The story of a charming little town called Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital of the northern state of Perak in Malaysia. The name Ipoh came from the poisonous sap of the plant ‘pokok epu’ used by the indigenous people to coat the tips of the darts of their blowpipes.
The Chinese immigrants who came to this state from Southern China during the tin rush in the late 19th and early 20th century called this town ‘Yee Poh’ which means ‘found treasure’. They also liked to call this place ‘Paloh’ referring to the gigantic mining pump used for early tin ore extraction.
Ipoh was founded around 1820s as a village on the banks of Kinta River. Tin brought in an influx of immigrants, many who came down as laborers or opportunists, later turned settlers and made fortunes, built a great quantity town houses and made Ipoh home. All those houses that the early settlers built lie mostly in the Ipoh old town area.
In 1942, the Japanese invaders made Ipoh the new capital of the state.
By 1950s, there were a large number of cinema halls, an amusement park, cabarets and other entertainment outlets giving this town an exciting night life. Who can forget the legendary striptease queen of the 50s, Rose Chan, also known as the “Flower of Malaya?”
However, in the 1970s, the prices of tin collapsed and many tin mines were closed. Ipoh began to lose its shine. Many people began migrating out to seek greener pastures, leaving Ipoh a slow dead. In the end, around 1990s, Ipoh became a deserted town, almost ghost like.
Today, with its fresh air, clear tap water, beautiful limestone hills and tasty food, Ipoh became a prime choice for many people to retire in. Life here is still slow and simple. You can find most modern amenities here.
I grew up in Ipoh new town at a pre war building at 188 Hugh Low Street with my parents, grandma, uncle, aunty, cousins and score of tenants in the shop house in the 60s and 70s. There were much memories, some happy, some sad, but all still lingered in my mind until today. You can find these memories in this blog.
My new book available to order online
https://188hughlowstreet.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/thank-you-for-your-interest-and-support/
Thank you for your interest and support!
Hi, nice to meet you !
Ipohgal, it’s a nice, short and simple description about your little hometown. 😉
“…….However, in the 1970s, the prices of tin collapsed and many tin mines were closed. Ipoh began to lose its shine. Many people began migrating out to seek greener pastures, leaving Ipoh a slow dead………”
“On a slow boat to Malaya but not for its tin! “
“Perhaps it was because they were the faceless and voiceless people, the lower rung in society. I don’t know about the history of other families but what I knew about mine,..….”
You were right, not all contributions were from the rich, but the majorities of the faceless and soundless groups.
Keep writing, I like this little town.
Cheer !
Hi Halina,
One of the reasons why I started this blog was that too much were written about the tin mining millionaires and their lavish lifestyles without mentioning much the contributions of other earlier settlers of Ipoh of humble backgrounds.
I won’t dispute the importance of the tin mining industry and these millionaires in making what was Ipoh today but Ipoh is not all about tin only.
Behind a tin millionaire, thousands and thousands of cheap labourers toiled and sweated in the mine for him. Other traders and merchants of various fields also played a part in making the town prosperous. I called them the faceless and the voiceless people of old Ipoh.
Both my maternal and paternal grandpas belonged to this group. So too, my dad. One was a fruit wholeseller, the other a beancurd maker and dad, a ‘tau foo far’ maker turned scissors sharpener. I am telling their untold stories here.
Ipoh is a charming place one can easily fall in love with. But sadly, much have changed. The present state goverment is on a frenzy rampage pulling down the beautiful heritage buildings of the British colonial days in a desperate bid to erase the past. Many were wiped off from the landscape of Ipoh and were replaced by soulless modern buildings of glass and steels. Some were even turned into carparks! Imagine, decades ago, Ipoh was called ‘Little Guilin’ for it’s beautiful blue limestone hills surrounding the town. Today, we are losing them one by one to the marble quaries. How pathetic and sad. Ipoh is slowly losing it’s lustre and shine. She is like a plastic surgery gone wrong.
I am blogging the soulful Ipoh I once knew and the nostalgic memories contained within. Yes, you can say I am blogging with a little pain in my heart.
