Ipoh – 14th to 15th July

This entry is just a quick(ish) one reflecting a quick(ish) stop. On my route from Georgetown to my next destination I decided to stop at a city called Ipoh. A lot of people skip it as it’s not hugely touristy but my research discovered a cool looking mosque and that was enough for me.

In Ipoh I checked into my hostel which was a cool looking cafe with a hostel stuck on top. With lovely big dorms and powerful AC, I was happy. I arrived late so packed by bag for the following day and headed to bed ahead of my day trip to the mosque.

My research successfully found the mosque but failed to identify the fact it wasn’t really in Ipoh. I’d found the relevant local bus which ran every 1hr 20m. I set off early and wolfed down some noodles for brekkie en route, before just about catching the bus. The two hour ride was pleasant, a few locals hopped on and off but it was never at all crowded.

Where Ipoh was clearly used to some tourists as a major city, the much smaller town of Kuala Kangsar, about 5 towns down the road, wasn’t. I hopped off the bus and was met by quite a few double takes. From the bus station it was about an hours walk to the mosque – I detoured through a market to grab some snacks – my entrance caused a moment of silence to fall upon the busy market.

I’d expected my walk to the mosque to be hot and a fairly boring trek. However I was only half right. It was hot, but it was also stunning, following a river most of the way under the periodic shade of towering ancient trees.

Once at the mosque I got chatting to the security guard who ended up giving me a guided tour around. First I donned my dress thing (sorry I don’t know the right term). Inside he explained the prayer board (with five clocks showing the times of prayer for the day), and gave a bit of history. The mosque was, surprisingly, designed by a British architect while under British rule. The inside was nice, but mosques tend to be far more impressive from the outside which this one was no exception to. My new friend then also ushered me to the stairs which led to the roof for another perspective of the mosque and getting up close and personal to its tower topping golden qubba.

But overall the mosque was enough of a sight to behold to make the stop worthwhile. Its white and golden facade somehow complicated the palm trees and stunning blue sky behind. 

With the mosque seen, and myself pretty content with the decision to venture out to it. I returned to Ipoh, took myself on another self-guided street art tour and headed to bed.

My short layover was over, and it was time to head to find more relief from the heat. That’s right we’re heading back to the highlands.