Magnificent limestone caves, unknown forests, glassy lakes, picturesque valleys- Perak is somehow still under the international tourists radar. To the locals however, it is a great motley of coffee shops, beautiful architecture and history.
Located on the North Westerly part of Peninsular Malaysia, Perak once-upon-a-time was world famous for its tin-mining. Tin mining however ceased operations in the 1980s due to high production cost, but low demand.
The rugged swathe of the state of Perak is heaven for trekkers and naturalists.
Drive there (car rentals are reasonably priced in Malaysia) or hop on public buses, Perak will definitely be worthwhile.
This time I’ll take you on a journey off the beaten track, boutique accommodations and homestay and some absolutely amazing places for heavenly traditional Perak food!
One thing must rave about Perak is its friendly people. Perak is filled with great people. You’ll be charmed by their warm welcome and lovely smiles.
I’m honoured to be part of the team through Gaya Travel and Tourism Perak to explore the off the beaten path Perak.
PERKAMPUNGAN WARISAN BUDAYA PULAU MISA MELAYU
Stepping into Pulau Misa Malay Cultural And Heritage Village feels like stepping back in time to the early Malay kingdom. The entire surroundings were charming. The community was very friendly and hospitable. Men in Malay traditional costumes wore ‘tanjak’, a headgear known to have been used over 600 years ago in the era of the Malacca Sultanate. Food was shared and consumed directly on trays, without plates, just like the olden days.
Pulau Misa is located along Sungai Perak, which once was well known for its mystery and its contribution to the socio-cultural economy and the history of Perak Malays.
Horseback archery was an activity that captivated me. Witnessing 12 year old Suci galloping on her favourite horse, Seroja, launched the arrows from her bow while Seroja went at full speed totally blew my mind! I had a go at archery, not mounted though 😂😂 Her mum taught me how to use the bow and arrow and fire them accurately.
Kayaking into the famous Sungai Perak, boating at sunset, learning how to make the ‘tanjak’ other than traditional games of sepak takraw, ‘silat’ and live traditional music performances are the activities offered. The traditional art of ‘khat’ is also on display.
Come on weekends to enjoy the cultural performances. Pulau Misa will definitely take you back in time. Credits to its community bringing back the olden Malay traditions to live!
completely free hand.
ISTANA RAJA SINGGAH SEMAN
Have you heard of the history of Raja Reman from the Kingdom of Pattani in the 1800s? I haven’t until I visited Istana Singgah Raja Reman, a palatial residence, the pride of the Kingdom of Reman.
The history of the Reman Sultanate dates back to 1810. Ruled by Tuan Tok Nik Tok Leh and his descendants, an emigration from Patani lowlands, its legacy in the 1800 was influenced by the tin mining and has resulted in the kingdom thriving all those years.
The palace, a legend of the kingdom, is filled with the treasure of Raja Reman’s heritage. Letters and agreement from the olden days in metal boxes and family pictures and portraits are well kept to preserve its pride. The palace has been refurbished over the years while maintaining its original structure. It is still occupied by its generations.
I was really touched by the very warm welcome of its villagers. Ladies dressed in traditional Malay costumes complete with ‘batik selempang’ (batik sarong worn diognaly across the body)
The family welcomes visits by local and international visitors with the intention of sharing their family history with the public.
TANJUNG TUALANG TIN DREDGE NO.5 (TT5)
Tin mining, the legacy of Perak, started in 1848. Ipoh, in Perak became the city of millionaires because of the tin rush. Malaysia, also known as Malaya before its independence, was the world’s largest tin producer in the 19th century.
I had the chance to visit tin dredge TT5, an incredible floating factory built in England in 1938. This was in use for over 40 years before finally ceasing its operations due to the exhaustion of demands for tin.
Tours available about TT5 where you’ll walk through this monstrous sized machine to understand better about its history and operations.
Make sure you have enough battery on your phone or camera for photos! Spectacular views from the inside and the outside surrounding areas of TT5. Pack a picnic and enjoy the views and the birdsong There’s also a Can Tin (canteen😅) in the outdoor area for you to have drinks and refreshments.
The best part, there’s a really cool maze that’s educational for both adults and children, located right outside TT5. This maze was built with sections of rocks, wood panels, bamboo trees, and there’s sections with rabbits too!
TASIK CERMIN IPOH
Imagine having a cup of tea accompanied by these magical views…..
This is one of the moments when I find the reflection on water equally beautiful, if not better than the beauty of nature itself.
