Taiping Heritage Ride ( 17-20 March 2016 ), Day 2 - The team gathers for more Makan!!!

Burmese Pool, the water is still clean and clear in this El Nino heat

The walk over the bridge at Burmese Pool

The view from the bridge

Friendly butterflies!

Dragon flies!

More butterflies!

Children from Taiping Children's Home

Children from Vincent Divine Home

Helping out to distribute the popcorn

63 movie tickets for Kungfu Panda 3

Another offering at Kwan Seong Coffee Shop

Prawn fritters

Fried Popiah

Laksa

Ice kacang

Fish Head Curry from Hong Yun

Sambal Mixed Vegetables from Hong Yun

Tofu in pumpkin sauce from Hong Yun

Inchi-Kabin from Hong Yun

Tong Po Pork from Hong Yun

Pre-ride gathering with the team!

We picked Berenda up at 7am, somewhere near the cross junction in Simpang. She had travelled by bus from Singapore the night before and the bus had dropped her off somewhere opposite KFC. It was not a proper bus stop at all, just a roadside stop and since she was the last one to get off the bus, she was a nervous wreck until our arrival. 

It is customary for the locals to drop off along the route to the Taiping bus station which is sadly situated in the far corners of Kamunting! Nobody likes to sit in the bus for an additional 20 minutes after a 10 hour ride, only to catch a transport back to their homes the same way! Thankfully, Berenda was not harassed by any taxi drivers as we were 5 minutes late!

We dropped Berenda off at Flemington hotel for a quick wash up, promising to return for her later. However, upon drop off, we were already feeling peckish and so we made a bee line to the multi levelled market again for finger food. Nasi Lemak, masalavadae, huan chu leng and apam were purchased to go with our milk tea. None of the food were good except for the vadae which was made out of lentils, dried chilies, curry leaves, spices and onions, mashed together before deep frying.

When we were done, we returned to pick Berenda and her 2 other friends. Derek and Tze had arrived a day earlier via a flight to Ipoh and a connecting taxi ride to Taiping. 

We took them to Kwan Seong coffee shop for what is touted by many as the best Wantan Mee in the world! The noodles here are broader and springy, almost "al dente". But what works best for The Choongs are their frothy milk tea tinged with some drips of coffee.

After tucking in for the second time, we left for Taiping Sentral to join the children from Taiping Children's Home and Vincent Divine Home for a movie. The Kungfu Panda 3 movie we watched ended on a good note but instead of stuffing our faces with dumplings, we treated everyone to a McDonald's meal. Some of the children has grown taller and wiser whilst some have left. There were some new faces too and it was our challenge to bond with them.

We said goodbye to the children with a promise to meet them again next year. Then, we went to Pokok Assam for the second day in a row. (We were there with Raymond and his team after the Spritzer tour).

The shop we patronize is actually a residential home cum business entity. Instead of a side garden, the land is used for money making. We had the full course spread of curry mee, laksa, prawn fritters, fried popiah, ice kacang and home made soya bean. All the food is pretty good though not fantastic.

Feeling hot, we left for a dip in Burmese Pool but not before stopping by at Tupai Emas Heong Peah Factory for some of the traditional biscuits. Heong Peah is also known as Biscuit Jerry Gula which comes with a sticky filling. We were quite surprised as besides the conventional biscuits, newer versions with charcoal pastries are also offered.

Burmese pool was a good welcome in the El Nino heat. An oversight to the standard rubbish, the water is still clear despite the number of visitors! The flora and fauna are still thriving.

Throughout our time there, we spotted small fishes, pond skippers, butterflies and a few dragon flies. One dragon fly even landed on Tze's toe!!!

VT and the boys tried their hands at catching fishes with t-shirts and plastic bags. Needless to say, they failed! They should have rented some nets from the peddlers at the car park instead!

For dinner, we went to Hong Yun Restaurant in Pokok Assam. It was our fourth choice after the first 2 restaurants we went to were closed and a third was too posh for our liking. Perhaps many business proprietors had closed for "Ching Ming", sweeping the ancestrals tomb. 

The food at Hong Yun was simply fantastic and cheap. Raymond again joined us at the shop but since they just had tea, they went for drinks and finger food only.

Our night ended with some comfort food from Golden Corner. We had braised chicken feet and chicken noodle soup with the standard Sambal Belacan again. Derek, Tze and Berenda were quickly taken aback by how smooth the noodles were! For first timers, I think they have been assimilated!!