I Live In Gunong Lang

My house next the hill of Gunong Lang 

There's a gaping cave next to my house

Towards the hill 

 the lake before the hill

JAG

The importance of Kinta Valley Limestone Karst. Why It Must Be Protected

From Gunung Lanno looking to the north. A quarry operation lies in the foreground with Gunung Rapat and Gunung Terendum behind

Paleontologist Lim Tze Tshen 

By Mr Lim Tze Tshen the President of the Paleontological Society of Malaysia who was in Ipoh on July 2019 at the invitation of Kinta Valley Watch (KVW) group to present a talk on paleontology and the importance of limestone hills.

Here he mentions 7 points why the limestone hills of the Kinta Valley must be protected and preserved.

1.The coverage of limestone karst in Kinta Valley is the largest one in the Peninsular.

2. The greater Ipoh area is located within the limestone karst area. This limestone karst is one of the potential areas to develop sustainably from an ecosystem point of view. Over-development will not only affect but also destroy the geological stability of the ecosystem, and also reduce the chance of exploring the unique limestone caves in Kinta Valley by its citizens.

3. Limestone karst, including the caves and other geological features, is rare and unique compared with the other geography landscapes in Southeast Asia. Therefore, it should be protected.

 

A scarred Gunong Lanno on the outside but inside (below)

Inside Gunung Lanno.. underground water flows through Gua Air (Pix by GAP)

4. Limestone mining resources are much more abundant underground. Furthermore the mining technology is relatively well-developed to exploit the  underground limestone mining.

5. The exposed-limestone karst and caves are distinctive. There are some unique species in this biological community, including wild fauna and flora, and they are the natural heritage of our country.

6. The general survey of Kinta Valley limestone karst hasn't been done, but limestone exploitation is still ongoing. It will diminish individual species and the opportunity to educate local biologists.

7. Many limestone caves contain fossils of ancient life forms and may hold important archaeology sites, if we exploited it without comprehensive research, we will lose the chance to understand and record the history of our country and the life within Kinta Valley karst. 

Lim Tze Tshen

Gunong Terendum Is Gone Save Gunong Lanno

The terminally scarred Gunong Terendum but at back Gunong Lanno must be saved. Nb Photographer unknown but appreciated

This heart wrenching sight of scarred limestone hills or the remnants of what once was Gunong Terendum is what greets visitors when arriving to Ipoh.

The result of quarrying activities which started in this area of Simpang Pulai over 30  years ago and was accelerated since the downfall of the tin industry.

Another view of the destruction of Kinta Valleys geological structure.  (From KVW Fb page)

Over the last 10 years saw the arrival of multinational companies introducing a more systematic method of quarrying which would possibly flatten the hills where they once stood within another 10 years.

To ask the companies to cease operations at this point would be would be suicidal both for the company and more so for the state government. 

No Gunong Terendum is as good as gone. But Gunong Lanno, the forest covered hill at the back of the photograph, is still worth saving.

A picturesque valley within Gunong Lanno

The geological makeup of Kinta Valley Geopark

Gunong Lanno has remnants of heritage tin mining structures done within the hill, a labyrinth of caves, a thriving flora and fauna, underground streams, cave temples and a stunningly beautiful valley to explore.It is a microcosm that makes Kinta Valley a true GEOPARK. 

Gunong Lanno must be saved.  

Geopark: a UNESCO-designated area containing one or more sites of particular geological importance, intended to conserve the geological heritage and promote public awareness of it, typically through tourism.

JAG

A Meal At The Heritage Coliseum (1921) Café.

My memory of  Coliseum ..in the nineties during lunch time.. the bar (and lounge)

It was a first time for me ie having a meal at the Coliseum at NIGHT.  Used to come here when in KL and dropped by for lunch and tea before returning to Ipoh. That was in the mid-nineties.

I used to sit on the bar because that was the only place available because the place was packed with customers. Parking too was a hassle then and most times we used to park in the back lane.

..and the diner .. isn't it nostalgic  

The only thing i remember of the place was the fittings and atmosphere of the old colonial setting. I was working those days and really wanted a meal, which was usually an inchi kabin and a cold beer then get home. 

..my meal of fish & chips with nostalgia 

  

I was glad to go back some years ago and this time at night. I got to see the place almost empty. It was after 8pm so I guess it might have been late.

A Lat cartoon and signs that there had been a upgrade 

A glimpse of the patrons immortalised .... what a genius

The bar was still the same but noticed there was a lot of Lat, the Malaysian’s cartoonist, drawings.  There was also one photo of Lat on the wall. I wonder if he was ‘officially’ inducted into the Coliseums ‘Hall of Fame’

Coliseum is well planned 2 shop lot establishment. It is divided into the bar and lounge taking up 1 lot and the diner the other lot. Interestingly next door was the Coliseum theatre.

..well planned .. the bar side ..

..and the diner 

Coliseum Cafe with Coliseum Theatre next door

It reminded me of Ipoh’s Lido theatre which had the Oasis next door and later the ABJ coffee house a few doors away.   But that was when theatres was still popular.

Memories came flooding back when I realized I had to get back to Ipoh again…and it was time to go.

JAG