Taiping 2015

PART 1: Jalan-Jalan

24th Dec - 27th Dec 2015.

As-salamu'alaikum.

Taiping. Does it need an introduction? You can always 'Wiki' or Google it. Taiping is our favourite chill-out spot come year-end. The reason why we visit Taiping every year is for the peace and tranquility of this heritage town. In terms of tourist attractions, Taiping is famous for Maxwell Hill, scenic lake gardens and its Zoo & night safari among others. Taiping is also known as the wettest town in Semenanjung. Our recent trip however, was not as wet as it was the year before. On our two previous trips here, we'd done the usual 'touristy' activities like the 'roller coaster' Jeep ride to the top of Bukit Larut (certainly not for the faint-hearted), bathing at Burmese pool & stopped by Taiping war cemetery. This year, our activities in Taiping revolved around finding good foods and enjoying the scenery at the lake garden.

Faree'ah @ Furama Hotel.

We checked-out from the hotel in Georgetown on Thursday the 24th of Dec. at half past 12PM and arrived in Taiping just over an hour later. We then straight away checked in at Furama Hotel. Although not listed as one of UNESCO World Heritage sites, Taiping is a heritage town and is similar to Georgetown in terms of its historical colonial-era legacies and pre-war architectures. Here are the highlights of our 4-day trip.

Taiping Lake Gardens

Whenever we're in Taiping, I'll make sure to book a hotel within walking distance to the lake garden. I'm sure most of you have been here or at least have seen photos of the lake garden on the Net. This is where we usually spend our late afternoons (after 'Asr prayer) in Taiping. The lake gardens could be crowded at times especially on weekends, but you can always find a more secluded spot where it is less crowded. There are plenty of leisurely activities that could be done here. Taking a stroll, jogging, hiking, bicycle ride, boat ride, picnics, playgrounds for kids, nature & wedding photography, group exercise, Qigong and even fishing. Although I'm not sure whether fishing on the lake is allowed or not, but I've seen folks bringing their fishing rods to catch some fishes here. One thing I love about this place is the scenic views. No matter how many times I've been here, it never ceases to mesmerise me. The lake garden symbolises the town itself. Laid back and charming.

Santai petang by the lakeside

One of the ten man-made lakes & ponds throughout the lake gardens

Faree'ah under the shade of the famous Taiping rain trees.

Walking towards the Chinese Pagoda.

The tranquil Taiping lake garden with scenic Bukit Larut backdrop. I personally would say (and most would agree) that this is the prettiest and most charming lake garden in Malaysia.

An abandoned tin mine that was converted into a stunning landscape by the Brits back in the late 1800s.

At sundown.

The age of the rain trees surrounding the lake are roughly around 130 years old.

Taking a breather after morning stroll.

Near the boat house where boating services are provided. There are several types of boats that you can choose from; swan boat, ferry, sampan and couple boat.

This photo was taken in December 2014 on a rainy day. Stunning view.

Morning view of the lake garden.

Taiping Zoo

Located within the lake garden enclosure, Taiping Zoo is the main attraction in Taiping for tourists and locals alike. The last time we came here was back in 2013. And within 2 years, we had noticed a lot of unfavourable changes. The zoo was in a poor state. Some of the animal enclosures were closed down and there were fewer animals than the last time we came here. But still it was a fun and educational experience for Faree'ah to see a wide range of animals up-close.

Excited at the sight of Orangutan.

A school of Japanese Koi in one of the small ponds.

Faree'ah watched as the hippos munching their food.

A giraffe being fed by zookeepers.

The African savannah enclosure.

Rhinos cooling their bodies off from the heat of the sun under the shade of a tree.

At the deer enclosure, not sure which type of deer this is.

It was a hot day. Only the young elephants were out playing, the older ones were resting under the shades.

Feeding time for the Gaurs or Seladang.

Buaya Jejulung or Malayan Gharial.

African lionesses at Taiping Zoo.

A photo of the camel enclosure that I took in Dec. 2013. There were a few of them back then but the camels are nowhere to be seen in Dec. 2015.

Night Safari

The night safari is basically a guided tram-ride tour around the zoo that lasts half an hour. We did the night safari couple of years back and my verdict on it, is that the night safari isn't worth the money. Most of the time you can't see anything. Either the animals were hiding/asleep or the lighting inside the enclosures were not bright enough for the visitors to see clearly. Better skip it and experience the zoo during the day. The tram ride is available during the day as well plus you can see everything under the sun. The entrance fee for 2015/2016 is RM17 plus GST for adults and RM8.50 for children under the age of 12 if I'm not mistaken.