Loving the Slow and Good Life

Source: StartMetro, 31st August 2012

By: Ivan Loh 

VOCALIST Estee Pook never gets tired of the “slow” life in Ipoh, her beloved hometown.

It is the peacefulness and quietness of this city that Pook really loves and she would not swap it for anywhere else.

“The lifestyle here is less stressful compared to the metropolitan living in Kuala Lumpur,” she told StarMetro.

“In Kuala Lumpur, everyone seems to be rushing here and there and the traffic jam is so scary!” she said, half in jest.

“In contrast, Ipoh is surrounded by majestic limestone hills and is full of green lungs,” she added.

Pook, who currently lives in Pengkalan, said among her favourite places to hang out at were parks, surrounded by trees.

“My favourite place to relax is at D.R. Seenivasagam Park.

“It is such a beautiful place. I remember my parents bringing me and my siblings there for walks, and generally a good workout, when we were young,” she said.

“I still go there regularly with my friends for evening walks and just to relax,” she added.

Pook said the park used to host a lot of activities such as bicycle and children rides.

“However, over the last decade or so, the place has gotten less lively as all the activities are not available anymore.

“Parents also rarely bring their children there anymore,” she lamented.

Pook is a multilingual singer who started singing professionally after finishing secondary school.

She performs with a wide variety of ensembles, from grand concerts and symphony orchestras to bands and charity fundraising events.

She has sung in the Unforgettable: Royal Charity Concert held at the Plenary Hallof Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre with Malaysian actor and singer Sean Ghazi, accompanied by the 66-piece Kuala Lumpur International Festival Orchestra.

The two-night concert was in aid of the Alzheimer Disease Foundation Malaysia and to commemorate the Sultan of Selangor’s birthday in 2009.

She recently returned from Taiwan where she sang in two charity concerts to raise money for aboriginal children there.

In her younger days, she used to hang out at the FMS Bar and Restaurant, opposite the Ipoh Padang.

”It has been closed down for a while now. It used to be one of the most happening places to go for a drink, and the food was tasty,” she said.

According to the Ipoh City Council (MBI) website, the word ‘Ipoh’ is believed to originate from the word ‘Upas’. The British called it ‘Epu’ while the Chinese pronounced it as ‘Ipoh’ or ‘Paluh’.

Up until the 1880s, Kinta River was the main transportation link between Ipoh and other areas, both in and outside of Perak. In 1884, roads were built to connect Gopeng village and the port in Kota Baru and connecting the mining area in Papan and Batu Gajah.

In 1893, more than half of the thatch-roofed houses were pulled down and replaced by brick buildings, and drainage systems were improved.

Roads were reorganised and trees were planted. In the same year, the Ipoh Sanitary Board was set up and tasked with keeping Ipoh clean.

In 1895, the first English lower secondary school was established, known as Anglo Chinese Boys School.

Almost as old is the Ipoh Field (Padang Ipoh) — it turns 115 next year.

The council’s website further said Ipoh became the largest town in Perak and the second largest in the Federated Malay States in 1895.

At the same time, the road linking Ipoh and other places in the Kinta Valley were improved.

Between 1905 and 1914, the Ipoh town administrative area expanded across the Kinta River, reaching Andersen Road.

Thus a new town grew, called Ipoh New Town, naturally. A train station, hotel, town hall, post office and a cinema were built. Motorised vehicles were also introduced in Ipoh at this time.

On 27 May, 1988, Ipoh was declared a city. Ipoh Municipal Council is now known as Ipoh City Council and its chief executive is called mayor. Datuk Roshidi Hashim is the eighth mayor.

Based on 2009 figures, the state capital has more than 700,000 residents.

Among its famous sons and daughters are Datuk Lat, Datuk Michelle Yeoh and Cheah Soon Kit.

Branded as the “Limestone Wonder” by Perak Tourism, Ipoh is surrounded by tourist spots including the many cave temples such as Sam Poh Tong, Kek Lok Tong and Perak Tong aside from the numerous caves for adventurers to explore — Puncak, Tambun and the most famous, Tempurung.

Its historical and scenic charms have landed it in numerous films, notably Sepet and Gubra.

However, in retrospect, Pook said Ipoh had become less “happening” now compared to years past.

“I remember a time when there used to be a lot of stalls by the roadside selling foodstuff.

“There are still such stalls around but many of them do not give me the same ‘feeling’ as before when droves of people hung out near the stalls, eating, chatting and just be with good company,” she said.

”All these activities are sorely missed, and their absence makes Ipoh feel less vibrant in a way,” she said.

On a brighter note, Pook said Ipoh had developed vastly.

”There are more high-rise buildings now. Ipoh is coming up really fast. The land value is also getting higher by the day,” she quipped.