“Oh, why does it have to rain at this hour?” It was 6 p.m. on the evening of August 4th 2012. I was back in Ipoh for a reunion dinner with my former school-mates at Kinta Riverfront Hotel.
“Don’t let the rain spoil your fun!” my husband tried to cheer me up.
I’ve had my hair done nicely, I was in my favorite little black party dress and dancing shoes; yes, I was ready to have some fun and I won’t let the rain spoil it for me!
When we reached the venue, it was already crowded with people – men and women who once walked the corridors and learned in the classrooms of two premier schools in Ipoh – the Anglo Chinese School and Methodist Girls’ School. We were there that night to bond again and have a good time. It was organized by the Ipoh Anglo Chinese School Alumni Association.
Having found our table, I walked around to look out for friends while my husband got busy with his camera. No, he was not from these schools but nevertheless he came to accompany me.
“Are you xxxxxxx?” I couldn’t hold my excitement when I saw a girl I have not met some thirty years already.
“Yes, and you’re xxxxxxx!” Her eyes lighted up and she broke into a gale of laughter. Before we even knew it, we were both embracing each other tightly. We have found each other again, after all these years!
She and I grew up together; we were classmates and partners from primary to secondary school. We were just speechless….it was so surreal and thrilling to meet childhood friends again. No, I did not only meet one girl that night, I met a few of them and we just clicked together like in those good old days when we were chatty school-girls.
The food was sumptuous and the stage performances by the Strollers 2 were magnificent. We all had a good time, it was a night well-spent.
My friends, my husband and I danced and danced the hours away. We left at around 1 a.m. the next morning.
“I think the night is still young. Why don’t we take a stroll along the quiet streets of Ipoh before going home?” my husband asked.
I thought that was a good idea. We walked around the old town area near the Ipoh Padang and the Brewster Bridge. Some late night revelers were out in the street too, some were simply sitting under the trees near the Ipoh Padang while others were having their supper at road-side stalls along Jalan Laxamana near Foong Seong Building.
We got home in the wee hours of the morning and hit the pillows just as the cocks crowed in the distance. I was tired, but happy.
What a nostalgic night! Till we meet again, my dearest friends…..and I shall be back for more Ipoh food!
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188 Hugh Low Street, Ipoh 
Hmm…after we are married, all of our time are spent for the family and children. Little did we know that it has been years since we met with our close friends. Kudos to the organizer of such events. I have mine last year. It was a memorable event!
Hi Andrew,
Yes, the organizers did a great job in bringing all of us together for an evening of fun. It was awesome to meet up with people you have not seen for almost 30 years and the amazing thing was, none of us look a day older than when we last parted ways! 🙂
It was a fun filled night. Renewing our friendships and making new friends. Some have not met since leaving school after form 5 but we could still recognise each other. One of our teachers was spotted looking younger than when she retired. Makes us wonder whether we ran our teachers down. Were we that naughty? Well only our teachers can answer that. Can’t wait for next reunion.
Hi Alexandra,
Great to see you there that night! Yes, 30 years past us by just like that, and thanks to the organizers, we could come together again for some bonding and fun. Hope more of us (year ’81) could join in for the next reunion! 🙂
Ipohgal indeed I too enjoyed the warmth of youthful friendship I left behind some 48 years ago. My ‘old’ schoolmate’s children were amazed to see our close comradeship reunited from the time of meeting again. Time and distance had no bearing to separate the bond. Hats off to the organisers, truly a worthy occasion to celebrate and rejoice! Thank you.
Hi YC,
Glad to hear you were there too on that night. It was a night well spent and I am sure the organizers will strive to do even better next year! 🙂
What a fabulous night filled with lots of good memories huh? Glad you had a great time. You look great too 🙂
Hi Barb,
Yes, we all had a wonderful time and the ladies turned up in their best 🙂
Dear all,
It had been 43 years since I left Ipoh for beautiful Sydney and to be able to attend such an event was indeed a very nostalgic and rewarding one indeed. I had four other brothers all from Sydney in attendance as well together with my nephew and niece from Ottawa, a grand niece from Hong Kong, another grand niece who resides in Sabah and finally, a very dear friend from MGS whom I have only reconnected last November through an ACS Ipoh blog.
Indeed the night was eventful and I met some of the committee members at the bar and congratulated them for the enormous work they had put in to make the event the success it was.
I have earmarked the 120th Anniversary of ACS Ipoh for my next attendance.
Thanks to all bloggers and attendees for making the evening the success it was.
Cheers to all.
Ivan Wong
Hi Ivan,
Thanks for your feedback. Yes, hopefully there are more and better ones to come. 🙂
Hello Ipohgal and guy,
I have a couple of photos of you and hubby on the dance floor. I will email these to you sometime.
Can you please advise your preferred email address?
Cheers and thanks for your great blog.
Ivan
Hi Ivan,
So you are that guy clicking away while cameraman and I were letting our hair down that night, hahaha! Yes, please do let us have look at ourselves being caught in crazy mode. I’ll e-mail you my address shortly. Thanks!
Hi ipohgal, it took me 2-3 months of being on ur site n ipohworlds to realize where 188 hugh low street is.
I was born in ipoh, left in aug 69 while i was in lwr 6 at acs. so i assume u were either at mgs or did ur lwr n upper at acs. Anyway i did not make it home until 78,
Obviously this was after college, working n getting married(may kwok gwai loh). However our trips both individually n both together r becoming less frequent as we get older.
However, our 3 kids were n hv come home numerous times on their own, since there were in their teens.
anyway, enough of this.
I m curious if u remember the following, n we can also c if others can remember: All these were near u.
A). Ramblers football club
B). chinese curry meen store
C) pak cham kai, only at night, there had a signature dish, nga chow in sesame oil n spring onions(scallion)
D) ngau lam fun only at night, gentleman would have a large cauldron, with beef, tripe, tendon, etc simmering
E )lok lok, only at night
F) sai yuen meen (ngau yoke), also had tai yuen
G) open air restaurant only opened at night, their signature dish, was chicken wrapped in some sort of oily paper, steamed.
H) federal muslim restaurant, where the perak football players would eat after a home game.
I) a chaai restaurant, i can still remember eating a vegetarian dish, that smelled like roast duck.
J) live fish store, in aquariums.
All the best. I m just delighted with the enthusiasm and your hard work to allow us old timers to remember the happy times in PALOH.
Thank u again. Alan y
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Hi Alan,
I am glad you finally managed to figure out where 188 Hugh Low Street is! 🙂 Yes, I went to MGS primary and secondary (1971-81) and also to ACS for Form Six (1982-83).
As for your questions, I do remember some:-
B) Chuan Fong Curry Noodle, Hugh Low Street.
C) Lou Wong and Onn Kee Taugeh Ayam, Yau Tet Shin Street.
E) The only one I knew was opposite Rex Cinema, facing Hume Street.
H) The nasi kandar stall at Restoran Yong Suan, Jalan Yang Kalsom.
I) Meng Kee Vegetarian Restaurant near the Pasar Besar Ipoh.
J) The pet shop selling fish and birds, opposite police station, Hugh Low Street.
And for the rest, sorry, I could not recall 🙂
I love to write about Ipoh and the memories of growing up in this charming town. Do drop by when you feel homesick, okay?