The Cameron Highlands
Trip Start
Mar 18, 2007
1
64
101
Trip End
Mar 16, 2008
Tanah Rata,
Malaysia
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Tom's tummy told us that the last hour of the 4 h bus ride to the Cameron Highlands was very winding even if the views were good!
However it was worth it for a number of reasons, firstly at around 1500m above sea level the weather was a cooling treat, infact we were able to wear trousers and a jumper for the first time in about 2 months (this travelling lark is hard!), and secondly for the great scenery.
We stayed in the very friendly Father's guest house which had a great lounge for late afternoon reading and videos when the heavens absolutely opened. Around Tanah Rata there are lots of trails that you can take into the jungle, after hearing about the legend of Jim Thompson, a famous silk merchant who went for a walk in the jungle and never was found we opted for one of the trails described as easy
Jungle walk 1
!I have to say I was glad we did as it involved clambering over trees and up and down slopes, however it was a great walk and afterwards we hiked up the road to a tea plantation for a nice cuppa and some scones, mmmm. Just after we stopped the heavens opened and it absolutely poured so we waited for the local bus to take us the final 4km home (I was pretty glad as it was quite an uphill section!).
The following day we took the mossy forest tour, which included a visit to a tea plantation (and more scones) which the Cameron Highlands are famous for, although probably not to you as 85% is for use in Malaysia and the rest exported fairly locally. The plantation set up and still run to this day by Scots, apparently before cultivation started the place was a malaria invested zone so the government was only too happy to sell and the Scots only too happy to buy for a cheap price...seems it worked out ok in the end though!
After this we took a walk in the mossy forest, which was even more action than the previous day. Tom had a good laugh taking pictures of me trying to tackle the slippery slopes. However our guide was really excellent and really knew his plants, especially orchids something else the highlands is well known for.
After all this it was back on the bus to head for Penang.
Bye for now.
