Five Touristy Places to Visit in Ipoh

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Ipoh is so close to my hometown that sometimes I refer to it as my hometown too, especially to those who are not aware of where Kampar is. That being said, I go to Ipoh as often as I go back to my hometown, which only means that every time I go back home, I seldom miss the opportunity to get my fix of good food there.

This time, Saucer was with me and together we drove around Ipoh looking for good food and nice touristy places to go. Reaching there in the morning, one can never miss out on Ipoh’s original white coffee. I’m sure many have claimed to be original, so much so that I myself am confused. Anyway, we ended up in Nam Heong, which is famous not only to outsiders but to the locals.

#1: Nam Heong White Coffee

Nam Heong Coffee Shop, Ipoh old town

Nam Heong white coffee

The white coffee here was rich and smooth, not to mention aromatic! Definitely a notch better than the commercialized Old Town outlets around. While sipping our coffee, we also bought some egg tarts and ‘char siew sou’ for breakfast.

Egg tarts and ‘char siew sou’ (barbequed pork pastry)

The egg tarts had flaky and crispy outer pastry layer with wobbly egg in the middle. Eating it while it was piping hot definitely was one of the highlights of our breakfast. The unassuming char siew sou almost brought me tears of joy with my first bite, for it had been ages since I tasted pastry as good as this!

Nam Heong toasted bread

While we’re there, I also ordered the toasted bread with butter and kaya. The bread turned out to be hot and crispy, though a tad too thick. I still prefer the version from Pappa Rich. That marked the first part of our breakfast, because there was a second part soon!

Kedai Makanan Nam Heong
Jalan Bandar Timah
Ipoh.

#2: Kong Heng Popiah and Pork Satay

Second breakfast joint, or brunch, was at Kong Heng. To me, Kong Heng is synonymous to ‘that-popiah-place’, for you have not been to Kong Heng if you haven’t tasted the popiah there.

Kong Heng Coffee Shop

Rolls and rolls of paper-like crepe wrapping around various goodness such as finely grated turnip, bean sprouts, fried shallots and more, always had me craving for them whenever I visit Kong Heng. Saucer tasted it for the first time and he agreed with me without a doubt. Until now, I still have not met the match for Kong Heng’s popiah in any other shops.

Famous popiah

The satay used to be famous at Kong Heng, but lately the quality seems to have deteriorated. However, their uniqueness lies in the way they serve the satay sticks to the customers first, so that they can eat as much as they want, then only pay later.

Pork and chicken satays

#3: Gunung Lang Recreation Park

After the filling breakfast, it’s time to burn off some fats! We headed to Gunung Lang recreation park for a walk. Before entering the park, one has to purchase the entrance/boat fee from the counter, which is only RM3/person. Isn’t that cheap? RM3 for a return boat ride ok, where else can you find it?

Gunung Lang Recreation Center counter

Ticket prices

We waited excitedly for the boat to start moving at the waiting area.

Waiting area

In the meantime, some monkeys came out to entertain us.

Monkeys by the lake

There were about 5 of us waiting and soon the staff led us down to the mini pier, into the boat.

The boats!

The boat ride was just a short one, perhaps 5 minutes or so, but the view was really breath-taking. Crossing the calm lake, surrounded by high limestone mountains and chirpy birds, it was nature at its best, if only for 5 minutes.

Crossing the lake

The trail of our boat

Destination spotted!

Once we got down from the boat, we were greeted with a pretty and well-kept garden which was a haven for photographs.

Pathway at the garden

Cute leafy booth

witch at Gunung Lang

If you’re lucky, you might even spot a tortoise or two in the pond. Can you spot the one below?

Tortoise in the pond

Walking around the park, I realised that there were some birds kept inside the cages around the area. The biggest bird I spotted was the ostrich! It was so huge sometimes it’s scary. When  I say huge, I mean more than 6 feet tall!

Saucer with ostrich

Taking pictures around the park was easy because there were many nice spots to pose with, and plenty of bougainvilleas, because Ipoh is a bougainvillea city.

