Ipoh Kway Teow

Am in Ipoh for five days for the Chinese New Year. I don't think I've spent this much time here since I was in secondary school and didn't mind not being out and about.

But this is fine. My grandmother's in her 90s and still has the best smile ever. And the food's still the best.

Ipoh looks like the 70s came here and never left. Although Starbucks has arrived. Otherwise, it's narrow streets, grey shophouses, nice sized bungalows built from old money in town, wood and corrugated iron huts on the outskirts. And still better hawker food than anywhere else I know.

The best prawn mee hor fun I've had: Restoran New Hollywood at Canning Garden.

Best wonton mee: In Greentown, at the block of shophouses across from New Town White Coffee.

More food tomorrow. But, for now, I've hocked my privacy in return for WiFi at Starbucks - I mean - do they REALLY need to know my gender, race, country of origin, income and the some? I'm OK to watch that 70 second ad at log-in, but really. Then again, there's no broadband at my grandmother's.

Five days in Ipoh. I'm hoping to get a lot of reading done. I've got The Economist and four books. I've just finished Towelhead, and I'm starting on Slumdog Millionaire. And my iPod is getting lots and lots of use. God bless Steve.