Bukit Larut, is the post colonial name of Maxwell Hill, located right at the edge of Taiping town. The Hokkiens call the hill “Kopi Sua”, which means coffee hill. Not sure how this name came about, nevertheless, this sleepy hill is set to claim it’s place in history again. Taiping have its share of many first in Malaysia, starting from the first rail, to museum and even the first news paper were mention. This Everlasting Peace (Literal translation of Taiping) town can now boast to have the first Tulip farm in Malaysia. This should go into the Malaysian Book of Records, if it have not.

The tulip farm is located at Cendana Bungalow on Bukit Larut, and accessible through a government run 4wheel drive transport service. There is no booking ahead, and visitors will have to go early at 8am in the morning to buy tickets for the day. Visitors have to specify what time they want to go up and what time want come down and it cost RM4.00 per person round trip. If you are adventurous, you can option to hike up, which takes an average 2hrs 45 minutes (1 way), vs the 25 minutes Jeep journey.

The Tulip farm, is not like those abroad. It has a special air conditioned room for germination, and once the plant is mature, it will be brought to the greenhouse to bloom. The tulips also does not follow the usual spring cycle, instead, it blooms 2-3 months after plantation, and so in Malaysia, one can get tulips twice a year, one in December-February Period and the second in July. I visited the farm last Monday, and it is almost at the end of the blooming season. The keepers mention that the current batch of flowers are the last, and they will ship them out soon, so be quick to go if you want to catch this round. Else, just wait till July or end of the year in December to visit.

Bukit Larut have not changed in the past 20 years, except for the up-keeping and a new suspension bridge walk. It was the same when I went up as a kid, and it was the same when I brought my then girl friend there, and it was the same last Monday when I visited the tulip farm. The hill is full of greenery and a lungful of fresh air makes it the ultimate place to relax and forget the rat race. I must warn that this hill maybe a nature haven, it is also a dead boring place for the ipod generation youth. There is zero entertainment up in the hill, except for the fun of enjoying nature. My photos above is all the hill have to offer (click to view album), unless you are going up for bird watching, or staying at the bungalow, 2 hours is more than enough.

With the surge of new visitors because of the tulip farm, I sincerely hope the government will put in more effort to make the hill as a Green resort. The temperature and climate makes it perfect place to house many of the beautiful plants from the cold climate, and all the government have to do is to invest into growing them as what happens with the tulip farm. This can grow the hill and the Everlasting Peace town below. At the same time, it can still keep it’s green theme, without making it another Genting or Bukit Tinggi.

Oh, I forgot to mention, entrance to the tulip farm is RM1 for non-Tulip season and RM2 for Tulip Season. You can purchase the tulips, RM5 each and RM15 for a pot of 3 flowers. The tulips can last about a week, and have to be kept in a cool environment, ie, your kitchen/toilet, or air condition environment. It is great for the ladies, and since Valentine is coming up, you can still catch the end of the bloom season. I bought a pot for my wife last year, and she was surprised speechless and she loved it.

On this day..

• Cycling Culture Manila - 2012
• It's been some time - 2009