Hi,
Congratulations to you on a nice website! I am sure to check this over and over again.
Which house is 188 Hugh Low Street?
Hi KK Foong,
Thanks for your compliments and glad you liked this blog.
Please refer achives May 21 2010 posting -188 The home I once knew and you will see the house I grew up in. All details are to be found there.
Sorry the picture looked a bit blur as it was taken at night many years ago. Will update readers with a clearer one as soon as possible.
Cheer and thanks…
Your blog enlighten me of our rich and unique heritage/identity. Keep it up.
Hi Deric,
Welcome to my blog of Ipoh’s memories. Thanks for your words of encouragements. Do keep coming back for more, ok?
Nice weekend!
Anyone at this blog stayed or know anyone a in Panglima lane before??
Hi Ipohgal,
Is very very nice to have a blog like this cos I’m out of Ipoh for almost 23 years. I really misses my hometown especially Panglima Lane in Old Town. I’ve lost contact with all of my friends. I went back last year and I found that the place are almost torn down what a waste. Keep up the blog and good work
Hi Kevin,
Welcome to my blog of memories of old Ipoh. And thanks for your comments.
Don’t lose heart. Panglima Lane or Concubine Lane in the middle of old town may be deserted and abandoned but lately the Kinta Heritage group has been organising weekly trip on every Saturday morning at 8 a.m. for anyone who is interested to know about Ipoh’s Heritage. Panglima Lane is one of the places covered in this heritage trail. It is free.
And it was during such a trip I took last month that I came to know an old man called Mr Chow making a living by pushing a cart. He stayed in one on the houses along Panglima Lane and was featured in the brochure. He was a humble and nice chap. You will definitely like him too.
You will also be surprised to learn that the famous satay sold at Kong Heng were made in Panglima Lane.
IpohGal, I had recently meet with Ian & Lee of ipohWorld regarding my plan to volunteer myself helping the sites on SEO and other blog optimization and I come to know that previously you are helping them on the works and now you come to be independant & using free blog service. If you consider to have a helping hand, I’m here to be IpohGuy… :p lolz…
Hi Felix,
Welcome to my blog! This blog is a one gal show, which means I am the writer and photographer cum admin all rolled in one.
I ran this blog out of my love to write and also because of my love for Ipoh. And I write whenever I feel like it, thus I am not bound by anyone or any organisation. Nor do I make any profits from this venture. All things done for a passion.
Yes, you are most welcome if you feel that you can contribute in any way you can, be it in the form of advices, suggestions, your own childhood memories of growing up in Ipoh and photos of Ipoh. Infact, everyone are equally welcome to share.
So, Felix or IpohGuy, what are you waiting for? Drop me a line when you are ready!
Haha…okie…let me scan up all the old photos and drop to you…still remember the themepark at Batu Gajah…DR Park for then and now…
I not looking for profit as well but just a passion to contribute whatever I could, in the name of promote our lovely little hometown.
I’m not a good writer, nor a good photographer, but I will be a helping hand in eCommerce (for sure not for profit, just using the eCommerce way to market the blog to create more global awareness). However, its up to you to decide, as SEO setting need to access your settings. 🙂
Hi Felix,
Thanks for your kind support. Please do let me know more about this thing called eCommerce or SEO setting. Maybe we can work things out from there. Thanks in advance.
Let’s say your blog is promoting Ipoh, so you would like ppl whoever Google “Ipoh” or something related to Ipoh like Nga Choi Gai, Pamelo, Chicken Curry Bread, Ipoh Hor Fun & etc able to see your blog as the top result.
Unfortunately, now if you Google the above, your blog will be not showing as the top results and this is what we called to have Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to make sure your website is searchable by the public.
As you using wordpress, the setting would be more easy as just to install some plug-ins and do some setting on it. While you can also have your web visit statistic to be shown on Google Analytics.
Further more, you can set your blog post to be auto post to Facebook, Twitter & other social networks, and to also put a share button so that public can share your post link to their social networks.
If you interested on these, you may PM me at hklee@hovid.com where we could discuss later on. 🙂 Keep on the good work.
