Ipoh Reviews: Ipoh in Your Eyes

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Have you been to Ipoh? Or you stay in Ipoh? Share your thoughts, your experiences, your memorable moments in Ipoh with us! Memories are even sweeter when you share with others.

Never mind if you have never been to Ipoh.

I'm sure you would like to check out what people say about it. You might be getting some ideas for your next visit or some alerts from these personal reviews of traveling to Ipoh.

Tell us about the Ipoh in your eyes!

Pamela Ong from Malaysia, 18 Jul 2009

I went to Ipoh with my boyfriend last few days. It was nice and it is such a lovely place.

It's too bad that we did not have enough time to explore well. So we hope that we would have another chance to go there for some other times.

The people there are so friendly and I like the peaceful night in Ipoh~ ^^

(http://myhome-quietly.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-post_18.html)

Peter vanderlans (http://www.pulau-pangkor.com) from Netherlands, 28 Oct 2008

Finally someone takes Ipoh serious. I too agree that Ipoh has more then enough to offer to tourist to stay a couple of days AT LEAST. With the limestone mountains, the excellent Ipoh food, the parks, railway station, FMS, the white coffee (of course!), Tambun and of course Kampar with the Gua Tempurung Caves, Kellies Castle and all the temples I do not know all the names except Sam Po, Ipoh is worth not only a visit, it's also worth a good website.

Business wise Ipoh deserves more attention then many youngster give it. The younger generation moves to Penang and KL as these cities are more hip to stay. Ipoh has however plenty of options to start a successful business. That is.. if you have the guts to do!

Some indeed claim Ipoh is boring. But I usually say this: unknown makes unwanted. Andrea... you are at the point of putting Ipoh back on the tourist trail. Congrats!

For the Ipoh lovers, check also www.vicinity.com.my, an organization based in Ipoh to promote Ipoh in many different ways.

Patrick Parsons from United Kingdom, 30 Aug 2008

I enjoyed my holiday in Ipoh so much. So that we intend to return again and retire there as it's such a relaxing city and has quite a lot for everyone to see.

There are food which cannot be experienced anywhere else nor the hospitality be compared to other countries.

Highly recommended to everyone who was never there!

Kuljeet Dobe from United Kingdom, 2 Aug 2008

I taught law at the Ipoh Language Learning and Training Institute, near the Casuarina Hotel between 1995 and 1997.

It's a great place, the people are very friendly, the food fantastic, the weather excellent.

Now that I am married, I want to take my wife and daughter back to this lovely place whose memory still lingers in my heart.

Patrick from Philippines, 31 Jul 2008

Actually, I'm currently working here in Ipoh at one of the semiconductors in town.

Honestly, my first impression on the town is like a little province like Cebu in the Philippines. Not so many people, very quiet, not so much attractions, malls (not so much) and every part of it in short is boring.

But when I started to know the people, their culture, the (great and cheap) food and even the so-called "boring" place for me, I was wrong! I see Ipoh that time in a different manner already...

Actually, I started to love Ipoh the way it wakes me up in the morning, seeing the sun starting to rise between mountains and night struck the clouds during night time. It's like a place in a fairy tale movie, a whole new world.

And right now, I'm still working here in Ipoh - loving it, sharing with its beauty, and continuously discovering it!

By the way I'm staying at Ipoh Garden East and this place rocks!!!

Roy Kolbergsrud from Norway, 28 May 2008

I have had the pleasure to visit Ipoh 4 times the last few years.

I find Ipoh to be a relaxing city with great food.

There are also quite a few things to see and do in and around the city if you bother to take the time to explore.

Ipoh can also be a place to stay over for a couple of days on your way from Penang to KL or to the Cameron Highlands.

Rossana Copler from Italy, 1 Jan 2008

I arrived in Ipoh on December 2002 and I left on June 2006. It was a great place to live.

I love Ipoh. It's always in my heart and too often in my dreams.

I hope to come back soon for a short visit.

Håkan Svedberg from Sweden, 20 November 2007

I really love Ipoh.

I lived in several places in and around Ipoh in 1997 and 1998 while working in a factory in Pengkalan Dua. During my stay in Ipoh, I've made many good friends and I truly enjoyed the city's vibrant culture.

I have fond memories from many nights spent eating good food and having a few drinks at a restaurant called Coconut Grove in Pusing together with friends and colleagues. Some of my favorite foods in Ipoh are the beef noodles which are available at a restaurant in the Old Town (cannot remember the name) and another restaurant in the same area serving delicious fish balls.

For entertainment, we usually went to the outskirts of Ipoh (around Batu Gajah) to fish in disused mining pools for talapia and other types of fish. I also really enjoyed going to the nightclubs in the city. I would recommend anybody visiting Malaysia to stop over in Ipoh to enjoy the great scenery, friendly people, and wonderful food.

Jasbir from Australia, 29 September 2007

Ipoh is where I grew up as a child. My fondest memories are of playing in Canning gardens where my grand parents lived. Lots of old memories bring love and tears in my eyes. I still visit Ipoh and love the old town where I go to eat the best satay from my favorite Satayman who knows us from our childhood. He knew my granddad and all my uncles and aunties.

My proudest moment was when I introduced my children to him. They too loved his satays and his unique character. Ipoh will always be in my heart.

