| Taiping, May 2012 |
This is a report about a trip made to Taiping in May 2012, but written in September 2021, nine years later!
Based on the more than 100 pictures I took during that trip and the emails we exchanged, preparing for the trip.
The destination was Maxwell Hill, where George had booked the Watson bungalow (now renamed Beringin) for one night.
It was a Gang of Four trip, but as usual also Gilbert and Yoke Sim took part.
They are real birders, like Khong and Stephen, whereas George and I are "accidental "birders"
That's why we left KL in two groups. The four real birders left very early on 17 May, to go birding in the Matang mangrove forest.
George, Jenny and I started later. We met for lunch in Kuala Sepetang. The famous curry mee. Then we continued to Taping where Stephen and Khong had booked a room in the New Club. I stayed with George and Jenny.
Not sure where Gilbert and Yoke Sim spent the night, I think with relatives. We met later for dinner.
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 Kuala Sepetang
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 Lunch
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 Famous curry mee
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 A group photo
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 Dinner in Taiping
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The next morning we took the jeep up the winding road to Maxwell Hill. Luckily nobody got carsick. Watson is one of the bumgalows at what you could call the Maxwell Hill village.
It is where the jeeps deliver their passengers.
 Preparing for the jeep ride
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 Our luggage
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 On our way
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 Nobody carsick
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 George always the gentleman
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 Walking to the bungalow
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The Watson bungalow was in good condition, but without a caretaker, so we had to bring up our own food. Notice the bathroom, you have to descend a few steps.
 The bungalow sign
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 Beringin (Watson)
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 Another view
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 Living room
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 Dormitory style bedroom
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 Bathroom
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We explored the surroundings. The weather was nice, good views of Taiping. It was even possible to see Kuala Sepetang and the Straits!
 The Maxwell Hill village
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 Beringin in de center
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 View of Taiping
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 Far away Kuala Sepetang!
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I managed to take a few bird pictures, but I was not really happy with the result, in comparsion with the pictures taken by the birders. So much easier to take pictures of flowers and insects!
 Black-crested bulbul
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 Streaked Spiderhunter
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 Mountain Bulbul
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 Blyth Hawk-Eagle
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 Easy picture taking
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In the afternoon we walked up the tar road to Speedy's bungalow. It was in this bungalow that I celebrated my 60th birthday in 2004. Guna was the caretaker at that time.
Unfortunately the lease was not renewed and it was decided tp transform the bungalow into a center for biodiversity. A lot of mony was spent. but when we visited the center it was clear already that it was a failed project. Really a pity.
 Walking to Speedy's
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 Bio Diversity Center
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 Ambitious project
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 Speedy's bungalow
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 Another view
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 Interior
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Many flowers!
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And other critters.
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It was a pleasant day. We climbed the view tower and visited the nearby Indian temple, where we met Guna, now the caretaker of the temple.
 View tower
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 The Indian temple
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 My favourite Hindu god
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 Sunset
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 Our treasurer
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 Hitting the sack
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After breakfast the next morning, it was time to prepare for the return trip. Some last-minute birding. Back in Taiping we had lunch. I stayed one more day with George and Jenny, the others went home.
 Breakfast
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 Last-minute birding
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 View of Taiping
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 The Lake Gardens in the foreground
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 Lunch in Taiping
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