www.ipohecho.com.my FREE COPY IPOH echoechoYour Voice In The Community April 16-30, 2015 PP 14252/10/2012(031136) 30 SEN FOR DELIVERY TO YOUR DOORSTEP – ISSUE ASK YOUR NEWSVENDOR 210 100,000 print readers 1,906,763 online hits in March How does the Page 15 Annual Ipoh is a ‘happening’ place We have increased our print run from 16,000 General Meetings Goods and to 20,000 copies and the number of pages Services Tax (GST) affect you? from 12 to 16. We are YOUR VOICE in the Perak community so make sure you get your Page 3 Page 4 free copy every fortnight. By Ili Aqilah, Nantini Krishnan Gopeng: & Tan Mei Kuan Emerging from Slumberopeng, once fondly known as a cowboy town when tin mining was in its heyday, Ghas been gradually shedding its sleepy image and transforming itself into a vibrant township with the lure of adventure, heritage and craft. Ipoh Echo sent its reporters there to uncover some of its attractions. Continued on page 2 2 April 16-30, 2015 IPOH ECHO Your Voice In The Community Adventure, Heritage and Craft Attract Visitors Kellie’s Castle Ilezhusna (Textile Obsession) rom avid shutterbugs to fearless ghost hunters, aspiring architects to the incurable atik is any type of fabric imprinted with romantics, Kellie’s Castle has something for everyone. colourful patterns through the application of Featured in the Hollywood blockbuster Anna and the King in 1999, this wax and dye. A creative medium appreciated palatialF home of Scottish planter William Kellie Smith stands the test of time. Built in the B by many, if you’re keen on learning and purchasing year 1915, the unfinished castle has a shaft for what could have been the first elevator in some pieces then the perfect place is at Ilezhusna. Malaysia. This ambitious man planned for an indoor tennis court, a helicopter landing Inside, guests can find a wide array of batik products. space and a rooftop courtyard too! Want to try your hand at batik making? Ilezhusna Whether this hidden gem of Perak was meant as a monument of love for his wife, offers multiple batik-making workshops for those Agnes or a centre for the wealthy to socialise, the rich tapestry of history adds to its who are interested in learning the art of batik dyeing, charm and allure. complete with equipment. From the spooky perspective, the linen B-10, Mydin Wholesale, RTC Gopeng. room and corridors are believed to be haunted. Tel: 017 652 2571 10am-10pm Hence, a first-of-its-kind touristic programme ‘Paranormal Night Tour: Unlocking Factual Mysteries’ is available on the first and fourth Friday and Saturday of the month beginning ‘Must Go’ and ‘Must Do’ in Gopeng: 9pm. Are you game? Opening hours: 9am-6pm Gopeng Heritage House openg Heritage House was started after the opening of Muzium Gopeng. The Gopeng Museum was launched on April 2009 and the Heritage House 2 years Rice Noodle @ Gopeng later. Heritage House is owned by the treasurer of Museum Gopeng and is Hawker Centre beingG managed by Museum Gopeng Heritage House arking back to 38 years ago, young displays items from Gopeng’s glory days and and old alike can be seen making contains collections from 100 years ago up until the a beeline for the eponymous 1960s. H The Heritage House is only open on Saturday rice noodle (lai fun noodle) stall run by Madam Than Mee Chee who is currently and Sunday meanwhile the Gopeng Museum opens 67 years of age. “Our rice noodles, fish five days a week and is closed on Wednesday and balls and fried items are homemade daily Thursday. and stay true to its quality,” she told Ipoh Gopeng Heritage House – Jalan Sungai Itik, Echo, brimming with pride. “We enjoy 31600 Gopeng, Perak. brisk business especially every Tuesday Muzium Gopeng – No. 28, Jalan Eu Kong, 31600 thanks to the pasar pagi,” she added. Besides the well-known dish, the stall also offers Gopeng, Perak. wonton noodles, curry mee, chicken hor fun (flat rice noodles) and prawn mee. To cater to the working crowd, the stall opens at the crack of dawn and could easily be sold out in the early afternoon. The early bird indeed catches the worm! Operating hours: 6am-11am Gopeng Heritage Trail he Gopeng heritage trail meanders past many impressive buildings. Gopeng is a heritage Gua Tempurung Ttown, regarded as the most important tin aving a thirst for adrenaline and adventure? Try Gua mining town of Kinta Valley during the late 19th Tempurung, nature’s wonder at our doorstep. It is century. For a self-guided tour, a heritage trail map can be obtained from Gopeng named ‘Tempurung’ due to its domes assembling Museum.The heritage trail features many attractions and heritage buildings such as the H Gopeng Museum, Hup Teik Soy Sauce Factory, Kampung Rawa, Wayang Lane, Man coconut shells. One of the largest and