Today, in the picturesque setting of the Cameron Highlands, I rose early, showered, and had breakfast, brimming with excitement as I anticipated my visit to the tea plantations. Meanwhile, Johan, who I met yesterday, had different plans—he intended to rent a motorcycle and explore the landscape. Despite his invitation, I hesitated to join him. My reluctance stemmed from my lack of experience in riding a moped, even though I possessed a license (obtained automatically with a Dutch driver’s license). The winding mountain roads in Cameron Highlands didn’t strike me as the ideal place for a beginner. In hindsight, I must admit I made a mistake. I should have undoubtedly joined Johan that day.
After breakfast, I visited the travel agency and reserved a minivan for my next destination. This time, my plan was feasible, and the van would pick me up at 4 pm in front of my hostel. Upon returning, I promptly secured accommodation at my next location. At 11 o’clock, I departed from the hostel. I stored my backpack and arranged for a cab to visit the tea plantations.
A Visit by Taxi
The cab arrived promptly, and we embarked on a 40-minute journey to the mountain’s summit for a spectacular view. The road leading to the mountain offered delightful sights of the tea plantation, and I thoroughly enjoyed the scenic drive. Unfortunately, upon reaching the mountain, Gunung Berinchang, the view was obscured as thick clouds enveloped the summit. Standing at an impressive height of 2030 meters, it’s renowned as the highest point in the Cameron Highlands region. The taxi driver pointed out interesting spots around the mountain. I almost forgot to mention that while on the way up, I encountered Tom, Lotus, Milly, and Jess who were hiking. As the taxi passed, I waved, and their expressions of astonishment followed by laughter were quite amusing to witness. Interestingly, a few days earlier, the same scenario unfolded in Taman Negara!
The Mossy Forest at Cameron Highlands
I captured these images from the summit’s viewing platform. Eventually, I spent approximately 10 minutes there before returning to the cab. Descending the mountain, the cab driver pleasantly surprised me with a stop at the Mossy Forest. Despite the clouds disrupting my summit visit, the fog now felt like a serene blessing. The fog contributed to an eerie and ominous atmosphere in the Mossy Forest—perfect for shooting a horror movie or something of the sort. I explored the Mossy Forest for about 20 minutes, though I was somewhat disappointed that the intense fog obscured my views of the valley below.
The Cameron Highlands Valley
Returning to the tea plantation, we made several stops along the way. The taxi driver informed me that the plants undergo cutting every three weeks. Subsequently, the gathered leaves are carefully selected and transported to a processing factory. At the factory, the leaves undergo drying and grinding, ultimately transforming into the tea particles we use for consumption.
The region’s varied agriculture continually astounds me. The Cameron Highlands cultivate a plethora of vegetables, and during the cab ride, I observed expansive fields of lettuce, eggplants, cauliflower, and more. I regret not having more time to explore, as I would have liked to visit a tea processing factory, a strawberry farm, and embark on additional hikes. The region offers an abundance of activities waiting to be explored.
As per the taxi driver, the workers reside in small huts on the tea plantation. Notably, there are no Malaysians employed there due to the minimal wages offered. Presently, only immigrants from Burma and Laos are engaged in work at the plantation.
The Dutch Chinese Restaurant in Tanah Rata
Upon my return around 2 pm, I headed to Tanah Rata for a meal. While capturing a picture of the main road, I noticed a Dutch flag. Finally, I had located it—the Chinese Dutch restaurant that the Dutch women in Taman Negara had mentioned. Without hesitation, I decided to order a meal right away!
In a small village nestled in the hills of Malaysia, I unexpectedly found a piece of home. The owner, hailing from Assen, spoke some Dutch words. For dinner, I opted for a plate of mixed meat and spent about 30 minutes in the restaurant. However, when the owner began playing Dutch music, including songs by Guus Meeuwis and Nick & Simon, I decided to leave. I’m not a fan of their music at all, haha.
Onwards to Penang
Back at the hostel, I organized my backpack and awaited the van. At approximately 4:05 pm, we departed Tanah Rata. During the journey, I struck up a conversation with a Canadian guy named Colton, who happened to have similar plans. By 8 pm, we reached George Town, Penang, Malaysia! Here are some slightly blurry pictures of the island below.
Within 5 minutes, I located my hostel. The neighborhood is charming, adorned with various carts offering delectable street food. I decided to sample some, and it was delightful. I indulged in chicken satay from a local stand, spending less than 2 euros, and it turned out to be the best chicken satay ever! The tenderness and juiciness elevated the dish to perfection. Later, I returned to the hostel, compiled this report, and uploaded it to the website.
