Taiping Lake Gardens
My quaint little raintown
The town where everywhere you turn, there will be lush green hills embracing the near distance. In the early mornings, clouds of fog dot the hilltops whilst the sun slowly rise from its slumber, bestowing upon the land its gentle morning rays.
I grew up in Alor Setar, where the climate is very different. It's much hotter, with lapses of dry season throughout the year. But my ma is from Taiping, a little town in the neighbouring state of Perak. When I was a kid, I used to spend my school holidays here, staying at my aunt's. My cousin and I had lots of fun during those days, just being kids.
Now that my family has moved back to Taiping, it's become the place I come home to. We travel back as often as we could, and tremendously enjoy the pleasant change in pace from the hustle and bustle of the city to the calm, relaxed vibes in this sleepy rain town.
Taiping is a town in the state of Perak, and is dubbed to be the wettest town in Peninsular Malaysia. Its average annual rainfall is about 4,000 mm. A stark difference compared to the Peninsula's average annual rainfall of 2,000 mm to 2,500 mm. This provides a fertile ecosystem to a plethora of flora and centuries old rain trees in its famous Taiping Lake Gardens.
Opened in 1880, Taiping Lake Gardens was built on top of an abandoned tin mine and was the first public garden established during the British colonial days in then Malaya. Huge rain trees (pokok hujan-hujan/angsana) as old as time perch grandly along the lake, gracing the main road with their majestic presence. Their ancient branches stretch into the water and these proud trees loom magnificently over the road, creating a beautiful canopy where light slivers through on a good day.
Abundant in tropical flora and fauna, Taiping Lake Gardens boasts of ten scenic lakes and ponds, a Lotus Pool, charming bridges, as well as jogging and reflexology tracks. There are also a roller-skating rink, paddle-boat rides, and a spacious playground which would appeal to the younger audience.
There are also heritage structures dotted around the gardens such as the Old Residency (formerly home of the Secretary to the Resident), the Raja's House, and also army officers' residences - charming remnants from the old colonial days here.
The famous Taiping Zoo is also nestled right next to the lake gardens. There's even a walking path right outside one side of the zoo. If you come in the morning or evening, you might catch the booming sounds of some of the zoo animals, probably as they are being fed.
Another attraction for nature lovers would be the Maxwell Hill, or locally known as Bukit Larut. Its foothill is just about 5 minutes drive from the gardens. Bukit Larut is believed to be one of the oldest hill stations in Malaysia, built in the year 1884 by William Edward Maxwell, the British Assistant Resident in Perak then. Like most hill stations, the hilltop was a favoured location as its cooler temperatures (10C - 25C) offer a respite from the tropical heat for British officers and their families in the old colonial days.
There is a jeep service operating there taking visitors up and down the hill at a reasonable fee
(RM10 >11 yo > RM5). The jeep ride takes about 30 minutes or so to reach the summit. Alternatively, more physically fit visitors might interest in the 3-4 hour hike uphill (13km), while soaking in the beautiful landscape. I have yet to discover this gem of a place myself, and sadly at the moment, from various readings on the internet it seems that the jeep service is suspended for an indefinite time due to a landslide last year. And I am definitely, definitely never fit for a hike.
I'm more of a stroll-while-eating-icecream kind of person.
I kid you not.
Check out TravelsWithSun blog post for more deets on Bukit Larut.
Anyway, last week we were back in my hometown for the weekend. We went for a lovely morning stroll along the jogging tracks and felt recharged. I find that I am appreciating nature more and more these days, which is a good thing. Or probably a sign of aging. But nevertheless, just being in nature, greedily taking in all its beauty and the brisk, fresh air - is really, really therapeutic.
These are all photos taken on our morning stroll, at various locations around the lake gardens. Needless to say we did not cover the whole place, because we were starving and also because I have the physical fitness of a gummybear (no offense, gummybears).
Can't wait to be back here. After all, I am missing my ma's cooking so very dearly already.
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