Blogs from Tanah Rata, Pahang, Malaysia, Asia - page 6

From Hat Yai we made our first border crossing by train. Customs was probably the easiest we have had yet, we filled in departure forms, arrival forms flashed the passports and got back on the train again! Well we were told it left at 6pm so we settles ourselves into the cafe with a drink and cards. Then the thought occured at 4.45 that malay time is an hour ahead so it was actually 5.45pm. We moved quite quickly from the cafe to the platform where our train was waiting. We arrived at Butterworth at 9.30pm where we hopped on a ferry to Penang and the city of George town. Once off the ferry we hung around for a bus before deciding to walk as none of them seemed to be going where we wanted to ... read more

It was a really long journey from Ton Sai to the Cameron Highlands - left my bungalow at 7 AM and arrived at the Cameron Highlands the next day at 2 PM making it a 36 hr trip .... must admit with a few stops in South Thailand's Hat Yai and Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur. The Cameron Highlands (www.cameronhighlands.com) are a plateau in the vast jungle of Malaysia. Malaysia's landmass must be coverd to 95% by jungle according to what I've seen from the plane when leaving it and on the bus. Most amazing, most humid, most dangerous (home of snakes, tarantulas, butterflies :o) ) There's not much to do except going for a trek into the jungle and doing the day tour around the diverse businesses they are trying to establish or have established - tea ... read more

Apres la mer, la montagne! Il a plu, il a fait froid, mais c'est magnifique!! On a visite une fabrique de the, une plantation de the, une ferme des papillons et autres aniaux et insectes! Tres joli et tres interessant. Les paysages sont absolument superbes et la pension ou on est restes etait excellente! After the seaside, the mountains! It was raining and it was cold but we had a great time. The tea plantation and factory were really interesting and the landscapes were stunning. we also visited a butterfly farm which was nice. And, yes, the guest house we stayed at was just brilliant!... read more

Severe sunburn (the result of snorkeling, I blame the fish - they are too pretty, you spend all that time looking down and then the sun gets mad and takes it out on your back) caused me to retreat, like generations of colonial Englishmen before me to the cool, refreshing climate of Malaysia's hill stations. To the Cameron Highlands in the central north peninsular, 2,000 ft up and you're almost 9,000 miles to the west and back in Surrey. Here is where Tea lives, oh that was a pleasure let me tell you, almost a pilgrimage as I had yet to see a Tea plantation and it's probably the closest thing I have to a religion. Tea is also my favourite Latin plant name, Camellia Sinensis, beautiful isn't it? I was practically chauffeured the six hours ... read more

My friend told me that he spend four hours have his nice and relaxing afternoon tea in one of the tea plantations up in Cameron Highlands and strongly encouraged me to do so...I was like... ok...but maybe not sitting there for four hours straight then. Considering I do not know which plantation he was refering to, I took the liberty explored the whole Cameron Highlands and I am 101% sure this must be it - Cameron Bharat Plantations. The view from the tea house was fantastic. Never seen anything as green as these after staying in KL for a decade (well, of course, Taiping wasn't so bad either). I will let my photos do the talking for me while you all enjoy the "greenery" then.... read more