Lata Iskandar Waterfall

Lata Iskandar Waterfall

This is a popular stop, around the midway point, along the Tapah – Cameron Highland road, it main attraction is of course the beautiful multi tier waterfall, which is located right at the side of the road. ! As such due to its beauty and accessibility I do believe that this is one of Malaysia Most blog about, and photograph waterfall.

First time and even repeat visitors heading to Cameron Highland will stop to take photographs of the waterfall, at the same time shop around with all the souvenir stalls, for some Orang Asli rattan keepsakes, partake some local food. Local may stop here for a self catered picnic before continuing their journey.

Do watch out for speeding trucks, haphazard cars parking!

Located Right beside the road at a corner! Watch out for speeding trucks and cars.

Tourist Shopping

Orang Asli keepsakes?

Ipoh Famous Bean Sprout Chicken

Its a family tradition that if we drive past Ipoh, State of Perak Capital, (those ancient days with out the north south highway) it's a must to stop for a meal of the Famous Ipoh Koey Teow Soup. Now having my own kids, I am trying to keep to that tradition.

Passing by Ipoh, in the early evening, on the way down from Cameron Highlands, we stop in Ipoh for a early dinner, for Ipoh Famous Bean Sprout Chicken, instead of the Ipoh Koey Teow soup as the Kopi tiam serving that is close at Night.

Thanks to Garmin XT installed in my Nokia 5800, I manage to locate the famous Lou Wong Taugeh Ayam shop at Jalau Yau Tet Shin, N04,35,640 E 101,05,058, the most popular of the 3 Beansprout co-located at this road junction. Unfortunately it was close, so we just when to the other shop.

We order 1/2 a chicken, 1 small beansprouts, 1 Fish ball soup, 3 rice, 2 bowl of koey teow, 2 longan drink, and 3 plain water, total damage came to RM41.


Wife love the koey teow, super smooth, I found the rice a just tad under cook, The Chicken was nicely cook, but (being Kampong Chicken?) a bit on the hard side. The Bean Sprout was perfectly cook, crunchy!

Just opposite here, there is also a shop selling the Famous Ipoh Salt Bake Chicken. As you can see in the above photo there is suppose to be a Pasar Malam that night at this location (Man setting up his tent), but unfortunate due to bad weather arriving (see the black clouds) we have to leave.

Road side Lime Stone Hills

Ipoh is famous for its Crunchy Beansprouts, Smooth Koey Teow, Salt Bake Chicken and also I heard Fish Noodles (Actual noodles make with mince fish). Its also famous for Chinese Temples in Lime Stone Hills. Am Planning to Visit. It will all depend on timing! Juggleling the schedule of 3 children is not a joke.

With all the limestone hill around and practically right at the roadside, Ipoh have the potential to be "Haven" for Rock Climbing in Peninsular Malaysia. Anyway that is not my decision to make. Bye.

Driving to Cameron Highland in the Alza

Driving to Cameron Highland in the Alza

I recently drove my Alza up to Cameron Highland. My Journey there is from Jawi Toll – Tapah via North South highway, Tapah – Cameron Highland using the old road & Cameron Highland to Simpang Pulai using the new road, Ipoh back to Jawi Toll using the Highway at Night driving in rain.

Alza Fuel Consumption during the Drive

Average Fuel Consumption Meter (AFCM)was reading 7.2 lt /100km, when started from Jawi Toll on the North South Express way,I zero the trip meter but not the AFCM as I wanted to do a Manual calculation check as well

By the time I reach Cangkat Jering (77km in to my journey) the AFCM was at 6.1lt / 100km, just b4 the up climb, during the climb at the Tunnel it rose to 6.2, It then drop to 5.7lt/100 km when I exit Tapah toll (177km).

On the Old Road up Cameron Highland, from Tapah the AFCM steady rose to the maximum of 6.6km / 100km at Cameron Highland Kea Farm / Hotel Equatorial/ the High Point at 250km on the trip meter.

Going Down was via the Cameron Highland – Simpang Pulai Road. By the time I reach Simpang Pulai the AFCM was reading 6.1lt / 100km at 323km on the Trip Meter, I reach Ipoh using the old road with 6.2lt/100km, had dinner, drove to Jelapang entered the Highway and ended my Journey at Jawi toll with 6.0lt with a total 461km driven. I immediately Refill (RM62/ 32.6lt) and calculate manually div against 529km (from my last refill) which give me a reading of 6.17lt/100km, a slight error of 0.17lt/100km

For information I was driving around 80km – 100 km on the Highway, 60km on the Normal Roads in general as close to the optimum speed as possible.

