Blogs from Pahang, Malaysia, Asia - page 4

We arrived in the Cameron highlands and checked out twin pines accommodation as recommended in the guidebook for backpackers. The room had more mosquitoes than the mossy forest so we say no thanks to that one! We ended up staying in an inn up the road for 15 dollars a night which was a lovely looking spot with beautiful greenery around it :) We took a look around the pretty town and got a bite to eat in the Indian restaurant, the food was luke warm and they had no way of reheating it so we just ate some naan and bread and headed on! Phil got himself a cheap ass burger from a friendly street vendor for a dollar! The next day, we arranged a day trip around the area, I have to say if ... read more

Date of travel: 25th September - 26th September 2015 Time of travel: 1300 hrs Time of arrival: 1700 hrs Duration: 5 hours (from Kuala Lumpur straight to Cherating, Pahang) Accommodation: Payung Guest House, Cherating (easy 4.5 out of 5) Distance from the guesthouse to the beach: Approximately 20-30 meters. Well, I personally think that Cherating is quite boring if you are looking for some kind of entertainment during your stay. But I would recommend you to go to the Beach Bar or Live Band Little Bali as they have received a lot of good reviews on the Internet. And I also personally think that Cherating has a delightful beach with white sands. For the activities, there are many that you can choose to do such as firefly watching (highly recommend), riverside cruise/mangrove tour (I only enjoyed ... read more

Sarah: We arrived in Tanah Rata in The Cameron Highlands early afternoon on Monday. We were now 1200 metres above sea level in cooler and wetter climes: it started peeing down as soon as the bus pulled up. Luckily it didn't last long and we had soon dumped our bags and were in search of a curry lunch. After oodles of noodle dishes in Penang and being greeted by a multitude of Indian restaurants, we couldn't resist! We ended up with a chicken and cashew nut curry, tandoori chicken, rice, some dhal, a naan and a food baby. After lunch we took a token walk around the relatively small town. The Cameron Highlands is known for its tea, strawberries and hiking. Unfortunately the development here has not been very sympathetic. Enormous hotels dominate the hills, strawberry ... read more

Hari Raya is the big celebration that follows Ramadan. In the US, everyone I knew called it Eid, which is the Arabic name for the day. It's supposed to be a short holiday (one main day followed by a few extras) but in Malaysia they make it last a whole month. School closes for a week, following special ceremonies, perhaps games, and Koran recitation. Ramadan is observed by about 60% of the population here, and it affects lots of things in daily life. Many restaurants aren't open because the owners (and most of the customers!) are fasting. My school canteens closed. Things move at a slower pace because by mid-afternoon, people are tired and hot. Food bazaars pop up all over, all selling a variety of foods. Since many people don't feel like cooking during the ... read more

Thirty-second history lesson for the day: Back in 1885, during the British colonial era, a government surveyor named William Cameron stumbled upon a beautiful plateau nestled in the Titiwangsa mountain range in Malaysia's interior. It was suggested that the area would be the perfect location for a retreat from the heat and humidity of the lowlands, as well as ideal terrain for farming. An isolated hill station was developed about 30 years later, followed by what is now the famous Boh Tea Plantation. Today, the Cameron Highlands are one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Malaysia! Seeking our own respite from the heat and humidity in KL, we accepted an invitation with our new friends Daryll, Jasmine, and Suzan to join them on a day trip to the highlands. This involved waking up ... read more