Saucer and witch with bougainvilleas

Continuing along the path, we finally reached a mini lookout tower.

Path towards the tower

Mini lookout tower

Climbing up the stairs, you will then find a bird’s eye view of the park, together with the mountains surrounding it.

View from tower #1

View from tower #2

View from tower #3

A sense of calm and serenity enfolded me as I stood there taking all these beautiful pictures. Soon, we walked back towards the jetty to bid our farewell to Gunung Lang. We will definitely be back!

Goodbye Gunung Lang

Gunung Lang is located at Jalan Kuala Kangsar, with coordinates = 4°37’29″N   101°5’22″E

#4: Onn Kee ‘Nga Choi Kai’

After sweating it out at Gunung Lang, it was time for a late lunch! Where else but to get ‘nga choi kai’ or beansprouts with chicken? We headed to the one called Onn Kee, just opposite the famous Lou Wong.

Onn Kee at Ipoh

A portion of chicken for 2 and beansprouts cost about RM18, I think. We chose the free range chicken, for the obvious reasons.

Steamed chicken at Onn Kee

Fat juicy beansprouts

Of course, they were no comparison to the ones we had in KL, for they’re in a class of their own. Smooth and tender chicken meat, plus fat juicy beansprouts had both of us eating while nodding in satisfaction.

Restoran Onn Kee (Tauge Ayam),
51, Jalan Yau Tet Sin,
30300 Ipoh, Perak ,
MALAYSIA.

Tel. no.: 05 253 1562

Desserts! We asked for local recommendations on where to get a good fix of tau fu fah, and he pointed us to this shop called Lai Kee.

Lai Kee Soya Bean shop

The soya bean here was apparently organic and without gypsum powder. We tried the tau fu fah or soya beancurd dessert and it lived up to standards. Smooth and soft with no unpleasant aftertaste. You could opt for a choice of white or brown sugar as well. My advice? Go for the brown sugar.

Tau fu fah with brown sugar

Soya bean drink

#5: Kek Lok Tong Cave

Last but not least, the final destination for the day – Kek Lok Tong (Cave of Great Happiness) cave! It’s another of my favourite place, which I think is also Ipoh’s pride. Situated at Gunung Rapat, this cave is not just any other cave, but it has a vast garden and lake which is well-maintained and beautiful.

Koi pond

The entrance to the huge limestone cave was grand and majestic, it made everyone look so tiny standing next to it.

Kek Lok Tong cave entrance

witch at Kek Lok Tong

Even though this cave is not as popular as its counterpart Sam Poh Tong, I still find this cave a lot more endearing and peaceful. Somehow the cave emits this certain aura of calm and tranquility, such that when you walk in, you feel very at peace. Plus it did help that the air inside the cave was cooling even in the afternoon. Very relaxing.

Look at the stalactites formed! I shall let the pictures do the talking from here on.

Kek Lok Tong #1

I spotted this merlion lookalike statue inside, wondering what it really was. Can you tell?

Merlion lookalike?

Kek Lok Tong #2

Kek Lok Tong #3

Kek Lok Tong #4

Kek Lok Tong #5

Once you exit from the cave from the other end, you’re welcome by another awe-inspiring sight – A lake and a mini garden just behind the cave.

Kek Lok Tong #6

Kek Lok Tong #7

Kek Lok Tong #8

Our national flower, Hibiscus

Kek Lok Tong #9

Goddess of Mercy

To anyone who has not been to Ipoh before and wonder about Ipoh’s limestone hills, this is the place to go. I have been to this place over and over again and I never get tired of it. I’m glad most of the structure and the garden are well-maintained even after 5 years from my previous visit. Located at Gunung Rapat, one may need a GPS to get to this place, otherwise, just watch out for the Yellow signboards with the words Kek Lok Tong on it.

Kek Lok Tong
Gunung Rapat
GPS coordinates: 4.558992,101.129258