Driving Tour in West Malaysia - Ipoh

Just before arriving at our homestay in Ipoh, we made a detour to Tanjong Tualang, a small town approx. 35 Km south of Ipoh city. We went there specifically to have lunch at the Thong Lok Seafood Restaurant.

In this restaurant, seafood （海鮮）is not called seafood as we are used to. Instead, it is being referred to as "riverfood"(河鮮) . In this inland town of Peninsular Malaysia, aquatic produce is mostly sourced from rivers and freshwater ponds.

The food served there is really good. The satisfied smiles speak for it all!

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The homestay where we put up for two nights is a double-story bungalow. It has seven rooms, two of which are single rooms. Unlike OTM BP Homestay, the common lounge and kitchen are really small. 

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In Ipoh, there was no specific program planned for the group. The only program was lunch at Durbar at FMS on 20 October. This restaurant is reckoned to be the oldest restaurant in Malaysia. The restaurant is located at the junction of Jalan Sultan Idris Shah and Jalan Sultan Yusof and adjacent to Ipoh Padang. It was closed for 11 years and only reopened in February 2019. Displayed on the walls are photographs of old Ipoh during pre-war era and some old newspaper articles.

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While the majong gang preferred to spend time in the majong sessions in the homestay, we instead chose to do a bit of exploration around the homestay's neighbourhood.

We visited very briefly the Sam Poh Tong Temple, Nam Thean Tong Temple and Ling Sen Tong Temple. In the end, we spent more time looking at the troop of monkeys scavenging for food scraps at the temple compounds! 

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Initially, we were a bit apprehensive about driving into Ipoh city because the parking fee is paid through a handphone App operated by the local authority. In the end, we managed to find a cash-paying private open car park not far from the Concubine Lane.

It is said that the Concubine Lane also known as Second Wife Lane or Mistress Lane existed since 1908. The shop houses at the area then was a centre for opium smokers, gamblers and prostitutes owned by tycoons, millionaire miners around Ipoh. Nowadays, the area is occupied by food outlets, gifts and souvenir shops and is a popular tourist attraction.

As we posed for photograph at the plaque erected at one end of the Concubine Lane, a spotting tourist joined in to pose at the other side of the plaque.