The Tudor Villa 30 Dec 2020 - 1 Jan 2021

Alvin was the one who booked the Tudor Hotel. We prefer to search for exceptional stays when we are looking for a hotel. And occasionally we are lucky enough to locate a decent price that allows us to stay in one of those amazing locations! I admit that I was first a little skeptical because I don't wear hotel style.

We arrived early after we had our early Dim Sum breakfast, the hotel looked great from the outside. Additionally, even though the reception was closed, the security man who was on duty was aware of our arrival and was able to give us the keys to our room. Easy and quick to do!

The entire house, including the entrance, is very remarkable. You wouldn't quite expect the "very British indeed" style in Malaysia. The detail is what makes this so charming.

Whether it's the exquisite chandelier that hangs from the five-meter (18-foot) high ceiling or the Knight in Armor that welcomes you as you up the curved staircase. There's a ton of tremendous discovery. Almost all of the items in the entryway are available for purchase. Undoubtedly, fascinating mementos from Malaysia!

When the Tudor was first constructed in 1980, it was a secluded, extravagant, octagonal house for a pilot's cherished family. The turtle, which is seen as a symbol of longevity, good fortune, and happiness in many cultures, served as the original inspiration for the design of the house.

 

Standing tallest in the neighborhood and facing east, the house provides a stunning view of the whole community garden, accompanied by a gorgeous mountain backdrop and an amazing dawn.

To turn the house into a stunning, enchanting, and retro castle, we went to tremendous lengths to retain every interior detail. The Tudor is a luxurious property filled with charm that will make you feel perfectly at home as soon as you enter.

Above all, Tudor provide comfort and relaxation along with tranquil surroundings, attentive service, a warm, welcoming atmosphere, and peace of mind. A real home away from home, that is!

The bottom floor, which comprises family suites and the main lobby, is illuminated by a bronze crystal chandelier that hangs from an eighteen-foot ceiling. The attic rooms, a family room, and double rooms are on the first floor. An amazing curved staircase composed of exquisite original solid wood banisters leads to the first floor's rooms.

We booked a 2-bedroom family suite with a living area. It is located on the ground floor. Our family suite had a beautiful design. Above all, everything was spotless! Anything that holds great significance for me. There is nothing to be unhappy about because everything was excellent.

The living area with 2 seater sofa besides a vanity counter and mirror.

The TV console complete complimentary coffee, tea condiments & mineral water.

Smaller Double Bedroom in our Family Suite.

A water dispenser is located in the entryway. We truly appreciate that this gives guests free water and contributes to less plastic waste. A mutually beneficial arrangement.

Every room has a mini-fridge, a safe deposit box, a hairdryer, a TV (but sadly only one station was in English), a kettle, and other amenities. Additionally, there is tea and 3-in-1 coffee, and WiFi.

Overall we have a lovely good stay at the Tudor Villa. We enjoyed our stay very much and were happy that we booked for 2 nights.

Ipoh Food Trial 31 Dec 2020

After visiting the Han Chin Pet Soo, it was already 12.30 pm and it was time for us to look for our lunch. Due to it was lunch time, thus there were so many eateries in the Kopitiam. We had a simple lunch at one of the restaurant along Jalan Panglima. It was a quick lunch and we did not take any photos at all! Imagine how hungry we were!

Then we went down to the street and came to the Restoran Li Heng Fatt which famous for its Hor Hee. Hor Hee noodles is an Ipoh delicacy I can say. Basically it is noodle in a fish soup base, with small fish balls, thinly sliced fish cakes, crunchy tong choy, bean sprouts and savoury sui kao which is fish wonton, and served with sliced bird’s eye chili drenched in light soy sauce. We just ordered one to try the original good Hor Hee at Ipoh. We also ordered a bowl of hot and steamy flavourful soup with fish balls and meat balls for sharing.

After Hor Hee, we decided to go back to the Funny Mountain Soya Bean that we missed yesterday. Funny Mountain is listed as the best Tau Fu Fah in Ipoh. The uniqueness of this shop is that they only serve traditional silky smooth Tau Fu Fah with only sugar syrup with a faint hint of ginger only. They do not serve other kind of sugar syrups like other shops around Ipoh. Besides, Tau Fu Fah, they serve soya bean milk or Tau Cheong Sui, Cincau drink and Soya Cincau as well. We tried  and so far this is the best comforting simplicity bowl of Tau Fu Fah and it was smooth and literally melt in mouth.

Next stop we were heading to Deen CT Corner Cendol. There were already few customers waiting to order their cendols when we reached there. It has been so long time since I sat by a footpath pavement eating something our of a metal bowl. We ordered the standard cendol with added corns, adzuki beans on it. Alvin added glutinous rice into the mix. It is something that we never try before.

