The Complete Guide
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THE COMPLETE GUIDE Michael Wong shares his personal favourite routes ROUTE 01 Gopeng Batu Gajah Gua Tempurung MICHAEL SAYS “You’re going to love these exciting adventures if you’re a thrill seeker!” Gopeng The idyllic town of Gopeng was once nicknamed “Tin Warehouse” during its glory days as a tin mining hotspot. At that time, the Kinta Valley region (where Gopeng is located) was the No.1 producer of tin ore in the world. Gopeng residents made their livelihood through tin and rubber industries until commodity prices plunged in the 1980s. Gradually, Gopeng became a sleepy town yet again, allowing its beautiful rainforests and rich natural ecosystem to take over. In recent years, history lovers who take pride in Gopeng’s heritage have begun telling its glorious stories, thereby preserving its culture. White Water Rafting 1 Gopeng Heritage House 1 Like stepping into a time machine, Gopeng Heritage House is filled Gopeng Heritage House 6, Jalan Sg Itek, with cultural and historical relics that depict the bustling life of Gopeng 31600 Gopeng, Perak in its heyday. During opening hours, the locals act as volunteer guides, 9am – 3pm (Sat – Sun) regaling visitors with glorious tales of old times past, dating back Please contact for to 1886. This quaint building with its signature deep-red façade is appointment on Mon–Fri. a definite must-visit! +6 012 501 3201 (Mr. Loo) +6 05-359 7828 2 2 Gopeng Museum Gopeng Museum A short walk away from Gopeng Heritage House is Gopeng Museum, 49, Jalan Eu Kong, a nostalgic zinc-roofed structure that houses hundreds of antiques, 31600 Gopeng, Perak painstakingly curated to tell the story of how our ancestors made their way 9am – 5pm to this small town in search of a better life. Relive the golden moments of Closed on Wed & Thu Gopeng and see how the townfolk lived many decades ago. Did you know? +6 016 542 1287 (Mr. Phang) Gopeng Museum is more than 100 years old, and used to be a horse stable! 3 Hup Teck Soy Sauce Factory 3 999. Kampung Rawa, Hup Teck Soy Sauce Factory 31600 Gopeng, Perak Ask any artisan, and they will tell you that anything good requires 8am – 4pm (Mon – Fri) traditional methods and lots of time to make. This 80-year-old soy sauce 8am – 2:30pm (Sat – Sun) factory located in Kampung Rawa, Gopeng, is currently operated by the Closed on Wed & Thu family’s third generation. Stored in glass bottles without any designs or +6 012 521 0786 (Mr. Lau) labels, the soy sauce produced at Hup Teck is only sold locally. The factory 4 also makes natural, preservative-free dark soy sauce and soybean paste. Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng Lot 9840, Mukim Sg. Teja, 4 31600 Gopeng, Perak Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng 9:15am – 6pm On the outskirts of Gopeng, about 2 kilometers away from the town, (Closed on Tue sits Gaharu Tea Valley. Feel your stress melt away as your surround except public holidays) yourself with gaharu (agarwood) trees, and sip on the signature HOGA +6 05 351 1999 hoga.my/ hoga-experiences tea while you refresh your senses with stunning views of the Titiwangsa mountains from the hilltop cafe. Before leaving, make sure to hug the Fee huge gaharu tree in the garden; it is believed that the energy emitted RM10 / Person Free for children below 4 years old by the tree can bring good luck! 5/a 5 Adeline Villa & Rest House Adeline Villa & Rest House, Lot 13302, Mukim Teja, Radak Adventure Kampung Geruntum, Sungai Itik, 31600 Gopeng, Perak (White Water Rafting & Waterfall Abseiling) White water rafting along Sungai Kampar is one of the most exciting 9:15am – 6pm (Closed on Tue activities for extreme sports enthusiasts. Although the water does not except public holidays) run too deep at only 3 to 4 feet, there’s no mistaking the level of excitement. +6 05 359 2833 Swerve and sway for over 7 kilometres as you brave the roar of the rapids, +6 019 556 1113 while catching fleeting glimpses of views of wonderful scenery and exotic +6 010 366 7113 plants. adelinevilla.com 5/b If something even more exhilarating is what you have in mind, you’ll Radak Adventure love waterfall abseiling. After arriving at Ulu Geruntum Waterfall, take a No 1 BWH, Jln Sungai Itek, trek up to the peak 40 feet above you. After all safety measures have been 31600 Gopeng, Perak completed, lean back 90 degrees and begin the daunting adventure +6 014 294 4404 down the waterfall following the instructions of your guide. Definitely radakadventure.com a thrill of a lifetime as you defy gravity and feel the waterfall rushing around you! ROUTE 01 2 DON’T MISS 6 Gopeng Lan Jie Lai Fun 6 One does not leave Gopeng without trying its lai fun – thick Gopeng Lan Jie Lai Fun 295, Taman Gopeng Jaya, rice noodles made by hand. Usually enjoyed in clear soup with 31600 Gopeng, Perak yong tau foo on the side, Gopeng lai fun makes a hearty supper. Located in the satellite town of Taman Gopeng Jaya, Lan Jie Lai 7:45am – 10pm (Irregular off days) Fun has been making its signature lai fun for over 40 years now. +6 017 462 8088 Another recommendation is Stall No.8 at the Pasar Gopeng +6 05 359 1973 Food Court, where you can try a curry version for breakfast. 