A short trip to Taiping

Taiping Zoo Matriarch?

We keep reminding ourselves that there is more to Peninsular Malaysia than KL, Penang, and Malacca. Despite our best intentions we are more likely to leave the country than explore it. In the spirit of broaden our knowledge of Malaysia spent about 1.5 days in Taiping, a one time center of tin mining. Our primary purpose was to visit  a friend's family. We ate delicious food, visited town highlights, and were oblivious to how an independent traveler gets around. That being said some major attractions (Lake Garden, zoo, museums) are within walking distance. Once the ETS train is extended to Taiping public transit access will be easier. A short visit only whetted our appetite to come back and explore more.

First the food. We had dinner at Cafe Prima Kopitiam. I had Siam Laksa; Doug had pepper chicken chop. I would go back to Taiping just for the laksa (similar if not the same as Penang Laksa - sourish broth, nice pieces of fish, and pineapple). Doug and our companions all gave their food favorable reports. The next day we walked to Sentosa Resort for breakfast - okay but a bit generic. The grounds were lovely, and the atmosphere relaxing, We enjoyed just walking around the resort.

Sentosa had several fruit trees, but this was the most memorable

For lunch we went to a small food court between Taman Tasik Food Court and Lakeview Night Club.(May be open 24 hours). We had a tasty porridge ( century egg ? porridge), yellow wine chicken vermicelli (very winey, especially for Malaysia) warming, Penang prawn mee (broth had more of a prawn taste than I like  my friends liked it).  For dinner our friends took us to

 Restaurant Seafood 8383. We sat in an ac room, but a group of hashers were so loud that we had to each other - even the people sitting next to us. We retreated outside. The evening was cool so the outside table was fine and quieter. Our friends ordered; we had terrific food, but missed the details (and names) of the chicken, pork, prawn, mantis shrimp, tofu, fish, and vegetable dishes.

Still eating -
Working through a delicious meal at Restaurant Seafood 8383

The previous day's meals required a follow with a light breakfast, We arrived around 9 at  a food court near the wet market- too late for the small nyonya cakes. Doug and I shared a bowl of chicken soup; the noodles (mice or rat noodles) are small rice noodles. Tasty and no morning battling with chopsticks to pick up noodles. Later we walked to another food court. One of our companions was a very fit 88 year old man; he was as likely to be in front of us as behind us. , He varies his breakfast place throughout the week - evidence there are many good food choices in Taiping.

Lots of choices, but everyone is looking for what s/he craves

At the second food court we watched a murtabak maker go through several cycles of flattening and stretching the dough, the first step in creating a meat filled pan cake. The cloud by his hand motion's were too quick for a camera.

Morning stir fry - noodles, eggs, spices

Nyonya cakes - too bad we had already eaten

May be hard to imagine that we do more than eat and chat. For us the must visit was the zoo. Doug understands that the Taiping Zoo with its spacious enclosures and night safari was a model for the Singapore Zoo. As has been our recent experience we see the animals that choose to be seen. And, of course, the animals that engage us vary from visit to visit. Here are some that we enjoyed this visit.

Middle of the day, but these bats were frisky

Another night creature who may prefer daylight people watching

A rack of deer?

We saw elephants, giraffes, lions, zebra, bears (no grizzlies or polar bears), and tigers. And we were enchanted by the gibbons.  Our visit was cut short. We were caught in a rain storm and spend about an hour sheltered under a large umbrella. A small shop was nearby and one group of tourists bought colorful ponchos and headed out.

Taiping is a city's of firsts. When our friends drove around they point out some of the firsts and the buildings that housed British offices and residents. The Cafe Prima Kopitam was located in the house and shop of British Merchants. Among the firsts in Malaysia were the first public garden, the first prison (located in downtown), the first railroad station, the first zoo, and 36 others.

Trishaw at First Galleria Entrance

We could have learned more about the firsts if we had been able to visit First Galleria. On Friday we were too late (closes at 12:30 on Fridays). On Saturday we didn't have time to wait for a docent to take us around. We understand that it is quite good - so we have added it to our "next time" list.

We went a little further to the Perak Museum - it was your standard museum - halls with stuffed animals, reptiles and birds, wedding customs, pottery, and the like.

It was also fun to be guided around by Lee Lee.  She was born in Taiping, but now lives in LA.  Her daughter Jessica was with her so we got the "family" tour.  This is where I lived as a child, where I went to school, where I took Chinese lessons, which schools were our rivals, etc.  It was fun to hear her recollections.  And we met loads of family.