Malaysia through the lenses of a Mat Salleh: Episode 14

ktleong 07/03/2021

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Malaysia through the lenses of a Mat Salleh

By Philippe A.Durant

Another week is starting and we’re still in CMCO. Almost one year with the “new life”.

Day 14: Ipoh – The old town

I have been living in Ipoh for 3 ½ years. I came here to find a green, calm and pleasant environment far from the mad crowd. It is also a perfect center place to explore the beautiful state of Perak. I’ve travelled extensively throughout the Silver State and, just in the last two years, I have taken over 100,000 photos ranging from landscapes, portraits, heritage sites, events, nature to daily life. Ipoh Old Town is not my favorite place in Perak. Most heritage buildings have been transformed over the past years into clothes shops, cheap and counterfeit souvenir shops (best example was Concubine Lane), as well as a Harry Potter café and museum.

In the last year, due to the health crisis, many had to close doors. Sadly, there has been only some conservation and restoration of heritage houses and buildings. The Han Chin Pet Soo museum showing the history of the city and the gallery of 22 Hale Street are examples of true and interesting heritage places to visit.

This is what Wikipedia wrote about the capital of the State: “Originally a village, Ipoh began to grow rapidly in the 1880s after huge deposits of tin were discovered within its vicinity. By 1895, it was the second largest town within the Federated Malay States, which also consisted of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang. Ipoh was declared a city in 1988, (after Taiping). However, following the depletion of its tin deposits and the collapse of tin prices in the 1970s, the city suffered decades of decline and neglect.”

Today, the city is well known for its cuisines and natural attractions, such as its limestone hills, mirror lakes and caves within which temples were built. There is a lot more to write but you can find a lot of the information online.

Last year, my exhibition in Ipoh featured some photos from the Old Town edited with a vintage filter. So, the captures below were all done using this. I find that the filter really complements the heritage buildings.

Bon voyage.