Taiping is the place to be. A nice countryside framed by mountains, with fresh fruits for sale everywhere. It's peace and tranquility is unparalleled. The pace of life is slow that I understood what it means to literally "smell the flowers". It has this magical ability to take away all your troubles and worries, and you dont even have to worry a single bit about living expenses. The cost of living is low here, yet people have quality life and time with their family. There is something seductive about Taiping - time seems to smile at you and stop for you. This is a great place to raise a home, a family.
My trip to Taiping was to visit a good Malaysian friend, Ganesh. We met during an international coffee hour in the University of Oslo, Norway. Our accent was immediately recognisable, and distinguished from the rest. We lived in the same block of the hostel and soon because good friends. Meeting him again was what I looked forward most in this Malaysia Trip. And my friend did not disappoint, despite telling me time and again that there's nothing to do in Taiping. There's plenty of treasures in Taiping. :). He picked me up at the Taiping bus terminal, and we drove around.
Stoping at the roadside stall to get some fresh fruits.
After driving around, we settled at this home - a luxurious big house almost non-existent in Singapore. The space afforded by Taiping countryside means that such homes are affordable. Perhaps I would choose to settle in such a place when Im older, with some cash to spare. Singapore is not a place which is merciful on your savings.
After taking a shower, we went to a nearby hawker place to have dinner. Asam - a Malaysian delight.
Malaysians have always been generous people to my knowledge. He treated satay!
That night, I had one of the most restful nights in Malaysia, in a very generous guest room. Next morning, I was greeted by this sight (below) on the guest room's window. I wish I could wake up to such a view in Singapore every day.
After washing up, Gan drove me around in his car. I hardly could believe the slow pace which he is driving. Such a peaceful countryside allows a slow, serene, and peaceful drive. That would never have been possible in Singapore. The seemingly untouched surroundings (nature) adds on to this serene, slow, peaceful feeling.
We went to try some nice Taiping food.
Even at its busiest streets, the overlooking mountain seems to put everything into perspective - a broader view of life that could be easily lost in a busy modern city.
That afternoon, we went to the really untouched nature. A hill.
Isnt it nice to see kids playing in real water? Not artificial swimming pool water.
That night, Gan brought me to a nice Kelong restaurant. I've never been to a Kelong restaurant. We got lost for some time and eventually got there. It didnt occured to me that it was a restaurant - I was expecting some fancy air conditioned place. But this was more than I hoped for. It's tranquility is priceless. The simple life of such fishers, cooking and selling whatever they've caught - a life by the sea. Needless to say, the seafood are of the freshest quality.
There is no seafood better than fresh seafood.
At night, the sea view is serene. The darkness did not frighten me as much as it brought me peace.
Met this Indian man at the restaurant. He was celebrating his wife's birthday, and was more than happy to offer us a toast and a drink. I asked him a casual question regarding the chille crab which he ordered. He sensed that I wanted to eat chilli crab and ordered for me, free of charge. Despite my rejection, he insisted on the treat.
The chille crab is delicious.
On the final day in Taiping, before departing for Singapore, we went for a stroll at their resident park. It was possibly the nicest and largest resident park I've seen. You definitely cannot find this in Singapore.
By now, I've gotten accustomed to the slow pace of life. I didnt want so much as to go back to Singapore. This is the place to be, a place where I can enjoy romance, get to know someone truly, honestly, sincerely. No mask, no need to impress, no ulterior motive, no performance criteria. There was no thought of money, grades, improvements. I took everything as it was, in its raw and pure form and embraced its characteristics. This is a place where nothing needs to be packaged to look good. This is a place to be real.
Finally, I've to end of by saying Ganesh has the cutest nephew. I've never seen such a cute Indian kid. This kid is so super duper adorable.
Taiping - a place where I'd like to visit again, or even live in. A place where a cute kid as this is able to grow up mentally and emotionally healthy. I rejoice that this adorably young kid is able to grow up in this place, and not in a mega city such as Singapore. My prayer is that I hope he will be able to appreciate and understand the beautiful environment, and not learn to desire the money-driven, gadget-flashing city life.
My trip to Taiping was to visit a good Malaysian friend, Ganesh. We met during an international coffee hour in the University of Oslo, Norway. Our accent was immediately recognisable, and distinguished from the rest. We lived in the same block of the hostel and soon because good friends. Meeting him again was what I looked forward most in this Malaysia Trip. And my friend did not disappoint, despite telling me time and again that there's nothing to do in Taiping. There's plenty of treasures in Taiping. :). He picked me up at the Taiping bus terminal, and we drove around.
After driving around, we settled at this home - a luxurious big house almost non-existent in Singapore. The space afforded by Taiping countryside means that such homes are affordable. Perhaps I would choose to settle in such a place when Im older, with some cash to spare. Singapore is not a place which is merciful on your savings.
After taking a shower, we went to a nearby hawker place to have dinner. Asam - a Malaysian delight.
Malaysians have always been generous people to my knowledge. He treated satay!
That night, I had one of the most restful nights in Malaysia, in a very generous guest room. Next morning, I was greeted by this sight (below) on the guest room's window. I wish I could wake up to such a view in Singapore every day.
After washing up, Gan drove me around in his car. I hardly could believe the slow pace which he is driving. Such a peaceful countryside allows a slow, serene, and peaceful drive. That would never have been possible in Singapore. The seemingly untouched surroundings (nature) adds on to this serene, slow, peaceful feeling.
That afternoon, we went to the really untouched nature. A hill.
That night, Gan brought me to a nice Kelong restaurant. I've never been to a Kelong restaurant. We got lost for some time and eventually got there. It didnt occured to me that it was a restaurant - I was expecting some fancy air conditioned place. But this was more than I hoped for. It's tranquility is priceless. The simple life of such fishers, cooking and selling whatever they've caught - a life by the sea. Needless to say, the seafood are of the freshest quality.
There is no seafood better than fresh seafood.
At night, the sea view is serene. The darkness did not frighten me as much as it brought me peace.
Met this Indian man at the restaurant. He was celebrating his wife's birthday, and was more than happy to offer us a toast and a drink. I asked him a casual question regarding the chille crab which he ordered. He sensed that I wanted to eat chilli crab and ordered for me, free of charge. Despite my rejection, he insisted on the treat.
On the final day in Taiping, before departing for Singapore, we went for a stroll at their resident park. It was possibly the nicest and largest resident park I've seen. You definitely cannot find this in Singapore.
Finally, I've to end of by saying Ganesh has the cutest nephew. I've never seen such a cute Indian kid. This kid is so super duper adorable.
