Blogs from Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia, Asia - page 17

We were desperate to get to Tanah Rata, located at 1500m altitude in the Cameron Highlands, to escape the draining tropical heat of the lowlands cities. We stepped off the bus into a cool breeze and some English drizzle and pretty much broke into spontaneous grins. After a few days, it became apparent that the pleasant climate was just the icing on the cake for this beautiful corner of the world - it may just be my favorite place of the trip so far. The highlight of our visit was a morning minibus tour which whipped us round some of the region's premier attractions. This included one each of one of the area's numerous strawberry farms, honey bee farms and beautiful tea plantations (with delicious fresh tea that even I could enjoy). Two stops on the ... read more

Finally, it is time! I can leave Malaysia today and go back to Thailand where I can eat some solid food and not curry. The trip to Thaialnd is expected to take approximately 8 hours. The reality is that we are sutck in a tiny, tinny van for 10 hours. The missing 2 hours are due to the van NOT being full and the driver driving around, and around and around and around trying to fill his van. At one point I drfted off and awoke...in the same bloody town as the driver was still trying to fill the van. On the plus side I did manage to get a few chapters of the Bourne Supremacy under my belt. Anyway, upon arrival in Krabi we have no accomodation and ask the driver to drop us off ... read more

C'est tout d'abord dans les montagnes au nord de la péninsule que nous avons débuté notre périple en Malaisie. La région des Cameron Highland est un endroit rafraichissant, situé en plein coeur d'une épaisse végétation diversifiée ou il est possible d'arpenter plusieurs sentiers agréables nous donnant ainsi la chance d'apercevoir des panoramas fantastiques. L'une des caractéristiques principales de la région est la culture du thé. En fait, si vous siroter une bonne tasse de thé en lisant notre message, il se pourrait bien que les feuilles utilisées dans la confection de votre infusion proviennent directement des Cameron. C'est donc les poumons remplis d'air pur que nous avons découvert ces plantations gigantesques d'une rare beauté recouvrants plusieurs kilomètres carrés de versants vertigineux de la région. Une découverte qui nous en a appris beaucoup sur les vertus de ... read more

Had the best day today of the trip so far. We're in the Cameron Highlands, high up in the mountains. We visited the tea plantations here today, which are spectacular. I cant describe how beautiful they are. Just picture lots of rolling, green mountains as far as you can see. Photos cant do it justice. After going round the plantation we then sat down with great views and had a nice cup of their tea. We then visited a little village of tribes people and played with the little children and gave them biscuits. They live in little huts on stilts on the edges of the mountains, so basic. Yet they were all so friendly and happy. We were then taught how to shoot bore etc with their darts (i'm v good at this!) and one ... read more

I cannot really think of a worse journey to do with a hangover (other than maybe the road from the border of Cambodia to Siem Reap discussed earlier) than the journey to the Cameron Highlands. Being located in the mountains meant the roads meandered and my head was repeatedly banged against the window of the bus for a good 3 hours. Still, upon arriving, the lush rolling hills and cool air were a nice contrast to the past few weeks, and the accommodation at 'Fathers Guest house' was nice, clean and wildlife free, very welcomed. Having booked ourselves on the half day tour with what seemed like everybody else at the guest house we set off for the tea plantations. We had a great tour guide who took us on a trek through the jungle and ... read more