Nature has never failed to leave me in awe….❤
Tasik Cermin, meaning Mirror Lake, is tucked away between magnificent limestone cliffs that are over 2000 years old, in the city of Ipoh, Perak. It is merely 20 minutes from the heart of the city.
Make sure you wear comfy shoes as you’ll be walking through a mini quarry tunnel to access the lake. You can also hop on a boat tour around the lake for RM25/pax.
HOGA GAHARU TEA VALLEY
Hoga Gaharu (Agarwood) Tea Valley in Gopeng, Ipoh is an agro tourism destination well known for its organic agarwood trees. Agarwood is highly regarded for its fragrance and medicinal benefits. Its health benefits have been recognised for centuries.
A beautiful site with valleys surrounded by greenery, you can opt for a tour around the expansive 300 acres valleys for only RM10 . The Hilltop Viewing Stage has magnificent views you wouldn’t stop clicking your camera away! The Tree Hugging Park is wonderful. Simple signs on the trees caught my attention. They reminded me of meaningful things in life.
Hoga is also accesible for the public to jog or trek around the area.
The Hoga merchandise shop sells tea, ramen and other produce from the gaharu trees. There’s a cafe that serves delicious lunches. Save some space for dessert, the gaharu ice-cream is to-die for!
At Hoga, there are 200,000 Gaharu trees in 300 acres of land. On average, 2 mature trees supply oxygen for a family of 4. Do the maths on how much this agro-farm has helped us all!
UTP GEOLOGICAL ROCK GARDEN
I have never thought a visit to a university would be so enchanting! UTP, which stands for University Petronas Malaysia has now opened its doors to the public. Visitors will be provided a map upon arrival. You’ll need one as this university is located on a 1000 acres piece of land!
Its library or known as Information Research Centre will surely blow your mind. Over 200,000 books are stored in this absolutely amazing architecture that is 137,620 sq ft in size, 4 levels with over 1500 seats! There is a designated children’s corner with a good selection of books.
UTP is also constructing the first Geological Rock Garden in Malaysia. The thematic Rock Garden of the prehistoric era landscape comprises sections with rock boulders, fossils and dinosaur models. Kayaks will also be available for use around its lake. Pack a picnic or bring your favourite book, there are gorgeous trees for you to hang out for the day. This garden is due to open in early 2023.
The floating An Nur mosque is another site not to be missed. This majestic mosque could host up to 8000 people.
For more info, please visit their comprehensive the UTP website.
RUMAH AYAH AN RUSA DAN KELULUT LENGGONG
Home to some gorgeous and friendly deers, this is a great place for families with children. Visitors are allowed to feed the deers, with food provided by the owner. Relax over a cup of tea in its spacious garden while enjoying the deers roaming around wanting to be fed if not happily having a selfie with you! And yes, that’s the truth. Some of the deers enjoy selfies. Check my photo above!
MALAYSIA-THAILAND BORDER STONE AND1968 KROH-BETONG MEMORIAL SITE
A popular border for the locals to exit to Thailand’s paradise town of Betong, this is also a memorial site to commemorate the loss of 16 police officers in an ambush by the communists in 1968.
This border is of popular among Malaysians for their getaway to the paradise town of Betong in Thailand.
DUSUN DURIAN KAMPUNG TASIK PENGKALAN HULU
If you’re a fan of durian, the King of Fruits, you shouldn’t miss this.
Travelling through beautiful valleys and charming Malay kampung on the back of a pick-up truck was certainly the highlight on my day!
This 300 acre farm produces export quality Musang King and Black Thorns durians. There are areas where visitors could purchase durians for a bargain and have a durian picnic by their picturesque lakes. You can also opt to sit under the shady durian trees (look above you to ensure there isn’t one!) while enjoying the King of Fruits!
Here’s a little tip from my grandmother : Fill the sections of durians with a bit of water after eating the durians and rinse your fingers there and I promise you the smell of durians will instantly go away!
3D MURALS AT ILHAM SENI KAMPAR
This newest wall art attraction in the small town of Kampar will soon be a hit. Launched at the end of September 2022, these murals convey various messages of history, art and culture of Kampar. There are QR codes visitors could scan to get information about each art on the walls.
Kampar, about 45 minutes south of Ipoh is a town laced with old colonial buildings. Just a regular town previously, the town council, Majlis Perbandaran Daerah Kampar has done a great job improving this town’s infrastructure, and putting it on tourists map.
