Cameron Highlands-The Words

As you have seen from the pictures, I spent last Friday in Cameron Highlands. We stayed at Strawberry Park, which was really great. I would never stay in a place like that by myself because I am a penny pincher but when you split it 7 ways it works out to a reasonable rate per night (just under RM100).

On Saturday we drove up and checked in, had a late lunch in Brinchang and then headed out to the Sungai Palas Tea Plantation. I had been there but that was over three years ago and they have really changed the place since then. There is now one long building that houses a tea house that over-looks the plantation, then next to it a gift shop and then a theatre with a movie playing on a loop that gives the history of the Boh Tea Plantation and an overview of the process of making tea. Then you can also walk over and see them doing many of the things the video talks about in the tea factory, just next door. All the improvements are top-notch and I highly recommend going. Just remember to horn on the corners. :)

We were having tea when a shower came through and provided us with a fantastic, albeit faint, rainbow.

From there we drove to the top of Gunung Brinchang, which I have been told is the highest drivable road in peninsular Malaysia. It was getting late and the clouds were low and drifting in more like fog than clouds. We had a short walk around and then drove back down. I hiked up to the top of Gunung Brinchang (rather than driving) a couple of years ago and the 2.77 km hike took just over an hour but it is pretty steep. Just take breaks though and anyone can manage it.

We then went down to Brinchang and hit the night market. It is a really nice night market with loads of different things for sell. It is especially nice because Malaysian night market have sort of exotic flair to them the first time you go to one and then you realise they never change and all the same stuff is sold at every one. This one had lots of things you don’t find at other night markets. Lots of strawberries, (I got the dried ones) fruit, veggies, honey and of course souvenirs from Cameron Highlands. Needless to say, we went home with our hands full of bags.

The next morning we went out on an early walk around the hotel. I brought along both sets of binoculars and we saw a few birds. Here is the list:

1. Grey-chinned minivet
2. Silver-eared mesia
3. White-throated fantail
4. Crested serpent eagle
5. Oriental white-eye
6. Black-throated sunbird
7. Mountain bulbul
8. Mountain tailorbird
9. Mountain imperial pigeon
10. Chestnut-crowned laughingthrush
11. Oriental magpie-robin

We didn’t really work hard at birdwatching but it wasn’t a bad morning for amateurs.

We then drove out to the Boh Tea Plantation between Ringlet and Tanah Rata. It was a gorgeous morning and a great drive. I had never been to this one and the really nice part was that it has a short hike up a hill from where you can look out over the valley. Breathtaking vistas! We then hiked from there around the plantation and then back down to the tea house. I think the plantation is called Farlie but could be wrong. What a great way to end a hike, with tea and scones while gazing at undulating hills covered with tea bushes!

I love both Fraser’s Hill and the Camerons but for completely different reasons. The Camerons are a must visit for the majestic tea plantations and all the hill vegetable farms. Good honey, great tea and fresh strawberries don’t hurt either. I’m hoping to go again in a couple of weeks. I guess you could say that I like it there.

A flower growing near the entrance to Strawberry Park.