Cameron Highlands

One of Malaysia's tourism highlight for the locals is Cameron Highlands. C.H. is very alluring to Malaysians because it offers a cool respite to the constantly warm and tropical weather elsewhere in Malaysia. Foreigners tend to go to Malaysia to enjoy the sunshine whilst Malaysians tend to flock to the highlands to indulge in the cool climate. We go to CH to eat steamboat.

petai_smelly beans

On the way up to the highlands, you get to pass along little stalls selling the local produce. We saw bunches of petai for sale and we thought they look quite bright and exotic, not because we are 'suaku' but because it has been a while since we last saw a petai. Not that I have ever eaten them, pungent beans...

handicraft

Be sure to stop by the roadside for plenty of souvenir shopping.

Iskandar falls

C.H. has 3 main townships - Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Brinchang, in ascending order. I was surprised the name 'Cameron' stuck on for so long as the local authorities liked to get rid of pre-independence reminders such as places named after British personnels.

Camellia sinensis

green green grass of home

I like how the landscape unfurl itself as far as the eye can see. The boundaries created by the tea bushes are like black crayons etched unto a green canvas.

sungai palas boh tea centre

The new Boh Tea Centre is an unobtrusive piece of steel and glass engineering, cantilevering over the green plains. It comprises of a cafe area, gallery corridor, a museum and retail outlets. The cafe menu features English snacks such as scones, pies, cream puffs, sandwiches - reminiscence of the eating habits during the colonial times. C.H. was after all a getaway for the English during the British occupation, where the Mat Sallehs could take a break from Malaysia's hot weather.

gallery

timber cut facade

Nestled among the hills are what we presume to be the worker's quarters. Inhabited by what appears to be mostly Indians, they look to be constructed with some pretty basic layout albeit having million dollar views.

workers quarters_green huts

Besides tea, C.H. is thriving with vegetables & fruits. The farmers' labours are evident in their abundant crops.

cabbage patch

vegetable terraces

Here we made the mistake of having tea break in a westernized cafe in Brinchang called Desert House or something. They serve strawbery strudels that looked appetizing, yet totally unedible.
Don't Go There. Ever.

don't bother

Next destination - cactus farm. With a RM4 entrance fee, you get to see an array of cactus and some weird + wonderful plants. Some plants look like they come straight off the Avatar movie set.

prickly heads

gaping orchids

flaming wall!

periuk kera _ pitcher plant

While this taman bunga is carefully maintained and well worth the entrance fee, the management could not do away with the most resilient pest hanging around ... Pests being the park patrons. Can you believe how people seem to have an irrepressible urge to leave their marks, that they have to mutiliate cactus with their names. (??!!) Some morons even left their phone numbers, email addresses, etc. It is quite alarming really to know that many people carry penknifes about, even when they are visiting a flower garden.

I'm beyond angry and find this strangely hilarious. In a bad way.

tattoos

cactus vandalism


Finally, some real action! Sorry for droning, but now's the time to tuck in ~

charcoal roasted birdies

This is one fantastic Malaysian culture that we can hardly find in Ozieland. Pasar Malam. Literally, night markets. Walking buffetts. Economical, delicious, exciting. Stalls after stalls of food, trinkets, junk, toys, groceries.

I like the colours of this makcik, her blue apron, black head scarf , her red stall and her golden drumsticks

the man who sold honey, hives and all

Each and every pasar malam in Malaysia is similar yet slightly different from each other. C.H.'s nite market features their local produce, namely fresh mountain vegs, strawberries, fungi and cacti, amongst the usual fares.

malaysian crepes_dessicated coconut / custard

The Pasar Malam is definately a must-try authentic Malaysian experience. I have never come across a stall that sells crappy food. The price is so competitive, there is no place for sucky stuff.

deep fried fatty foodie

All in all, C.H. was not as enjoyable as I would like it to be. C.H. is under the threat of developers without any sense of aesthetics and the old charm is slowly fading away. Commercialization and tourism is both C.H.'s best friend and worst fiend. I hope she have a better future. And I hope more would realise that soon.