Comment on the Car (Alza)

My Alza handed well, especially coming down the Cangkat Jering Tunnel – Ipoh, I put the AT on 3^rd gear and coasted down without touching the accelerator at all, speed was below the 80kmph. The Stock tyre also gripped well, going around the corners up and down the Cameron Road, at least at the speed I was going at. However it got noisy when going around corners in the not so well maintain Tapah – Cameron road. What I miss most in the Alza for this trip would be a Cruise Control option.

Comment on the Old Tapah – Ringlet Road

This is the old road up to Cameron Highlands. Being familiar with its Narrow, with Sharp and Blind Bends, I feel that this road is much more interesting, in term of sights to see along the side of the road, especially the Lata Iskandar waterfall, orang asli villages. Most drivers are more cautious using this road.

Comment on the New Simpang Pulai Road

This newly built road, is wide, much straighter without blind corners, thus you will end up driving much faster, especially when coming down. A few of the corners on the road there were standing water (due to recent the rainy weather). It will be advice able for Drivers to Keep an eye on the Vehicle speed, when driving on this road especially when reaching the bends. This road is less interesting, as there are no villages along the road. This is the road to take when you are in a hurry.

Conclusion

It was a challenging drive, despite having driven up to Cameron Highlands numerous times (but that was 14 years ago), and that we travel not during the peak period, but enjoyable. I finally manage to squeeze in a major trip outstation, testing out my Alza on the Highway and a good uphill climb. I do not find the Alza lacking in handling nor the power available. It manage the steeper Tapah – Cameron Highland road without any problems, with power on the tap waiting to be delivered when needed, and I believe economical. (I have no figures for other vehicles going up and down Cameron Highland though.)

Taiping Temple

There is this small Temple located in the Taiping Cantonese Association that according to Taiping Travel Guide is worth a visit. By coincidence I park beside it, while hunting for lunch in Taiping, its located near the district office.

It is call Temple for the Immortal Girl, supposedly dedicated to the worship of the Immortal Woman Ho, one of the Eight Immortals, a group of fairies. So i drop by after lunch to take a look

Taiping Museum

A trip to Taiping is not complete with out a visit to the Taiping Museum, the oldest in the country! completed in 1886! to me it a look like White House or a white icing decorated cake! Any way this post is photos of the exterior exhibits as unfortunately the interior is close during my visit here for refurbishment.

Saber Fighter (malaysian)

Statue of Colonal Walker

Tin Drager Buckets

Cannon

Port Weld Train

Detail Photo of Train Carriage

Fire Engine!

Form Fire Engine!

Taiping Prison, in front of the Museum

Rattan Basket, use by elephants to transport passangers.

Elephant Skulls

A vist to Taiping...... after 20 years

This is Taiping

Taiping, Perak

The Town,

Taiping is call the Heritage Town of Perak, and after spending ½ a day here, I indeed do find it a heritage town, there seems to be more effort here then other places to restore and to maintain the old houses to their former glory. However new buildings have been built and have overshadow the old land marks such as the old clock tower which has a modern building built almost enclosing it.

Heritage Buildings at Taiping

Taiping Church

Clock Tower (now the tourist information office)

London telephone booth at the Old Clock Tower

Another View of the Clock Tower

Taiping town centre is indeed well plan thank to its colonial masters, dual carriage with center divider for main roads and lots of parking indeed. But Taiping is not just some old folks town with old buildings. It’s is an Army Town. The Army camps stretches from Kamunting town (near the highway) right to Taiping Town itself a distance of 7km.

View of Waterfall from town center.

It is also now getting to be a Town of budget hotels, all at very reasonable price, Near the Lake there is Seri Malaysia, Kamalodge, and Flaminton Hotel, 3 very reasonable well built properties...... not to mention the hotels in town or the new SSL Trader Hotel at Kamunting town near the Taiping Express Bus Station.

And of course there is the Famous Taiping Lake Gardens and The Taiping Zoo with its night safari, The Only Zoo in the Northern States and the Oldest Zoo in Malaysia, Perak Museum which is also the oldest in Malaysia and Maxwell Hill (Bukit Larut).

Lake Gardens

Memories

I use to stay in Taiping, for two years in a government bungalow, near one of the army camps and attended King Edward Primary when my father was posted there some 40 years ago. Now the government bungalow is completely overgrown by nature and is no more in use. There was this Koey Teow Soup that my mother use to bring me for lunch. Tried to find it but cannot. However my alma mater is still around.

King Edward II Primary SchoolThis was my house.

Malsing Maps Directions

I use my GPS Phone with Malsing Maps to get to Taiping and to wonder around town, I find the data base comprehensive and quite accurate in general.