Memory Lane Ipoh

Just took a walk down Memory Lane (Horley St.) Ipoh to look at the crowd and some of the nostalgic items put on sales.  It is the place where one can find almost any old items which are no longer available at the normal outlets.  Even parts of an item can be bought here, especially for those who are good at restoring old broken down items.  Walking down this Memory Lane can take hours and you just don't feel time passing by because you are sure to be fascinated by some of the items there and you can take as much time as possible to touch, see and examine them, as you like.  Some people call it a flea market, while others call it a thief market and yet there are the more humble ones who name it the second-hand market.  But, officially, it is aptly called the Memory Lane.

  This is the gateway to Memory Lane.  The canopies are mostly stalls selling new items such as clothes, shoes and handbags.

This man is selling old gas lamp, charcoal iron, old record player and a whole collection of items from the past.  Most of the items still work! 

This guy here sells a mixture of new and old hardware.  Electric cutter, circular saw, polisher, they are all there.  If one cannot afford a new one, there is always a second-hand one available. 

This young couple is attracted to a stall selling copper-ware.  Again, there are new and old items for sale.  Of course, most people would prefer the old to the new because of the antique look. 

This stall even sells old  advertisement posters and boxes from the past.  This one really attracted my attention - a 1960's advertising poster of Gordon's Gin and another one of White Label Whisky. 

 Here, clocks of all sorts from the past - some can still work, others are just for display or could be repaired.

 This small crowd seemed to be interested in second-hand electronic gadgets - handphone, handphone covers, battery, or handphone chargers of all brand and make, and even an outdoor speaker!

       If one is not interested in all the electronic items then how about some old magazines and books?  Old copies of  National Geographic are in great demand- but never short of supply from this man.  Old books and a spotted even a whole volume of law books!

Old Cinemas in Ipoh

A friend of mine emailed me some beautiful photographs of old cinemas in Ipoh.  They were taken by a chap named Eddy Foo.  I cannot recall this person on my worn-out memory but I assume that I might have known him.  He certainly takes good pictures, just like a professional.  When I showed these photographs to my other friends, they said that he must be using a camera that would probably cost us an arm or a leg.  I suppose they are right but then, equipment alone do not create good pictures like these.  The photographs are all taken at the right angles and with the best backdrop..  In short, the composition is simply amazing.  They are the product of the photographer more than just the equipment alone.  Here they are and I hope Mr Eddy won't mind me using his photographs on my blog: :   

This is the Odeon Cinema.  I remember it as a cinema located at the end of Brewster Road.  We used to walk to the cinemas those days, so to get there, it was a long walk.  I watched quite a few black and white Malay and English movies at this cinema.  

The Lido Cinema was a more popular cinema and it screened movies from the Shaw Brothers' stable.  At that time, there was a monthly movie magazine - Movie News - that gave preview and review of  movies that will be shown in Show Brother's cinemas.  I think I watched Ben Hur here! 

Opposite Lido Cinema, was the Cathay cinema.  This was the the main rival of the Shaw Brother's chain of cinemas.  Cathay cinema was just as popular and it screened mostly English movies.  What's more interesting is that both the Lido and Cathay cinemas have morning shows -10.30 am - on every weekends which were called Cheap Matinee - because the ticket cost only 50 cents and the shows were second-run movies. Usually popular old cowboy movies and Tarzan movies were screened during this time.     

The Ruby cinema was just on the next street, Cowan Street.  I seldom went there to see a show because it screened mostly Hindi and Tamil movies.  But, later on it showed Chinese movies too.  I watched the "One-armed Swordsman" there.

Rex cinema was the other popular Shaw Brothers cinema in town.  This one showed mostly Chinese movies from Shaw Brothers' production.  Movies starring David Chiang and Fu Shang were the craze during my time as a teenager.  One has to actually go early to make advanced booking for the day for otherwise the tickets would be sold out and then there will be touts selling tickets at black market prices before each show.

Taiping Wet Market

It has been said that the growth of most towns is focused around its market.  This is true of Taiping town, where the main wet market is located the centre of the town.  Actually, the market is divided into two sections.  The two sections are separated by Jalan Kota.  The older section was built in 1884 and it stretches from Jalan Taming Sari (Main Road) to Jalan Kota, while the newer section of the market was built in 1885 and it stretched from Jalan Kota to Jalan Panggung Wayang.  The Wet Market has a north-south orientation.  The structure of the market was constructed in such a way that it harnesses the morning breeze that blows down from the Larut Hills and the evening breeze from the Matang / Kuala Sepetang coast.  Being designed in such a manner, it is very well ventilated and the inside is always cool throughout the day.

