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Ramping Up For Visit Perak Year 2024 with Ipoh City Fun Ride to Galeri Rumah Lat

A group of 73 participants representing tourism industry organisations, including Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA), Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Malaysia Budget & Business Hotel Association (MyBHA), Perak Tourist Guide Association (PTGA) and Perak Tourism Association (PTA), went on a familiarisation trip to update themselves on selected tourism destinations within Kinta Geopark. The half-day tour was oganised by PTA along with Ipoh City Council (Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh), and in collaboration with Perak Museum Board, Batu Gajah District Council, besides Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).

Ipoh City Fun Ride to Galeri Rumah Lat
Ipoh City Fun Ride to Galeri Rumah Lat
Ipoh City Mayor Y.Bhg. Dato' Rumaizi bin Baharin@Md Daud flags off the tour
Ipoh City Mayor Y.Bhg. Dato’ Rumaizi bin Baharin@Md Daud flags off the convoy

The convoy which consisted of a coach, two Multi-Purpose Vehicles (MPVs), and cars, escorted by the traffic police vehicle, was flagged off by the Ipoh City Mayor Y.Bhg. Dato’ Rumaizi bin Baharin@Md Daud on the morning of 22nd August 2023.

in the coach
in the coach with Peter Asirvatham providing an interesting commentary on the landmarks along the route from Ipoh to Batu Gajah

This Ipoh City Fun Ride to Galeri Rumah Lat programme, which departed from the Ipoh City Council building to arrive at Lat House Gallery (Galeri Rumah Lat) in Batu Gajah, had several stopovers along the route. The first stop was GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm, followed by Tasik Cermin, then Kin Loong Valley Chang Jiang White Coffee, The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng, Kellie’s Castle and finally, Lat House Gallery in Batu Gajah.

GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm
first stop: GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm

The brainchild of PTA President Datuk Hj. Mohd. Odzman bin Abd. Kadir, Ipoh City Fun Ride to Galeri Rumah Lat gave the opportunity to participants, such as tour agents, tourist guides and product operators, to gather as “Perak Tourism Players” and receive the latest developments on new tourism destinations, whilst fostering fellowship amongst industry peers.

briefing by Kuan from GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm
briefing is provided by Kuan from GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm

Datuk Odzman said, “This is the first of the many preparatory events for industry players, especially tourist guides and tourism destination owners, to prepare for Visit Perak Year 2024. It is important for participants to use programmes like these to equip themselves with the evolving tourism delivery systems and methodology. As far as PTA is concerned, our duty remains the same, and that is to support the Perak Tourism Exco’s initiative in researching and surveying, conducting due diligence, developing, promoting, and maintaining the tourism economic platform for the wholesome benefit of the various communities and stakeholders of the state of Perak.”

briefing by Kuan from GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm
briefing is provided by Kuan from GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm

GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm
GoChin, a 20-year farm, is only one of many pomelo orchards in this Ampang/Tambun area, known as the biggest producer of pomelos in Malaysia, due to the fertile limestone soil and underground water. What sets GoChin apart from other pomelo orchards is that this is the only farm in the area that is open to visitors. Group tours may also request a briefing from the owners, to better understand how pomelos are planted, taken care of and harvested. 

photoshoot at GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm
photoshoot at GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm

From the information shared by Kuan, a second-generation pomelo farmer at GoChin and a physiotherapist by profession, pomelos are harvested twice a year, or every six months. As this is not a seasonal fruit, pomelo farmers regulate the fruits through pruning to harvest the citrus fruits prior to the three major festive seasons of the year: Chinese New Year, Mooncake Festival, and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Tasik Cermin (Mirror Lake)
Named Mirror Lake because of its clear water and reflection, Tasik Cermin is a disused quarry, that is reachable through a short tunnel which was dug for its iron ore deposits. In fact, there are two tunnels and two lakes in the area, known as Tasik Cermin 1 and Tasik Cermin 2. Surrounded by towering limestone karsts, Tasik Cermin may not be a new attraction, but with new operators, e.g., STG Group of Restaurants, a fresh perspective has been brought in, with the introduction of various elements to attract tourists. 

at Tasik Cermin
at Tasik Cermin
walking through the tunnel to Tasik Cermin
walking through the tunnel to Tasik Cermin
group photo at Tasik Cermin
group photo at Tasik Cermin

The attraction is still a relatively “hidden” gem in the outskirts of Ipoh, the idyllic lake and its surrounding area have been recognised as Malaysia’s First Eco Adventure Quarry Park, with glamping under the stars amidst nature on offer soon. Half-hour boat rides on the lake are available at Tasik Cermin 1 and Tasik Cermin 2, for a fee of RM25 per person, in addition to the RM5 entrance ticket per pax. 

Kin Loong Valley Chang Jiang White Coffee
Situated within the F&B hub of Tasik Cermin, Chang Jiang is one of the popular brands of white coffee that Ipoh is well known for. Of all their outlets, this establishment at Tasik Cermin is the most well-received cafe by locals and tourists alike. With its rustic building which is surrounded by limestone hills that offer breathtaking scenery, diners at Kin Loong Valley get to enjoy its natural ambience while savouring the cafe’s signature toast, washed down with a cup of Chang Jiang Ipoh white coffee.

