Val<baggylot@yahoo.com>

I was googling images of Ipoh & this website popped up. How wonderful! I grew up in Ipoh, studied/worked in the UK after "O" levels & am now residing in S'pore. Old Town brings back great childhood memories for me - I lived in Hale Lane, a stone's throw away from the Padang, SMI, the old library, the now demolised Sun Cinema, Kinta River, Kong Heng coffee shop famous for its "kai-si-sar-hor-fun"; within walking distances would be the Railway Station, the 1st multi-storey carpark & then the mosque was built next (or very near to this car park), Hugh Low St with all those textile shops in their former glory, crossing the bridge to the market, by-passing the Fire Station. Hale Lane is also known as "dai-lai-hong" & there are 2 more lanes known as "yi-lai-hong" & "sam-lai-hong" but I can't recall their proper names (maybe Panglima lane was one of them?). Used to play in the Padang on the big old fashioned swings & see-saws; sitting on flattened cardboard boxes & sliding down.

Johnny Baker <bonyronny@gmail.com>

I remember this Bank quite well and especially the Jaga who used to sit on a little stool at the entrance at the top of the stairs.An old Bengali with a turban and beard with deep set eyes.I used to feel very nervous of him and his double barreled shotgun.I used to collect my dads pension every first week of the month in the mid fifties.I used to park my bike where those bike now stand but the cars were mostly those of English miners and planters and they were arboured cars of course.I now live in Germany and have great satisfaction watching your snapshots of different parts of Ipoh..........my hometown.

Dee<dee_wilson@hotmail.co.uk>

Hi, can anyone tell me more about the beautiful interior photographed on the Ipoh talk forum page. Is it a public area which can be visited? Dee

kinkonkid <kookk_555@hotmail.com>

kudos!beautiful shots of Ipoh old town. I grew up in menglembu and studied and entered acs primary one in 1964 - and born in the year of the Merdeka. the buildings are still standing fine, but the town is quiet desolated, and not as bustling as I remember them in the heydays of the 1960's and 70's. activities have spread to the the outskits and in the newer township. any shots of the new town? Lido, Rex, Capitol Ruby, Majestic - cinemas with fond memories. the Sun cinema is no longer there. I rememebr I saw 'the movie 'Fiddler on the Roof' there having missed its earlier run. keep it up

hermione<emma_watson@hotmail.com>

hi i love ipoh a lot.it has great food and a nice colonial feel abt it like penang and malacca.would love to visit again..

Cathy Machado<cmachado@mndrm.org.au>

My family stayed in the Railway Station for a few months back in 1956, prior to a government house becoming available. The dining room was very much a reflection of colonial days - the tables set with the array of cutlery, starched napkins & waiters resplendent in their snow white livery. It was a place we used to dine at for a 'treat'. The FMS Bar was well-known for its catering - Tun used to provide some of the most memorable Christmas dinners - the chestnut stuffing was superb. He also used to provide fanstastic cocktail food. I remember cricket being played on the 'padang'. Fabulous food at the 'Hall of Mirrors' on Leech Street. All a distant memory after leaving Malaysia more than 30 years ago.

Jim Joyce<jimj49@optusnet.com.au>

I love Ipoh,it has,for me,a certain old world charm about it and a slower pace than Pinang.I used to love driving from Pinang to Ipoh,along the old road,and passing through the small towns and Kampungs. I have stayed many times at The Majestic Station Hotel and walked from there to the FMS Bar,a very interesting place indeed. I am at the moment in the process of building a Model Railway and am intending to theme it on the area surrounding Ipoh,the Limestone Hills I can make(in fact have made} but the buildings I have problems with.Most model Railway Kits are European,British or American so I have to "Scratch Build" Malaysian Style Buildings and Homes.Your pics Kayes, are very helpful and rest assured when all is up and running, there will be a Blue Building somewhere called the FMS BAR. Regards Jim

itsme2006<just_boonie@yahoo.com>

HSBC Bank Malaysia was originally know as the Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited. It has been there since the early 1950s (to the best of my recollection). It fronts Belfield Street and it also has a side entrance at the rear-end of the building. Its immediate neighbour is the Perak Chinese Chamber of Commerce Building. The ground floor was formerly occupied by Perak Traders & Co. (a stock/share broking firm)which now has a new name and had been relocated to Brewster Road. Currently, RHB Bank has an Office there. Next door is the legal firm of Maxwell Kenion Cowdy & Jones. There is also an eating shop in this row of shophouses apart from the several legal firms.

