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5 ways life in Perak is different, as seen by an outsider

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For folks born and raised in the Klang Valley, a visit to Perak can be an eye-opener.

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Free Malaysia Today
Life in Perak is a strange change of pace for folks used to the lunacy of Klang Valley life. (Wikipedia pic)

PETALING JAYA:
If you were born and raised in the Klang Valley, you likely think you’ve seen just about everything Malaysia has to offer. After all, it’s possibly the most cosmopolitan region in the country. And there are indeed many sights to see and things to do here.

However, travelling is one way to broaden one’s horizons and to explore new environments. And for a hardcore Klang Valley resident, the peace and quiet of Perak is in direct contrast to the madhouse everyone has grown used to here.

Listed below are just a few things that set Perak apart from life in Kuala Lumpur-Petaling Jaya. Perhaps you’ll notice them on your next trip there.

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Compared to the Klang Valley, food prices in Perak can get absurdly low. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle) 

1. Everything is ridiculously cheap

As most folks regardless of age will tell you, living in the Klang Valley will burn holes in your pockets eventually.

Be it the price of property or that of the average packet of mixed rice, living expenses in Malaysia’s central hub tends to leave a gaping hole in everyone’s coffers.

Hence, when in Perak, you will find, much to your wallet’s delight, that everything from food to clothing is comically cheap.

For reference, just visit a nasi kandar stall in Ipoh and then one in the Klang Valley. Given that Ipoh’s famous nasi ganja costs about RM6 per plate, it’s hard to compare!

And of course, there’s a reason why Ipoh is a famous retirement spot for pensioners, given how you can purchase a sizeable house there worth the same amount you’d pay for a tiny condo here!

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The school spirit is strangely well and alive in many elderly Perakian folks. (Wikipedia pic)

2. People are strangely proud of their alma maters

For some inexplicable reason, Perakians tend to take special pride in identifying themselves by the schools they studied in.

It’s hard to explain why but perhaps it’s because there are many well-known and historical schools throughout the state.

In Ipoh itself, you have St Michael’s Institution and the Methodist Girls’ School. In Kampar, the Anglo-Chinese School and in Taiping, King Edward VII School.

The school spirit seems to be well and alive everywhere, even in people who haven’t stepped foot in their schools for decades after completing their secondary education.

When speaking to old-timers about their school days, be prepared for tall tales of how they placed thumb tacks on their teacher’s chairs or about the Japanese ghosts prowling in the school basement.

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Traffic congestion in Perak is a breeze compared to the hellscape of the Klang Valley. (FMT pic)

3. Traffic works differently

One of the key characteristics of the Klang Valley is its inescapable rush hour traffic gridlock – and sometimes even over weekends and for no apparent reason.

As anyone working in Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya or Subang Jaya can attest, gridlocked traffic sucks the life out of road users. While traffic congestion is unavoidable wherever you go, it is certainly less frequent in Perak than in the Klang Valley.

For that reason, driving in Perak can be quite a breeze, and you might be tempted to speed down one of the many quiet roads there. That said, Perakian motorists cruise rather than drive, so exercise patience while tailing these leisurely sightseers.

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While roads are free of heavy traffic most times, travelling between towns in Perak requires heavy investments of time. (Pixabay pic)

4. Everything is so close, yet so far

“It’s just the next town over” is probably the most deceptive thing you can be told whilst travelling in Perak.

As a Klang Valley resident, you know that the population centres of KL, PJ and Subang are in close proximity to each other.

In Perak, this is not the case as long distances separate the major towns throughout the state. Kampar tends to be cited as the last stop before one arrives at Ipoh but it’s nearly one hour away.

That said, the distance one has to travel between towns in Perak is less aggravating as you are spared the Klang Valley phenomenon of being stuck in traffic for 30 minutes to travel a measly 2km.

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If there’s one thing Perak does better than Selangor, it’s preserving its old-world charm for future generations. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)

5. Its old-world charm is well… charming

While there are the odd building projects here and there, for the most part, Perak and its towns have retained much of their old-world charm.

Unlike the skyscrapers and towers of the Klang Valley, you are more likely to be driving past pre-war shophouses on the regular.

It is tough to find luxury brand stores in Perak, but in their place, you will find family-run shops which have been around for decades.

There are little bits of history hidden in the nooks and corners of Perak’s towns, some of which only the locals know of.

Perhaps some lessons about historical preservation could be taken to heart by Klang Valley administrators; not everything has to go, you know!

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