Hillview Inn Cameron Highlands

Day 122 - Yesterday I had been in touch with Ste, Fleur, Ben and Tino, who are travelling the opposite way to me and are currently at the Cameron Highlands, so I woke up very excited to go and see them! At breakfast, the nice old men at the cafe said I would be better off catching the ferry to Butterworth bus station rather than spending the taxi fare to the one on Penang, which is way out of town. So I got a cab to the jetty and borded the free ferry across to Butterworth. The bus station is...

Off early from Georgetown, good thing we asked what time it was the day before we left, we were still on Thailand time for the last three days. We caught the local bus to the main station, Saigonibon. We commuted with the students and workers who were just getting their day started as well, it seemed like the coffee hadn't kicked in yet or was it just the Malay folk in general? It was somber. Arriving at the station we find our bus, it doesn't look like the one advertised at the ticket agency...

If you are ever this way PLEASE DO NOT stay at the Hillview Hotel. Things just get worse. Talked to Tom and others and said were happy to share with others again if no spare rooms. So happily went off to explore on a minibus with a guide. Drove up to the tea plantation area (more hillclimbing with dodgy use of gears and brake). Quite impressive and still a flourishing business tho' think for the home market using brand name of DOH. (Must be a Simpson joke there somewhere) Method of production...

The journey to Cameron Highlands, thank God, was not as bad as the last! It was about 4 hours and went quite fast. The drive was good as well- a bit like wales!! In the cloud, and a lot cooler. Are hotel was SOOO cute- reminded me of somewhere in Cornwall. Our room was just off of the common room with sofas and tv and lots of balcony's! We went for a wonder in the yet again pouring rain and ended up in Starbucks!! Slowly everyone else from our group appeared. It felt a little bit xmassy too a...

to be written

I last left you all without a camera in Penang. Well I managed to wheel and deal and got a great bargain on an Olympus (yes those that know me, it was against the grain going for another brand, I am a Pentax girl through and through but I was desperate!). Anyway, the group boarded a public bus, after a 1/2 delay because the luxurious bus broke down, and headed to the Cameron Highlands. It took 6 hours to arrive in Tanah Rata. We are staying at the Hillview Inn, which is a lovely guesthouse ov...

Saturday September 8 to Tuesday September 11 The Cameron Highlands are located in north-central Malaysia at an altitude varying between 1300-1829 meters. It is a beautiful and green area, full of rolling hillsides and a few mountain peaks. Originally settled as a cool escape from the sweltering lowlands and capital city, the Cameron Highlands are dotted with tea plantations, vegetable farms, and strawberry fields throughout the hills. The climate is cool and wet - raining every evening, and s...

Up very early and sneaked into the fancy hotel next door for a buffet breakfast and then got our "VIP" bus to the Cameron Highlands. Unfortunately half way thought the bus broke down and we had to change to a normal bus without the added 'breaking down feature'. It was a narrow twisty mountain road and the driving over here is just mental but we managed to make it to the village of Tamah Rata only 1.5 hours late and checked into our lovely room at the Hillview Inn. We have got tired of cities...

Well, we've gone posh. No longer satisfied with the "budget" options for accommodation, we upgraded to "mid range" for this stop! WOWEE!! Basically that meant we stayed in a nicer building, with a bigger room - but with no bathroom. (We aren't that rich!!) We had to share with a couple of other rooms. We have discovered that in Malaysia, hotels are not very good value. Or just plain not good at all in some cases! Still, the Hillview was incredibly clean and the share showers were really good ...