Perak's Attractions Akin To Overseas Destinations

From Norshazlina Nor'azman This is the last of a two-part series on Malaysia's state of Perak in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2014. IPOH (Perak, Malaysia), 30 Jan (Bernama) -- While watching a re-run of the 1999 Hollywood film "Anna and The King," this writer was struck by the beautiful landscape that formed the backdrop for the iconic movie. It was hard to believe that many of the shooting locales for the movie starring Jodie Foster and Chow Yuen Fat were set in Perak, and not some exotic place overseas. Its historical buildings and unique attractions have undoubtedly charmed many a film producers into choosing the state as a filming location. The beautiful landscapes of Perak have also been chosen as the backdrop for other international films such as 'After This Our Exile' (2006), 'Lust, Caution' (2006), 'Love and Death in Java' (2010) as well as local movies like Embun (2002), Paloh (2003), Sepet (2005), Gubra (2005) and Talent Time (2008). AN EPIC LOVE STORY Holidaymakers would find plenty of things to do and many places to visit in Perak, as the state has been blessed with something for every tourist, said tour guide K. Rajasegaran. Those looking to relive the epic love story ala Taj Mahal can go to Batu Gajah, where they can visit the 108-year-old Kellie's Castle. Just as the Taj Mahal was built as a symbol of Shah Jehan's love for Mumtaz Mahal, Kellie's Castle was built by Scottish planter William Kellie Smith for his wife, Agnes. The two-storey manor with a four-storey tower was built in 1910 as per Scottish, Moorish and Indian architecture. Wanting only the best for his wife, Kellie Smith turned to India, bringing in 70 artisans and skilled labourers along with prime raw materials such as marbles and tiles. One unique thing about the manor was that no cement or nails were used in its construction. Both materials were replaced with mixture of sand, limestone and duck egg whites, as in the construction of the Taj Mahal and some of the parts of the Great Wall of China. The manor, which was one of the locations for the film "Anna and the King", has 14 rooms, an underground room, a secret tunnel, an indoor tennis court and an elevator system rumoured to be the first in Malaya. AN ATTRACTION OF BATU GAJAH Sadly, Kellie Smith succumbed to pneumonia during a trip to Portugal in 1926, bringing construction of the manor to a halt. Despite that, the unfinished manor still stands majestically atop a hill surrounded by the Kinta River, making it an attraction that visitors to Batu Gajah can enjoy watching. Rumours of Kellie's Castle being haunted has never deterred visitors, considering that 70,000 of them come visiting every year. There is a nominal entrance fee of RM4.00 for adults, RM3.00 for children and students and RM5.00 for foreign tourists. THE LAST TIN DREDGE Not far from Batu Gajah is Jalan Tanjung Tualang, where one can find the last remaining Malaysian tin dredge. Besides its priceless historical and architectural value, the last tin dredge was symbolic of a time when the Kinta Valley in Perak was the world's largest producer of tin ore. The five-storey high tin dredge called TT5 (Tanjung Tualang 5), weighing 4,500 tonnes, was completed in 1938. It was operational until 1983, when falling tin prices forced the closure of the local mining industry. Visitors are free to look around the dredge and see the tools used to mine tin, including giant-sized dredging buckets and a wrench as tall as a human being. The 35-metre wide and 75-metre long dredge is open to the public from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm daily at an entrance fee of US$1.79 (RM6) for adults and US$0.89 (RM3) for children. RAILWAY STATION Another unique attraction in Perak is the Ipoh Railway Station Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab, Ipoh. Just as with Kellie's Castle, it has been affectionately known to the locals as the "Taj Mahal" of Ipoh. The Ipoh landmark can be easily recognised by its Neo-Moorish and Mughal architecture and modern embellishments. It was opened in 1935, making it the second concrete station built in Ipoh. With its landscaped floral garden, water fountains and Station Square, it is easily considered to be among the most beautiful buildings in the city. Just 450 metres away from the station is the Birch Memorial Clock Tower, another site worthy of a visit. The clock tower was built in commemoration of Perak's first British Resident, J.W.W Birch, who was killed on Nov 2, 1875 in Pasir Salak town. LIMESTONE CAVE TEMPLE Perak is also known for its caves and limestone hills, especially around the Ipoh town. The sight of stalactites and stalagmites a million years in the making is enough to make visitors hold their breath in wonder. Many of the caves have become temples for Buddhists, and at the same time, popular tourist attractions. Among them is the Perak Cave Temple, also known as the Perak Tong. It is one of Ipoh's most nostalgic landmarks that offers an amazing view of the limestone caves. The temple is located in Gunung Tasik, some six kilometres away from the city centre. Visitors who climb up the 450 steps inside will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Ipoh city from the top. The nearly 80-year-old Perak Tong is home to 40 Buddhist statues with the largest standing at 12.1 metres height. Visitors will also see colourful murals decorating the interior of the cave. A JAPANESE EXPERIENCE Those looking for a more laid-back experience can visit the Japanese Park at the D.R. Seenivasagam Recreational Park in Ipoh. As is clear from its name, the Japanese Park offers a variety of landscapes similar to the ones found in Japan. The 1.2-hectare park also has a man-made lake, fashioned to look like those in Fukuoka. Indeed, Perak is a travel destination that offers a little something for everyone. --BERNAMA