Raya Cina Roadtrip III : Enjoyable Ipoh

When traveling with family, it is wise to wake up early to slot in morning skank session. And of course, muffle those moans when your mother staying next door! Once we started our day right, we freshened up, and went out looking for breakfast. Just a short walk away was Cafe Makan Nyonya. The cafe is decorated with Peranakan antiques and serves Baba Nyonya cuisine. Thankfully it wasn't too crowded although it was one of the few eateries open in the area. Tried their Kapitan kari mee, shredded chicken hor fun, nasi lemak, and Penang prawn mee. The shredded chicken hor fun was the best among the lot.



Together with The Tribe, we drove to the middle of town. Traffic was horrible. We managed to get park near Masjid Sultan Idris Shah II. Right opposite the road was the Birch Memorial Clock Tower, built to commemorate J.W.W. Birch, the first British Resident of Perak. As hated as he is in the Malaysian history books, the clock tower is in surprisingly good condition. Even looks like it was given a fresh coat of paint.





From there, it was a short walk to Kong Heng Square, a collection old shophouses given a new lease of life. From derelict to hip and happening. The anchor tenant is Plan B, and the rest of the internal courtyard is taken up by the artisan market. The Monsters were whiny, so my brother offered to sit them down in Plan B, order them some comfort food, and let them have their screen time. The artisan market was interesting, but we didn't buy anything. Mostly just went around taking photos.





Lunch was nearby at Aud's by JJ Cafe, a charming place with creepers camouflaging it from the street. Mostly sandwiches and pastas, and specialty avocado beverages. Do try the Avo Joe which is espresso and avocado shake (the coffee still manages to shine through), Avo Regina which is avocado with milk. The mains were forgettable.







The weather was so hot that BIL suggested that we go watch a movie at Ipoh Parade. Big mistake as it seemed that the whole of Ipoh was stuck at the parking lot looking for parking. The rest of them went in first while I prayed for a spot. Thankfully I managed to snatch a spot, and I only missed a couple minutes of "New King of Comedy", Stephen Chow's remake of the 1999 "King of Comedy". Considered above average for a CNY movie.



Dinner was at Restoran Tauge Ayam Lou Wong, a place that many Ipoh folks find overrated, but loved by tourists. Food was served up super fast. The chicken has a good texture, but lacking in a bit of taste. The porkballs gave a good bite and had the aroma of dried squid. The hor fun was smooth, and the tauge of Ipoh standard. We left quickly to vacate the table for others, plus it was really hot there. Since it was at the Gerbang Malam area, there was plenty of shopping that could be done after dinner. Local products, snacks, and other souvenirs.









We weren't done for the day~ Zakka Loft was next. Not purely a cafe, Zakka Loft is actually provides arts and crafts classes, and is connected to a Zumba studio. A great place for cold drinks, ice cream, and waffles. Pretty impressed with their margarita mocktails (get the Strawberry Lemonade). My recommendation for ice cream is the Brandy and Prune. Goes great on their crispy waffles. Returned back to KL the same night, with our tummies all full of Ipoh goodies!