Ipoh

From Melaka to the Cameron Highlands a necessary stop was Ipoh. We spent one night and half a day there on our way to the Highlands a full day on the return. There are a few sights to see, and more if you get a local guide. We didn't have a guide on our first visit and we didn't have much time anyway so what you see here is the result of a bus ride to the outskirts of town to see the largest cave temple complex in Malaysia. The Batu complex which I read was a Buddhist temple but like most Chinese temples here it seems to be a mix.

Candles and offerings are burnt, all of which give off a dark acidic smoke. The colour of the roof is a result of this.

You can actually see the soot peeling from the ceiling of the cave.

There were a number of little figurines lining a wall, here are two.

The one below had a face coming out of his stomach... first thing to my mind was Total Recall's Kuato.

A woman at payer.

On our return we ended up getting full tour of the town by a guide who just wanted to. He refused to let us even cover the cost of gas or buy him food, in fact he bought us food and drinks. The only thing we had to do as it turns out is to listen to his attempt to convert us to Christ. I wish a monk would try the same.