2024 - Taiping, Kuala Sepetang, Kuala Kurau

 6D5N Taiping/Kuala Sepitang/Kuala Kurau

23 - 28 Jun 2024

Day 1 - 23 June

We joined a group of ex-teachers from my secondary school in Kuantan, SABS, and a group of retirees from my church in Kuantan, Kuantan Chapel, for this tour. We arrived by KTM ETS train one day earlier. The group from Kuantan will travel by bus tonight and arrived early morning tomorrow.

After we checked into our Knight Alley Hotel we went for afternoon tea at a nearby restaurant which has Curry Laksa and Assam Laksa promotion at RM6.90 each bowl.

We had dinner at a food court that is next to Taiping Lake Garden

 

Day 2 - 24 June

This morning be begin our tour of Taiping with a walk around Taiping Lake Garden, which is part of the Taiping Heritage Trail.

The Taiping Lake Gardens is the first public garden established during the British rule in Malaysia. It  was originally a mining ground before it was established as a public garden in 1880.

The Taiping Zoo and Night Safari is also part of the Taiping Heritage Trail and is located next to the Taiping Lake Garden. After dinner we walked to the Taiping Night Safari to observe the nocturnal life of some of the animals.

Day 3 - 25 June

After a good breakfast at a nearby food court we visited the Antong Coffee Mill by bus, which we rented for 4 days from 25-28 June

Antong Coffee Mill is a show factory and historical site at Assam Kumbang in Taiping Town, located near the KTM Train Station. Established since 1933 by Aun Tong Sdn Bhd, the company dubs itself the oldest and most historical coffee mill in Malaysia. In fact, the villa next door (now the office) was once the abode of China revolutionary Sun Yat-Sen's Hong Kong-born mistress Chen Cuifen in the early nineties.

The villa and surrounding garden are populated with ancient trinkets, murals and antiques pertaining to coffee-making and Sun Yat-Sen. Finally, visitors can peruse a shopping gallery featuring their extensive coffee product range under the brand 'Antongcafe'.

Our next destination is Khim Heong Foodstuffs. This historic factory produces aromatic molasses-filled treats like heong peah, which have a rich history dating back to the Tang Dynasty. The friendly owner is happy to share the age-old baking methods used, including the use of coconut shells to infuse the biscuits with a delightful fragrance.

Next we visited the Taiping War Cemetery. The Taiping War Cemetery is the final resting place for Allied personnel who were killed during World War II, particularly the Malayan Campaign and the Japanese occupation of Malaya following the British occupation and colonization of Malaya.

We then visited the Burmese Pool which is a short drive from the Taiping War Memorial Cemetery. Burmese Pool is a large rock pool along a clear river at the foothills of Bukit Larut, a popular weekend nature attraction among locals. The rock pool itself is spacious, but mostly shallow, fed by a small waterfall. Fed by Batu Tegoh River, the pool was named after the soldiers of Burma Rifle Regiment who discovered it during the colonial era.

We had our lunch at Yut Sun Restaurant which is famous for its Hainanese Chicken Chop  

While waiting for our lunch we bought banana fritters from P.S.L. Goreng Pisang which is a few doors away from Yat Sun Restaurant. P.S.L. Goreng Pisang is a very famous pisang goreng (fried banana fritters) seller in Taiping.

After lunch we visited the Spritzer Natural Mineral Water Bottling Plant in Air Kuning, Taiping. We were able to witness the process of how one of the popular water bottle brands were made before supplying it to the shops. It was really satisfying to see how the bottles and water were made. There were different machinery in the factory, like the bottle making, labelling, filling water and many more. We were not allowed to take photos inside the factory.

Briefing before the factory visit

Besides the factory, we came back on the last day of our trip to visit the EcoPark which is opposite the factory. There are various activities to try. There is even a 18-hole mini golf course. 

Our last visit for the day was to the Perak Museum. The Perak Museum is the first museum in the country and among the earliest built in Southeast Asia. The many showcases and exhibits were set up to build a rich cultural heritage for the nation and the building which was completed in the late 1800s opened its doors to showcase the best collections of the state.

Some of the outdoor exhibits of the museum

Day 4 - 26 June

After breakfast at the nearby Larut Matang Hawker Centre we journeyed to Kuala Sepetang.

Our first stop is the MY Charcoal Factory. We were briefed by Mr Chuah the owner and a third-generation member of the family that owns the business. We were given a comprehensive overview of the charcoal-making process, from the harvesting of mangrove wood to the final packaging of the charcoal.

We then visit the Matang Mangrove Eco-Educational Centre which is across the road. In this park, wooden boardwalks help you to get up close and personal with the exotic mangrove ecology. It is a haven for migratory birds, making the site a must-see for birding and photography enthusiasts.

Our lunch in Kuala Sepetang is at Rasa Sayang Restaurant. We managed to bargained for a 9-course seafood lunch at a good price!

