Ayam tauge

The Ipoh speciality, chicken rice with fat beansprouts.

Yes, a road trip north to Ipoh, once a major tin mining centre. We stopped off at Kellie's Castle on the way. Built by William Kellie Smith from Dallas in the early 20th century it is supposed to be a Scottish Castle. It isn't! It was never finished after he died in Lisbon in 1927 on the eay to fetch the firdt lift in Malaysia and is now a romantic ruin. And definitely no 'elf an' safety'. You can go on the top of the tower roof, with no safety guards!

Our hotel, extras in camera, is a trendy remake of an old shophouse. Very minimalist and industrial but functional. Apparently this part Old Town Ipoh has had a tourist makeover in recent years. Concubine Lane now sells tat, Chinese tat not tartan tat, but the same idea.

After an ice cream and then cake in next door Plan B we had a long rest. I read my book. Then a long hot walk to the river via the padang and back. We finally ate in a Chinese restaurant round the corner. There was talk of a swim in the rooftop, concrete, pool but everyone was too tired, so bed.

With padlocks and caged in stairways it feels a bit like a prison. Sekaping Hong Keng.