CAMERON HIGHLANDS

We left Penang and visited the Cameron Highlands for six nights before travelling to KL for an overnighter and our trip home to Australia.

We took the coach from Georgetown, it takes about 3 hours to arrive at Cameron Highlands. When leaving the main highway for the turnoff and after the town of Ipoh, the road winds on narrow roads and hairpin bends. The driver was a bit of a worry talking on his mobile phone and changing sim cards while driving. But we did arrive in one piece. The Cameron Highlands are beautifully cool. After the heat of Penang it was delightful to be in the sort of temperatures that we are used to. A sigh of relief was breathed when we alighted from the coach – cool air that we hadn't experienced since leaving Australia. As we had all our luggage with us we had to get a taxi to the guest house we had selected and it was just a couple of minutes drive from the coach drop off.

The Arundina Guest House at Tanah Rata is quite delightful. Nice room, extremely clean and nice touches of décor throughout. The staff are friendly to the extreme, will answer any questions and always with a smile. Tours can be booked from the guest house. There are two floors of accommodation each with a small balcony at the end of the corridor, nice to sit there for drinks, tea or coffee. A simple breakfast is available of cereal, fruit, toast and jam. Tea or coffee you can make at any time during the day. There is a pretty garden at the back where you can sit and while away half an hour or so. This guest house is conveniently situated a few minutes walk to the main town of Tanah Rata.

Arundina

Tana Rata

Is the largest township of Cameron Highlands and is located 10 km north of Ringlet or 2 km before Brinchang along the main road. There are many hotels, resorts, inns, lodges and apartments providing accommodation. There are many eating outlets here, rather outdated and quality not great although we did enjoy a banana leaf rice, freshly baked naan bread at one place, we went there twice. In the main, quite reasonably priced. It's pretty impossible to get a glass of wine here, beer seems to be the only alcohol available. You will find banks, tour booking agencies, small mini markets and other shops. There are several trails or jungle walks that are numbered. You can do these alone or book a guide. There are a number of strawberry farms where you can pick your own strawberries. Some hotels are halal (no alcohol). The best place for dinner or drinks is the Cameron Highlands Resort, a colonial hotel with top class service and two restaurants that non-resident guests can enjoy. Good quality wine here too. There is not much in the way of car hire here but taxis are cheap so that is the most convenient way to get around other than the tours. Buses are few and far between and apparently don't run to time. So we just used taxis.

The Cameron Highlands Resort

Richard boooked us in for dinner here for my birthday surprise. He happened to tell them when he booked that it was my birthday. We started with some drinks and a game of scrabble.  Service is first class and the décor wonderful. There is a large pond with a waterfall accommodating large carp, a lovely gift shop, a library, the large bar area/lounge has a pianist playing, definitely the best venue in Tanah Rata. The captain, Gerard, (maitre D) invited us to a fire lighting ceremony as we were special guests (his words). He took photos and presented them to us in two frames. He encouraged us to eat in the Steamboat Restaurant. Steamboats are a speciality of this area. I was surprised with a very nice table decoration of two swans made from towels and serviettes and a candle. Gerard then educated us in the intricacies of steamboat. A big divided pot on a gas plate is delivered to your table and holds your choice of bubbling soup. A large display of vegetables, all types of noodles and dipping sauces are arranged on a large buffet table which you select and take to your table. We chose the fish as our main and the raw fish included barramundi, prawns, squid, fish balls, scallops was served to us. Then the fun begins, you ladle in fish, veges, prawns, let them cook for a minute or two, then go fishing. It's good fun and tastes delicious. And then it was deserts, a table with many types of pastries, cakes, fruits, jellies, strawberries are there for selection. To top it off, three wait staff came to our table and sang happy birthday to me with two little cup cakes, a candle in one, and happy birthday written in chocolate on the plate. A birthday celebration I won't forget. We decided to return for high tea.

The fire lighting ceremony

By the fire

Table Decoration

The Steamboat

High Tea

So the day before we left we went again mid afternoon for high tea and sampled little sandwiches, cakes, scones, cream, strawberries and jam and Cameron Highland tea. Oh, so yummy.

Boe Tea Plantation Tour

We took the tour of the above tea plantation. We were picked up at our accommodation by 4WD, a pretty rough car, no seat belts and torn seats. As the drive is extremely windy on narrow roads I had to find something to hang onto in order to stay upright. The driver blasts the horn at each bend to warn any oncoming vehicle – a little hairy in places. It took approximately half an hour to reach the plantation. The plantation is about 600 hectares and there are tea plants as far as the eye can see. We stopped at a good viewing area and Francis, our guide, explained about the tea growing process and also picked various leaves from different plants and explained their medicinal uses. Then it was a jungle walk through the mossy forest, glad we had a guide with us. It's quite rough in places with wooden platforms to assist the rugged terrain here and there. Again Francis showed us some unusual plants with accompanying story. The walk took about 45 minutes. Next we drove to the colonial era tea factory where we could observe the processing of the tea from the picked leaves to the final stage of the tea leaf. We visited the shop where there is, you've guessed it, various types of tea for sale. We bought a few samples. We then went to the cafeteria for a snack and a cup of tea served from a teapot of course. We sat on the open air balcony, quite impressive views of the tea plantation from here. An enjoyable experience.

Amongst the Tea Plants

4WD Tour Car

Part of the Plantation

In the Mossy Forest

Tea in the Cafe

Barracks Cafe

Is the best cafe in Tanah Rata. It's away from the main strip and situated near to the convent. They have converted three old barracks to kitchen and inside dining area. There is the prettiest of gardens for outside dining, many trees, plants and colourful baskets set out beautifully. Umbrellas over tables. The menu isn't huge but you can choose curries, rice dishes, wraps, croissants and very nice freshly squeezed juices or yoghurt drinks. I can recommend the mango yoghurt. The wait staff are very attentive, always ask if meal is satisfactory and if you tell them you are staying at Arundina you get 20 per cent off the bill. Only drawback is they don't have a liquor licence. It is newly opened and I am sure it is going to be very successful.

Lunch in The Barracks Garden