Life is like an odometer: December 2017

I have been to all states in Malaysia and quite a number of the tourist attraction places in Malaysia; except to this place. So finally I decided to make a trip here on an auspicious day of 3rd December 2017

3 DECEMBER 2017

7.30 AM : Left to Cameron (from Jelutong), with my parents, sister & nephew Ameer.

It was a smooth drive up to PLUS highway, where we exited at exit 137, Simpang Pulai. Of course we did stop by at Sg.Perak R&R for approx. 30 minutes. From there we headed towards Cameron Highlands as directed by googlemap,. In fact the route is not that difficult as signage are well placed and the route does not involve lots of turnings. Only swerving and curving all the way up.

11 AM : We were at Cameron Highland Lavender Farm, which is only about 3-4 km from Brinchang town. We did not enter this place as the tickets were quite pricey just to watch flowers.

PLACES:

Bee Farm - was the first place we entered. A 3 storey building locating shops, small café & bee hives at the ground floor (open space). Nothing to shout about; perhaps can grab some honey if you are a honey lover

Sg.Palas Boh Tea Plantation - the hilly road leading to this plantation is just opposite Bee Farm. OK, this 3.5km route can be quite frustrating as it is one way on most parts of it; and better still no one to control traffic flow. So, what can happen is that you can just get stranded in the middle, awaiting to opposite coming vehicle to reverse or you have to reverse. It took us about 30minutes to get down this 3.5km road! The other thing that I am not happy is that parking to go to the café & sales centre at this area is placed way down the hill. They do not allow people to park right in front of the café (not enough parking area). Hence, we had to park & climb stairs of like 500metres length! Just impractical for those travelling with elderlies & toddlers.

The café was packed on the day we went (expected as it was a Sunday of school holidays) They sold tea-based beverages (of course) and cakes, muffins etc. Prices were OK (RM3.90 for a mug of Teh-O at a tea plantation site...expected lor..) They had all sorts of Boh products at sales area. Mind you, prices in fact were a bit more than what you can at supermarkets elsewhere. Good thing is that you could buy products not available elsewhere.

3.30 PM : Checked in to SA Apartment @ Crown Imperial Plaza. It is an apartment turned into a homestay. Located right at Brinchang town. Very spacious. SA Apartment @ Crown Imperial Plaza :

points for - Very spacious; Good for up to 15 persons to stay in one house

- parking provided

- fairly clean

- can cook (stoves provided)

2. points against - no WIFI

- Astro : only NJoi available

- bathroom taps not satisfactory

After a short break, we left to Brinchang night market (aka coldest pasar malam in Malaysia). After had enough at the market, then came the most difficult task....to find a dining place which shall suit my mom! So, I went straight to Masjid Abu Bakar to Jama' first, before going for dinner hunt.

Drove to Tanah Rata, to Abang Strawberry Restaurant; but unfortunately they serve only grilles & steamboat for dinner. So, decided to go Singh Chapati. Had some paratha & chapatti. This area reminisced me about Hydrebad, where we had to buy paratha/chapatti & dhal separately :)

After dinner, back home and Zzzzz...

4 DECEMBER 2017 (hari kedua & terakhir)

Memandangkan tak bercadang nak p banyak tempat, kami keluaq rumah dalam 8.30 AM. P cari sarapan (macam biasa...Indian food lagi), makan kat Restoran Sri Sentosa

Lepas makan, pi cari tempat nak beli strawberry-petik sendiri. P kawasan Taman Sedia. Ada beberapa kedai kat sini. Mula p AZ Agro..dia kata xdak strawberry dah. Pastu nak p Abang Strawberry (ni cawangan restaurant kat Tanah Rata yang kami p semalam); tapi Nampak Opah Strawberries & Jam dulu. Maka berhenti kat sini dan p Tanya pasal strawberry; dia kata bole petik sendiri, tapi tak banyak yang tinggai (sebab musim cuti skolah...dah banyak dah kena 'kebas') Jadi kami pun p la masuk garden dia petik sepuas2. Dapat la dlm 970gm! RM35 only (plg murah kot) Kat Opah strawberries ni ada gak simple café, juai scones & muffins & beverages. Boleh la nak try. Betoi2 ada opah yang buat bisnes kat sini..and I think she has Parkinsonism...tapi kegigihan opah ni layan customers memang admirable!

PAs keluaq dari Opah ni baru perasan rupanya Abang Strawberry tu sebelah ja.. P singgah gak la..tanya2 harga. Depa ada Grade A berries...yang dah siap petik, RM50/kg. Yg petik sendiri RM70/kg. Grades denote size I guess.. So, what we got is still a good bargain I guess, nak rasa petik sendiri ja pun..tu yg ada excitement :) Abang Strawberry ni ada café gak, bernama Abang 200 Seeds selling full meals for b.fast & lunch. So I decided to come back for lunch there.

Next stop, Bharat Tea Plantation. Bharat ni product dia nama Cameron Valley. Not so popular outside Cameron, tapi Nampak plantation dia besaq gak (ada 2 kat Cameron; 1 tu lepas Tanah Rata, jalan nak p Ringlet); 1 lagi sebelum Brinchang. Kami p yang lepas Tanah Rata tu. Far better road & parking space berbanding dengan Sg.Palas Boh. Lepas membeli; kami pun belah...balik ke Tanah Rata, nak p makan kat Abang 200 Seeds. Tapi singgah sat kat Big Red Strawberry Farm. Tempat ni banyak disarankan dalam google map; maka singgah gak la. Jalan dia memang mencanang! Tempat dia ada gak strawberry petik sendiri, café, mart selling all sorts of strawberry-based products & fresh veggies (chillies, salads only). X beli sangat kat sini.

Lunch @ Abang 200 Seeds Restaurant. RM57 for 5 pax...kira OK. Mee Kari dia mantap!

Then is way back home. Since my mom was so eager to buy fresh veggies, I googled and found lots of people recommended Kea Farm. Kea Farm is on the way out of Cameron, few km after Brinchang town. The road heading out of Cameron was quite jammed (I guess better than Saturdays). The parking area at Kea Market (yeah..it is actually a market...I did not see any Farms there!)was miserable. Bought some veggies. Perhaps the best bargain was jagung - you can get 16-20 pieces for RM10.

After that, it was all the way home. Arrival was very much delayed due to some road works on highway ( at 2 separate locations). Took us almost 5 hours as compared to only 3 hours yesterday.

TIPS:

1. You can reach Cameron in 3 hours...from Penang Island; provided you leave early (by 7.30AM), the sky is clear & no long stops on highway.

2. Be assured; the road up to Cameron via Simpang Pulai is excellent...not as what I have heard before.

3. Avoid going up there on Saturdays (moreover if it is during school holidays)

4. Bring socks to wear at night...the coldness could be piercing your bones.

5. Avoid Sg.Palas Boh Plantation. Do visit Bharat Plantation instead for a similar experience. (Not sure about Boh Ringlet plantation)

6. Make sure you try self-plucking of strawberries!

7. Stay at Tanah Rata or Brinchang. Ringlet has nothing much here.
8. In a nutshell, Cameron Highlands is a must-visit place (at least once in a lifetime) for all Malaysians. Good place for family hangouts & couples. But not really of a friends outing place; unless you have a group of avid hikers as friends. You can try out Mossy Forest & Gunung Irau.
Insyaallah shall come back for these 2 mountains.