     

This is a scaled-down cross-sectional model of the Wet Market constructed by Teoh Chee Keong's students from UCSI. The wet market was  built in 1884.  The original market measures 220 feet by 60 feet.  As can been seen here, the sides and front of the market are opened, without walls to allow are to flow in and out.  Hot air will rise up the high roof and escape through the louvres.  This is a very efficient way of cooling the place.

        The older section of the wet market as it is today.   Fresh fish, vegetables and fruits are sold in this section of the wet market

The mutton, beef and chicken market.

                                    

Another view of the newer section of the market (the one with the brown roof) where mutton, beef and chickens are sold.

A picture of the ceiling of the wet market.  It can be seen clearly that the windows at the top allow light into the market and the louvres allow hot air to escape that ventilation system is ideal for a tropical town market like this one.

Teoh Chee Keong from UCSI (in red T-shirt) together with a local reseacher, Lee Eng Kew, conducted a Taiping Heritage Trail on 11 March 2012 with a visit to the market where he explained the finer details of the unique design of the building and thus must be preserved as it is an invaluable heritage to the people of Taiping.   Listening attentively was a crowd of concerned citizens.  

 Another cross-sectional model of the market. This is the model of the section which sells pork.  This section was built later and was attached to back of the old market.

The marble-top tables at the pork market looked clean and tidy even though the market is more than a hundred years old.  As a matter of fact, the marble tops were imported from Italy and still look as new as ever.   It was a Sunday, and so the stalls were empty.

In his talk on "People of the Market" - Teoh Chee Keong introduced Loo Peng Wah, a third generation pork seller at the market and allowed him to tell his own story.

Model of "Siang-Malam"

The section of the market which is known as the "Siang-Malam".

This is the model of the section which is attached to the mutton, beef and chicken section.  It faces Jalan Kota and is more popularly known as "siang-malam" meaning "day and night."  There will be activities there day and night.  By day there are roast pork stalls and stalls selling mee and curry power.  By night, it's hawker food stalls.  This is also the place where the infamous 'rain betting' was once carried out.   

When the wet market was finally ready and functioning, shop houses, like this one above, began to sprout up around it.  The market has always been the centre of activities and is indeed a catalyst to the growth of the town.  It is an important centre for social and cultural interaction.  Any attempt to relocate the  wet market to the outskirt would not be wise for it will make Taiping not only lose one of its most important heritage buildings but also lose its very character and identity.  

Chinese New Year Celebration for the Physically Handicapped

The Association for the Physically Handicapped, Taiping held a small scale celebration for the members on 19th Feb. 2012.  The event took place at its official premises - 122 Thomson Road, Taiping.  Volunteers and well-wishers gathered early to welcome the children and inmates.

The official premises of the Association for the Physically Handicapped, Taiping

Volunteers helping a member to get down from the van onto a wheelchair. 

Leader of the district committee, Dr Micheal Wong, gave a welcome speech.  

Children from the centre posing for a picture.

Children from the centre enjoyed tossing the "yee sang" together.

Dr Micheal Wong handing out 'ang-pow' to the members and children.

Mr Francis helping to distribute oranges around the hall.

Food is served.

At the end of the day, everyone had a good time together.

Seen Hock Yeen temple in Chemor

Somewhere just outside the town of Chemor in Perak, is this temple - Seen Hock Yeen temple, a very beautiful place that must be visited if one is in the vicinity of Chemor.  Just ask the locals and they will tell you the way to get there.  The temple ground covers a vast area which includes a lake at the centre, surrounded by several temples and related structures.  

When passing through Chemor town, look out for the traffic lights after the shell petrol station and take the road that leads to Tanjung Rambutan on the left.  Not far from the junction is an overhead railway bridge, not far from the bridge, turn left at the first junction and go straight, the temple is on your right. 

When you turn left after the railway overhead bridge, you will see this sign board to the temple. 

This is the wall with the name and the address of the temple. 

A large brass bell stands at the entrance to the temple.  People who donate money for oil for the lamps at the temple get to sound the bell.  

The doorway to the main altar of the temple.

The  main altar faces the lake.  Large joss sticks are burnt as devotees offer prayers. 

The next pavilion houses another deity, as devotees are taken on a guided tour by a temple committee member.  

On the courtyard are statues of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac.

Another pavilion for another deity, again the official guide will explain to the devotees on information about the deity. 

Then, it's time to cross the bridge to the other side of the lake.  Notice that one is not allowed to cross the bridge without permission.  In other words, only those guided by the temple officials are allowed to do so. When crossing the bridge, everyone should remain silent and should look to the left.

This is the view from the other side of the lake, after crossing the bridge. 

An artificial waterfall greets the visitors on this side of the lake, and devotees make a wish by throwing coins at the head of the fountain. 

Finally, the devotees were taken one round of the lake and back to the main pavilion and refreshment is served.