We grabbed a taxi from the Ipoh (pronounced E-poh) Airport's taxi stand, and headed to Old Town for a little shopping at Concubine Lane.

A sign explained that Concubine Lane used to be the home of a large opium den. The older generation can still recall seeing ladies in red hanging out the upper windows while wives shouted from the street looking for their husbands.

Today the narrow old lane is lined with red lanterns, with trinkets and souvenirs for sale. There are racks of cheap dresses. Local cooked food is plentiful, lots of street food stalls. The restaurants were rooms open right to the lane. I couldn't see menus so I was a bit intimidated to stop and eat. A metal see-saw was placed at the front of one with children playing as their parents ate. I was tempted by the bubble milk tea stall. We ended up eating a few blocks away at a Hawker Centre.

Playing at the edge of the lane as their parents eat. 

Stepping out of Concubine Lane, the buildings were old and run down, but the cars were in good condition. We stepped into a silk shop and looked at the saris. There were interesting murals around the neighbourhood, depicting scenes from the neighbourhood's past.

A clock tower drew us out of the alleys to take some photos. It turned out it was in a little square at the Hawker Centre. I got myself kopi and chicken rice. My lunch was $8 ringgits (about $3 CAD/SG).

Our oddest find in Concubine Lane - Platform 9 1/2 Cafe - a Harry Potter themed coffee shop selling butter-beer. There were people in costume inside; knowing Harry Potter fans they may actually have been real patrons. The hunched over old guy beckoning us to come check out upstairs was very in character, and he also looked just like some one out of the movies.

I'll have to tell MsC that I have found at least one entrance to the Wizarding World in Asia.