Hi Felix,
Yes, I am interested on these but since I am on free blog service, do you think it is possible to use SEO?
Yes, I had my wordpress blog done with the plug-ins for SEO and also other useful plug-ins.
By the way, invest for around RM100 a year can get you a domain at your own name.
Hi Felix,
Thanks for your advice and suggestion. Yes, I will try to get my own domain as soon as possible. Will get in touch with you once that was done.
So far free wordpress version also can do a lot of plug-ins to optimize the blog. So keep in touch and do PM me at info@felixlhk.com
Hi Felix,
Thanks again and I will get in touch with you later on this.
Hi Ipohgal! I’m also an Ipoh gal and proud to be one. Thanks for loads of information I didn’t know about Ipoh. Will be checking in often to know more!
Hi and welcome to my blog, my fellow Ipoh girl. Thanks for your visit and I will be checking yours too.
Hi Ipohgal, i’m Ipoh born and bred but currently studying in Subang. Its 11.11PM and I’m starving and I’m thinking of the satay at ‘house of mirrors’ and I was looking for food on the net, i stumbled upon your site. Its awesome. You make me feel extremely proud to be from Ipoh! Thanks!
Hi Kenneth,
Thank you for dropping a line here and a welcome to my blog of Ipoh’s memories. Ah, you must be thinking of those delicious satay at Kong Heng, Leech Street!
Like you, I am proud to be from Ipoh. I will be blogging about the Ipoh’s Heritage Trail which I took part in late last year. Do watch out for it.
Hi Ipohgal,
Congratulation, you have reached 50,000+ stats hits.
Set goals for yourself , keep it up and keep writing.
Happy new year, 2012
🙂
“Allow yourself to be inspired. Allow yourself to succeed. Dare to excel.”
Beautiful description, for a beautiful life story… Thank you so much for sharing – I still need to make time to visit your husbnd’s photoblog – and I will, I promise! Thanks for stopping by and commenting on our family/travel blog… Keep us posted! Greetings fromBrazil, and our best wishes for a very successful year of 2012!
Hi 3rdCultureChildren,
I really hope one day, you and your family will drop by to my lovely hometown. You will be mesmerized by it’s beauty, that I am sure!
Hi Ipohgal,
I recently came across your blog and I am very impressed with what you wrote. You fluid writings make interesting reading of a wide range of many interesting subjects. I was originally from Kampar and studied in Ipoh ACS for several years. I read your article on the recent ACS Ipoh reunion dinner and it brought back many nostalgic memories. I have been living in Toronto, Canada since the late ’80s and am planning to visit Malaysia and will make a special trip to our beloved Ipoh. All those old pictures of Ipoh that you posted sure bring back many fond memories. Keep up the good work, Ipohgal!
Hi Keith,
Welcome to my blog of Ipoh and much much more! 🙂 Thank you for your kind words of encouragements and I will try my best to write more. 🙂
hi love ur blog.
can i know about Waller Court in the past?
Hi annice,
Welcome to my blog and I am glad to hear you like it. 🙂
I don’t know much about Waller Court in the past except that it was built in 1962 by the Seenivasagam brothers, S.P. and D.R. when they were serving in the municipal council.
It was built to house the low-income earners. I have been there once to visit a classmate when she was sick and I found the place very noisy, cramped, filthy and smelly – not a conducive place at all to grow up in. It was also well-known for being a haven for drug addicts.
I read in the papers recently that redevelopments are in store soon. 🙂
Hi ipohgal,
Just wanted to let you know that my aunt received your book (safe and sound!). She also wanted to explain that the reason she had a “bandage” around her neck was because at that time she was suffering from neck problem – hence the doctor advised her to wear a collar….
Thanks for the book once again 🙂
Hi Felicia, glad to hear that Ms Rita has received my book. I think she received it a day before the MGS reunion lunch in KL. I was about 8 when I saw that “bandage” on her neck and I was too young to know what it was about but it left a deep impression on my young mind because I have never come across anyone with that when I was at that age. Thus, I mentioned it in the book. 🙂 Hope she will like the book too. 🙂