The small town of Malim Nawar has great charm

Tranquility at the ex-mining pool at Malim Nawar. Photos: Yoon Lai Wan

Ever wondered what it is like to go on an adventure in the stillness of the predawn hours? Some 35km from Ipoh lies a hidden gem of unparalleled beauty, a place rich in biodiversity – the rustic town of Malim Nawar, a township once famed for tin mining and premium thermal power.

Shrouded in a blanket of darkness, my friends and I drove into the undulating ex-tin mining area of Kampong Terbing Tinggi. A delicate sliver of moonlight helped us navigate in the darkness. Following a sandy path which forks into many meandering directions, a resident of Malim Nawar led us into this vast place (never go in without a guide). Bumping along in my “bone-shaker” and with unaccustomed nocturnal vision, I had a hard time evading the many pot holes which riddled the path.