HOTEL MEMORIES (PERAK)

2003: HOTEL SERI MALAYSIA, TAIPING

During my family vacation at Taiping, we stayed at the Hotel Seri Malaysia, situated at Jalan Sultan Mansur, just a short walk from the famous Taiping Lake Garden and the Zoo Taiping & Night Safari.

Hotel Seri Malaysia was one of the most popular mid-range hotels in Perak. Part of the nationwide chain established in 1994, it was designed to provide affordable, comfortable and culturally authentic Malaysian hospitality. The area aroung the holte was dotted with old-British era rest houses.

7 APRIL 2012: BLUE BAY RESORT, LUMUT

During the Health Screening Program that took place at the Dewan Takraw on Pangkor Island on 7 April 2012, my colleagues and I,  from the Malaysian Heart Foundation stayed at the Blue Bay Resort at Jalan Titi Panjang, Lumut, Perak. A budget-friendly option for travelers. 

Today in 2025, it was rebranded to Harbourside Hotel Sdn Bhd, continues to serve as a practical base for travelers visiting the Lumut Waterfront. 

16 APRIL 2012: FAIR PARK HOTEL, IPOH

My friends and I stayed at this hotel on our way back from our program at Kg.Titi Teras, Balik Pulau, Penang on 15 April 2012.

We stopped in Ipoh to attend a meeting at AEON Kinta City the next day.

We also stayed at this hotel again during the Ipoh Heart Week program at AEON Kinta City from 19-24 June 2012.

Fair Park Hotel located at Jalan Kamarudin Isa, Ipoh, had been recognised by the Perak Tourism Board in 2011 as an award-winning budget hotel, which is likely made it a popular choice during our visit. 

The nama "Fair Park" comes from a 1930's British colonial housing scheme designed by Iverson & Co. Back then, people called the area "Kee Ah Molau" (English House) because it was where many British expatriates lived. 

8.9.2012: KAMPAR REST HOUSE

A traditional government rest house, a common type of accomodation in Malaysia originally established for government officials but later open to public. It featured the classic white-and-red roof aesthetic with a public swimming pool and simple, functional rooms. Located at Jalan Baru, Kampar, Perak, managed by Majlid Daerah Kampar. 

We stayed at this rest house during our event at the Taman Ros, Kampar, Perak on 9 September 2012. 

The Kampar Rest House has been renamed Hotel De Cassia still managed under the purview of Majlis Daerah Kampar. 

2013/2015: GALAXY INN, LUMUT, PERAK

A budget hotel, surrounding Lumut Waterfront , a nostalgic spot for many who have made the trek to Pangkor Island over the last decade. 

In 2025, the hotel is still operating, despite several newer hotels like the Brezza Hotel and Mornington Hotel Waterfront have opened nearby, making the competition for the budget stays a bit tighter. 

I once stayed at Galaxy Inn when attending a Program Coordination meeting at AEON Sri Manjung in 2013 and 2015.

GALAXY INN (2013)

GALAXY INN (2015)

NOVEMBER 2013: LEAD VIEW HOTEL, SERI MANJUNG

My colleagues and I had stayed at this hotel during the Heart Week Program at AEON Seri Manjung, Perak from 22-24 November 2013. 

The Lead View Hotel is now known as Hotel Sfera, it remains a landmark in the Taman Samudera area 

2013: HOTEL LEGEND INN,TAIPING

Stayed at this hotel on our way back from Kedah and Penang. We stopped over for the night at this hotel. 

Legend Inn Taiping was a popular choise for travelers visiting Taiping. Located at Jalan Long Jaafar.

11.4.2015: GRAND KAMPAR HOTEL, KAMPAR

When holding a Health Screening program at Taman Ros Kampar on 12 April 2015, we stayed at the Grand Kampar Hotel located on Jalan Timah, Bandar Baru Kampar.

Grand Kampar Hotel, a 3-star Hotel is a well-known in the Kinta Valley, particularly popular for its unique Spanish-style architecture and its proximity to Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). Just a walking distance of the Kinta Tin Mining Museum and is a central hub for those visiting students at UTAR or TAR UMT. 

