My Perak Vacation 2019




Eiyo friends,


I just got back from my Perak vacation last week. That's why I haven't been blogging for almost 2 weeks. Today, I am back to share with you my Perak vacation, in a short and simple account.

To foreigners who haven't heard of or been to Perak, let me share with you a little summary about Perak. Perak is the fourth largest state in Malaysia. The state is situated on the northwest side of Peninsular Malaysia. Perak was, once upon a time, famous for tin mining. Perak's administrative capital is Ipoh, while Kuala Kangsar is the royal town, i.e. where the Sultan of Perak's palace is located.

During my Perak vacation, I visited Lumut, Batu Gajah, Pangkor Island, Taiping, and Pasir Salak. In this post, I'm gonna share with you some information on these five places. Now let's get started...


1) Lumut

Lumut is a coastal town in the Manjung District. Lumut is 84km away from Ipoh, and 12km away from the town of Sitiawan. Lumut is the main gateway to Pangkor Island. Travelers can take a ferry ride from Lumut Waterfront to Pangkor Island. Lumut is famous for seashells and coral handicrafts. Lumut was once a small fishing town, but now the government of Perak has developed the coastal town into a tourism spot and a home base of the Royal Malaysian Navy.  I stayed at the Swiss Villa in the Swiss-Garden Beach Resort, Damai Laut which has a beautiful beach to watch the sunset. I also Around the vicinity is another lovely beach, Teluk Senangin, where backpackers can set up camp easily.  For those who enjoy shopping, the Aeon Mall Sri Manjung is quite well furnished with familiar shops and eateries.

Swiss-Garden Beach Resort. This is where we stayed in Lumut.



With my Mom and Dad at Damai Laut


We spotted a jellyfish on the beach


Beautiful sunset at Damai Laut


I love this picture a lot! The tree really glows!


The Halloween decor at Aeon Mall Sri Manjung


At Teluk Senangin





2) Batu Gajah

Batu Gajah is the capital of the Kinta District. Batu Gajah was also famous for tin mining during the British colonial days. The small town has many British colonial buildings that are lovely to look at, such as the old courthouse which is now part of the District Office, and some portions of the Batu Gajah Hospital. My visit to Batu Gajah is like going down memory lane with my dad who resided there as an impressionable young boy. In fact, he began his primary school in the English School, Pusing, which is currently Sekolah Kebangsaan Pusing.  The old house in the police housing complex in front of the renown Sultan Yusof School is now gone, but the Hindu temple in front of which he used to wait for the bus to go to school in Pusing, is still standing.  My aunties used to go to St Bernadette Convent, and now it is Sekolah Kebangsaan St Bernadette. The old railway station now functions as shophouses, since the station has been moved to Kampong Pisang.

One of the main attractions in Batu Gajah is Kellie's Castle. The castle is actually an unfinished mansion. It was built by a Scottish rubber plantation owner named Sir William Kellie Smith during the British colonial times in Malaysia. Sir William Kellie Smith built the castle for his beloved wife, Agnes, but he died of illness before the mansion was completed. Upon his death, his wife moved back to Scotland and so the mansion project was abandoned and mysteriously remained like a "broken dream." And as with most uncompleted old buildings,  the castle is said to be haunted.

At Kellie's Castle


At Kellie's Castle


With Sir William Kellie Smith's poster (he is the man who built Kellie's Castle)


In front of the old courthouse. Now it's part of the district office.


This place was once the Batu Gajah train station


Laksa Sarang- one of the most famous dishes in Perak




3) Pangkor Island

Pangkor Island is one of the most beautiful islands in Malaysia. It is also a resort island located in Manjong District.  Pangkor Island is known for its beautiful beaches like Pasir Bogak, Teluk Nipah, Coral Bay, and Pasir Giam. From the jetty at the Lumut Waterfront, we took a half an hour ferry ride to Pangkor Island. With a rented car we drove up to the beautiful floating mosque, the Masjid Al- Badr Seribu Selawat in Kampung Teluk Gedong, as well as the nearby Dutch Fort. The Dutch Fort is a historical landmark in Pangkor Island and was built in 1670 by the Dutch East India Company (VOC) during their occupation of the Malay States. The fort was built as a storage and protection for tin supplies. Overall, Pangkor Island is a beautiful island to visit especially for those who love nature and water sports. Pangkor Island is a good place for snorkeling, kayaking and island hopping, and famous for the gorgeous ikan bilis mata biru (blue-eyed dried anchovies).


Beautiful Pangkor Island


The Masjid Al- Badr Seribu Selawat in Kampung Teluk Gedong


This mosque is so spectacular!