I also took them to see the caves and the old mines etc. Ipoh's weird road transport is a problem. My biggest problem is the unavailability of flights to Ipoh. It is indeed such a pain not being able to fly direct to Ipoh!!!

Please keep this site open for people like me who live overseas but have our hearts in IPOH.

Stephen from United Kingdom, 23 May 2007

Ipoh...!!!

No words in my vocabulary can explain how much I loved this place. My wife is resident here in Ipoh however its the first time I have been after all these years.

I have been so swept away with the lifestyle and views of the graceful mountains that adorn the main street leading up to Jusco - it's totally hypnotic. So much in fact my wife and I have decided to retire here eventually and have bought a house already..!!

Having lived in HK for a short while, Ipoh is in complete contrast, laid back, relaxed, safe - not the mish mash of city folk and petty criminals here.

I recommend it to anyone.

Eileen from Singapore, 9 April 2007

Hi,

Thanks for all your help before my trip. I'm back from the trip.

Wah, the weather in Ipoh is hot. Especially after coming down from the cool weather at Cameron Highlands.

My friends and I enjoyed ourselves at Ipoh. The people are very friendly and nice. And it helps that my friend can speak Cantonese. Most of the Chinese in Ipoh speak in Cantonese.

We went to the limestone caves and we really like the caves. They are majestic. We took a walk at Kellie's Castle and the Theme Park too. Would say the walk around Kellie's Castle is interesting. However, the Theme Park is quite disappointing. A lot of things have to be paid extra before we can enjoy it. The backdrops of the mountains do make up for the disappointment for the rides though.

The food in Ipoh is good too. All in all, my friends and I had a good experience at Ipoh.

Steve Yong from New Zealand, 15 March 2007

I was educated in ACS Ipoh back in the early 70s and stayed 4 years as a boarder in Holy Hall. Fond memories of those years in Ipoh are still vivid in my mind - my fellow boarders/schoolmates, helpful teachers, delicious local food, cinemas and a bustling vibrant city.

Ipoh ACS has prepared and stands me in good stead to face the future. I have now been abroad initially in the UK and presently in NZ for over thirty years and have a family of my own. Each time I am home in Ipoh, I bore my children with visits to places and tales of my growing up experiences in this friendly town. I feel it is important for them to know and appreciate the cultural differences.

My last visit was highlighted by attending a family banquet and spending the day at the Sunway Lost World. We often pore through dozens of photos to relive our experiences. Friends and work colleagues who are going to Malaysia will definitely get a word of recommendation to stop and spend time in beautiful Ipoh.

Thillai a/l Amirthalingam from Malaysia, 13 November 2006

I am Ipoh born guy, and studied in Anderson Secondary School and still working in Ipoh. I have spent my life in Ipoh itself.

Ipoh is a quiet town in Malaysia. Even though it has achieved the city status, I feel it's a town of peace, you will not get into traffic jam or caught in other type of heavy traffic. Ipoh is famous for its Char Koey tiaou (Fried Noodles). You will find a multi racial in the town, but majority are Chinese. That's the reason in early 1970's Ipoh was known the China man town and also the town of Mercedes Benz. In those olden days, Ipoh's taxis were all Mercedes Benz. Ipoh has sports facilities all located in one area called the Sports Complex. When you are in Ipoh you should not miss the fruit called Pomelo. You should even not miss all the lime stone temples and also the "Gua Tempurung". There are no beaches in Ipoh, but you should try Ipoh waterfalls, that is the Ulu Chepor waterfall and also the Ulu Kinta waterfall.

Have a nice holiday in Ipoh.

John Lee from Hong Kong, July 2006

Thanks for your information on Ipoh. I have finally been in Ipoh last Sunday and Monday. The trip to Ipoh was a memorable one for me. Let me tell you more about that.

When I arrived at the long distance bus station from Penang, I knew I had to face a mini challenge because the bus station has been moved from the Majestic Railway Hotel to Medan Gopeng. It was difficult to go back to the hotel. The taxi drivers charged me RM10 and I did not find it reasonable. Finally, I decided to take a public bus (by asking the bus conductor in Cantonese!).

The hotel itself is very nice and surely it is the most remarkable landmark in the city, but as you say, the railway station renovation is in process, it is a bit dusty and remote from other areas.

I strolled a few streets in the old town area (I think it is the most elegant area in Ipoh!) and dined at two restaurants for my lunch and supper later. I discovered that most shops there were close, the whole area was rather sleepy and quiet.

In the afternoon, I walked to the museum (for 15-20 minutes). I did so not wholly because I wanted to save money but it seemed to have no taxi available at the railway station!

In the following morning, one hotel staff agreed to drive me to the Buddhist temples and long distance bus station at RM40. So finally I made my goals come true by having a look at those temples (Sam Poh Tong, pomelo stalls and Perak Tong) and tried a sour pomelo for RM5. By the way, you mentioned the stalls hire sexy girls, right? I did see some. One of them even asked RM10 for a pomelo, crazy!

I think the most difficult issue in traveling in Ipoh is the transport. I was a bit shocked when I knew that the bus station has been moved to somewhere else and it is really inconvenient to have insufficient modes of transport (the taxis are unreasonably expensive!). Besides, I don't know why the shops and the service related industries (e.g. tour agencies) are closed on Sundays!


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