Elaine's Tender Loving Cakes: IPOH KELLIE'S CASTLE

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

IPOH KELLIE'S CASTLE

29/12/2013

As this was Mr and Mrs Lee's first visit, we went for a 3days/2 nights trip up to the historical towns of Malaysia.. Ipoh and Penang.

After a very late night, it was relaxing to sit back and enjoyed the view as the driver took us up North. Our first stop was to Kellie's Castle in Batu Gajah. There has been much publicity and promotion about this place by the tourism board.

Kellie's Castle was built in 1915 by William Kellie Smith. a Scot who arrived to work in Malaysia as an engineer in the 1890. He made his fortune tin mining (Kinta Kellas Tin Dredging Company) and went back to Scotland to marry his sweetheart. Upon return to Malaysia he started to build the castle in 1915. Unfortunately he died at the age of 56 due to pneumonia. His wife was so devastated and the family moved back to Scotland. (adapted from Wikipedia).

The fusion of Scottish, Moorish and Indian architecture.

The ruined castle has been spruced up and lets hope it will be properly maintain and upkeep too! Entrance fees is RM5.00 per pax.

The ghostly corridors..... where you can hear the murmurs at night..

Intricate stone carvings - these can be found on most of the walls in the rooms

Playing hide and seek among the numerous rooms and finally getting a panoramic view of the surroundings from the battlement

legacy of a bygone age - room showing the elegant furnishings

Next pitstop - Ipoh Poached Chicken and Taugeh (beansprouts)

The driver recommended this restaurant to us.... and it was good as we managed to finish a whole chicken!

You can see this shop is equally famous as can be seen from the photos adorning the walls- yes even Raymond Lam... TVB popular artist has patronised this shop! Eunice's parents liked the chicken and taugeh!

I was surprised that the driver did not know this place... but thankfully he managed to get us there...

patiently waiting in line for..... very yummy freshly baked kaya puffs!

The railway station of Ipoh before we moved on to the ...

Ipoh Perak Caves

Finally on our way to Penang after this.. and arrived in the early evening.

Took them to see the Snake Temple.... and they are truly fascinated by the legend of those snakes residing in the temple.

Can you spot them?.... ie the snakes writhing and resting on the ciku trees in the temple grounds.

We decided to check into the hotel before dinnertime.

Very spacious and serene room ....for one person.....

The driver recommended that we try the local fare at the Gurney Drive... too crowded and touristsy for me... and the food pretty ordinary...am I being short-change?