I was a little kid when I first went to Taiping Lake Gardens in the state of Perak, back in the 1980’s. And that was my one and only trip to Taiping until last year, when I visited it again. And again a few weeks ago. And again today, all on a whim. It’s literally just a one and a half hours drive from Penang, and despite crossing two state lines it doesn’t really feel that long of a journey.
The Gardens used to be an abandoned tin mine, which was developed into a public garden in 1880 by British colonials. Today it is a popular destination for locals to picnic and just hang out. The gardens are home to 10 lakes and ponds, all beautifully maintained and landscaped.
The great thing about the Taiping Lake Gardens is all the birds that gather at the water. I’ve found many of my lifers here. Whenever I’ve been here, there are always milky storks flocking nearby.
