You have five sets of co-ordinates. Each of these will take you to one of the better-know wall murals in Ipoh. Each location, at simple question will be asked. Record your answers, then use these to find the final cache position. This cache is designed to give you the opportunity to enjoy a little of Ipoh's "Old Town", and the entire cache should not take more than an hour, even at tourist pace. You can walk or drive, though if you're not accustomed to Malaysian driving, walking would be more enjoyable. You will need to climb a small fence to get to the actual cache, though the rest of the terrain is flat. Take your time and enjoy. Oh, and yes, the cache owners are aware that the questions are very simple and you could probably solve the puzzle at home with google. but that wouldn't be very fun, would it? Murals 1, 2, 4 and 5 are all painted by Ernest Zacharevic, who is better known for his Penang murals. The fifth Zacharevic mural that used to be included in this cache was painted over in late 2017, so we have included a new stop (the third co-ordinate)
N04 35.882 E101 04.574
The starting co-ordinates will take you to the Ipoh Tourist Information Office. Call in while you're here if you need help deciding what to do in Ipoh! I've seen tourists armed with big, glossy colourful brochures. You might be equally lucky!
Face away from the tourist information office and you will see our first wall mural, an old man drinking Ipoh White Coffee. It's a famous local drink which originated in Ipoh and has now spread across Malaysia and beyond. The coffee beans are roasted in palm oil margarine, giving the coffee a unique flavour. It is usually served with milk ("white") and sweet, though sugar-free versions are now available. The large flag flying over the field is the state flag of Perak, and the quaint tudor-style building behind it is the Royal Ipoh Club. Tourists can check in there for a meal in a historic setting.
How many flowers are there on the old man's coffee cup? Look carefully- even we miscounted the first time we saw it!
N04 35.872 E101 04.610
To find the second mural, just one block away, you will need to look up, up, up.
How many children are up there?
N04 35.820 E101 04.649
You still see these on the street of Ipoh, in use!
How many large wheels are there on the bicycle?
N04 35.836 E101 04.721
By now you might be feeling quite thirsty, and this refreshing-looking mural will do nothing to make you feel less thirsty! Iced tea is very popular throughout Malaysia, a refreshing and healthy drink, which is usually inexpensive. It is supplied in a bag so you can hang your drink on the handlebars of your motorcycle!
How many bags are there?
N04 35.796 E101 04.748
The fifth and final mural is a detailed depiction of tin-mining in the state of Perak. The Kinta Valley was once a hive of tin-mining activity, an industry that brought many people and much wealth to the area from the early 19th century. The complicated contraption on the right of the painting is a tin dredge, which were enormous platforms that dug and processed the tin while floating around the surface of a lake. Tin dredges were introduced in Malaysia after the First World War, and operated until the 1980's, by which stage the tin industry had all but collapsed, with a declining market demand. You can see one of the last two tin dredges in Malaysia near the town of Tanjung Tualang in Perak. It ceased operating many decades ago but attempts are being made to preserve it for history's sake.
How many windows (real windows, not art depictions of windows) are there in the wall that has this painting on it? Each window has 2 shutters and most of the time they are shut.
NOW TO FIND THAT CACHE AND SIGN THE LOG!
Now, you should have four numbers, the answers to the four questions above.
MULTIPLY the four numbers together (A x B x C x D x E), then ADD that number to both the latitude and longitude given below.
The final cache is at
N04 35.667 (+ your number)
E101 04.656 (+ your number)
You can check your answers for this puzzle on GeoChecker.com.
AT GZ
Please note the terrain rating. You will have to scramble a little and might find it tricky if you're not very agile. Also please be careful of your footing at GZ. Weeds may obscure holes and a significant drop. Look carefully! Expect prickles and clambering- you will have to earn the terrain 2.5 rating to find the cache final, though the rest of the walk is on pavements and very easy. Over the cache we have marked a geocaching symbol, and also a small one on the wall right near the cache.
WHAT NOW?
If you like wall paintings, be sure to see the well-known lane of paintings nearby. This lane features many paintings by various local artists, and can be accessed from N04 35.642 E101 04.873. Here you will see tributes to MH370, iconic figures in history and Malaysian culture. Another great mural by Ernest Zacharevic is the trishaw painting at N04 35.715 E101 04.713. You can pass this if you are walking or driving to the lane mentioned above.
Additionally, after you have signed the log in the cache, you are very close to some of the most iconic attractions in Ipoh Old Town. At N04 35.767 E101 04.725 you will find the entrance to concubine lane, where it is rumoured that rich Chinese businessmen kept their "other women" in days past. These days, it is a very narrow, cute, pedestrianised heritage lane, and many of the building owners have restored the buildings to their past simple beauty. Many have been turned into eating establishments and guest houses, and the lane is worth a look. Over the road from Concubine Lane are two historic buildings that have been beautifully restored, and offer a small glimpse into the wealthy Ipoh of tin-mining days. The blue building on the corner is Ho Yan Hor Museum, only restored and opened in 2015 or 2016, and beside it is Han Chin Pet Soo, a museum in the former building of the Hakka Tin Miner's Club. Both are open to the public but please check with them, as their hours may be sporadic or, in the case of Han Chin Pet Soo, may require prior booking. While you are here, enjoy Ipoh "Old Town", and now you have found the cache, you can find somewhere for a nice, cold iced tea!
This cache may be included in a walking tour of Ipoh Old Town, which passes many of the most interesting sights of the Old Town. A map ("Ipoh caching tour") with a suggested walking route is included with the pictures below (with some alternatives). Cache #4 on the map is a multi and the stages are shown as 4-1, 4-2 etc, and the final, while not marked on the map, is easy to access while following this route. The caches of course may be done in any order (our suggestions starts at the railway station) and it is up to you to check the listings to ensure the caches marked on the tour are active when you visit.