Ipoh gets Lonely Planet honour

KUALA LUMPUR (July 13): What do you think of when Ipoh comes to mind? Pomelos? Shredded chicken kueh teow soup? A long gone mega tin mining industry? Crunchy bean sprouts? Salt-baked chicken? Pretty girls with flawless complexion?

The city has been sort of underrated over the years as a tourist spot in Malaysia, with the Pearl of the Orient, Penang; and historical Melaka hogging the limelight in the peninsula and Land Below the Wind, Sarawak across the South China Sea drawing in visitors.

But things may change very quickly for the capital of Perak as Lonely Planet, yes, that largest travel guide book publisher in the world, recently listed Ipoh in sixth placing in “Lonely Planet's Best in Asia for 2016”.

Also in the group of ten cities are Taitung, Taiwan; Trang Islands, Thailand; Hong Kong, China; and Jeonju, South Korea.

Lonely Planet describes Ipoh: “Malaysia’s lesser-known food capital has new flair thanks to a crop of boutique cafes that have sprung up in its historic quarter. At the heart of Ipoh’s renaissance is otherworldly concept hotel Sekeping Kong Heng.”

Ah yes, that award-winning Sekeping Kong Heng. The landmark was recently chosen as one of the world’s top 10 industrial-chic hotels and hostels by The Guardian newspaper.

Ipoh’s Sekeping Kong Heng wins international accolade

It is difficult to encapsulate the foodie attractions offered by Ipoh in just one sentence but Lonely Planet does it quite well: “food pilgrims still clamour for Ipoh’s old favourites: Lou Wong’s chicken with crisp beansprouts, and tau fu fah (tofu pudding) at Funny Mountain”. But let us not leave out the chicken kueh teow soup (which the OLD Kedai Kopi Kong Heng continues to serve); Nasi Kandar Yong Suan, also known as Nasi Ganja; and the curry mee and chee cheong funn at Restoran Yat Yat Seng.

Lonely Planet goes on to introduce the beautiful flora and fauna around the city such as Kinta Nature Park and for those who want to be more active rather than just nom noming around town, there is water rafting in Gopeng, a small town just outside Ipoh.

Other places recommended by the publication are the “clifftop temples and fragrant Gaharu Tea Valley nearby.” Could the temples be Sam Poh Tong?

“I wonder what took them so long to recognise Ipoh,” asked Ipoh-born Alexandra Wong, columnist and author of Made in Malaysia.

“There are many things about Ipoh besides the limestone caves and food. Each neighbourhood has its own character. Also, even though it is a city, Ipoh still has a small town feel about it, and that is why even though many people have moved out of Ipoh for work, they still yearn to return,” Wong added.   

Lonely Planet's Best in Asia for 2016

1. Hokkaido, Japan
2. Shanghai, China
3. Jeonju, South Korea
4. Con Dao Islands, Vietnam
5. Hong Kong, China
6. Ipoh, Malaysia
7. Pemuteran, Indonesia
8. Trang Islands, Thailand
9. Meghalaya, India
10. Taitung, Taiwan

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