longest natural limestone caves in Peninsular Malaysia, the iconic cave Ming Chinese School, Oilow Club, Tseng Lung Hakka Association, Masjid Jamik, Straits contains five giant domes: Golden Flowstone Cavern, Trading Company, Kuil Sri Maha Mariamman, Gurdwara Sahib, Kheng Chow Hainanese 90 metres, Gergasi (Giant) Cavern, 15 metres, Tin Mine Association, Padang Besar, English School Gopeng, the 121-year-old Kon Yin temple, Cavern, Alam (Universe) Cavern, 72 metres and Battlefield temple wayang stage, Gopeng pipelines and the post office. Cavern, all believed to hark back to approximately 10,000 years ago. For the casual tourists, there are viewing platforms and Adeline guest house railings to minimise inconvenience as well as illumination ocated in the deep green forest of Kampung to highlight the cave’s majestic fairyland of shimmering Gerutum, Adeline Guest House is the place crystal deposits, stalagmites, stalactites, multi-tier ponds Lto go to ease your mind and get away from and volcano-like rocks. the hustle and bustle of city life. For the cave enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies, try spelunking in the cave to Jungle trekking, water rafting and abseiling challenge its almost vertical walls, slippery stones and chest-level underground crystal are some of the many outdoor activities available clear river. Happy caving! for all guests. With its very own fruit farm, guests Operating hours: 9am-4pm will get to eat all the fruits (depending on the season) while enjoying their time watching the birds and butterflies flying freely. Unique Craft Gallery in Gopeng Adeline is also famous for their scrumptious and delightful home-cooked meal that will make you come back for more. The owner, Miss Adeline is a proud foodie My Pride and she taught the staff to cook her recipes. Lemongrass chicken, Tenggas fish and re you looking for original art or prawns cooked with petai are just examples of Adeline’s signature dishes. handmade fine craft? At Gallery Although Adeline welcomes walk-in guests, it is advisable for readers to book My Pride you can connect directly beforehand. Adeline is located at Lot 13302, Mukim Teja, Kampung Geruntun, A Sungai Itik, 31600 Gopeng, Perak. Contact 05 359 2833 / 010 3667113 or email them to make purchases of your favourite crafts. Whether you are buying a handcrafted at [email protected] for reservations. gift for a friend or loved one, or searching for your own collection, the original and handmade selections you will discover HOGA Gaharu Tea Valley there are guaranteed to delight. The Pride Watch out for the next issue of Ipoh Echo where we will be writing in detail about this. was created to provide an outlet for the sale of artwork and crafts created by prisoners. Handicrafts, rattan products, Street Art fero cement products, batik, songket, iron products, ceramic products, furniture and Street art in Gopeng are painted by the locals to even food products are available here. give a fresh vibe to the so-called cowboy town. Galeri Produk Penjara RTC Gopeng, Lot 06/07, KM 16, Jalan Gopeng. They are painted between Jalan Pasar and Jalan Tel: 05 357 2761 Mon-Fri 8am-5pm Eu Kong. Visitors can simply walk along the town and take pictures of the creative paintings. Your Voice In The Community IPOH ECHO April 16-30, 2015 3 IPOHechoecho From the Editor’s Desk ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS By Fathol Zaman Bukhari This year the tussle for a seat on the committee will be less ‘thuggish’ thanks to an amended clause in the club’s constitution... arch and April are months earmarked for annual will not flinch even if hailstones fall on the club’s roof. But this is general meetings, better known by the abbreviation not the issue. What matters is the incoming committee which will MAGM, of societies and organisations registered take on the responsibility of managing the club for the 2015/2016 with the Registrar of Societies. They are required by law session. The committee serves for a year. Thus, the election of new to hold the stipulated annual meeting where the previous office bearers becomes a hotly contested event each passing year. year audited accounts are tabled and passed and the election Lobbying and cajoling members to vote for certain individuals of new office bearers held to take on the responsibility of have started long before the date for the annual meeting was fixed. managing the said society. This is done in a democratic Fortunately, I am not involved in this art of convincing members to fashion, albeit with a measure of trepidation when personal prefer someone of choice. It is expensive and, unless one has the interest comes into play. means, it is simply a wasteful venture that has no ending.