SEPTEMBER 2015: MARINA COVE RESORT, TELUK BATIK, LUMUT

Our Family vacation and we stay at Marina Cove Resort, Teluk Batik, Lumut, Perak. One of thejbest "base camps" for exploring the area - it's only a 2-minute drive to Teluk Batik Beach and about 5 minutes to the Marina Island Jetty if you want to hop over to Pulau Pangkor. 

26.8.2015: PANORAMA HOTEL, TAIPING

Stayed at this hotel while attending the Program Coordination Meeting at AEON Mall Taiping on 26 August 2015.

The hotel located at Jalan Kota, is a well-known landmark in Taiping, uniquely integrated with Raintown Plaza. It was a bustling hub with a supermarket Fajar ? The Store and various local shops. 

30.9.2016 : ABBY HOTEL, CHEMOR, PERAK

While organizing a Health Screening program at S.K. Tanah Hitam, Chemor, Perak on 1 October 2016, my friends and I stayed at Hotel Abby in Chemor, Perak. 

The Abby Hotel, a budget-friendly hotel for travelers and business workers in the Kanthan Industrial Zone. 

16.12.2017: CHERRY INN, TAIPING

While organizing a Health Screening program at Taiping Buddhist Society on 17 December 2017, my friends and I stayed at the Cherry Inn Hotel on Jalan Stesen, Taiping. Just a short walk from the Taiping Railway Station and the Taiping Mall, and next to Sek.Keb. King Edward VII. 

10.8.2018: HILLCITY HOTEL, GUNUNG RAPAT, IPOH

My colleagues at YJM and I stayed at this hotel to attend the Health Screening Program at Kg. Pos Brooke Lama in Gua Musang, Kelantan the next day.

The hotel located nearby the Klinik Kesihatan Gunung Rapat, on a slope, offering one of the best vantage points to see the limestone karst hills that Ipoh is famous for. 

Sadly, as I check the Google Maps in 2025, this hotel appears to be permanently closed. 

6.8.2018: LAVENDER INN, TELUK INTAN, PERAK

The Hotel located at Jalan Changkat Jong, Pusat Perniagaan Teluk Intan, an budget-friendly hotel. Sadly, when I check through Google Maps for latest info in 2025, the hotel appears to be permanently closed. We stayed at this hotel during our event at Majlis Perbandaran Teluk Intan on 6 August 2018. 

Once you have reached Teluk Intan, don't forget to visit the famous Leaning Tower in Teluk Intan.

5.8.2018: SAYONG RESORT, KUALA KANGSAR, PERAK

We stayed at the Sayong Resort located in Kuala Kangsar, Perak during our Health Screening Program at Masjid Aziziah, Kg. Ketior Dalam, Kuala Kangsar. 

This resort is well-known for its beautiful riverside location and the classic Malay-chalet-style architecture. Located on a prime spot of the Perak River, and had 32 guest rooms and chalets. It is perfectly situated near iconic landmarks like Masjid Ubudiah and Istana Kenangan. 

22.10.2018: SEEMSOON HOTEL,IPOH

Situated at Regat Dato Mahmud, off Jalan Pasir Putih, Ipoh, a popular spot because its a quick drive to the famous Ipoh "Dim Sum Street" and the Old Town. 

We Stayed at his hotel during our program at AEON Midtown Falim in Ipoh from 19-22 October 2018. 

Thus ended my journey in the state of Perak, carrying out the task entrusted to me. If I have the means, I will definitely return to explore the state of Perak.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

22/12/2025: 12.04 a.m

PERAK : IPOH - A DRINK BY ANY OTHER NAME

SOURCE: THE EDGE

Issue: 30 July 2018

By Petrina Fernandez

Breakfast at any Kopitiam here is often accompanied by a side of kopi-o, a Malaysian black coffee produced by roasting coffee beans with sugar, margarine and wheat. They do things differently up in the north, however, with a unique roasting process that crowned Ipoh among Lonely Planes's Top 3-Best Coffee Towns in Asia earlier this year. 

