Today my journey would continue to Tanah Rata. This morning brought another delightful and indulgent breakfast, this time, opposed to yesterday, enjoyed in the company of Fiona, Mike, Ben, and Bryan. Later in the day, I savored delicious cuisine in Tanah Rata – more details on that to follow. Following breakfast, Mike and I crossed to the opposite bank of the river. Today marked our departure from Taman Negara; Mike heading to Kuala Lumpur, and I bound for Tanah Rata, the entry point to the Cameron Highlands. At 10 am, a van arrived at the Kuala Tahan bus stop, signaling the beginning of our journey along a winding road, leading us from the heart of the national park back to civilization.
The journey to Tanah Rata
By lunchtime, we reached NKS’s cafe in Jerantut, where we awaited our next transport to the Cameron Highlands. At the cafe, I found myself once again in the company of Tom, Lotus, Milly, and Jess. As it turned out, we were all bound for the Cameron Highlands, and soon enough, we shared the same van to our destination. After a 30-minute journey, the van dropped us off at the site where the boat embarks on its voyage from Jerantut to Kuala Tembeling – the very spot from which I departed just two days ago.
Around 12:30 pm, the bus driver informed us of a tire leakage, prompting a 30-minute wait. During this interval, I enjoyed a drink with Tom, Lotus, Milly, and Jess – we all opted for an unconventional lemon juice. Soon after, a new van arrived, allowing us to resume our journey. I dozed off, and upon waking, stunning views of an expansive forest greeted me (though I couldn’t discern the specific type). The trees stretched as far as the eye could see, making the journey truly enchanting.
As we neared the end of our trip, I found myself wishing I had chosen a seat on the right side within the van. From that vantage point, I could have captured some splendid pictures of the Cameron Highlands. Since I was only staying for one night, this fleeting glimpse of the journey was a bit regrettable. In total, the trip from Jerantut took us four hours.
Tanah Rata
I reached the Cameronian Inn, my hostel, around 3:30 pm. In my modest dorm room, I crossed paths with Johan, a Swedish traveler who had been exploring Asia in recent months and was en route to Australia and New Zealand.
In the afternoon, I dedicated some time to writing articles and indulged in delightful homemade scones topped with strawberry jam and cream – a truly delicious treat. Following this, Johan and I ventured into Tanah Rata, the town where the hostel is situated, to arrange my bus ride for the next day. Unfortunately, the tour I had in mind required a minimum of four participants, forcing me to reconsider my plans later that evening. Johan, having purchased a map from the travel agency, and I then set out to find a charming restaurant for our evening meal.
Steamboat
The two Dutch ladies I met in Taman Negara recommended a fantastic Chinese restaurant adorned with Dutch decorations along the main street of Tanah Rata. Unfortunately, I couldn’t recall the restaurant’s name, so I inquired at the tourist information. The staff directed us to a different place that specialized in a dish called steamboat, essentially a Chinese fondue where you cook meat in broth. The pan had two sides, one with regular water and the other with a spicy broth. The meal turned out to be excellent. However, to our surprise, the lady informed us it was 25 ringgit per person, which caught us off guard as we had initially thought it was 25 ringgit for the entire meal. This unexpected revelation left me with a sense of being misled.
In the evening, I researched some details on the internet and ultimately reached crucial decisions regarding my journey. Around 10 pm, I returned to the travel agency.
Navigating Travel Decisions
Unfortunately, the travel agency was closed. Annoyed, I entered a convenience store to purchase a drink. To my surprise, I recognized the lady I had seen earlier at the travel agency, confirming that she worked there. I inquired, ‘Weren’t you working this afternoon at the travel agency?’ She affirmed, and at that moment, I realized the lady was actually a ladyboy upon noticing the high heels, shaved legs, but a distinctly masculine face from a closer distance. Remaining composed, I was informed that I could make the booking there the next day.
As I made my way back to the hostel, I couldn’t help but chuckle at the unexpected revelation. Earlier at the travel agency, I had no clue it was a ladyboy. I ended up going to bed quite late, but it was worthwhile as the plans I devised turned out to be quite good. Departing tomorrow late afternoon, I’m glad to have some time to explore and enjoy Cameron Highlands.
