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At Last- The Taiping Resthouse Taiping is an attractive old town where visitors easily get convinced to equate life here with that of the Land Rover journey up Bukit Larut - has to change down a gear or two to stay in phase with the local lifestyle. It is hard to believe that the town was once also the scene of a brutal civil war. Started with the Chinese 1861 and dragging in the Malay chiefs in 1865 until the British restored order in 1873 and ending with the signing of the Pangkor Treaty in 1874. The original town's name of Kelian Pauh was replaced with Chinese names of "tai peng" signaling the Everlasting Peace. |
| Taiping today is known by its
beautiful Lake Garden.
This mirrored lakes and lush landscaped garden were created from an abandoned tin mine in the 1890's. |
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Off course, a fascinating sight
that impresses all visitors and leaving a lasting memory
is this striking feature.
Along an entire stretch of road bordering the garden, foliage on huge branches of the glorious Rain trees form a spectacular umbrella over the road. Most of the branches end up dipping into the lake's water. |
| Such feature resulted in a
shady road for the users the whole day round. Cannot blame us for being charmed and our over indulgence on this feature. This is another view from the opposite end of the road. |
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Our objective of visiting Resthouses around the country is two-fold; 1] get to stay in this quick vanishing arrangement of yesteryears and 2] learn about life in the smaller towns. The Taiping trip was a roaring start after the disappointing visit to Kuala Kelawang. We stayed in one of the best Resthouses and seeing the oldest town in action. Our impression of Taiping is very good and the memory - long lasting. This is the town for outdoor exercise, fantastic food and despite of its slow pace, lively people. People who truly knows what life is all about-enjoy! Rest & Recreation the whole year round From our scrap book, some incidences that we picked up, Health freaks - or an excuse for fellowship |
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In the evening, before the Land
Rover would stop plying the Bukit Larut track by 5.00 pm.
Joggers started filling up this track just before that time. Rain with their umbrellas. Such crowd - such devotions. |
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Paul wouldn't know that this article is appearing, in the photograph he was standing there talking with Khoo. If you guys in Taiping see this and know which Paul we are referring to, just say "Happy days in Muang Thai, Paul!" on my behalf. |
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This is a mixed scene with youngster playing football and fitness buffs going round the "Lake" You have to see it to believe. We got the funny feeling that the whole town was there exercising in every way, in this evening, on a Monday evening too! |
| Then, the same scene on Tuesday
morning.
Don't they have to rush? To get to the office on time? Or silly question- do they have to work? This was an organized group exercise! |
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Food -What's about food? Taipingnites have forgotten that they have good food |
| Then the food! Ummmp! simply
yummy!
The "Casual" market was simply out of this world, though I didn't have that feeling on the countless past occasions. This is a scene from Tupai Road hawker center. |
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Since the midst 60's I had often being to the "casual" market and Tai Chen, over time I felt the gradual degeneration of the quality. But after this time, I will take back my words. At last the Resthouse! Memorable place with bad impression of its upkeep.
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| This building acted as the
official residence of the Resident of the British Empire.
Same status as the "Carcosa" in the Lake
Gardens of Kuala Lumpur but in an earlier era? Eventually the post was upgraded as the High Commissioner. Wondering whether poor James ever lived in his house! [ The infamous James Birch] |
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| Now the full view of the
historical and majestic building perching on a hill
overlooking the Lake Garden.
The only other hill is occupied by the current District Officer. |
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Other touristy sights There are quite a few for this small historical town. |
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The war cemetery, it was much
better kept than the one in Birch Road, Kuala Lumpur.
Small but tidy. Evidences of a practice that was appropriate to people those days. |
| Museum, an establishment that
is not widely accepted by Malaysian.
There were few but very interesting exhibits about history in this region. Worth paying a visit while you are here! |
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Bukit Larut needs no
introduction. Just have to there once, to claim that you
have completed the hill resort circuit of Peninsula
Malaysia.
We have yet to stay in the one of the 2 RestHouses still operating. |
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Just for the record, there are 72 hairpins corners during the trip.
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The insertion of this view is
merely a reflection of our craze for waterfalls.
[Commercial time off!]
Taiping with its closeness to the jungle should have its share of waterfall. Not to mar that expectation, we have included one. See it in our waterfall site.
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| The
Taiping Zoo This is very much emphasized by the Government by the presence of numerous signage to guide visitors. |
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A good place to kill time for those on family outings |
| The Coronation pool sounds nostalgic. To many it is just a name and a place where resident can utilize a public swimming facilities. The niche here is that the pool is constantly supplied with fresh water from the nearby river |
| For us, we would prefer
destination such as the Burmese pool.
At the entrance to this place, a sign board inform visitor that it is the first recreation area in Malaya - established in 1870. |
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Despite of a housing area some
distance upstream, the quality of the water was extremely
good. There is no elaborate amenities added except for change area. It is a stretch of slow moving stream hidden among the shade. |
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Khong's Travel Guide |
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