THE NUS MEDICINE CLASS OF '89 DESCENDS ON IPOH, PERAK... AND SPENDS LOTS

Taken at Weil Hotel on Friday 10 July.
Among the people are Chen Lin Han,
Nelson Chua, Leong Seng Keen, Janet Lee,
Lai Yeow Choy, Lee Hung Meng and their spouses.

I've attended class reunions in the past, but this was the first one overseas - in Perak, Ipoh. The National University of Singapore (NUS) Medicine class of 1984-1989 made its 37th anniversary by having the reunion in Ipoh, Perak. The 35th anniversary reunion was held in Penang two years ago, which I had missed much to my regret, so I was sure to make it up this time around. 

Assembling to take that group photo
in front of Ipoh Town Hall.

This was also a Raffles Junior College
pioneers' (1982-83) reunion.
With my piano playing friends,
Janelene Leong & Mabel Cheng.

Of a class of 205 people, just under a quarter took the trouble and expense to turn up, most of them with their spouses and family members in tow. I was one of the few exceptions, but that did not dampen the spirits as the class was let loose on Ipoh. For Singaporeans, most places in Malaysia are a shopping and foodie paradise, so we let our wallets do the talking. Many restaurants and food stalls, a posh hotel and a record shop got to be beneficiaries. 

The Jalan Panglima steps leading to the
Birch Memorial Clock Tower.

Going down to the basement bank vault
of Book Xcess, Ipoh's iconic bookshop.

Getting one's fill at
Restoran Thean Chun.

Outside the Kung Fu Cafe & Huay Kuan.

More importantly, it was time to reunite and reminisce, to rake up old stories and antics which young people in the 1980s got up to - which was not very much (especially med students). Most of the time was spent studying, attending lectures and tutorials, lab sessions and later hours in the hospital wards. At least I had some time to attend concerts, and in those days, it was mostly the SSO. With few distractions, all we had to do was to pass exams over five rather quick years. 

The lot descend on Durbar at FMS
to keep Aunty Susan busy.

Sampling of durians at Weil Hotel.

Rambutans & Mangosteens.

It's time to go back home.
With the Au Eongs, Kah Guan and Denise.
Leong Seng Keen, Chan Kay Heem & wife,
and Lee Cheng Chuan.

Before long, we were let loose on the hospitals, and many did not get to see each other again, except for class reunions. Which is why, such events are important. The next one is set for the 40th anniversary of passing, to be held in July 2029. God willing, I will be there again to cause some trouble.

Here are the "official" class photos:

Official photos from the 

camera of Chan Kay Heem.

SUKA MAKAN: CHOOI YUE DIM SUM IN IPOH, PERAK

Positively the last Suka Makan from Ipoh, Perak. For the final day in Ipoh, we decided to skip the hotel breakfast, opting instead to make a short journey east to feast at Chooi Yue Dim Sum, arguably Ipoh's best dim sum restaurant. It's in the suburbs but most Grab drivers know it anyway. There is usually a crowd there, but our party did not have to wait to get a table that seats six, and soon we were feasting.

Anaesthetists and cardiologist often
have to make life-changing decisions.

There was not a single dim sum item that disappointed, and everything was as expected, and there were simply no scraps left. The best part, how often does one get filled up for breakfast (with no lunch needed afterwards) for about $10 a person? I rest my case.

An ideal morning begins with
Ipoh White Coffee.

Pei Tan Chok (Century egg porridge)
and Chai Tow Kuay (Carrot cake)

Hakka tofu

Classic Siew Mai

Crystal dumpling & Har Gao

Assorted baos & chicken's feet.

Chee Cheong Fun done differently.

Ready to tuck in.

CHOOI YUE DIM SUM

2,4 & 6 Tingkat Taman Ipoh 12

Taman Ipoh Selatan

31400 Ipoh, Perak

Chooi Yue Dim Sum, Ipoh - Bangsar Babe 

Post-breakfast, buoyed by the food,
the anaesthetists and cardiologist
shop for their home kitchen!

I ACTUALLY BOUGHT RECORDS IN IPOH! @ FUJIYAMA RECORDS

Believe it or not, I actually bought some classical recordings in Ipoh! To begin, are there even record stores in Ipoh? Fortunately enough, I was directed to Fujiyama Records by Phan Ming Ruey, director of Thye Seng 105 Arts Centre at Kampar, Perak. Its located roughly midway between Ipoh old city and Weil Hotel on Jalan Sultan Idris Shah (Brewster Road). 

Fujiyama Records, a hipster hangout, also doubles as an apparel store for pre-loved clothing. The record store occupies the ground floor while the clothes on the upper level. Most of the recordings are vinyl, and the classical section is pitifully small, yet I was able to find several gems - both LPs as well as CDs. Most of these were Japanese pressings, as I later found out the owner was Japanese himself and most definitely sourced his booty from the homeland which is music paradise.

The Hiroko Nakamura recital LP
was actually autographed by her!

Who would have thought you could
find Harnoncourt and Jochum in Ipoh?

This post is dedicated to my friends, the Phan brothers, Ming Ruey and Ming Yen, who would have bought these same recordings had I not grabbed them first.

FUJIYAMA RECORDS

150 Jalan Sultan Idris Shah

30300 Ipoh, Perak

Fujiyama: Not Your Average Record Store | Ipoh Echo 

A STROLL THROUGH IPOH ARCHITECTURE

The city of Ipoh, Perak was built on wealth. The tin mines of Kinta Valley fueled its growth during the late 19th century and much of the first half of the 20th century. Its grand edifices and historic architecture were a legacy of its colonial past, built by the British and surviving as grand structures. My short walk starts in the old city at the grand Ipoh Railway Station, designed by Arthur Hubback (also responsible for Kuala Lumpur's even more grandiose station) and opened in 1917. Then it goes past several more historical structures before entering the centre of the old city, before winding my way to Jalan Sultan Idris Shah and ending at the Weil Hotel.

The "Taj Mahal" of Ipoh.

It's still a functioning intercity rail station.

The Cenotaph commemorating all 
of Perak's war dead, from 1914 to 1960.

Ipoh Town Hall (1916),
also designed by Arthur Hubback.

The Birch Memorial Clock Tower (1909), named
after the assassinated James Birch (1826-1875),
controversial first Resident of Perak. 

The old Pekan Lama Cafe on
Jalan Sultan Yussoff, part of Kong Heng Square.

Arlene House (1905), former mansion of
Kapitan Chung Thye Pin.

Entrance to the Made in Ipoh museum
in Arlene House.

Old Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co
department store, faded art deco beauty
on Jalan Maharajalela.

 

Straits Trading Building (1907)
in Italian renaissance style,
now occupied by OCBC.

Historic buildings on Jalan Bandar Timah,
including the Tin House and Han Chin Pet Soo,
now a tin-mining museum.

Old Keng Chow Huay Kuan,
now Kung Fu Coffee House and museum.

The mighty HSBC Building (1931)
on Jalan Tun Sambanthan.

Malaysia's oldest restaurant and bar,
Durbar at FMS (1906).

More faded art deco on
Jalan Sultan Idris Shah (formerly Brewster Road)

Art deco buildings on Jalan Sultan Idris Shah,
non-functional and still functional.

This neoclassical-Straits palladian-brutalist
luxury hotel building never opened its doors.

Ipoh old and new, corner of Jalan Raja Ekram 
& Brewster Road, and the former Odeon Theatre.

I forgot to take a pic of my hotel,
so I got it from Google Maps!
How weil was that?