Kin Loong Valley Chang Jiang White Coffee
at Kin Loong Valley Chang Jiang White Coffee
Kin Loong Valley Chang Jiang White Coffee
briefing at Kin Loong Valley Chang Jiang White Coffee by Eric Yeong
piling up the coach to the next destination
piling up the coach to the next destination

The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng
Formerly known as Taman Herba Negeri Perak and promoted as one of Perak’s green tourist destinations, similar to Tasik Cermin, this herb garden has been transformed into a more vibrant attraction under a new management since two years ago.

The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng
at The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng
The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng
at The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng

No longer just a herb garden, The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng provides visitors an escape from the hustle and bustle of city life with its botanical attractions plus activities. There are more than 500 species of Malaysian herbs grown within this 22-hectare park. The herbs are categorised according to their varieties, namely heritage, medicinal, aromatic, cosmetic and salad (ulam). 

group photo at The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng
group photo at The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng

According to its General Manager, Puan Eidia, The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng aims to attract 100,000 tourists in 2023.

Kellie’s Castle
Originally named Kellas House in homage to the Scottish town of the owner’s origin, William Kellie Smith, Kellie’s Castle stands as a testament to its time, surpassing even today’s standards with its visionary design. The castle’s blueprints included grand features such as a wine cellar, an elevator, an indoor tennis court, together with a rooftop courtyard.

photoshoot at Kellie's Castle in Batu Gajah
photoshoot at Kellie’s Castle in Batu Gajah

Tragically, these ambitious plans never came to fruition due to the premature passing of Smith in 1926. He succumbed to pneumonia during a brief sojourn in Portugal to oversee the installation of his envisioned elevator. Intended as a gift for his wife Agnes, this remarkable dwelling faced a different fate. The property, along with the estate, changed hands and was acquired by the British company Harrisons and Crosfield. Unofficially, Kellie’s Castle earned the moniker “Kellie’s Folly.”

The unfinished structure continues to draw visitors year round, both from nearby and distant locales, all of them captivated by the architectural marvel it represents, and the poignant romantic narrative it encapsulates. 

Dato’ Mohamad Nor Khalid (Dato’ Lat) was on hand to personally welcome the Ipoh City Fun Ride to Galeri Rumah Lat entourage to Lat House Gallery. Sharing with guests about his childhood and those carefree days in the kampung (village), Dato’ Lat described how he drew inspiration from life then and the people around him for his cartoons. This celebrated award-winning cartoonist was recently conferred the “Seniman Diraja” (Royal Artist) title by HRH Sultan Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

Lat is in the house
Lat is in the house
lunch at Lat House Gallery in Batu Gajah
lunch at Lat House Gallery in Batu Gajah

Fun fact: Why is Mohammad Nor bin Mohammad Khalid nicknamed “Lat”?
“Lat” is the short form for “Bulat”, given by his grandmother for the roundness of his head. This “kampung name” has stuck till the end of time.

Lat House Gallery in Batu Gajah
Lat House Gallery in Batu Gajah is a captivating addition to Perak’s tourism landscape. With a budget of RM3.81 million over seven long years of construction, the gallery comprises two distinct structures: the first being a solid concrete building, whearas the second unit is an authentic life-size replica of a traditional Perak kampung house known as the Malay Perak Limas House, distinguished by its five-tiered roof design.

PTA President Datuk Hj. Mohd. Odzman bin Abd. Kadir (L) and his wife Datin Shariffa Rashida (R) with Dato' Lat
PTA President Datuk Hj. Mohd. Odzman bin Abd. Kadir (L) and his wife Datin Shariffa Rashida (R) with Dato’ Lat
tour guide Calista gets an autograph from Dato' Lat while Datuk Hj. Mohd. Odzman looks on
tour guide Calista gets an autograph from Dato’ Lat while Datuk Hj. Mohd. Odzman looks on

The single-storey gallery has several sections of exhibition spaces, an audio-visual room, a souvenir store, an office, plus an art garden. A cafe is also in the pipeline. Inside this gallery, visitors can read about Dato’ Lat’s biography in addition to going through the numerous awards that he had received over the years, besides reading his comics.

The double-storey Malay kampung house, designed according to the house that Lat grew up in, and the inspiration for the ‘Kampung Boy’ series which was first published in 1979, is furnished with furniture contributed by Lat’s family. View the full photo album of Ipoh City Fun Ride to Galeri Rumah Lat on our official Facebook Page by clicking HERE.

Video: Ipoh City Fun Ride to Galeri Rumah Lat

Event: Ipoh City Fun Ride to Galeri Rumah Lat
Route: Ipoh – GoChin Tambun Pomelo Agro Farm – Tasik Cermin – Kin Loong Valley Chang Jiang White Coffee – The Treasure @ Taman Herba Gopeng – Kellie’s Castle Batu Gajah – Lat House Gallery Batu Gajah – Ipoh
Date: 22nd Aug, 2023
Time: 9am – 3pm

With love

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