7 Pasar Gopeng Food Court 7 Jalan Pasar, 31600 Gopeng, Pasar Gopeng Food Court Perak (Pasar Gopeng) This is where the locals come for breakfast, so you’ll know the 7am – 1pm food is good. Some of the most popular choices include: Gopeng lai fun with yong tau foo, wonton noodles, chicken porridge, 8 and fu chuk yee mai (gingko nut, bean curd sheet & barley Gopeng Antique Kopitiam / sweet soup). Heritage Town Cafe Gopeng No 3, Jalan Pasar, 31600 Gopeng, Perak 8 Gopeng Antique Kopitiam / Heritage Town Cafe Gopeng 11am – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm (Closed on Mon morning) Take a walk down memory lane with a steaming cup of (5pm – 11pm: Western Food) Nanyang black coffee as you listen to classic Chinese songs. +6 016 550 6631 It’s easy to spend a good few hours here, lost in your own memories or catching up with old friends. A wide variety of 9 Chinese and Western dishes is available here; so it’s a great Gerai Mee Kari Ami place to eat, drink and be merry. 64, Kampung Pintu Padang, 31600 Gopeng, Perak 8:30am – 7pm 9 (Closed on Wed) Gerai Mee Kari Ami +6 017 592 2842 Tucked away in a Malay village, right smack in a residential area, is Gerai Mee Kari Ami. Offering authentic Malay fare like curry noodles, mee kicap, kuey tiaw kicap and more, the must-try is definitely what is proudly shown on the stall’s name – its signature curry noodles! After your bellies are full, cool down with the Malay version of a herbal drink. Simply mention “liong sui” when ordering from the friendly staff! ROUTE 01 3 Batu Gajah Visitors to Ipoh will often make a short stopover at Batu Gajah, known for its many tourist attractions such as Kellie’s Castle, TT5 Tin Dredge, Tanjung Tualang freshwater prawns and Pusing, a food-lover’s paradise! Kellie’s Castle 10 Kellie’s Castle 10 Featuring a mixture of Scottish, Indian and Moorish architecture, Kellie’s Castle 31000 Batu Gajah, Perak the construction of Kellie’s Castle began in 1915 but was never completed. Midway through construction, its owner, Scotsman William 9am – 6pm (Last entry 5:30pm) Kellie Smith, died of illness while travelling in Lisbon, Portugal, and +6 05 356 3381 the project was subsequently shut down. Later on, the castle was partly destroyed during World War II, but its noble exterior continues to attract Fee RM10 / Adult worldwide attention. The award-winning film, Anna and the King (1999), RM9 / Child was also filmed here! Now, visitors can still admire the beauty of Kellie’s Castle and its surrounding grounds. 11 Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5 (TT5) 11 9th km, Jalan Tanjung Tualang, Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge No. 5 (TT5) 31000 Batu Gajah, Perak During the tin rush, Perak was the largest producer of tin in Malaysia. After 9am – 6pm (Tue–Sun) the decline of the tin mining industry, many related structures still remain 9am – 12:30pm, 2:30pm – 6pm (Fri) here. One of the most significant reminders is Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge (Closed on Mon) No.5, or TT5. Built in 1938, TT5 was a massive dredge weighing 4,500 tons, Please contact for tour schedule. and ceased operations in 1982. Today, it is the only tin dredge in Malaysia +6 014 904 3255 that is open to the public. Visitors can see how tin mining was automated Fee with the advancement of technology, or even try their hand at a more RM20 / Adult traditional process known as “tin panning”. RM10 / Child (8 – 12 years old) Free for children below 8 years old ROUTE 01 4 DON’T MISS 12 Luen Fong Restaurant, 12/a Sun Mee Fong Seafood Restaurant Luen Fong Restaurant 19, Jalan Pasar, (Tanjung Tualang Freshwater Prawns) 31800 Tanjung Tualang, Perak Not far from TT5 Tin Dredge is Tanjung Tualang, also known as the “hometown of freshwater prawns”. During weekends or holidays, visitors +6 016 448 2328 flock to this quiet town to feast their eyes and bellies on giant freshwater 12/b prawns. With their signature big heads and prominent pincers, these prawns Sun Mee Fong are loved for their firm texture and naturally-sweet taste.