MANILA, Philippines – Malaysia is a diverse country that offers delicious food, an eclectic mix of Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures, iconic buildings (one of which is the Petronas Towers), and plenty of interesting places to see and experience.
But if you’re planning to see other places outside the bustling Kuala Lumpur, consider Ipoh and Cameron Highlands. Both places are easily accessible from the capital.
Charming Ipoh
If you’ve been to Penang in Malaysia, Ipoh had the same vibe — the old colonial epoch buildings, the food, and the art installations and murals.
Situated in Perak, Ipoh drew the attention of European powers because of its proximity to the tin-rich pits in its countryside. British mining companies moved their operations to Ipoh. They hired Chinese immigrants as their workers to extract ore from the surrounding areas.
The mining boom was part of the reason that led to the development of the city. Fast forward to today, the city government is pushing for sustainable tourism and revitalize its ecosystem that mining damaged over the last century.
More than a century has passed, and Ipoh’s local authorities have preserved the city’s architectural and historical heritage.
In exploring the city’s old town on foot, you’ll see some of Ipoh’s most important buildings, like the Birch Memorial Clock Tower that dates to 1909 as a tribute to Britain’s first resident of Perak, James Wheeler Woodford Birch.
Architect Arthur Benison Hubback designed some of the city’s most beautiful buildings, namely the Ipoh Town Hall, Railway Station, and the Old Post Office. These attention-grabbing structures follow the neoclassical-style design.
Art installations and murals also pop up in random places to revitalize a nondescript and rundown structure, a historic building or street, or simply to uplift the mood of passersby — quite similar to the photogenic street art scattered in Georgetown, Penang.
These depicted the country’s culture and scenes from local everyday life. Some of which were created by Ernest Zacharavic, the same artist that painted on the walls of Penang’s old town.
Kellie’s Castle is another relic of Perak’s colonial legacy. William Kellie-Smith, a Scotsman, made a fortune in the rubber and tin industries. He later married and raised a family with Agnes, a Scottish national. They decided to live in Malaya and had an opulent mansion built in the 1910s.
During construction, William Kellie-Smith succumbed to pneumonia. The mansion remained unfinished after his untimely death. It’s now a historic attraction which you can visit as a half-day trip from Ipoh.
Stunning limestone hills surround Ipoh, creating a beautiful backdrop, and within these hills are cave temples.
Sam Poh Tong is one of the biggest cave temples in the country. The serene atmosphere of the garden and cave temple, and the overlooking views make it an ideal stop for not just sightseeing, but also a bit of reflection.
Perak Tong is another noteworthy cave temple as one of its main draws is a golden Buddha statue that’s around 40 feet tall. Explore the cave temple complex and go up and down its hundreds of steps to visit gazebos and pavilions with scenic birds’ eye views. The temple also has various murals that depict Buddhist teachings.
Cool Cameron Highlands
After exploring Ipoh (or as an addition to your Kuala Lumpur itinerary), cool down and enjoy the chill — figuratively and literally — vibe of Cameron Highlands.
The British saw the potential of the area and developed it into a hill station in the 1940s. They named it after William Cameron who explored the highlands in the 1880s. The low temperatures of Cameron Highlands have allowed the locals to grow produce like strawberries and lettuce, and you can get a sample of them, too.
Cameron Highlands has tea gardens that tourists can visit, with guides who can discuss the history of the plantations and the process of producing tea.
A short hike through the Mossy Forest can also be a highlight in your Highlands trip. The forest had an aura of mystic because of the fog and the vegetation growing on rocks and trees.
The Cameron Highlands can be a cool and relaxing city break, contrasting the urban sprawl of Malaysia’s cities and their warm temperatures. Its accessibility from either Ipoh or the capital is a plus.
Many would just visit Malaysia’s capital — it helps that the country is an affordable destination — as Kuala Lumpur offers good food, cheap finds, efficient public transport system, and the usual shopping centers, parks, museums, and all the comforts of city living.
But you can visit Ipoh and Cameron Highlands as part of a long itinerary or for return trips, as Filipinos can visit the country without a visa, making it an ideal destination for first timers.
Exploring other places beyond Kuala Lumpur offers a wider Malaysian experience, and another glimpse of the many things the country has to offer. – Rappler.com