Ipoh Trip with Ducky

August is coming to an end! This means that my industrial training period is finally coming to an end too. As much as having to wake up super early in the morning and join in the traffice congestion on the way home every day. I can be sure that I will miss this period of time and the staff there.

Back to this entry. This is dated back to the second week Ducky is back in town. Or rather back in Malaysia. Since our (me and parents) last visit was two years ago, we decided to bring Ducky on a trip there. A big part of it was simply because we miss the food there. Hehe

Initially the plan was to wake up early and depart at 4am while the traffic is still smooth and the sun is not yet out. But alas, by the time the whole family got up, it was already 6. That explains the crowd at the dim sum house we went for breakfast.

Welcome to Ipoh! If you manage to spot the letters through the thick haze.

What's the point of going to Ipoh if not for their well famed dim sum, among the best I've tasted. Yum! Since most of the bloggers reviewed that Ming Court, located exactly opposite Foh San, serves the better dim sum, we decided to give it a try this time.

The super hazy sky

Upon entering, we were not surprised to find that the place was fully packed and customers without a seat were standing behind almost every table, waiting for the previous customers to finish their food. This is quite an awkward situation where people are pressing upon you and watching you closely while you are eating.

We were lucky enough when two elderly ladies agreed to share table with us. As one can imagine the situation, we wasted no time and quickly picked our dim sum when the trays pushed past us.  

Crispy 'pear-shaped' yam puffs and silky smooth egg tarts

The steamed items, 'siew mai' and 'har gao'

'Mua chee'. Rich peanut butter inside the glutinous dough and peanut powder on the outside. Love it!

Thick sesame paste. Parents claimed that this is nice but I guess it just doesn't go well with my tastebuds 

'Ham sui kok' with 'char siew' fillings

Hong Kong style 'cheong fun' (steamed rice roll) and braised stuffed tofu

Overall I would say that I prefer the portion size in Ming Court as it is smaller which allows us to try on more varieties. The price is also cheaper compared to Foh San. However, tastewise both fare equally and I think Foh San provides more selection for their dim sum.

Foh San right on the opposite

One last shot before proceeding to the next destination

Ming Court Hong Kong Dim Sum Sdn Bhd

Address: 32,34,36 Jalan Leong Sin Nam, 30300 Ipoh, Perak.
Tel No: 05-2557134
Closed on Thursday

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When we talked about Ipoh, most people could only think about the food. However, Ipoh has got more to offer. After filling our stomach, the next place we went to was the state museum, Muzium Darul Ridzuan.

Sisters

Its us again

Muzium Darul Ridzuan
Address: 2020, Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, 30000 Ipoh, Perak.
Tel: 05-547 3885 / 3984
Opening Hours: 9.30am till 5.00pm (Closed on 12.15pm till 2.45pm for Friday prayers)
Entrance Fee: Free of charge

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The women of the house

Destination number three, Birch Memorial Clock Tower which was erected in 1909 in the memory of J.W.W. Birch, the first British Resident of Perak who was assasinated in Pasir Salak.

'Leaving footprint' on Ipoh's Heritage Trail

A closer view

The state mosque which can be seen opposite the clock tower

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Since we were nearby, we stopped by the railway station, which appeared to be one of the tourist attraction as recommended by a local.

Love this photo as I looked so slim here. Hehehe

Some random shots to prove that we were really here. Haha

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Now this is what I am looking for all this while. One of the main reason I endure the two hours drive to Ipoh. *satisfaction look. Ching Han Guan is located adjacent to Yee Hup Biscuit Shop, a street away from the famous Lou Wong and Onn Kee Nga Choi Gai (bean sprout chicken). You simply can't missed it with their new striking red signboard!

Double affirmation from me!

Their old-fashioned looking shop packed with loads of baked goodies!

'Heong Peng', 'Sat Kek Ma', 'Hap Tou Soh' (walnut cookies), etc. You name them! How I wish I can bring them all home.

Their workshop just at the back part of the shop. You can smell the freshly baked goods.

This is what I had been craving for all this while. Their signature Meat Floss Lotus Paste Biscuit. We were lucky again as they were left with this one last pack which was not pre-booked. To avoid disappointment, always make bookings with them beforehand. One can do so through their e-mail or Facebook page.

The owh-so-shiny pastries which taste lingers in your tongue and stays in your mind

Ching Han Guan Biscuit Shop 钟汉元饼铺

Address: 145, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, 30000 Ipoh, Perak.

Contact No.: 05-2545126

Email: contact@chinghanguan.com
Business Hours: Monday – Saturday: 8:00 AM – 6:30 PM ; Sunday: 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM

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Soon it was lunch time. We revisited Sin Yoon Loong as my mum craved for the Hakka and beef noodles there.

You can have the noodles dry or wet (soup). There are a variety of 'yeong liew' (stuffed item) to choose from as well.

White coffee is a must! Nice but i still prefer the one from Nam Heong. Hehe

Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong
Address: Jalan Bandar Bijih Timah, Ipoh, Perak
Business Hours: 7am till 6pm (Closed on Sundays)
GPS Coordinate: N04 35.599 E101 04.617

Right after our meal at Sin Yoon Loong, we crossed the street to Nam Heong, which is located exactly opposite, for a cuppa nice coffee.

How do you like your cuppa coffee? Hot or cold?

My second cup of coffee within one hour! Talk about caffeine overdose.. I am now a converted coffee lover.

Having Penang 'char kuey teow' (fried flat noodles) at Ipoh. Haha. Tasted not bad.

I love the pastries here as well, especially the egg tarts and 'char siew sou'. However, since we were too full to stuff in anything else. We gave those a pass.

 

Kedai Makanan Nam Heong 南香茶餐室
Address: 2, Jalan Bandar Bijih Timah, Ipoh, Perak
Business Hours: 7.30am till 4pm

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The shopkeeper puts up a sign saying 'One will gain prosperity from snapping a picture of the shark head'

Dried starfishes. I wonder how do you eat these?

Premium shark's bone

A local shop that sells all kinda childhood toys during my time.

Piggy biscuits. The taste of childhood...

Cars everywhere we went

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After a whole morning of eating and drinking, its time for some exercise. We went to the natural caves of Ipoh for some fresh air. If the air can still be considered fresh.

One of the more popular cave, Kek Look Tong

We then went to the other three caves which were in an array, Ling Sen Tong, Nam Thean Tong and Sam Poh Tong. Sam Poh Tong has the best scenery, however due to the accident few years back, it is now overshadowed by trees and very few people visits the cave anymore.  

 

Sam Poh Tong

Serenity...

Before leaving, we stopped by the row of pamelo stores beside the highway to grab some local products and off we went on our way back.

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Our haul from Ipoh. Food, food and more food! It was indeed quite a satisfying trip (how could it not be with Ducky as a company, hehe...) despite the hot weather and my skin which got darker by a tone.

Muruku, 'tau sar peng' (mung bean pastries) and meat floss lotus paste pastries from Ching Han Guan

Pamelos

'Heong peng', 'kai zai peng' and noodles from Yee Hup