The Royal Ipoh Club

Before continuing with our adventures in Malaysia, a few friends have commented about not knowing that I was born in Malaysia.... so here's a bit of background...

In preparation for our relocation to Uruguay, Bruce & I have been "getting our papers in order". To apply for Uruguayan residency, there are a number of personal documents that "have to be legalized in the country where they originated". In July, I began communications with Andres Trianon at the Uruguayan Embassy in Malaysia trying to complete this requirement electronically and/or including telephone. In September it became apparent that it was not as easy to do as we had expected... so about September 19th, we decided that I would go to Malaysia to do what needed be done.

The day this decision was made I was picking my sister up at Toronto airport for her visit from Nanaimo (British Columbia). Anne & I were staying at Mum's place in Richmond Hill (Ontario) for a few days. Once Mum learned that I was going to Malaysia, her immediate response was "well, you sure as heck ain't going without me"! Ultimately Anne realized that it would be a special trip for Mum to have both her daughters with her on for her first time back to Malaysia in 49 years.

So the story really begins in Scotland in 1957 when Dad met Mum on his 6-month furlough home from working in Malaya (as it was called then). Dad had only 7 weeks left of his furlough before returning to work. Ultimately he proposed before he left; they wrote back and forth over the next year; then in August 1958, Margaret Wieland left all her family in Scotland to fly half way around the world to marry this man she hardly knew, Bill Taylor... and if Dad hadn't passed away in 2004, they would be married 55 years!

On August 15, 1958 Bill & Margaret were married at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Ipoh. Their Wedding Reception was held at the Ipoh Club, where Bill was a member; and they honeymooned on Penang Island... Then...first came Anne Patricia (1959)... then Debra Jane (1961)... and finally William John (1962). In April 1964, the Taylor family left Malaya, returned to Scotland, and subsequently relocated to Canada. This is Mum and Debra's first trip back since that time. Anne returned for a visit in 1989 also.

So now you're up to date. Debra took care of the paperwork in Kuala Lumpur. We've visited the hospital. No doubt the church, the Ipoh Club, and maybe even Penang Island are coming....

 

On Saturday, we went to check out the Ipoh Club. The Club was founded in 1895. It is a members only club so we weren't sure if they would let us in. Margaret remembered many good times at the club during her 7 years in Malaya, particularly how great the food in the dining room always was. We were hoping to enjoy lunch there today.

 

Margaret was armed with her Scottish wit and intended to tell her story in the hope of getting us in for lunch. Once they heard the story, they couldn't have been nicer. We were invited to sign the guest registry and welcomed to the Club. The food was AMAZING. There weren't many people there and the menu included everything you could think of and then some, so we weren't convinced that it all could be available.

 

 

 

Margaret's first order was the freshly squeezed orange juice that she remembered with affection. Anne & Debra had already experienced freshly squeezed WARM OJ in Kuala Lumpur so we weren't anxious to try it again.... but when it arrived in a large milk shake sized glass filled with ice, a sip was in order. It was terrific! We ate "Curry Puff" appetizers; quite literally "to die for". Anne & Debra shared an order of Chicken Curry and Chicken a la King. The Chicken Curry was more than enough for the 2 of us but both were so good, we struggled to eat the Chicken a la King also. Margaret had opted for fresh onion soup to ensure that she had room for dessert. 

 

 

We decided to share the "Alaska Bomb'', which sounded like the Baked Alaska that mum used to make us at home. The presentation was lovely as the waitress brought the flaming dessert to the table. It didn't quite live up to Mum's only because they hadn't used enough ice cream. Yet still a terrific meal!

 

 

  

 

We toured the rest of the building and sat outside enjoying the ambiance and scenery while Margaret reminisced about her wedding reception...and yes, she cried some more!

 

Finally it was time to waddle out the front door...

 

 

 ...and head back to Hotel Station 18....or as Margaret calls our room, "Girl's Camp"...

 

 

 

 

 Another GREAT day in Malaysia...