January 2022
Guess the street
Does this street look familiar? Well, if it does…do let us know WHERE in Ipoh this is 🙂
The above picture was taken from "Ipoh: The Town that Tin Built"
The fountain saga continues…
As a follow-up to our previous post, here’s another picture of the aforementioned fountain – which can be found within a locked garden, at the Ipoh General Hospital (Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun).
We thank Edwin Seibel Nathan for the above picture.
Another fountain in Ipoh
We thank Anthony H S Law for sharing this picture on Facebook.
He also added: “Water Fountain …. This must be the forgotten Ipoh’s oldest, the rare and perhaps the only fountain of Ipoh city. Dated 1900 or 122 years old, the fountain was “PRESENTED BY LOW FOO ESQ TO THE IPOH HOSPITAL” Maker : Penang Foundry“.
Does anyone remember this fountain? Is it still around…somewhere in Ipoh?
Boon’s Iced Eau de Cologne
Did you know Boon Pharmacy had their very own Eau de Cologne?
Boon Pharmacy was run by the Chew family, as many of you know.
Incidentally, the family were neighbours with the LaBrooys.
Happy Thaipusam
The word Thaipusam is a combination of the name of the month, Thai, and the name of a star, Pusam. This particular star is at its highest point during the festival. The festival commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan (aka Kartikeya) a Vel “spear” so he could vanquish the evil demon Soorapadman and his brothers. It is also commonly believed that Thaipusam marks Murugan’s birthday; though some other sources suggest that Vaikhasi Vishakam, which falls in the Vaikhasi month (May/June), is Murugan’s birthday.
This festival was (according to one tradition) said to have been supposedly created during one of the battles between the Asuras (or to be more specific Soorapadman) and the Devas. At one point, the latter were defeated several times by the former. The Devas were unable to resist the onslaught of the Asura forces. In despair, they approached Shiva and entreated to give them an able leader under whose heroic leadership they might obtain victory over the Asuras. They surrendered themselves completely and prayed to Shiva. Shiva granted their request by creating the mighty warrior, Skanda, out of his own power or Achintya Shakti. He at once assumed leadership of the celestial forces, inspired them and defeated the Asura forces and to recognise that day the people created the festival, Thaipusam.
According to the Hindu Purana Skanda Puranam, the legend of Murugan, and Thirupugal which are divine verses on Murugan, adhere to Shaivam principles. Murugan is the embodiment of Shiva’s light and wisdom and devotees pray to him to overcome the obstacles they face, as He is the divine vanquisher of evil. The motive of Thaipusam festival is to pray to God to receive his grace so that bad traits are destroyed. (source: Wikipedia)
We thank Ann Kesselring Hamon for the above picture.
‘rowing into town’
No, this is not a picture of the recent floods that hit us. This picture is actually from 1967, in Kuala Kangsar.
Can’t believe the water level rose that much….
Keeping it clean
The above picture shows the Ipoh Town Council’s new cleaning lorries. These lorries were used back in 1960s, of course. The advertisement below may give you a better view of them.
These pictures were taken from Ipoh: The Town that Tin Built (1962)
A Japanese Document
This document dates back to 4 January 2602 (1942). We believe it is some form of proof that the Japanese Government (in Malaya) at that time found favour with Ali Pitchay and his family. Perhaps they (Japanese) viewed the family as comrades, and may have offered protection to them. Note that this document was torn in half; it is believed that the other half was probably kept by the Japanese Government.
We thank the family of the late Mohd Ali bin Pitchay for sharing this with us. If anyone here reads Japanese, perhaps you could help us with a clearer translation.
Happy Birthday!
They say it’s rude to ask a woman her age. This “lady” pictured above, however, is proud to announce her 115th birthday 🙂
Yes, Ipoh’s HIJ Convent is a hundred and fifteen years old today!
89 years ago…
…the Old Michaelian’s Association (OMA) was first formed. Yes, way back in 1933. The picture featured below, however, was taken a year later – on the occasion of the opening of the Association’s premises.
A New Heritage Trail
A map of the Ipoh Cantonese heritage trail walkable points. (15th December 2021) — RONNIE CHIN/The Star
Yes, folks! An 8km foot trail, with 32 stops, is expected to be launched in two months. This trail will be called the Ipoh Cantonese Heritage Trail. (read more here)
A 163-year wait…
New Sunday Times, February 8, 1987 – A London diary from Rehman Rashid – A book written by John Anderson the official translator to the British Government during the nineteenth century who was charged with forcing the official liaison between the Government and the Malay Kings. In the course of his duties, Mr. Anderson had access to all the treaties and documentation. He wrote this book including in it detailed transcriptions of all the treaties drawn up between his Government and the Sultans of Kedah, Perak, Selangor and Johore. He recorded the correspondence between the Sultan of Kedah and the lieges of Ava, Tavoy and Ligore – the warring Burmese and Siamese states whose eventual treaty would force Siam to invade Kedah. Mr. Anderson completed his work on September 11, 1824 and submitted the book to the Government printers – who wave immediately ordered to suppress its publications. His book was too critical of his superiors and his Government. Less than 100 copies were printed and John Anderson was left to drift quietly into historical oblivion. But he managed to dispatch one copy of his book as a matter of form to the Governor-General of India at the time, Lord Amhurst. As this was a special gift, an artist was commissioned to paint, as frontispiece to the book, a full-colour portrait of the exiled King of Kedah. This copy of Anderson’s book because of the inclusion of that unique portrait, has survived intact. Last October the copy turned up in the rare book collection of Sotheby’s, the London auctioneers. There it was sold to Mr. R. Gooch, and antiquarian book dealer in Sussex, for a hammer price of £5800. Including Sotheby’s commission, Mr Gooch paid a total of £6500 for it. For Malaysia, however, the value of the book could not easily be measured in any particular sum of money. Reading of Mr. Gooch’s purchase in the New Straits Times last October, a consortium of eminent Malaysians resolved to bring the book home. The transaction was concluded last January 26, and John Anderson’s work after 163 years, was on its way back to the land which inspired it. Tunku Abdul Rahman received the book yesterday as a birthday present. A long, long journey through history and time finally came full circle to its end.
Rather interesting story, isn’t it? I wonder what became of the book eventually…