CAMERON HIGHLANDS

AUTHENTIC CAMERON HIGHLANDS

No doubt Cameron Highlands lies in the district of Pahang, but Perakians enjoyed the mountain resort more than any other state's residents.

To the north, its boundary touches that of Kelantan – Gua Musang while to the west it shares part of its border with Perak.

BEAUTIFUL BLOOMS IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS

The reason is that – the location of Cameron Highlands is near to Perak – where visitors used the Gopeng stretch of road to enter into the hilly mountains. It takes about two hours drive from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands. 

SMOKE HOUSE

From my younger days until adulthood – I never missed Cameron Highlands – which I have selected as one of my list of travel destination, in Malaysia.

If one wants to escape from the lower grounds hot weather – I suggest you go to Cameron Highlands for a change of cold, misty and fresh weather.

Every year, my family made an effort to visit Cameron Highlands for a 3D2N stay at our usual Copthorne Hotel (formerly Equatorial Hotel), where the hotel is seated at the highest peak. Here, one can view the entire Cameron Highlands township.

HIGHEST PEAK - PUNCAK BRINCHANG

PLACES OF INTEREST

There are 10 Best Things to do in Cameron Highlands – go visit the Rose Garden, Cactus Farm, Brinchang Wet Market, Tea Plantation, Bee Farms, Strawberry Farm, Water Crest Orchard, Orang Asli Settlements, Butterfly Farm and Sam Poh
Temple.

SAM POH TEMPLE, AT BRINCHANG

SUNGEI PALAS TEA PLANTATION

Cameron Highlands is the largest tea-growing region in Malaysia – most of the estates owned by Boh (1929) and Bharat (1950). One can take drive up a narrow path surrounded by tea plantation to reach the Boh Sungei Palas Tea Estate Factory and Cafe site. Visitor can have a good view of Camerons from atop, and a good place for photography session. Nearby, visitors can also attempt to reach the highest peak in Brinchang called Puncak Brinchang.

BOH TEH PLANTATION - BEST SPOT FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

For the more adventurous travelers – why not follow the jungle trail available here, and go for a hiking expedition. My brother and me used to hike out the Robinson Trail – as the path is not only brief but less dangerous. 

READY FOR A JUNGLE WALK AT ROBINSON TRAIL

SMOKE HOUSE

One 'must visit' place is the Smoke House which is located between Brinchang and Tanah Rata. The Smokehouse features English cottage-style accommodation with views of its award winning gardens or the golf course. It has a restaurant and bar. Visitors here will like the beautiful gardens and the old colonial style decoration. At the restaurant, it offers one of the finest dining venues in the Highlands, featuring a distinctive collage of traditional nd more cuisine types.

MARDI AGRO TECHNOLOGY PARK

Another worth visiting is the MARDI Agro Technology Park is divided into six main areas namely English garden, Herb Garden, Orchid Garden, Rose Garden, research centre and an information centre where tourists can also buy souvenir.

Mardi's Agro Technology Park is home to 40 varieties of roses, 10 strawberries, 100 citrus fruits, six areas of C Rose, orchid, English, Herb and Orchid Gardens.

MARDI'S AGRO TECHNOLOGY PARK

The Park is actually MARDI's oldest research station in the country and since Cameron Highlands is a popular destination, MARDI has followed through on the idea to turn it into an Agro Technology Park.

FOOD

A trip will be incomplete if one leave Cameron Highlands without having a Steamboat Dinner, which is available in any Chinese restaurants in Tanah Rata or Brinchang.

STEAM BOAT

Other than steamboat, there are plentiful of English food served in any hotels or Smokehouse.

Another 'must try' is the Indian food where outlets are mushrooming on the main road of Tanah Rata – chapati, roti canai, tosai, and Indian mixed rice.

CACTUS FARM

BACKGROUND

Cameron Highlands were named after William Cameron, a British explorer and geologist who was commissioned by the colonial government to map out the Pahang-Perak border area in 1885.

GUA MUSANG

Cameron Highlands is surveyed by geologist William Cameron in 1885, the outpost consists of three sub districts namely Ringlet, Tanah Rata and Ulu Telom. Its eight settlements are – Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Bertam Valley, Kea Farm, Tringkap, Kuala Terla, Kampung Raja and Blue Valley. All are nesetled at elevations ranging from 800 m to 1,603 m above sea level.

BOH TEH SHOPS

Developed in the 1930s, the tableland is one of the oldest tourist spots in Malaysia.

Apart from tea plantation, the plateau is also noted for its cool weather, orchards, nurseries, farmlands, waterfalls, rivers, lakes, wildlife, mossy forest, golf course, hotels, places of worships, bungalows, land rovers, museum and its aborigines (Orang Asli).

ORANG ASLI SETTLEMENT

FRASER'S HILL

FRASER'S HILL

I have been but 'once' to the cooling Fraser's Hill, a highland resort destination.

The hill is nestled among the mountains of of the Titiwangsa Ridge in Raub, Pahang, which takes two hours drive from Kuala Lumpur.

It's location is one of Malaysia's few pristine forests, with a high level of biodiversity, first recognised by the botanist H.N. Ridley in 1897.

Fraser's Hill derives its name from Louis James Fraser, a solitary Scottish pioneer, who set up a tin-ore trading post in the 1890s. 

COOLING FRASER'S HILL RESORT

The British army had not explored the Titiwangsa Range, Fraser employed guides or coolies for an expedition to the upper ridges, prospecting for gold or other valuable metals. He also found rich tin deposits, and recruited Chinese workers to open a mine. A steep tract was constructed for mules to transport the tine-ore down to The Gap and on to Raub.

Fraser operated a gambling and opium den at the workers' camp, through which he profited a second time for the wages paid to his workers.

CLOCK TOWER AT TOWN CENTRE

However, Fraser vanished without a trace some 25 years later. In 1951, the Malayan Emergency, the British High Commissioner in Malaya Sir Henry Gurney was killed near Fraser's Hill in a random assassination by Communist guerillas. Fraser Hill was also a rest centre for the British Forces based in Malaya and Singapore during the 1960s.

As the weather in Fraser's is cooling and invigorating throughout the year, the Hill remains popular with locals and Singaporeans for company retreats and weekend breaks.

JERIAU WATERFALL

Malaysia's earliest highland golf course was constructed on Fraser's Hill in 1925. The 9-hole course was built on former tin mines.

In 1970, an 18-hole course was added at Jeriau, about 3km from town.

Tourists can also drop by the beautiful Jeriau Waterfall, nearby. 

READY FOR JUNGLE WALK

Besides, tourists can also indulge in the several hiking trails around the hill.

Fraser's Hill is a notable centre for bird watching activity. For those who fancy bird watching, do drop by Fraser's Hill to capture over 270 species of local and migratory birds flocking here together.

SEPTEMBER 12, 1998