Perak: Tong Sui Street @ Ipoh

#throwback post#

Tong Sui Street (糖水街) is a street famous with desserts as the name shown. It is located at Ipoh town, few minutes walk from Ipoh Parade. I have seen a lot of dessert photos from this street but never try it after so many years. Finally, I get to visit this street to hunt for colourful desserts. =D

A lot of stalls are closed on the night I visited. Kinda disappointed.

Hence, I walked along the street with sis to look for a convincing stall to try. We were attracted to a noodle stall with another dessert stall beside it. Then we decided to try it out. 

Sis ordered a bowl of hot red bean soup. It is kinda nice and it is quite a big portion.

Then I ordered a bowl of shaved ice with mixed fruit. Looking so colourful and healthy. =D

It tastes good too. Not too sweet and full of fruits.

Ordered a plate of fried yee mee but it is too oily. 

I wouldn't recommend the noodle stall but the desserts are good. Saw other customers were having iced mango sago and other desserts from other stalls. Look pretty good too! Will come back and try it. XD Tong Sui Street is really a good place for dessert in Ipoh town. If you are here for a food trip, don't forget to visit this street! =D

Perak: Pasir Pinji Big Tree Foot (Dai Shu Geok) Yong Tau Foo & Funny Mountain Soya Bean

Have you ever visit Ipoh, a town famous with good coffee and good food? If you never, or if you been there a few times, have you ever try the famous Yong Tau Foo stall at Pasir Pinji? It is also known as Big Tree Foot (Dai Shu Geok) Yong Tau Foo stall. Not long ago, they moved their stall to the next door and hence you need to make sure you didn't go to the wrong stall.

They have few types of noodles to order - soup, dry soy sauce and laksa. I never try their laksa so this time I ordered their laksa. Sister kept recommending their laksa to me, saying that it is cheap and nice. Comparable to the one in Penang. So I am gonna try it! And definitely need to order their super nice and famous Yong Tau Foo. Miss it so much!

This stall is always crowded, especially during lunch hours. So pray hard for a seat! XD I went there around 1pm on a Thursday afternoon and there isn't as many people as expected (still very pack though). I went to find a seat while sis and dad went to order food. This is a way to get a seat and your food ordered fast! 

Food is served! Here's the laksa. I choose bihun (rice vermicelli) and normal yellow noodles as combination instead of normal laksa noodle. I love this combo as bihun can absorb the delicious laksa soup and make the bowl of laksa tastes even better. RM3 for such a big bowl of nice laksa. Totally worth the try! I am already hungry even just thinking about it only. 

And Ta-Daa! Yong Tau Foo is served! They have fried and soup one. But I personally prefer their fried stuff as they are nicer and crispy.

Oh! Don't forget to order some drink while you are here too!

Red bean smoothie is my favourite. They have green bean smoothie too, which is harder to find in other place. Pretty refreshing and goes well with laksa and Yong Tau Foo. These make up a good combination. *Slurpss*

After having a full and satisfying lunch, we walked to a biscuits shop nearby to get peanuts bar and kaya puff. Have to queue for the peanut bar (花生糖) but definitely worth it as it is not very sweet. It comes with some salty taste as well. Too bad I'm having bad toothache now. If not I would be munching the peanut bar while typing out this post. Hehe...

In Pasir Pinji area, there are nice dessert shop and also a famous swiss roll bakery (JJ Swiss Roll) which is not far from the Big Tree Foot Yong Tau Foo place. You could drop and try if interested or if you still feel hungry. I usually stuff myself with a lot of Yong Tau Foo and can't afford to drink a sip of water. 

Perak: Kedai Kopi Sin Yoon Loong 新源隆茶室

If you are visiting Ipoh, there is one thing that you shouldn't miss -- White Coffee. Ipoh is very famous with its white coffee and indeed, you can get good coffee in some random shops (real good ones). If you are keen to try the most famous white coffee in town, Sin Yoon Loong is a place you shouldn't miss.

Quiet street early in the morning. Loving the historical feel.

Sin Yoon Loong is located at a corner, along Jalan Bandar Timah, Old Town Ipoh.

It can be easily found with Waze, but locating a parking is difficult, especially during peak hours. 

Because I was there pretty early, I get to find a parking! Woohoo! However, it isn't really near to Sin Yoon Loong, I walked 3 minutes to get there. Who cares? I was too free that morning and I was really craving for a cup of coffee after a 3 hours sleep. XD 

Ta-daa! The famous white coffee is served! It cost me around RM1+. Cheap and nice! 

I could get a seat easily and enjoyed my coffee that morning. Such a blissful morning. =) Good start for the day. 