At The Dutch Fort





4) Taiping

Taiping is an urban town in Perak. It is also Perak's second largest town after Ipoh. Taiping is known for its well preserved colonial architecture. We visited the beautiful Taman Tasik Taiping (Taiping Lake Gardens) which is the first public garden established during British rule.  It was raining heavily when we visited, and of course,  Taiping isn't Taiping without a downpour. That made us scrambled to the nearby Taiping Mall and the Novotel for a delicious Malaysian hi-tea with roti jala and chicken curry, samosa, cakoi, curry puffs and sago gula Melaka.

At Taman Tasik Taiping


At Taiping Mall. Gosh!!!!! I love this ferries wheel.


Malaysian Hi-Tea at Novotel Taiping.




5) Pasir Salak

Pasir Salak is a historical riverside town in the Perak Tengah District. Pasir Salak is the place where British colonial official J.W.W Birch was killed. Birch was the first British Resident in Perak. He was assassinated on 2 November 1875 by Dato Maharaja Lela (a Malay nationalist in Perak) and Sepuntum (Dato Maharaja Lela's assistant) for disrespecting the local customs and traditions, which raised tensions with local Malay chiefs. Dato Maharaja Lela and Sepuntum speared Birch to death when he was taking a bath at a river near Pasir Salak.

In Pasir Salak, we visited Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak (Pasir Salak Historical Complex/ KSPS). KSPS is a historical folk museum that pays tribute to Malaysian warriors such as Dato Sagor and Dato Maharaja Lela, who led the local people against the forces of the British colonial administration. KSPS was officially opened in 2004. The complex is a pleasant compound of traditional Malay architecture buildings and it is built alongside Sungai Perak (Perak River). The main attraction at KSPS in the Terowong Sejarah Pasir Salak (Pasir Salak Historical Time Tunnel/ TSPS). TSPS is a museum with a series of dioramas inside arranged in chronological order. The dioramas are interesting and tell us the history of the Malay nationalism in Perak as well as some nationalistic incidents in other parts of Malaysia.

Other attractions at the complex include a watchtower, Belotah stage (harvest dance), the Lela Rentaka (an antique cannon used by Malay people), the Rumah Kutai (a traditional Perak house), and a wooden mosque. This complex is an interesting spot to visit; in fact, it is a must-visit in terms of its historical significance. The only snag is it needs a facelift and a proper marketing and promotion strategy.

At Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak



Terowong Sejarah Pasir Salak


Sungai Perak


Puteri Perak Costume


The road to Pasir Salak is so green and serene with padi fields.




These are the five places I visited in Perak.  During my road journey, I also noted many vacant shop lots and tourist spots that are in dire need of improvement and maintenance in this state. I think the concerned authorities, such as the state government and local councils, need to work harder to spruce up the state and market Perak further to attract visitors. Overall, Perak is a beautiful and interesting state that has the potential to be developed for historical and cultural tourism, as well as a foodie paradise. With good vision, proper planning, and strategic management,  Insya'Allah, one day Perak will be a famous tourist hub with loads of local and international tourists.

That's all for now. Thank you for reading.

XoXo,

Fadima Mooneira

#Perak #Lumut #SwissGardenBeachResort #DamaiLaut #AeonMallSriManjung #TelukSenangin #BatuGajah #KelliesCastle #PangkorIsland #MasjidAlBardSeribuSelawat #TheDutchFort #Taiping #TamanTasikTaiping #TaipingMall #NovotelTaiping #PasirSalak #KompleksSejarahPasirSalak #CutiCutiMalaysia #MyTravelDiaries #Travel #FadimaMooneiraBlogspot 









Comments

  1. Nice post travelling to Perak & covering some many places of interests with your family. I'm never fond of Kellie Castle as it gave me the creeps - been there once & won't wanna go back there again.

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    1. Really? What happened back then? I am interested to read mystic stories. Hehehe.

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  2. Belum sempat jelajah seluruh perak lagi. Sempat jalan-jalan ke tambun je sebelum ni. Banyak juga tempat menarik kat sana kan. Thanks sharing bolh masuk dalam list lepas ni hee

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    1. Saya pun belum sampai seluruh Perak. Next target Berlum or Tambun. Hehehe.

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  3. Aww, wonderful post! While I was reading I thought that I am there! Great overview of the city and wonderful sharing of your experience! It makes me wanna be there right now! Love your pictures! ��

    Your Beauty World | https://yourbeautyworld.home.blog

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    1. Thank you for your complements. Glad you feel it. I hope you will travel to Malaysia in the future. I will be happy to host you.

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  4. Semuanya saya dah pergi. Perak memang best. Saya pernah tinggal di Perak selama 11 tahun, lepas tu baru pindah ke Kedah. Memang tak jemu kalau pusing-pusing di perak ni.

