PR-Malaysia: August 2008

Labas!

This time the colour of Malaysia will be green and will smell like tea:) One of the weekends we decided to visit the place that is known for the big tea plantations and cool weather there.
Welcome to Cameron Highlands!

Actually, we managed to go to this trip only from the second try as tickets are sold out already two days before the leaving. The second try was more successful as we bought the tickets 5 days in advance (this is advice for those planning to visit the Cameron highlands).

14 people, 8 am ready for 4 hours of journey. It was not boring at all – the bus was very comfortable, so most of us just used the chance to sleep. The interesting and tough for our stomachs part of the journey started when we reached the foot of the highlands. The way up was a long serpentine, so some guys in the bus were not very comfortable (you know the feeling when you are in the sea and feel that it asks to give what your stomach has:)).

We arrived to one of the 3 villages – Tanah Rata - in the Cameron highlands where we were met by the owner of the hostel and brought to the place by a van (max 5 min by walking from the bus station:)). For the first day we decided to take a touristic tour around the highlands and experience its countryside. Let’s go!
The first stop – tea factory and tea plantations. The process for getting the black tea that we drink consists of 5 steps:
1. Withering
2. Rolling
3. Fermentation
4. Drying
5. Sorting

In the factory we saw all the stages and afterwards had very romantic moments drinking hot tea with chocolate cake in the café, surrounded by tea plantations.

Second stop – strawberry farm. Yes, this is smth exceptional in Malaysia – Cameron highlands is the only place where they have strawberries. Unique and expensive - 30 Lt per kilogram.

Third stop – rose farm. Does this look like roses in some of the pictures?:) well, they have all kinds of plants – with spikes and without – there.

Fourth and last stop – butterflies farm. Does this look like a butterfly on my arm?:)

You are right – that’s scorpion. I had a chance to volunteer for this life changing (or life costing) experience. the guy put something like 5 scorpions on my arm and I will not pretend saying that it was not scary. Though afterwards he explained that scorpions actually bite with their tail, therefore, you cannot be bitten unless you put the finger on its back.

In the evening Cameron Highlands is actually the place to chill out with a can of beer, meet other backpackers, share some stories in a really chilly weather. We all remembered what it is to wear sweaters and scarves outside.

For the second day we had 3 different plans:
Plan A – going for a tour organized by a local guide (seeing biggest flower in the world, hiking in the jungles, shooting the blowpipe with local people). The plan implemented by 4 people.
Plan B – choosing one of the tracks from the lonely planet guide and go hiking alone. The plan implemented by 8 people.
Plan C – sleeping in and going around the village. The plan implemented by 2 people.

My plan was B:) a bit complicated but really nice. Here is a diary from our journey:
"
10.53 We are lost 2nd time.
Good news we are still close to the hostel, we are going further ( this is a place where we went the wrong way at the beginning ( with the sign beware of the dogs - we are still in the village )

11.30 We finally found the path nr 9. Crossed the little bridge and saw a sign to robinsons falls.

11.40 Photosession by the river – interesting and beautiful place.

11.50 we still stick to the path nr 9. We are on the point to go to path nr 8 (jungle walls). Though we are going further with path nr 9.

13.01 after 1 hoiur of walking down with sleepery and steepy road with the width of 1 meter we managed to get to the road. Just next to the road there is an interesting chinese house looking like a temple. We are trying to figure out the way home.

13.30 we follow the road. Lost for the 3rd time. Lithuanians say that we are on the way to BOH tea plantation. Do not know what to believe – Mr. P

14.30 Its 14.30 after long walk along the road we reached BOH tea plantation and the factory. So the same place as yesterday ( it turned out that I was wrong :P)

We do not have much time and to home there is a looooooooooooooong way…
"

Shortly – we were lost during first 15 minutes. However, afterwards came back on track. We passed a small Robinson’s waterfall, were trekking in the forest, saw farms where they grow different vegetables (the climate is really nice for that), and finally reached really beautiful tea plantations that were far less touristic then visited the first day. See it through the eye of the camera::::::::::::::::::