• Tourists sometimes think that white coffee is so named for white coffee beans native to Malaysia. Of course, no such beans exist. The term doesn't mean the coffee is white in colour, rather the beans are roasted with just margarine and no sugar, resulting in a lighter roast. 
• The caramelised and bitter flavours of the roast are harmonised with sweetened condensed milk for an intense, nuanced wake-up call. 
• Ipoh is among the world's pioneers of white coffee.
• White coffee is also known as pak-ko-pi in Cantonese. 
• Perak was a thriving tin-mining state during the British colonial era in the 19th and early 20th centuries and Ipoh was the base for many tin-mining companies. Hainanese immigrants who worked in the mines were unaccustomed to the deeply bitter flavour of Western coffee and modified its roasting, brewing and stirring techniques according to traditional Nanyang practices to better suit their palate. 
• The mixing of Arabic, Robusta and Liberica coffee beans yields the aromatic almost buttery blend that is the trademark of white coffee. 
• White Coffee gets its name from its common use of milk. 
• First produced in Ipoh's Old Town and famously enjoyed at Sin Yoon Loong Coffee Shop and Nam Heong White Coffee, the recipe has been passed down ghrough the generations since. 
• White coffee enjoys widespread popularity through the country and is also stocked on supermarket shelves as an instant beverage. 
• Kedai Kopi Ah Chow in Ipohserves the caramel-coloured coffee spiked with a dose of liquor splashed into hot or iced orders.
• Old Town Bhd created the Old Town White Coffee chain of cafes, which put a contemporary spin on the traditional kopitiam, also manufacturing and selling its own coffee throughout Malaysia and around the region. Late last year, Old Town Bhd was taken over by Dutch Company Jacobs Douwe Egberts Holding Asia for a consideration of RM1.47 billion.
• Lone Planet place Ipoh alongside Chiang Mai in Thailand and Tokyo in Japan on its list of Top 3 Best Coffee Towns in Asia this year. 

Copied by :

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

19/1/2025: 5.07 p.m

PERAK (OTHER DISTRICTS)

BY HJ ZULHEIMY MAAMOR

8 JULY 2024 

Here are some photos of my memories in various districts in the State of Perak that I have been, visited or stopby, aside from the districts that I have previously written about in my blogs.

Behrang is a small town located in Muallim District, Perak about 10 km north of Tanjung Malim in Perak. 

Our memory in Behrang is when our car tire went flat on 2 July 2012 while on the way to Alor Setar, Kedah.

Bidor is a town in Batang Padang District, Southern Perak. Located 50 km southwest from the State Capital Ipoh and 116 km northwest of Kuala Lumpur. 

We once stopped at Bidor while looking for a car workshop when our vehicle had a flat tire while on our way to Alor Setar Kedah on 2 July 2012. 

Kampong Baru Coldstream is one of those ‘new villages’ built during the Malayan Emergency. Scattered communities were forcibly relocated to guarded and fenced villages to protect them from the Communist Terrorists and to prevent the villagers from supplying food, medicines and information to the bandits. It is  understand the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards were stationed in Perak during the Emergency and may have assisted with the village’s construction.

The Coldstream Guards are one of the oldest and most distinguished regiments in the British Army with roots in the Scottish Borders town of Coldstream, a place which, bears little resemblance to its Malaysian namesake.

Reference:

The Thrifty Traveller

Slim River, a small town in Muallim District of Perak, about 100 km from Kuala Lumpur, situated in the southern part of Perak and is 20 km north of Tanjung Malim in Perak. The town is named after the nearby river, Sungai Slim. It was named after English Captain, Captain William Slim in the 19th century. 

Further reading:

Wikipedia : Battle of Slim River, January 1942

Gopeng is a town located in Mukim Teja, Kampar District of Perak. It is situated approximately 20 km south of Ipoh. 

