ipoh

Another one nighter in this town. A device merely to break up the long bus journey from the Cameron Highlands to Hat Yai. Ipoh (curiously named after a tree which secretes poisonous sap) was also once as the "City of Millionaires" and "the town that tin built" as vast fortunes made during the boom of the tin mining and rubber industries. Some of the magnificient buildings date from this era, at the turn of the 20th century. In parts of the town there is a distinctly colonial feel with wide games parks, churches and the last remnants of the British time.

On the day of our arrival it poured and poured. On the day of our departure it was blisteringly hot. Too hot in fact to walk very far but we put in a fair effort. There were a few things to see but not much. It is a city in decline; economically and in terms of population.

My favourite place was an old Chinese run bar-come-restaurant where all the European adventurers and rogues would congregate after a hard days fortune seeking. It was as if the place were frozen in time. The 1920's. All old adverts, pictures, ceiling fans and heavy furniture. It had a very interesting feel. I could imagine the number of intrigues that took place there, the fist fights, the fortunes made, the fortunes lost, the dreams of home.

A pleasant enough town. A night there sufficed before getting back on the bus to cross the border back into Thailand. I liked Malaysia in many ways. It is a modern place where they have managed to achieve greatly equality, in terms of wealth, than say Thailand. Even though it is the year of tourism, there wasn't a lot to really excite me. The cater well for tourism but they lack the natural warmth of Thai's. I was shocked to read that Malaysia receives two million more tourists annually than Thailand. Oh, and it is one hell of a problem trying to buy pork!