,, Sunway City Ipoh,, 31150 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
5. Feast on durians, picnic-style
Durians are equally popular across the Causeway as they are here. Although Ipoh isn’t well-known for its durian produce (the best Mao Shan Wang durians come from the highlands in Pahang), they do import high-quality durians from all over Malaysia, as we do in Singapore – but at local prices.
Eating durians in such a picnic-like setting really added to the experience. With a plain no-frills wooden bench to dine on, a gentle flowing river, and kampong houses all around us, this was truly a taste of Malaysia in more ways than one.
6. Chow down on some nasi kandar
The Yong Suan coffeeshop is famous for its tasty nasi kandar – steamed rice served with a variety of curries and dishes, somewhat similar to the curry rice found in Singapore. From the snaking queues outside to the people milling around inside waiting for seats, you can tell that this is one of the most popular eating places in Ipoh.
I was very impressed with the tandoori chicken, the sotong (squid), and the mutton – they were robust, tasty and filling.
What’s more, most of the locals ate the nasi kandar the traditional way – with their hands. Even the Indian seller will get you your food with a gloved hand. It was an eye-opening experience for someone like me who’s been brought up eating with chopsticks, forks and spoons.
If you’re thirsty, no worries – with an extremely impressive repertoire of drinks from Kickapoo to Horlicks-O, this is really quite a ‘high-level’ coffee shop. You can find any drink you’d want here.
As such, although you may have to queue a while, queueing is something we Singaporeans are used to – and the food isn’t something that’s easily found or replicated either. Be sure to try Yong Suan’s nasi kandar – the taste will stay with you for a while.
Address: 2, Jalan Yang Kalsom, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
7. Go completely nutty for kacang puteh
It’s said that kacang puteh originated from a small village near Ipoh several years before Malaysian independence, when Indian men would walk several kilometres to the town to sell these snacks. Since then, the village has been relocated much nearer the town of Ipoh, but its name remains the same – Kampung Kacang Puteh.
Everything here is crazy affordable, and I saw many tourists buying these snacks up by the bagful for their friends and family back home.
Bungkus = packet
The sense of nostalgia was extremely striking. If, like me, you loved these sweets as a child and teenager, you’ll want to visit the D.N.S store in Kampung Kacang Putih.
Address: D.N.S Kacang Putih Sdn. Bhd., No. 45, 46, 47, Laluan Sungai Pari 4, Kampung Kacang Putih, 30100 Buntong, Ipoh, Perak
8. Slurp up some milky chendol in Taiping
These days, we see all kinds of contemporary takes on the chendol dessert, from vanilla ice cream to durian-infused flavours. There’s no such funkiness in Taiping town, though – this little stall keeps it plain and simple, but it really gets the job done.
Spanning three generations, the Restoran Ansari Famous Cendol was opened in 1940. When you order a bowl of chendol here, you’re getting is a recipe that’s been perfected over 75 years.
The coconut milk was well-balanced and just sweet enough to be refreshing. When I tried this, I was in an afternoon stupor – you know, the kind that sets in when you’re in a sleepy town where people aren’t rushing around all the time like they are in Singapore. But after slurping down the entire bowl, I was wide awake and ready to take in all the sights and sounds that Taiping had to offer. If you find yourself in a food coma, pop down to this stall and rejuvenate yourself.
Address: Ansari Famous Cendol. 92, Jalan Barrack, 34000 Taiping, Perak
9. Chow down on some Hainanese chicken rice
I was beginning to feel homesick, so it’s a good thing some things don’t change across the Causeway. Meet the Ipoh version of Hainanese chicken rice.
While Singapore may pride itself on having Hainanese chicken rice as a national dish, Malaysian chefs are no slouches either when it comes to this dish. A notable difference about the Ipoh version is that the chicken usually comes with bean sprouts, as we saw in this restaurant.
Although this dish was adapted from early Chinese immigrants, it is also very popular with the Malay community in Ipoh. I saw several Malay families having their family dinner in this restaurant.
Address: Jalan Raja Musa Aziz, Kampung Jawa, 31350 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
10. Step into Malaysia’s colonial past in Kellie’s Castle
When I first saw Kellie’s Castle, it seemed to me that a piece of Scotland had lost itself in the space-time continuum and ended up in Perak instead. Kellie’s Castle is about a 20-minute drive from Ipoh.
A Scottish man named William Kellie Smith residing in British Malaya wanted a home reminiscent of his home in Scotland. So in 1915, he ordered construction of this castle to begin. Unfortunately, he abruptly died in 1926, bringing the construction to a sudden halt. Till today, it remains unfinished.
At night, the castle looks haunting and imposing against the cloudy skyline. It’s also in the middle of nowhere, adding to the intrigue and mystery surrounding it. Today, the ruins remain a popular tourist attraction, drawing ghost hunters and movie fans alike – the castle was used in the filming of The King And I (1999) and Skyline Cruisers (2000).
Address: 31000 Batu Gajah, Perak, Malaysia
Where I stayed
Best Western Hotel
The hotels in Perak really surprised me – many of us may have bad preconceptions about hotels in the lesser-known parts of Malaysia, thinking “oh, they don’t have hot water’ or “oh, there may be cockroaches under the bed”. Boy, are we wrong.
Lost World of Tambun Hotel
From what I saw, the hotels here are extremely well-maintained and significant attention goes into making sure customers are well taken care of. Many of them also include international breakfasts and have pools and gyms for an all-rounded stay. And yes, they do have hot water and I never had to share my bed with insects.
The WEIL Hotel
My favourite hotel of the tour was the WEIL Hotel, adjacent to the Ipoh Parade shopping mall and a very luxurious hotel in its own right. The toilet facilities were incredible, with a rain shower and a decent-sized bathtub with a bedroom view – in my opinion, that’s something every hotel room should have.
If you don’t want to stay so near the city centre, you can also consider the Best Western hotel and the Sunway Lost World Hotel – both are great for families and groups of friends.
Finding out more about Ipoh
As for tour packages, if you’re planning a trip to Ipoh soon, you should visit the Destination Perak website. They’ve got information and tour packages, including white water rafting and city tours, for groups of many sizes. It’s the most convenient way to see Ipoh, as the public transportation system is not very developed in Perak. Although some hotels do provide shuttle bus services to popular tourist destinations, don’t go there expecting feeder bus services!
How I got there
And if you’re pondering how to get there, Malindo Air is one of the best options you can choose from. With reliable service, in-flight entertainment and really comfortable seats with ample legroom, you’ll find yourself in the Sultan Azlan Shah airport before you know it. They also serve several flight routes to various parts of Malaysia and Indonesia!
This post was brought to you by Destination Perak, Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, and Malindo Air.
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