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Published: September 16th 2008
We left Kuala Lumpur after picking up our Thai visas and took the bus to Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands. It was pitch black and pouring with rain when we arrived, and both of us only just about managed not to be sick on the rickety old bus. We found our way to Daniel's Lodge to dump our stuff and head out for some food. We were both pretty fed up, especially Migs who decided he hated travelling, Asia and fried rice! All was well though when we woke up in the morning and saw the blue skies and white clouds over the beautiful forest clad mountains.
We spent our time walking in the jungle, eating some exceptionally tasty Indian food and enjoying the cool nights and hot showers. It rained most days but, being of English(ish) extraction we felt right at home. The 'self plucking' strawberry farms nestled all over the hillsides helped too - although the Malaysian take on pick your own sounds a bit rude, or a little like a breed of low maintenance chicken! I managed to persuade Miguel to stay for one more day so we could take a walk to the tea plantations
up in Brinchang. It was absolutely glorious and even Miguel, who I think was determined to have a bad time as I kept getting my own way, enjoyed himself. The road to the plantation twisted and turned through the mountainside, without a soul to be seen apart from the tiny tea pickers scattered here and there. I'm not sure what I expected a tea bush to look like but it turns out to be something of a privet hedge/over sized Bonzai cross! Our reward when we got to the plantation was a tasty cup of tea on a viewing platform set into the hills. Miguel, ever the Philistine, had a coffee.
The views from our jungle trek were equally magnificent, if a little wet. We saw a giant centipede on route that was the width of your middle finger and three times as long! The highlands are also home to the world's largest flower - the Rafflesia. We didn't get to see one unfortunately, but saw some photos and this plant is the strangest thing you ever saw. Its huge and orange, like a giant pumpkin with five big thick petals that look like pepperoni pizzas. It has no
stem but grows straight out of the ground and can be up to 1m across. Bizarre! It grows in Borneo too so we'll try and see one there later in our trip and post some pics.
After the cool weather and easy sleeping, some sun was in order so we set off to Langkawi island on the north west cost of Malaysia - a stepping stone to Thailand. Our guide book teased us with the promise of the cheapest beers in the country and considering we'd been over budget most days, it seemed an essential stop! To break up the journey we spent a night in Georgetown on the island of Penang - a lovely old colonial town with quaint streets and a mishmash of Chinese, Indian and Malay communities. Highlights were the most delicious crispy chicken in plum sauce and the strange sight of horses walking along the walls of the old fort. Not something you see everyday!
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Dennis Oranje
non-member comment
Laughed the whole way through - the Philistine
Love the pictures Oranje's Team! And I heard there is even more to come...the Beach... Mary, I especially liked the way you described the way ol'Migsy is coping with travelling being an eye-watering 36! HA. - Migs who decided he hated travelling, Asia and fried rice. Dont let Hanna read this, because she this will only confirm here that the Oranje's have patent on it. Only kidding, both looking sharp Team! and I hope there is even more to come! Dennis WIKI: Philistinism is a derogatory term used to describe a particular attitude or set of values. A person called a Philistine (in the relevant sense), is said to despise or undervalue art, beauty, intellectual content, and/or spiritual values.