Cherating
To many, Cherating is synonymous with Club Med since Asia’s first Club Med is located here. It has one of the finest beaches in the East Coast. Situated only 47 km from Kuantan, it is unique feature is the rustic atmosphere and the warm hospitality of the village folk. Cherating also offers you the chance to shop for handicraft where Village maidens nimbly weave the pandanus leaves into mats, hats, bags and other inexpensive lightweight souvenirs.
Kelantan
The best place to appreciate Kelantanese culture and crafts is the capital city, Kota Bharu. A bustling town famed for its ornately decorated trishaws, Kota Bharu offers numerous attractions for the visitors. Located on Jalan Mahmud close to the Perdana Hotel, the cultural centre is a veritable showcase of the living heritage of Kelantan. Demonstrations of popular folk arts and pastimes are held daily. Wayang Kulit (shadow puppetry) shows, Silat (the Malay art of self defence) performances, Gasing (Top spinning) displays, Wau (Kite flying) and Rebana (Giant Drum) playing can all be seen at the centre. Evenings see cultural performances featuring traditional Malay music and Wayang Kulit.
Kellie’s Castle
About 30 minutes drive from Ipoh, near Batu Gajah, stands the ruins of Kellie’s Castle. It belonged to William Kellie Smith, an English rubber tycoon during the late 19th century. The castle was never completed as Smith left for England in the midst of its construction, and never returned. Shrouded in dark mystery, it is believed that Kellie’s Castle has hidden rooms and a secret tunnel. The road which leads to the Castle follows the contours of the land in dizzying, maze-like fashion, adding to the mystery and romance of the place.
Ipoh City Tour
Don’t miss out to explore the wonderful Perak city embedded with historical elements during the times before Malaysia gain its independence status. Ipoh is the third city of Malaysia. It’s a relatively wealthy city, which earned its fortunes on the tin trade. Ipoh has become a modern metropolis home to over half a million people. It was once a great tin mining centre but today it is the main tourist gateway in the state. It has several good museums and limestone cave temples to explore and excellent attractions you must see including Sam Poh Tong. This famous cave temple is the Sam Poh Tong temple, located in Gunung Rapat, 5 km south of Ipoh. The temple is an impressive work of art and faith, with various statues of Buddha among natural stalactites and stalagmites. There is also a pond where visitors can feed tortoises, (symbol of longevity) with stalks of vegetables and a wishing well for those seeking better fortunes. Outside the temple is a vegetarian restaurants.
Perak Royal Museum
Previously known as Istana Kenangan, Istana Tepas and Istana Lembah, the Perak Royal Museum is an amazing achievement in architecture. It was built without any architectural plans and without using a single nail. Situated near the Istana Iskandariah, the Sultan of Perak’s official palace at Kuala Kangsar, the museum houses the Royal Regalia, photographs of the Royal Family, illustrations and artefacts of the past and present monarchy in Perak.
Batu Caves
First discovered over 100 years ago, the Batu Caves have never ceased to attract visitors. Only 13 km north of Kuala Lumpur, they consist of three main caves and a number of smaller ones. The best known of these caves is the Temple Cave, a large cavern with a vaulted ceiling about 100 metres above the floor. To reach it one has to climb 272 steps, a feat performed by many Hindus on the way to the caves to offer prayers to their revered deities. Every year, on Thaipusam, as many as 800,000 devotees and other visitors may throng the caves. As a form of penance or sacrifice, many of them carry kavadis. These are large, brightly decorated frameworks, usually combined with various metal hooks and skewers which are used to pierce the skin, cheeks and tongue. A little below the Temple Cave is the Dark Cave, a two-kilometre long network of relatively untouched caverns containing a large number of cave animals, including several found nowhere else in the world!
Natural limestone caves with monkeys, waterlily fish ponds and tortoises at Perak’s heritage Chinese temple.
The first thing after arriving in Ipoh is to come to Sam Poh Tong to pay respect to granny. The temple is quiet in the morning, and has many monkeys.