M Chee<cheems@pc.jaring.my>

Thanks for the great pictures. A few months ago, on one of my not so frequent trips back, I went coffee shop hopping and never had a more wonderful breakfast of roti kaya, chee cheong fun and coffee. I can't remember the street in Old Town, but I think it's the one Tai Kwong, the famous textile shop, is on. How about that for a Ipoh tourist attraction?

k.y.lee<k.y.lee@excite.com>

It would be nice if you can add some description for each picture so that visitors or old Malaysian residents/resident left the country for a long period can refresh their memory. Thanks. k.y. at Toronto, Canada

Kam Sing<kleong@yahoo.com>

I grew up in Ipoh.....and is now in Canada for 30 years. I recognized the HSBC building but not the other pics. Also a Micheaelian, and sort of graduated after failing Bahasa..

nsubramanian<nsubbu@hathway.com>

I introduce my self as a retired person residing at mumbai india having spent my childhood in the area ofBunthong Sungapari rd during 1952to 55 and 56 to 59. I had studied in 4th 5th std in govt tamil school and after passing the primary exam got admission in Anderson school in the remove class and as my mother fell sick we had to come back to india. We had resided at 56 sungai pari rd,Lot no 995 Sungai pari rd, and at house just opposite to Tamil school. We had went to the place 2000 easter sunday and drove throuhg the rd enjoying the trip having gone by 40 years in time. The important land marks asi remember now are:-
Local bus stand near railway station, Sun theatre, Jubli talkies located on lane wst side immeadiately after Marria ammman temple Mari amman kovil Subramanian sami temple Panglima street Belfield Street Alli and sons Tower clock F&N soft drinks factory Muslim grocerishop at Sungaipari rd near the tamil school Tamil nesan tamil daily paper I would like have if these are still continue to be there or not and upload of some photos

poco de latte<fatbob@bluehyppo.com>

I am just a tad intrigued about the inclusion of A.S. Yeo's office in the gallery of old town shots. Is he a friend? Back in the 70s, A.S. Yeo and Maxwell, Kenion, Cowdy & Jones (they had an office around the corner, facing SMI) were my family's solicitors.

(Of course I know Yeoh Ah Seng aka AS Yeoh. In the 70s I think A Mariadass was his assistant and I suppose you know him too. I actually worked a couple of doors away but that office doesn't make a good pic now and so, I took a shot of AS Yeoh's chambers instead. And that cowboy firm of Maxwell, Kenion Cowdy & Jones, I think they have moved to their own building near the HSBC Bank. Best wishes, kayes)

Ah so. I see now the raison behind the inclusion of A.S. Yeoh's office. Nostalgia works in mysterious ways. I forgot to mention, for what it's worth, that A. S. Yeoh's son was my classmate in SMI. We were in Form 1A8 (don't ask me how classes were labelled such like ? I am as puzzled as anyone else) and our form teacher was David Teh. By the bye, I found out from the SMI website that a teacher by that name had passed away. If indeed the 2 are the same, I will miss him, cane and all. A.S. Yeoh's son was nicknamed Skippy (as in Skippy peanut butter) and he would whack anyone who dared call him that! Oh, but if I could take a step back towards those halcyon days, even for an hour, I would leave this life a happier man. poco de latte

kayes<kayes@pc.jaring.my>

I had my first job here many years ago at Hale Street (now Jalan Tun Sambanthan?) and lunch was almost sar hor fun everyday at Kong Heng coffeeshop in Leech Street or the one next door. Joined Ipoh Club of course and I like this club. Everything's so mellow. The chambers are very convenient which I found out after I moved to Penang. I also ate often at the restaurant in the old Station Hotel and at FMS. Old school was ACS, Ipoh and is this school in Lahat or part of old town? First school in the country to have a full size swimming pool as well as a big airconditioned library stacked with books. Never liked the disciplinary master ("Loh Moh") though. Stayed at Horley Hall for sometime and the food was unmentionable. Sneaking out to Little India for roti canai was always worth the risks.