Scrumptious salted chicken and smoked duck from Tat Seng in Ipoh

Despite being handicapped -- in my opinion -- as a take-way restaurant, Tat Seng in Ipoh is slowly but surely earning praises for its salted chicken and smoked duck. Wrapped in special paper, the chicken that has been stuffed with herbs is baked in coarse salt. The slight saltiness complements the herbal flavour and the meat can be torn away easily. Great! Also a winner is the smoked duck; it is sold in a plastic bag and needs to be cooked in either a microwave oven or heat oven. Gourmets who are tired of the usual Chinese roasted duck will find the taste of the smoked duck in a class of its own. Tat Seng is located on Jalan Raja Ekram opposite the Jubilee Park.

/end

Country's only Tibetan temple is in Tambun

Tambun, a small town 20km north-east of Ipoh is home to the country's only Tibetan temple named Persatuan Enlightened Heart Buddhist. Due to lack of promotion, it is relatively unknown except to Ipoh residents. Maintenance is also sorely needed as the floors of its impressive 13-level pagoda is littered with bird droppings.

Climbing to the top level certainly takes your breath away, but the view of the countryside is worth the effort. A massive statue of Lord Buddha is housed at the top level, and another statue stands atop a separate building with a verdant limestone hill as a picturesque backdrop.

The ground floor of the pagoda is stocked with colourful vases donated by devotees (pix above) and subsequent levels are adorned with statues of Tibetan Buddhism deities. If you are scared of heights, looking down the stairway well (pix above) can give you the shivers!

Getting there: From Ipoh, travel to Tambun. At the town centre, turn left to the Police Station. Drive past the station and after you see the factory of Nonwoven Industries Products (M) Sdn Bhd, turn left as indicated by a signboard.

Tiam Fatt Fried Kuey Teow in Taman Melawati is delicious

When you are next travelling along KL's Jalan Ulu Kelang, and are passing Taman Melawati, try to make a stopover at Tiam Fatt Fried Kuey Teow. Cockles, prawns, bean sprouts and flat noodles are given a magic touch in the hawker's searing wok to create a lip-smacking dish. The stall is located on Jalan Bandar 2, which is the same row as the Post Office. Opening hours are from 7am to 2pm daily.

/end

Once a hideaway for concubines in Ipoh

Ipoh's old quarter has two lanes with a colourful past. In the 1950's, when the setlement's tin-mining towkays were rolling in wealth, many of them kept concubines. The women were housed in well-furnished shophouses along two lanes that linked the present Jalan Bijih Timah and Jalan Bandar Timah. Aptly named First Concubine Lane (see pix) and Second Concubine Lane, they once bustled with rickshaws, hawkers and triad activity. First Concubine Lane faces the Kedai Kopi Kong Heng on Jalan Bijih Timah; Second Concubine Lane runs parallel to the former. Thus, a man may have a tryst with his first mistress early in the evening and then later proceed for a second rendezvous with his second concubine on the next lane. Adding colour and spice to the lanes were a few brothels and gambling dens. Today, both lanes are a picture of rot and decay. Clothes hang overhead from bamboo poles to dry; birds in cages chirp lonely tunes. How sad... When you are in Ipoh, why not stroll along First Concubine Lane to capture its ambiance of yesteryears; in your mind's eyes see the sexy women in cheongsum eagerly waiting for their lovers. Yes, those were the days...

/end

A good mee rebus restaurant in Ipoh

Located in a corner lot on Jalan Raja Ekram in Ipoh, Restoran Mee Rebus Ramli serves good mee rebus. The ingredients are just normal, with slices of boiled egg, red and green chillies, and pieces of brown tofu. However, the mee is springy and the kuah (gravy) is of the right thickness and flavour. The restaurant faces Jubilee Park, and is crowded most of the time.

/end

Happy Chinese New Year!

Wishing a Happy Chinese New Year to viewers of my blog who are celebrating this festival. May the Year of the Tiger bring you health, wealth and longevity.