Cameron Highlands - after a 2 year hiatus

Yes - it has been 2 years since we went up to Cameron Highlands. This time, it was not something that I arranged. Madeline and Vincent recce the highlands some weeks ago and found this apartment - Dahlia between Tanah Rata and Brinchang- supposedly operated by Michelle Yeoh's father. For a 3 room apartment, they only charged RM280 per night - pretty good value, considering that it is also the holiday season.

We started off at about 10am from Vincent's parent's house. The party was suppose to be 8 initially, then ballooned to 12 and finally we had only 7 in total. There was Alex, Lee Chiew and I. Madeline with Vincent and Vincent's parents. We decided to take the Simpang Pulai way. Just drive in the direction of Ipoh, do not exit at Tapah which was the usual exit point to Camerons. Exit at Simpang Pulai exit, turn right after the toll and then right again at the next junction. The drive is longer, but less short and sharp turns compared to the older route. You will exit at Kg Raja, which is nearer to Equatorial hotel. That's the other end of Camerons, if you are used to the older route.

I bought an infrared cooker and this trip, we used that to the fullest. Pretty convenient and fast cooker. We bought vegetables from the market next to Equatorial hotel and had mainly vegetable steamboat, with rice cooker chicken rice( as opposed to claypot rice) thrown in by Vincent's mum.

The weather was bad on the first day - it practically rained all day from tea time, till late night.But it sure made the temperature nice and chilly - something that seems to be rarer nowadays up in the highlands of Malaysia.

Next day, I made tuna sandwiches, while Madeline and Lee Chiew were pottering with bacon and sausages. Madeline also prepared chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas and marsh mallows. We ate enough breakfast to last us to a late lunch. We also visited the Boh Estate at Habu. After so many visits, I made a sudden realization that there were actually 2 Boh estates opened for public participation. Madeline and Vincent always went to the Sg Palas estate and I was always showing up at the Habu site.

After that we went to Equatorial hotel so that Alex can satisfy his cravings for Fish and Chips ala Equatorial style - with snapper fish instead of Dory fish used by most other outlets. It seems like every stop we made, we would be eating or drinking tea!! As the unofficial guide, I also took the party to WaterCress valley, where we partook in a cooling drink of water cress. Next stop was the Bee farm and we ended the day at the Butterfly farm (for Alex's indulgence). I also made a reservation for a couple of pots of money plant. This was a succulent green plant which will supposedly bring good luck to it's owner if it flowers.

One thing that visitors will find plentiful in Camerons are
- Dilapidated Land Rovers. It seems like the people in Camerons just love this workhorse
- Strawberries - either you buy them or you pick them yourself
- Vegetables - nice and fresh and for some strange reasons, cost more that it would in the lowlands. I guess the locals in Camerons must think that all visitors are good for the kill.

The next day, we went to the Sg Palas Boh Estate. You also realize why Malaysia has such a high number of automobile accidents. Many people just do not know how to drive courteously!! I have been zooming around 2 lanes autobahn in Germany at an average speed of 200km/hr and find little or no trouble getting around at those speeds, because people who drive slower always drive in the slower lanes. In Sg Palas and Habu Estates, we followed people who DO NOT HORN at blind corners. They do not know how to give way even when the lay-bys for passing traffic is just behind them. I had the misfortune of following a MYVi who, when he reverses his car, always reverses into the middle of the narrow lanes, instead of to the side. The Sg Palas site expects you to park your vehicle some 100m from the factory and walk up.When you look at the tea bushes way up in the hills, you have to give grudging respect for the workers who have to trudge up there to pluck the tender leaves that makes up our tea. The estate itself is very much self contained with a school, housing and sundry shops.

We ended the day buying more honey from the Bee farm (as gifts for people back home), bought a few more plants and then took the old route home. Vincent and I parted ways after Sg Palas. He had Madeline and his parents and I had my family. Surprisingly, we met up in Bidor for lunch. We were just about 5 minutes apart on the roads.

One last thing - the duck thigh noodles is less oily and fat in Sin Thean Thean restaurant. This is about a block from Pun Chun in the Tapah direction. Try that next time you are in Bidor.