Tin Dredge No.5 (TT5) at Tanjung Tualang is the place to be for a dive into tin-mining history.The gigantic visual spectacle depicts the glorious days of the tin rush back in the 19th century.TT5 was built in England by F.W. Payne & Sons in 1938 and operated for decades until 1982.Being the last tin dredge in Malaysia, TT5 has been part of Kinta Valley National Geopark since 2018.
A walk around TT5 presents multiple facets of the ‘floating factory’.Its volumetric composition, as well as its fundamental elements such as windows, decks and balconies resemble that of a building.The lake setting, with lilies and trees, paints a beautiful picture that enhances the stillness of TT5, which has ceased operation.The rusty part of the tin dredge also adds to the poetic aspects of the place.The fun side of TT5 features a maze garden built out of various landscape materials.We enjoyed getting lost in the maze, surrounded by walls made of stones and hedges.
In Ipoh, the capital of Perak, we stumbled upon Kong Heng Square – a rejuvenated place that used to be run-down shophouses.Today, various commercial activities give the place a second life.There are eateries, salons, shops and stalls that sell handcrafted goods and knick-knacks – making an artisan market that lures visitors to it.Old walls and windows, being remnants of the past, together with creeping plants and trees, provide a fantastic backdrop for photo shooting.
BookXcess is just a few doors away.Known for bookshelves in a unique setting, this outlet in Ipoh does not disappoint.Formerly a bank, the basement left us in awe as we walked through stacks of safe deposit boxes serving as bookshelves.Behind the vault doors, the space houses a museum honouring the late Yasmin Ahmad, a well-known film director.
