Malaysia: Cameron Highlands... Just My Cup Of Tea!

It was almost time for me to move onto Sabah, before taking that Air Asia jet plane I had one more place to visit! As a British person, I would like to think I can appreciate a good cup of tea! Malaysia, that wasn't a question! Cameron Highlands was on my radar, the drive from KL would be major but the views over those tea plantations were worth every mile! BOH, what say you? 

No, not another early wake up call? Yes, Asia Highlights had scheduled a full day on the road in order for me to see the lush landscape in and around Malaysia's own Cameron Highlands. I was ready to escape the heat and humidity, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca had turned up the heat weather wise! Hitting the motorway a little more prepared, I had some cakes from the previous day that I had bought from the R&R on the way back from Malacca. I knew that the R&R would need to be a key feature in this day out because the four hour journey from Kuala Lumpur needed breaking up, I wanted to have some breakfast at least! From the start, I had made sure that my guide was aware that a breakfast stop would need to be a mandatory part of our outbound journey. The motorway leaving Kuala Lumpur didn't give us any trouble, showcasing to us a very impressive and smooth network of roads that were available. I'll leave the inbound journey for a latter part! Those school holiday crowds were not a mood, I wasn't sorry one bit! 

Making mine a serving of 'Kaya toast with a half boiled egg' because I wanted another slice of that Malaysian breakfast favourite! Not wanting to bite anyone's head off, I ordered a piping hot milky coffee because Cameron Highlands would be serving me a hot brew of another kind! Chatting with my guide was nice, it was a much better start to the day and I felt that the stop at the R&R before we had properly hit the road was a nice touch to break up the journey. Those school groups were out in their droves, it was maddening at the R&R as I ate my breakfast. For me, it was the increased traffic and generally busier places that bothered me the most. I made sure that I had bought some drinks for the road because I had been told that we had another three hours before we would arrive within the Cameron Highlands area. I was ready for that tea plantation because it was going to be the first one I had clocked outside of China! I needed the elevation to take the heat away and those growing school holiday crowds! Just fade away! Go! 

It was evident to see that we weren't in Kuala Lumpur anymore, the winding roads that led from that 'Cameron Highlands' motorway exit saw the terrain morph into some type of Jurassic Park scene! The first stop was beside the 'Lata Iskandar Waterfalls', set along the trunk road from Tapah to Cameron Highlands presented this quiet oasis. It was early on and the waterfalls were actually closed to the public because of the previous nights weather, I was able to catch a glimpse regardless. I was unbothered, I was able to marvel at the cascading water as it fell into the stream that has been captured above. It was nice to be out of the city once again, that 'Tapah' view gave me a sense of 'Jungle Book Realness' without any doubt in my mind. The stalls opposite from the waterfalls were selling all types of handicrafts and local foodie finds. My guide bought some cocoa beans from a cocoa pod but they didn't taste very nice, apparently it was a childhood favourite for him? I prefer my chocolate like Cadbury! I wanted to try something else! 

Being a very diverse country, it was very interesting to know that many different tribes of ethnic Malaysians lived within that undeveloped terrain near to 'Lata Iskandar'. What was that smell? I fancied a slice of that fried banana treat! Formally known as 'Pisang Goreng', that friend banana fritter smelled heavenly, wrapped in a vine leaf with honey drizzled over the fritter was the right way! Costing me a few pennies, I couldn't get over the taste of that roadside snack! I wanted another one but was disappointed to know that we would be taking a different road back to KL. I savoured every single bite of that banana treat, there was a savoury taste to that fried banana that resembled a plantain. It really needed to be tea time, sure those steep hills revealed the greener pastures of those numerous tea plantations, it was amazing to see the landscape open up. No longer, the jungle knew it was time for me to sip on a hot brewed cup of Malaysian tea! Who was Cameron? Did he even deserve his own Highland? The shade! Brew those leaves up! 

I had to pinch myself as those lush tea plantations came into my view, Cameron Highlands did not play with my time one bit! Alright, a slight smattering of hotels and buildings presented themselves but people have to live and tourists need a place to lay their heads and eat. Was I in India or China? Those rolling green hills had me fooled because I was very much in Malaysia still, the noise of the city felt like a million miles away! So, how did these tea plantations come to be? I have unearthed such facts for your entertainment, you're very welcome! 'Sir William Cameron', a surveyor had the nerve to stumble upon what became 'Cameron Highlands' in 1885. Alongside Cameron was his Malaysian companion, Kulop Riau and Cameron made an expedition to the area surrounding the 'Titiwangsa Range' to draw several boundary lines because the British loved dividing up their Empire. Cameron found that the cooler temperatures were more comfortable than other parts of the then British territory of Malaya. Big up 'BOH!' 

It was finally time for me to take some staggeringly beautiful photos over the 'BOH Tea Plantation' shortly after we had arrived. Before climbing the steps up to the visitor centre, I was afforded the opportunity to see the tea pickers houses. Those single storey houses looked functional for the workers, for me there was no judgement because that manual job wouldn't be for me. No! Climbing to the top of the visitors centre didn't faze me because the views from the cafe were absolutely stunning and then some! I felt very lucky! Established in 1929, this famous family run business stands to be a very famous player in the tea brewing business. It was great to see inside the factory, we had to follow certain rules but it was great still. I loved my pot of BOH Tea and I was able to find a sausage roll! The visit to the tea plantation was just enough, I had to reconcile with the miles driven because the itinerary had to be kept simple. Visiting Cameron Highlands was well worth it, keeping Kuala Lumpur as my based for an extra day was golden! 

For the final stop of the day, it was either to be a 'flower garden' or a 'strawberry farm?' I chose the first choice, keeping an open mind I really didn't know what to expect from that promised 'flower garden?' Playing with my time? I couldn't believe what I saw, it was the most bizarre place that I would visit during that whole trip to Malaysia! I really had enjoyed the other parts of the day, it was really challenging to keep an open mind because the for the price of the tour I really didn't rate the flower garden, it was shamelessly tacky and I say that with conviction. I put my standards to one side, I needed to capture at least one nice photo for me to be able to narrate that weird eventuality. With some good lighting and angles I was able to capture some lovely flower shots, the rest really left a lot to be desired. When I look back at that final stop, I have to laugh because it really was something completely unexpected! The photographer shared my thoughts, he also couldn't believe we had been taken to such a random place. Really, Cameron?!

Sure, we would need to make the long journey back to Kuala Lumpur at some point. The small winding roads were not a mood anymore, the traffic was not something I wanted after two long days on the road. I had a very early alarm call set for the next morning, I would be flying at 06:30 A.M. from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Sandakan Airport on Sabah. Eventually the minibus made it back onto the widened motorway roads, leaving behind those smaller roads allowed us to pick up the pace with Kuala Lumpur still at least three hours away by road. I'm not complaining nor was I in that December 2023 moment because these experiences were all Malaysian firsts for me! Maybe, I would have scheduled a day in the city and then a day out on the road but in those planning stages we never know how we're going to be feeling in that moment. It was a relief to see the buildings multiple as KL came into sight, I really needed to sleep but only had four or something hours remaining until my Grab taxi would pick me up. Oh!

Cameron Highlands? ... I Hardly Know Her!

Desperately Seeking Adventure