After lunch we took a boat ride that cruise along the river to see houses built on stilts with many fishing boats docked right in front of the houses. We also stopped by a fish farm and later watched the boatman feed the eagles.

Port Weld is the old name for Kuala Sepatang. The Port Weld railway station was located in the center of the town. Also, the whole railway line from this village to Taiping was the first railway line in the Peninsular. Nowadays, this railway was dismantled and only Weld railway signboard remain. 

We tried this prawns fritter from a stall near to the KTM signboard

We then visited the Matang Museum, which is also known as Ngah Ibrahim's Fort. Ngah Ibrahim was later one of the Malay chieftains found guilty for the murder of the first British Resident of Perak, James Wheeler Woodford Birch. This house was where the 1877 trial of the main perpetrator, Dato' Maharajalela and his follower Si Puntum, was conducted, and they were sentenced to death. Other Malay Chieftains including Sultan Abdullah, Datuk Syahbandar Uda Maamor, Ngah Ibrahim himself and his father-in-law Mohamad Amin were sent into exile in the Seychelles. Sultan Abdullah was given a pardon by the British 16 years later, and he returned to Perak to spend the remainder of his life in Kuala Kangsar.

We ended the day by visiting Hun Leng Heong Hang, a traditional joss stick factory in Kuala Sepetang. We watched craftsmen designing the joss sticks, painting them, and leaving these gigantic joss sticks out to dry. Joss sticks are an important part of Chinese culture, often used as religious offerings at temples.

Day 5 - 27 June

After breakfast we checked out from our Taiping Hotel and journey to Kuala Kurau for our one night stay. Our first stop is the Hai Hin rice Mill. For decades, this mill has been processing locally grown paddy into high-quality rice. One of the highlights here is the famous Kurau Embryo Rice, known for its rich nutrients and distinctive taste.

We then visited the Joo Hong Chan Salted Egg Factory. We witnessed the whole salted egg making process. the first step is to sort them into sizes of AA, A, B, C and D (biggest to smallest). Then each egg is fully wrapped in the clean mud that is mixed salt. Subsequently, it is coated with a layer of burnt paddy husk for extra protection from breakage. Finally, it will be stored for two weeks before selling.

There is a cafe within the salted egg factory where we tasted salted egg coffee for the first time

Pastry with salted egg yolk

Coffee with salted egg yolk sprinkled on top

Later we stopped by a local durian stall to satisfy our yearn for durian. The quality is not what we expected.

We then checked into Kurau Bay Hotel, which is the largest hotel in Kuala Kurau.

After checking in we head to Bagan Seberang, a charming riverside area with a Chinese temple and hawker stalls that sell local favourites.

We tried the popular prawns fritters and prawn mee

We also tried the Hor Ka Sai (虎咬狮), meaning "Tiger Bites Lion" in Hokkien, which is a popular Malaysian beverage originating from Perak, traditionally made by mixing hot black coffee (Kopi O) with Milo and condensed milk.

While waiting for dinner we had a game of Mahjong in the Games Room

Our dinner was at the Kuala Kurau Sunset Seafood Restaurant

Beautiful sunset scene from the restaurant

After dinner we went up to the roof top of the hotel to enjoy the cool breeze and viewed the night scenery of the surrounding areas. We also enjoyed a session of karaoke singing.

Day 6 - 28 June

Early risers can enjoy the sunrise view of the surrounding from the roof top of the hotel.

Some practicing their Tai Chi

Breakfast was at a restaurant across the river, where we tried the popular seafood curry noodles and sweet peanuts soup.

Drying salted fist

The Kuala Kurau Bridge is the town’s iconic landmark, connecting both sides of the river. It offers panoramic views of fishing boats, stilt houses, and mangrove scenery — especially beautiful during sunrise and sunset. Visitors can capture photos of the calm river life or watch fishermen returning with their daily catch.

Located about 10 minutes from town, Ban Pecah is a scenic coastal stretch lined with small fishing boats and stone breakers. While not ideal for swimming, it’s perfect for photography, picnics, and sunset viewing. The area is sometimes called “the mini rice-by-the-sea spot” due to its nearby paddy fields.

Lunch is at Chuan Kiang Kopitiam, which has a stall that sells delicious curry fish.

On the way back to Taiping we stopped by Wonder Farm Mushroom. The farm grows a variety of mushrooms and is involved in all processes of cultivation, from seed and spore creation and germination, growth medium preparation, seeding and farming, harvesting, right up to packaging of finished products. All work is performed by employees of the farm. The farm even has a laboratory where spore quality is closely monitored, and various research is performed to improve the quality of farming processes.

Upon arriving in Taiping we took the KTM ETS train back to KL while our Kuantan friends will take the night bas back to Kuantan. Overall, it was a fun and enjoying trip and very educational as well. Indeed, we learned many things during our visits to the various places of attractions in Taiping, Kuala Sepetang and Kuala Kurau.