Some friends will recommend white coffee at Nam Heong (which is just opposite Sin Yoon Loong). I find both equally nice. If you want to have a taste of both, just walk cross the road. Easy! =D

Perak: Kellie's Castle

It has been decades living in Perak and I never explore it. Hence, I decided to explore one of the famous tourist spot on a sunny day --> Kellie's Castle.

Kellie's Castle is located on the way to Batu Gajah town at the Kinta Kellas Rubber Estate, which is about 30 minute drive (14km south) from Ipoh City. It is very easy to find, especially with the help of Waze (my favourite navigator, though sometimes it will make you lost direction XD). 

I heard about this castle long time ago, about the mystery. Kellie's Castle seems to be meant a home away from home for Scottish Planter, William Kellie Smith in the 20th century. Kellie desired his new residence to be reminiscent of his home back in Scotland, the castle is perched on top of a hill in what used to be a rubber estate. Construction of this unique castle began in 1915. However, it came to an abrupt halt with Kellie's sudden death in 1926. The solitary castle, looks almost surreal in these wild plantations of Perak, it projects a strong personality and an aura of mystery. Besides being haunted, the castle is believed to have hidden rooms and secret underground tunnels. (Read more here)

I reached Kellie's Castle around 9.30am and it was really sunny. Blue sky with beautiful forbidden castle. Such a great combination.

I parked my car as directed by the signage and it's free! Friend parked his car at the entrance and he was charged RM2 per entry. It was just a short walk from entrance to my car, so I would suggest to save that RM2 for your entrance ticket. Entrance ticket costs RM5 per person (for MyKad holder)

Group photo of us. This is the main entrance to the castle. 

Ticket counter is just right beside these huge words. 

It is such a waste that this is not completely constructed. Such a beautiful building.

Living hall.

There are also a few narrow spiral stairs that leads you to some secret rooms. And the top of the castle is accessible with stairs too. But be aware if you are bringing kids as all these places are not being fenced. 

View of the entrance from top of the castle. On the left is the walkway from entrance to the castle.
Very beautiful isn't it.

My favourite photo of the trip.

Ipoh: Stan & Brew Roast Coffee

#throwback

Now, it is time to talk about my first visit to Ipoh Cafe -- Stan & Brew Roast Coffee! I never planed to go there, as there are more super famous ones like Ben & Lynette, Plan B, STG, etc etc.... However, due to randomness (as always), I've visited Stan & Brew Roast Coffee during my last visit to Ipoh. 

It is not too hard to search for but I used a pretty odd road to reach this cafe. How odd?? Nah, just some rocky bumpy road, which I have no idea why I make that turning in the first place. XD

Long waited dinner at almost 9pm! 

Was searching for cafe to visit but most of them are close at 8.30pm or earlier. Thankfully Stan & Brew is one of the "night-owl" cafes. =D

Nice environment -- Romantic but a little dark. 

Starving and hence my friend and I were eyeing on the King's Hamabagu (RM29.00).

It is a burger meant to serve 2 persons and we were interested to try such huge burger. =D

Ipoh: Thean Chun Coffee Shop 天津茶室

#throwback

Ipoh is just about 40 minutes drive from Taiping. Hence, as a Taiping girl, it is not too attractive to me as I can go there every weekend, twice a month, or at least once a month. I never explore those tourist-must-go-and-try shops in Ipoh when I was young. It is because those places are always crowded with super long waiting time, expensive and it may not turn out as good as expected.

However, when I start having road trips with my uni-mates and now colleagues, those shops are the must-visit places whenever we step into Ipoh. And now, I'm starting to act like a tourist, whenever I go Ipoh. Explore Explore Explore. 

Today, I'm going to introduce an ancient coffee shop -- Thean Chun Coffee Shop (天津茶室) located in Old Town Ipoh. I've been there twice and my first time experience was overwhelming. We waited for almost 80 minutes for our Chicken Kuey Teow Soup aka "Kai Si Hor Fun" (鸡丝河粉). My friend, who was the driver of our road trip, turned into black face after waiting and hence this coffee shop always reminded me about his angry face. *Ooppss* Well, the Chicken Kuey Teow Soup was nice but I don't think it worth waiting for more than an hour. 

Second time was with my colleague. This time, we went there for caramel custard (炖蛋) and also some other food. Due to the crowd, we decided to takeaway the caramel custard and asked for our food to be served next door. Yes, you can sit next door and those noodle stalls will send their food over. One condition is that you need to order drinks from the shop next door (Fair enough).

Spotted a stall that sells Fried Durian on our way to Thean Chun coffee shop.
RM2.40 for one and it is NOT NICE yet EXPENSIVE. I remember the one I had at the Yong Tau Fu place was much bigger, nicer and cheaper.

Colleague's Beef Noodle (RM5.00). She said it was alright, but not delicious.

My Chee Cheong Fun (RM3.20 -- if I'm not wrong). It is quite nice but sauce is too little. =S