A decent place to have a bow of cendol under the hot sun! We went back to hotel to take rest after our early exploration from morning till our afternoon dessert time. It was so tiring due to the hot weather!

In the evening after refreshing and taken bath and enough cooling air-conditioning rest in the hotel, we came out again to hunt for our dinner. This time we drove a little further to Bercham. It is a small town around Ipoh. We Went to Restoran Different Taste at Taman Desa Kencana, Bercham.

It is much talk restaurant with glass noodles with big crab with another restaurant named Restaurant Rasa Lain in Bercham too. We ordered the signature glass noodles with crab. The crab was large and the broth were tasty and peppery. The taste was subtle and Chinese. There is the Thai version with very sharp taste. The flavours and sauces were concentrated and the glass noodles was baked till almost dry.

The Asam fish head using the Garupa fish head cut into chunks and cooked in a dry Asam gravy with the usual smattering of vegetables, ladies fingers, long beans and tomatoes. The taste was good and we can taste a tint of Thai flavours in the dish. We ordered the steamed parang fish balls too. The fish balls were so bouncy and juicy. The food were so tasty that we just snap a photo of our dinner only. Will definitely come back if we come to Ipoh again!

Han Chin Pet Soo Ipoh 31 Dec 2020

After our Ho Yan Hor Museum visit, we just noticed that uniqueness of the building next door. We were wondering if this Han Chin Pet Soo can enter, because the main door was closed.

So co-incidentally the tour guide came out from the door and welcomed us. He guided us to make a tour booking thru the designated app. It was due to this Covid-19 pandemic season too.

We were invited in and the story of Han Chin Pet Soo or Han Chin Villa at No. 3 Jalan Bijeh Timah (Treacher Street), Ipoh have been revealed to us by the tour guide.

It starts on 5th May 1893 when mining Towkey Leong Fee formed the Han Chin Tin Miners’ Club in a double-storey shophouse where the Villa stands today.

The club membership was restricted to Hakka miners and it was a place where they could connect with their colleagues and friends from home, smoke opium, and entertain “dancing girls”.

They could also gamble legally, with approval from the District Magistrate, Kinta. Lodging house facilities were also available for make relatives and Hakka friends.

In 1927 the club bought the building from Leong’s son and in 1929 rebuilt it into the unique structure today. On the 5th May 1930, their 37th anniversary, they held a house-warming party to celebrate their new home.

At the back portion of the building at ground floor, there is a former bedroom has been converted into a cinema screening an 11 minute black and white documentary which produced in Hollywood in the 1930s called ‘Tin From the Malayan Jungle’. It explains the various methods of tin mining.

It displays some of the products of tins. Tin used to be a monetary system in the ancient time as the traders used to trade. And it came in different interesting forms and shapes according to different kingdoms and time.

Tins were used to produce some of other products and variety usage in the past even till now from decorative items to electronic components because it is a good isolator.

There is a huge mural paintings,life-sized mannequins, authentic tools and equipment that were used during that period.

At the back yard of the ground floor, there is a miniature of the livelihood of a miner during that time.

It give us some ideas or illustrations how were the days back in time as a miner’s life of those glory days.

We went up to the first floor of the building, where it was a place for the miners to smoke the opium and place for them to gamble at those time.

It seems as those time, being involved in the 4 evils namely opium, gambling, prostitution and the triads or secret societies were the things that the entertainments that they enjoy among the Hakka tin miners.

One very special rule over here is wives were not allowed inside the club, except for mistresses or concubines.

On the top floor of the building is a gallery dedicated to the history and background of the Hakkas and how they ended up in Malaysia. The Hakkas are described as ‘The Jews of Asia’ reflecting their migrations over the centuries from China.

There is a typical resting room at the top floor for the towkays and another room displays all the automobile history during that era.

Interestingly we saw a photo of the Sir William Kellie with his wife Agnes on an antique car of those photos.

On the way from the top floor down to the ground floor, the tour guide shown us an antique safe during those era with a real block of tin in the safe, which might costs about RM3,000 according to the market price now.

We were guided to the ground floor main hall again, where there is a huge and long dining table and dining chairs. It was told that all the miners were having dining here and chit-chatting at the same time. There is a photo of Hakka dishes on the wall.

There are a pair of infinite mirror on the both side of the wall which make the reflective surface of the two mirrors, make it an infinity never ending looks.

It was about a hour and a half tour in the Han Chin Pet Soo and it was an opportunity that we rare to have to go inside a well preserved heritage building in Malaysia that has faithfully retained its original look and purpose.

In 2013, due to a dwindling membership, the club was leased to ipohWorld who spent more than one year carefully restoring the building and fitting it out with a museum-quality exhibition.

Guests may visit the club and exhibition by appointment and there are up to four appointments available per day with a maximum number of 40 guests per appointment.