Living in an apartment building in a city like Kuala Lumpur does not offer much opportunity for little kids like Matt to simply go out of the house and play. The exact opposite of how it was for me growing up in a (then) small and peaceful neighborhood in a town in Laguna when all I had to do was step out of our front door to get to my "playground". Here, today, an outdoor activity for Matt has to be scheduled and planned. And since we live near the city center, options are very limited.
A picnic at a park is most ideal where Matt can run around in fresh air, on a vast space of grass under the sun without us having to worry that he'll trip and fall on hard ground. And since it very much feels like summer here at this time of year, a family picnic will be such a refreshing break from our typical indoor routines on weekdays.
The KLCC Park was the first to come to mind but it's too crowded for our liking, not exactly the relaxed vibe we were looking for. I know the city has a hidden gem somewhere and we just needed to find it. After several search results from the ever reliable Google, we found exactly what we were looking for:
Perdana Botanical Garden.
The Perdana Botanical Garden formerly known as Taman Tasik Perdana or Lake Gardens, is situated in the Heritage Park of Kuala Lumpur. It has always been a part of the green lung of the city and has a history of over a decade. Originally created as part of a recreational park but planted with collections of tropical plants, the garden have been rehabilitated and turned into a Botanical Garden. The garden have not only botanical collections but also house features that give the visitors the ambiance of being in a tropical rainforest, despite being in the middle of a bustling metropolis.
Located within the Tun Abdul Razak Heritage Park, it was only a 10-minute drive from our place and the outside parking is free. Visitors can also go by taking public buses or taxis from any point of the city. It is open everyday from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM and the entrance is also free! Due to the enormity of the place, we had to make sure that we head direct to an entrance nearest the part where we want to spend the most time in. That's the kiddie playground. We arrived at around 4:00 PM, thinking that it would be cool enough at that hour. Boy, were we wrong!
The Children's Playground is the first you'll see if you enter the garden from Jalan Parlimen. The kiddie structures are complete with tunnel slides sprouting from mini towers, a bridge, swing sets and seesaws.
Matt was already wriggling out of my grasp even before we found a place to spread our picnic blanket so Jason had to take him play while I set up.
We didn't do the typical spread on the grass because our blanket was too thin. But there are picnic tables every few yards as well as gazebos. Although the latter are more for when you want to rest under a shade rather than meals because the tables inside are a bit small.
It was still rather hot when we arrived so we had to really scour the area first for a good spot to eat. And what we found was not bad at all. We settled on a picnic table by the lake under tall trees. Rays of sun were still peeking through the tree leaves above but the air was cool and we felt light breeze every now and then. You don't really need to come fully prepared with your own meal though as a cafe serves light snacks and refreshments.
After our meal of spaghetti, bread and fruits, Matt run around for a bit in the Sunken Garden. Funny how my Dad used to say that however hard or long you prepare for an event, a trip or anything for that matter, there's always one thing that you're bound to miss. In this case, we forgot to check the batteries of Matt's bubble machine so it didn't work when we were there. I think it was just as well because he was able to explore the greenery around him. He didn't even pay attention to his big beach ball that we brought.
The whole garden spans over about 92 hectares of land so it's really not possible to see its entirety in just one afternoon. But we were able to sightsee as far as our feet were able to take us and with enough energy for the walk back. A lake weaves around the park so you'll find a couple of small bridges over them such as the one above. It looks pretty romantic, don't you think?
Walking or jogging trails are all around for those who seek a refreshing and peaceful workout. As it is in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, it is easy for residents of the city to drive over for a quick run. And for families with children, this is a nice and safe place to teach kids how to ride their bikes as no cars are allowed inside the premises.
Trees along the walking paths are labeled with its names and origins. Perfect for children to learn about nature first-hand.
A large area of sloping pavement covered by a ceiling of symmetrical glass-like panels can be found in the center of the garden. At first we thought it was the amphitheatre but a closer look at the
map in their website told us otherwise. Kids and adults alike use the spot for physical activities such as rollerblading or riding their scooters. Bicycles are also available for rent to visitors at RM 3 each for 30 minutes. Yup, that's Jason pushing Matt in the stroller who's already tired from all the running.
But my favorite spot of all would be the dock overlooking what they call the Goose Island (see three geese floating by?). It seems to be such a relaxing spot to just sit and have nice long talk with a friend or in my case, Jason. How amazing is it that while you are surrounded by all the green and fresh air and nature, you can also see the opposite ambiance of the urban world just beyond? The best of both world of sorts. After this weekend, we're definitely looking forward to new discoveries of the city we call home for now.
