Going To Town Hall In Ipoh

The town hall in Ipoh is one of the city's iconic landmarks, a neo-classical white beauty designed by AB Hubback and built in 1914. It sits across from the railway station, another fine building designed by Hubback.

Gazing up at the center portico.

Heading inside, a glimpse at current local royalty. Grand staircase to the upper floor.

The building is used for concerts, wedding, receptions, parties.

Details. A chandelier in the stairwell and a Sultan.

Paneled patina and plenty of plush.

Touring The Perak Kaying Building In Ipoh

You can get a good sense of history by drifting through a typical office building in Ipoh, a place that's been around 50 or so years. Enough time to show a little history through its tenants.

Front lobby.

A picture of the office building when it was new, a nice example of mid-century modernism. The directory.

Office space for lease. Ghosts of past tenants.

Bathroom signs, fantastic graphics.

One of the floors now hosts a Chinese clan house, a meeting place for an extended Chinese family. Stage area.

Work station and tea station.

A sign of the struggling building. 

Portraits In Ipoh, Part Two

Continuing a survey of the fine people of Ipoh.

Cartoony shirt and a pink wall, you can't go wrong. She drives a school bus.

Small shop owner at the bus station. Parking lot guard.

By the river.

Cafe cook, color coordinated with her gas cylinders. A man takes a moment from busy gabbing with his friends at lunch.

The supreme toy store employee.

The Many Murals In Ipoh

Murals seem to be all the rage in Malaysia, a requirement if you want your city to appear hip to tourists and cool to the kids. What you got, Ipoh?

Some sort of kid, animal mashup. Chicken riding a cow, sure.

A modern design, including painting the blocks and utility lines. Whoa, 3D. Bruce Lee, curiously long, bulky neck. Foreground bear aliens. OK.

Imitation and commerce creeping in. An Ernest Zacharevic rip-off and an Uber delivery service plug. Blue sack to be replaced with a 4pak Starbucks tray of lattes soon. 

Hinting at propoganda, kids joyfully playing while adults tap rubber trees and a smiling field worker. Insert hammer and sickle here.

Curious mural that's an ode to family. Evidently, smelling hands and rubbing feet are ultimate homages.

Up with cute youth, whether on a team of looking like adorable cartoon kids.

Clowntime is over. A damning portrait of the now defeated and disgraced former prime minister, Najib Razak. Boo hoo. 

Portraits In Ipoh, Part One

Time to turn to the lovely people of Ipoh and see who's who.

This gentleman cuts fabric that's used for mattress making. Hard, hot work.

Toy store employee. Retired man, by the river.

At the lunch cafe.

Outside a hospital, waiting for his mother. Mr. Garlic.

Woman with, what her son exclaimed, "natural" hair. Go, girl.

RIP The Rex Movie Theater In Ipoh

Rex was a movie theater chain in Malaysia that seems to have faded to black. What remains are various theaters, some re-purposed, some closed, some both. In Ipoh, there's an Art Deco beauty that gives hints of its history.

Saturday nights at the Rex, must have been a time.

Delightful Deco details. An external staircase enclosure, all graphic lines below iconic porthole windows. The interior of the enclosure, strewn with recent spotty history.

Columned, tiered lobby.

A closer look at the column detailing. Upstairs, heavy augmentation. The balcony was closed and stripped, a false ceiling installed to make the theater one level. An eerie exposure.

Downstairs, seats gone, some sort of aqua, nature theme. Nightclub? Travel agent?

Night In Ipoh City

Sun goes down, dining and shopping come out, all better in the lesser heat of the night.

Lit Chinatown of Ipoh.

What's good? Some boiled chicken with chili sauce.

Another look at the mini neon-like show along the avenue.

Video boards are useful, whether showing your patriotism or specialty food item.

Done eating, time to hit the night market.

Good stuff for sale. Get your ounce of perfume from a Costco-looking bottle or imagine Your Foot Here in some sandals.

Noir dreams, a formal dress in a glowing window.