From Perak with Love - Zakka Loft ( Day 1 )

It took us some few rounds to find this place as it is at the very corner of a row of shops. We drove like about 20 minutes from Ipoh town for dinner. Located at Jalan Medan Ipoh, the shop is setup with really homey furniture, their handmade crafts can never stop to amaze passer-by.

We arrive at about 8:30 p.m. after a couple of times driving around for a good parking spot. For new tourist like me, it will take a while to find Zakka Loft as it is situated at a small corner of a boutique. Keep your eye glue to any lime green wall ( see the first photo below ).

Address : 2, Jalan Medan Ipoh 1C, Medan Ipoh Bistari, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Contact No. : +6 012 480 3591, +6 013 488 8503

Here is a map to help you to get here!

Zakka Loft, the handmade coffee hang out place of Ipoh

A corner where you can find some really interesting knick-knacks to be purchased before leaving Zakka Loft

A customer looking at some homemade cakes which was displayed while waiting for his take-away meal

Customers can browse through interesting handmade crafts while waiting for their meal to arrive

Ukulele for sale?

Two ukulele, some linen materials and socks dolls for sale

Some of veteran crafter Akoe Ai's work on display and for sale at Zakka Loft

Knitted stuffed teddy bears ( wedding ) suitable for wedding ceremony

Two more ukulele and some knick-knacks

The message corner!

A closer shot of the messages which are hung on the wall

Display of handmade soft dolls for sale

Another message board

A corner where photos were taken and been displayed. Happy customers

Menu list of Zakka Loft

This is my dinner - curry chicken bento set. Not bad at all!

Chicken wine bento set which my friend had. If only they could add a bit more wine to it and this will be a fabulous set to savour!

My dear friend enjoying her wine chicken bento set

Yeah... I am happy to be here! FINALLY!

Bye Zakka Loft!

From Perak with Love - Batu Gajah & Bidor ( Day 1 )

I just came back from Perak for a very short getaway. I may not be able to make it to Bangkok, Thailand or Garut, Indonesia as I hoped for. But, this short holiday is really worth it.

I fell in love with Perak instantly once GL and her husband brought me around for a mini tour. My goals had been fulfilled instantly and in a very short period of time.

Ipoh with majority of Chinese population is famous for its variety of Chinese food. As it is a Chinese populated town, the place is very warm and welcoming. I feel comfortable staying here even for a day because I am here for food hunting and language is the important ' weapon ' when it comes to ordering good food.

Fortunate enough for me, their main Chinese dialect is Cantonese language followed by Mandarin and Foo Chou. English is also widely spoken as Ipoh is becoming a favourite tourist destination. You have to really tour around to know its attraction and I will say that it will be the best to have someone you know to bring you around.

In my case, I have GL and his her husband! It took us about an hour 15 minutes to reach Bidor to try the duck mee at Pun Chun Restaurant. Got here about 11 in the morning and driving between the speed of 80 km to 110 km per hour.

Pun Chun is located at the old town of Bidor. A few minutes drive ( if you are at the right track ) from the toll, you will be able to reach this place.

Address : Pun Chun (Bidor) Restaurant, 38 & 40, Jalan Besar, 35500 Bidor, Perak, Malaysia.
Telephone : 05- 434 1554 & 05-434 1562   

Pun Chun (Bidor) Restaurant

Handmade delicacies which came out fresh from the oven the time we arrived

Nicely taken photos of some of their famous menus available

More food options hanging near the ceiling!

A worker hard at work preparing dishes for customers

Duck mee at Pun Chun, Bidor as brunch

We continue our journey to Ipoh town after brunch. The journey takes us about 40 minutes, passing Batu Gajah. By the way, there is a reason why they call the place Batu Gajah ( 'rock elephant ' if I were to translate it directly to English ).

Take a look at the following photos and you will understand why. The shape of the mountain does look like an elephant!

Batu Gajah from afar

 Another angle of Batu Gajah taken while the car we were in moving

RM30 per night?! First time we saw such budget style hotel in Ipoh town