Saturday 7th February, Taiping

I'm on a mission in Taiping!
On the search for my family history: Mum was born in Malaya in 1933, the second child of a rubber plantation manager, my grandfather Walter de Bois Maclaren, and Ethel Mary (née Sadler). When they had to flee (Granny left with John and Rosemary for school in England in 1939, Grandpa fled on the last ship leaving Singapore in 1942 when the Japanese invaded) they lost almost everything, so we have very few photos and only fragments of information about who did what where and when. We have no address, and don't know where the few photos that have survived were taken.

Starting last week it's been rather a heads-down exercise, internet research. Now it can become heads-up, talk to strangers, take taxis, walk about with eyes wide open.

It is worth taking note of one's status in such heat. Luca being posh (P-O-S-H) on the Pangkor-Lumut ferry.
We start to see places that Granny and Grandpa must have seen. Raintree Walk with its remarkable british-planted trees. An old railway station. The New Club (est 1885!), which was founded to include planters when the Perak Club limited membership to 'higher ranking officials and tin miners'.
And some 'today' sights. I fancied taking a ride on 'Swan Lake' - such a kitsch thing to do! - but hunger tempted us to walk on. Our excellent hawker market meal - almost always more satisfying than inside/modern/western-type eateries.Read more