I was in Ipoh, the capital of the State of Perak on the 24th July 2010 to conduct a training session for new BB Officers. I normally won’t go for these sessions, but because it involved the formation of two brand new Companies.. it was something I didn’t want to miss out on. The only thing I hated about the trip was waking up in 5am – especially me, a guy who likes to sleep in. It was a two and a half hour drive from KL, excluding a breakfast stop and needing to fetch my colleague Rick. 

Other details of the training can be found in my BB blog. The purpose of this entry is to talk about Ipoh. I’ve been there twice this year before this trip, but what I always miss out when I visit Ipoh is actually seeing the place. 

After the training Johnny, one the potential Officers and most likely the future Captain of the BB unit in SMK Menglembu, brought us to an obscure coffee shop for some white coffee. It didn’t seem like much from the outside.. looks like any other coffee shop from the inside and outside. But apparently this humble coffee shop is the first and original Old Town White Coffee. No, it didn’t have air conditioning, wifi access, touch screen cashiers not classy furniture. Strange that there’s not much of the logo and other franchise material around. Hopefully Johnny didn’t trick me..

After coffee we started the 2.5 drive home. The drive was stunning, with mountains similar to those in Quilin. Dozens of lime stone mountains, some with temples built into them. 

Unfortunately, that’s just a glimpse of what I can make out of Ipoh. A clean town, a place with great potential where tragedy struck 2 years ago when greed and corruption stole the peoples mandate away. 

Will be back in Ipoh again some day. Hopefully to have a holiday!