Monday 14 September 2015

Ipoh Padang & Its Surrounding - Now And Before

This is a continuation of the "Now And Before" series. I had earlier posted the 1st one which was about the Ipoh Railway Station. If you are interested, you can click here. It all started with our visit to Ipoh's Urban Transformation Centre and our viewing of the "My Ipoh - Heritage Trail" exhibition organized by Ipoh City Council.

Today's posting will be about Ipoh Padang or Ipoh Field and some of its surrounding buildings. 
This was how the Ipoh Padang or the lower field looked like in the old days.
 A photo of the old Ipoh field or padang taken in 1900.
 Another photo of the Ipoh field or padang taken in 1910.
The Ipoh padang of seven and a half acres was created in 1898 in commemoration of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee the year before. Over $43,000 was raised for this purpose by Chinese community. The padang was described as "the new recreation ground for clerks" to play games like cricket, football and tennis.
 A photo of the present day Ipoh field or padang taken on 13 September, 2015.
Ipoh is currently affected with very bad haze condition. 
Ipoh field or padang, Sept. 2015
This is Ipoh's tallest flag pole, flying the flag of the state of Perak.
View of Ipoh Padang taken on a hazy day Sept 2015.
The F.M.S Hotel in the old days. 
The F.M.S. Bar & Restaurant - founded in 1906 by a Hainanese immigrant, the F.M.S (Federal Malay States) is reputed to be the oldest restaurant in Malaysia. The main clientele were Europeans miners and planters. It moved to its current premise in 1923.
The present day F.M.S. building, currently not opened for business.
Ipoh Club in the old days.
 Present day Royal Ipoh Club, 13 September, 2015.
Royal Ipoh Club with Ipoh's tallest flag pole.
 The Royal Ipoh was founded by a group of Europeans in 1895 and has the distinction of being the oldest club in Ipoh. During the Occupation the building was used by the Japanese Army as a laundry house for officers based at nearby St. Michael's Institution.
St. Michael's Institution - established in 1912, it was founded by Father J.B. Coppin and built in the Gothic style. The current buildings were constructed over a period of 30 years commencing from 1922. During the Occupation St. Michael's Institution became the headquarters of the Japanese Administration in Perak.
Latest view of St. Michael's Institution, Sept 2015.
Both of my sons were educated here.
But in that coming day, no weapon turned against you shall succeed,
and you will have justice against every courtroom lie.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord.
This is the blessing I have given to you, says the Lord.
(Isaiah 54:17, TLB)

42 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing. Feel very nostalgic looking at old yellowish photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mun, some of these old photos were really old ones, long before I was even born.

      Delete
  2. I love looking at those old photos. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Rose. I too love looking at these old photos. That is why I am documenting them in my blog. Not easy to get these old photos.

      Delete
    2. You might like to pay IpohWorld a visit for more old photos of Ipoh:

      http://www.ipohworld.org

      Be prepared for some history lessons too.

      Delete
    3. Thank you, TC Chuah. So kind of you to provide the link to Ipoh world.org. I think it would be an interesting visit to know more about Ipoh.

      Delete
  3. Nice sharing. I like to dig the old photos & compare the Before & After...and we can see the changes. Lovely post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Irene. Yes I am now gathering whatever old and new photos and put them together to see the changes.

      Delete
  4. Great post, Nancy! I like the the old and new images. Happy Monday, have a great new week ahead!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Eileen. Happy Monday and a great week to you too!

      Delete
  5. Um belo trabalho gostei do contraste entre as velas e novas fotografias.
    Um abraço e boa semana.
    http://andarilharar.blogspot.pt/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Francisco. Keeping these photos in my blog before they can't be found in future.

      Delete
  6. What a lovely history lesson. I love these kinds of posts.

    Have a fabulous day Nancy. ☺

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sandee. I love the comparisons of the old and the new.

      Delete
  7. Oh, wow, I have so enjoyed seeing all of these. Wonderful to see the old photos then the how the places look now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Rose. I too enjoyed these photos and very interesting how the places have changed so much.

      Delete
  8. Nancy I love your old photos they are fantastic.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I really like the contrast in these shots between the current day and the past.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, William. I am so glad to be able to get these old photos to show the contrast.

      Delete
  10. I love seeing the old photos, Nancy, and I love how you are showing...then...and now! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Linda. I am glad I was able to take the old photos from the exhibition.

      Delete
  11. This is so beautiful, i personally love seeing old pictures about people, culture and places. This so much reminds us how well the world was before. when everything just remains so simple! I miss reading your blog! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think I prefer the old days where everything is just so simple but there are also things I prefer in the current days....

      Delete
  12. Replies
    1. Thank you, Sharon. That's the latest photo of FMS restaurant, but so sad it is now left idle.

      Delete
  13. Lol...merdeka day i sat on the padang there coz saw the participants are there. I thought it was to be heldnthere. Then think think..like not right geh...walk some more then found the correct place

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol! I have never been to watch the live event, too crowded and hot for my comfort. I think participants gather at Ipoh Padang but the grand stand was in front of town hall and railway station.

      Delete
  14. Hi Nancy,

    I love looking at old photo too. Can't imagine how basic people in the past live... We are so lucky. Take care and stay indoor or away from the haze.

    Zoe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Zoe, for your concern. I am trying to stay indoor as much as possible, neglecting my garden these few days.

      Delete
  15. Nancy, it's good that the padang and nearby buildings are well preserved.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Phong Hong, hopefully they will be preserved for many, many more years to come.

      Delete
  16. If I am not mistaken, the FMS Hotel (in the picture above "227 Market Street") and the FMS Bar and Restaurant (at Brewster Road) are not the same place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, TC Chuah, it moved to its current premise in 1923. The information was printed under the photo of the blue building.

      Delete
    2. Its alright. Have a wonderful day!

      Delete
  17. Good walk down memory lane. Too bad the haze got to be part of the story!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Stacy, the last few days' haze condition were really terrible. Today it has cleared slightly.

      Delete

Your visits and encouraging comments are greatly appreciated. Please leave me your name and blog link for me to visit you. Thank you.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...