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    1. Wah!!!!!!! 11 years in Perak. Kiranya Perak nie Dah macam kampung you lah eh. Yup, Perak is an interesting state. Ada potensi utk jadik tourist hub. Kita Malaysian bloggers kena promote tempat2 menarik di Malaysia to foreigners. We have so many interesting places in Malaysia.

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  5. Wah.. dlm banyak banyak gambar tertarik dengan laksa sarang tu. tak pernah jumpa dan rasa lagi macam mane rasa laksa sarang ni. perhaps one fine day

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    1. The laksa sarang is sedap-licious. You can try it at Gerai Oppah Laksa Perak.

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  6. Banyak tempat menarik dekat perak ni..Pernah pergi Kellie juga, masjid tu pernah pergi..syok sangat..nanti nak terjah perak lagi

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    1. True! Perak is very interesting. We should promote Perak to foreign tourist too.

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  7. pasir salak je saya belum pernah pi. perak has significant memories for me, I studied in Perak, specifically university petronas.

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    1. You should visit Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak. The museum is very interesting.

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  8. Thanks for sharing! Never been to Perak except only for Ipoh ( But still Perak ) Let's plan a trip together next time!!! I will definitely visit the place you visited. Looks fun & beautiful.

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  9. Wahhh banyak juga tempat menarik di Perak. Boleh la nanti jalan jalan sini.

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  10. I went to Perak last March. I went to Royal Belum Rainforest, Kuala Kangsar and Taiping. Indeed Perak is very interesting for nature lovers. Kuala Kangsar got nice palace and mosque to see. Taiping is so green and nature.

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  11. Negeri Perak memang banyak tempat bersejarah dan menarik yang boleh dilawati. Dalam list cuma pernah sampai ke Pangkor Island sahaja. Kellie Castle blom sampai. Boleh la pergi tempat2 yang dinyatakan tadi. Thanks!

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  12. Bestnya... banyak juga location yang dah difacelift gitu... memang bagus untuk menjadikan ia lebih menarik... most of the places kat Perak tu alhamdulillah saya dah jejak cuma Kellie's Castle tu je... hehehehe... sebab dok ingat macam scary gitu... bolehlah nanti plan untuk ke sana...

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    1. Hehehe......... scary factor tu lah yg buat Kellie’s Castle menarik.

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  13. Seems like lots of fun, I shall follow your itinerary too, planning a family trip with my kids to the beach and Lumut seems like a nice choice

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  14. Rindunya Perak. Suka bila dapat jalan2 dengan keluarga macam ni. Dulu belajar kat Perak tapi tak habis pusing pun. Bolehlah next time ke tempat yang tak pernah pergi seperti pasir salak tu. Cantik pemandangan nak ke sana

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  15. Thanks for introducing Perak and sharing your vacation! I'm always on the lookout for new and not so traversed tourist destinations

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    1. Pls travel to Malaysia. You will discover a lot of wonderful places here.

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  16. Bestnye sis..sy xpernah sampai perak lg,rupanya banyak tempat-tempat yg menarik kat sana😍nak ajak asben bcuti kat sana la hjung tahun ni hihihi

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  17. Uuu some of the places you mentioned, I never known about it. Perak to be honest don't really outstanding in term of tourism and I wonder that they have easy access to public transport so easy for locals and non locals to travel to the pretty places?

    Hehe I didn't really drive tho.

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    1. Perak is a state Rich with cultural and historical background. Perak has the potential to become a tourism hub. But the government need to do something to develop the state better and promote it as a tourist hub.

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  18. It's soo beautiful there!! Thank you for sharing; your pictures made me feel like I was there. Definitely adding to my travel bucket list!

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    1. Thank you. Hope you will travel to Malaysia in the future.

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  19. Wut a good write up Fatin! Pictures yg u pakai sumer nyek breathtaking. Looks like dah byk tempat u visit di Perak. I org Perak pun x sumer tempat neh i dah visit. Setiap balik Ipoh, i only jjln Ipoh n Taiping. Lumut and Pangkor dah pnah lah visit. Tapi Pasir Salak x pnah lagi. Readin ur blog makes me wanna visit the Kompleks Sejarah Pasir Salak. Overall good write up dear.

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    1. Thank you. Kompleks Sejarah tu is a good place to visit. Akak lah Hardy. Hehehe. Tq for your compliments btw.

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  20. Good travelog!!!!!!!!!!!!! The write-up is good and the pictures are just so beautiful to look at. Good job mate!

    -Hezliyana-

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    1. Thank you for your compliments and thank you for promoting this post on your Twitter. XoXo

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  21. Sounds like a wonderful trip! Love the photos and your itinerary. Thank you for the insight.

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  22. Perak memang kita banyak tempat suka pergi terutama yang Kellie's Castle tu tapi rindu nak pergi Pangkor lama tak pergi dengar dah berubah banyak sana...

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