Scenic Wonders in Ipoh!

I've been away, travelling within my own country, in the manner we locals like to call 'Cuti-cuti Malaysia' combining sight-seeing with a food trail! We travelled up north from Melaka to Perak, then to Penang Island and down south again to the Cameron Highlands in Pahang. So that's why this blog has been forsaken by its owner for weeks, who went in search of good food, lovely scenery and friendly people.

We'll start with the town of Ipoh in Perak. This year is the "Visit Ipoh" year for Malaysian tourism, so we had to test the vibes in Ipoh, of course.

These photographs were taken at Eco Park, where people go for their jog or walk, feed the catfish in the lake, catch the evening breeze. I can't believe how beautiful this time of the day is, here. I felt privileged to have captured these beautiful images of Ipoh.


The evening breeze...








A sunset made for lovers...

crafted precision
crimson burst of sunset charm
binds two hearts in love



Magical twilight time...






The next morning, from the balcony of the house of our Ipoh friends, I witnessed this beautiful sunrise. I thought this kind of scenery could only be found in far-off lands. But here it was, right in Malaysia, the layers of shades like a Chinese painting of the mountains in China...all here in beautiful Ipoh.

Reflections

What do you see

in the reflection in a lake

mirror images that beguile, or do you

reflect?

Do you ponder on the meaning

of reflections in your life

do you contemplate on the parallels

divine

Some people see the surface 

and miss entirely the depth

the beauty of mountains and skies

replicated

Who would have guessed

at the hidden treasures

that a little contemplation

reveals?

Like an artist's paintbrush
 on compliant canvas dabs

patterns of mountain and sky

expound!

The dramatic unfolding 

of a fiery sunset

or a sunrise dawn against misty mountains

reverberate...

The discovery of wonders

and the wonder of discovery

mysteries for the mind to

speculate!

Linking to:


W4W
Sensational Haiku Wednesday
Poets Rally
Watery Wednesday
Outdoor Wednesday
Share The Joy Thursday
Skywatch Friday
Haiku Heights
Haiku My Heart
Poetry Picnic

The Melaka River

This is my first post in a series on my hometown, Melaka, in Malaysia.


Melaka (or Malacca) is a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Site. Certain parts of Melaka have been designated as being part of the world's heritage sites. These sites are The Melaka River, St. Paul's Hill, The Dutch Stadhuys buildings, Jonker Street, Jalan Tukang Besi, and Kampung Morten.


The Melaka River has played a significant role in the history of Malaysia, ever since Melaka was founded by Parameswara in 1402. This river was where the Malacca Sultanate grew and extended its Empire in the region. The Portuguese and later the Dutch fought for power and trade on the banks of the river. In its heyday, the river dubbed the "Venice of the East" was the meeting place of traders from the East and West. Even during  the English colonialisation and the Japanese occupation, the river flowing  into the Straits of Melaka had a strategic feature which was most sought after. Today visitors to Melaka can take a river cruise and enjoy a different perspective of  the river.

A sign post  with names of places in the Malay language, and one sign in English!

Here's the river and the boardless 'boardwalk' beside it.

You will love the old village look of kampung houses.

One of the many bridges along the river.

For My World Tuesday, Signs Signs.