Menglembu is a small town in Kinta District of Perak, lying at the foot of Kledang Hill which is famous for its eponymously-named groundnuts. The nuts have been  commercially farmed since 1945, among them are the famous Thong Thye Groundnut Factory's Pagoda brand, Ngan Yin Groundnut Factory's Thumbs brand etc. 

Menglembu is also well-known locally as a foodie destination include Chee Cheong Fun, Curry Mee and Ipoh White House. 

Parit is a main town of Perak Tengah District. Parit is close to Tronoh, Seri Iskandar, Bota, Pusing, Beruas and Batu Gajah (Parit, 2013). Pekan Parit is located at the meeting of 3 directions - First, from the direction of Ipoh/Seri Iskandar, second, from the direction of Belanja and third direction from MRSM Parit (Ujang Kutik, 2013).

Pusing, a small town in Kinta District of Perak, located in the western part of Perak, approximately 18 km southeast of Ipoh, surrounded by scenic landscapes and is known for its lush greenery. 

Tronoh is a small mining town in Kinta District. Tronoh today is the home of two Universities namely Universiti Teknologi Petronas and Universiti Teknologi MARA branch campus. 

Kampong Sri Kaya in Bota Kiri is my wife's hometown on her father's side.

Bota is a mukim in Perak Tengah District, comprises of Bota Kanan and Bota Kiri and is divided by the Perak River. 

Bota has appeared in numerous Malaysian films and dramas. The latest and most significant ones are Lambor Kanan Belakang Dewan and Heri Bota. Lambor Kanan Belakang Dewan was aired in 2017 by Astro for Hari Raya special screening featuring Izara Aishah and Rashidi Ishak while Heri Bota was aired in 2020 by RTM TV1 featuring Aedy Ashraf.

R&R RTC GOPENG

RTC Gopeng, which is located next to R&R Simpang Pulai, is situated on the PLUS Highway heading north before entering the city of Ipoh. This RTC serves as a stop for most express buses heading to the north. In addition to toilets and a surau, there is an Agro Mall that sells various fresh fruits and wet goods. However, when I visited at night, there were no sales at this Agro Mall. Mydin Supermarket is also situated here and is a popular shopping destination for Ipoh residents. It can be said that Mydin Supermarket is large and offers a wide range of goods.

R&R SUNGAI PERAK

Kuala Kangsar, Perak

Located in Kuala Kangsar Subdistrict, Perak. That is on the PLUS Highway route between Ipoh to Kuala Kangsar.

Sungai Perak Rest & Treatment Area is a relatively small and compact rest area. The North and South rest areas are just next to each other and you can access both sides of the R&R via the passage/road under the bridge. But only pedestrians because the connecting road is closed.

Why is this R&R a bit special? It is one of the R&R PLUS areas located by the Perak River and there is a Jetty that you can access. Meaning, this R&R can also be stopped by anyone who takes a boat down the Perak River.

R&R SIMPANG PULAI

KINTA DISTRICT, PERAK

R&R Simpang Pulai famous for being the newest gateway to the east coast states of Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu - the Second East-West Highway (Federal Route 185) begins here, passes through Cameron Highlands in Pahang, then Gua Musang in Kelantan before terminating Kuala Jenderis in Hulu Terengganu. 

The PLUS Expressway exit 137 serves Simpang Pulai. 

R&R TAPAH

Tapah, Perak

The Tapah R&R located at PLUS highway is state-of-the-art facility beside long stretch boring road. Beside being a ordinary toilet and food stalls, it features shopping experience and greenly park. It is a good rest stop to recharge for adult and kid. There are many food stalls which fresh picked pink guava and langsat are hot selling. From being a cost center, now the R&R can turn into profit center in win-win situation.

Whatever it is, R&R Tapah always been a top spot for travellers. Tapah is the only R&R in North-South Highway that have Halal Chinese food. 

 

Along the road of memories - Perak, the state of my birth, always missed and remembered.

Perak is a much-visited destination in the northwest region of Peninsular Malaysia. It is definitely a state worth visiting for a fun-filled vacation. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

11 July 2024 > 5 Muharram 1446H: 12.14 a.m