A Fine Day in Taiping - Town of Everlasting Peace

February 7, 2008 - We welcomed the Chinese New Year with a short visit to Taiping, Perak. We were with the Cornejo family (a.k.a. Mabel and Dhoms' hehehe). Our plan was to bring the kids to Taiping Zoo, typical trip I should say, but not until we decided to hang out a while in Bukit Larut (formerly known as Maxwell Hill). It was a thrilling experience and I do not want to explain here, just go there and see for yourself. LOL! It really pays to research about the place before going there so you can make the most out of your trip. Let me share a few..

Taiping is in the district of Larut Matang, which was made famous by the discovery of tin in the town of Klian Puah - this is what is presently known as Taiping. This "town of everlasting peace" was the first tin-mining town in Malaysia. Indeed, Taiping was a pioneer town where many firsts arose. To mention a few of the strings of firsts, it was the first major town developed by the British, and the first official administrative center of Perak and other Malay states. It is where the first Hill resort is - Maxwell Hill built in 1844, the country's first swimming pool (The Burmese pool built in 1870), the first port Kuala Sepetang (formerly named Port Weld, built in 1877) and where the first Lake Gardens and Zoo (established in 1880) is. Others are too many to mention.... thus, positions Taiping as Perak's foremost heritage town.

We hope to come back and explore other places of interest in Taiping. For now, we are down with the two - Taiping Zoo and Bukit Larut. Enjoy our visit!

The Beauty of my family and Bukit Larut

I have to train my kids to look at the camera, unlike mommy - never fails to smile even on a hot sunny day.

In the zoo, there's a train that will take you around the area. This is good especially if you have kids, but if you want to take a good shot of the animals, you need to stroll hehehe... Also, drink plenty of water, need to rehydrate on a warm day, see Maqs below as his dad wipes his sweat. Neneng and Nicole sat in front of the train to get the full view.

Taiping Fauna

Ang init po! at the Flamingo area

With my best pal Mabel and kids, we both love the flamingos.... so we really endured the afternoon heat!

Me and my loves with Mr. Pampa

Cool, smart kids!

In front of Taiping zoo with Tropang Makulit

There is no other transpo in going up Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill) but on a landrover and for a good reason - the slopes are very steep combined with the elevated sharp curves. It's as if doing an extreme and elevated U-turn on a single narrow lane - no slips ey. This is the ride of my life, sabi nga ni Dhoms 50/50 ang buhay namin dito, pag nagkamali driver hulog kami sa bangin. So we opt to put the kids at the back for safety reasons. Pero smile pa rin!!! Charge to experience lah...

Posing downward the hill, very refreshing because of the cold breeze!

This day we're lucky coz we're waitlisted in going up the hill. The front desk officer advised us that we should have gotten a ticket early in the morning and around that time, it's fully booked. They only allow a few folks up the hill as the area is easily congested and the ride going up/down has a schedule we need to comply with. Other walk-in visitors were not given the chance. Sabi ko kasi Pinay kami at galing pa kami ng KL (with paawa effect) Well, patience is indeed a virtue. This is Dhoms with our angels waiting and hoping we'll be given a go-signal to go up...

With my family on Maxwell Hill, always hold your kids. If they accidentally tripped on anything, they'll be rolling down the hill.. Now you wouldn't want that... hehe

Group picture

Taiping City as viewed from Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill)

The Hanging Bridge

Enjoying the heights with my dear ones

Mga poging mister, tipid naman ng ngiti niyo. Mainit ba?

I love this view! Can't explain enough....

It takes 4 hrs to go up Bukit Larut on foot, buti na lang may land rover. Next time, lakad naman tayo pataas... kaya niyo yon?

We enjoyed the park in front of Taiping zoo. This is where we picnicked and ate our lunch, I brought pork ("babi" in Malay) adobo and Mabel had chicken ("ayam" in Malay). Just knew that, we should opt to bring halal foods during outdoors. At other places, guards approach you and ask what you're eating - must be halal lah. Kaya dali daling inubos ang aking pork adobo. Haaayy dami namang bawal.

Si Maqs, nagka-episode pa ng poopoo kaya heto naka-bold. Parks here go with a good playground, kaya enjoy to the max si Nicole and Neneng.

Ang Pogi at Hubong bata.. Nasan ba ang nanay nito? Bakit di bihisan?

Smiles from Taiping

Cheers! Ang saya saya....

Huwag ka malikot Maqs!

"It's so high mom" sabi ni Nicole. Sarap dito!

My favorite shot of Cornejo family - ang aming kafatid sa galaan, maasahan!

I missed daddy in this shot, bakit nga ba ikaw pa ang kumuha? Wala ka tuloy sa tabi ko... Hindi sanay na wala ka sa tabi ko.... Love you ney!

Pagod na ba kayo? Yung elephant pagod na... nasa lilim na siya..

Well, this ends our day. We were driving home around 5pm in the afternoon, it only takes ~45 minutes from Ipoh exit - Taiping exit. Sulit, hindi pagod. While driving home, we just realized it's February 7 2008 - this is the date I said yes to Manny, kaya 10 years ko na siyang boyfriend this day, kaya pala feeling light and good kami today. I love you ney!