4D 3N in Cameron Highlands, Pahang
2nd Day - 25 Nov 2011 (Fri)
The next morning, we made our own breakfast; bread, tuna and kaya. We made our drinks - sachets of Cameron Valley tea provided complimentary by Equatorial Hotel. We brought our own 3-1 Milo. There is a mini-market near the hotel where you can shop for bread and stuff - just a little bit more expensive as they factor in transportation cost.
Below are some of the places that we visited.
Raju's Hill Strawberry Farm, Brinchang
At Raju's, we took a walk in the strawberry nursery. This is a small area open to the public - the rest are covered. Seems even a slight touch can spoil the fruit, one need to pluck it with the stalk.
 |
| The small area opened to public; the rest of the plants are kept in fenced nurseries |
 |
| So, this is how a strawberry plant looks like.. |
We tried their famous strawberry with cream, and I really recommend this. We also tried strawberry with honey, strawberry chocolate and dried strawberry.
 |
| Strawberry with cream |
 |
| Hmm, this is how you eat it... |
 |
| Wow...so yummy.. |
They also sell strawberry shake, tart, cake, muffin, marmalade,ice cream and I guess anything that can be made of strawberry. Entry is free. Just watching the Bangladeshi workers in the field, I can tell you that tending strawberries is a lot of hard work.
 |
| Thivya showing us a ripe strawberry...so sweet |
 |
| Kritha says, " I picked this one up so that you can see better" |
The agro tourism in Camerons is heavily laboured by Bangladeshi workers. We saw them in every place we visited; tending to the farms and at night, walking along the roads with packed food or vegetables to be cooked and always in twosome and groups.
 |
| Rows of strawberry plants ...carefully tended |
 |
| Open verandah atop the Raju's shop... |
Raju's Hill has been around since 1945, it's a family run business. Seems the demand for strawberries is very tourist-driven.
Rose Centre, Brinchang
 |
| Colour symbolism of roses |
Next, we drove to the Rose Garden. It was kind of deserted. The tortoise pond at the entrance was dirty with thick greenish water, I wonder how the poor creatures even survive there. There is a ticket fee of RM5 for adults and RM2 for kids. Since we could see roses in every other place, we didn't see the point of paying to see roses, so, we hung around the entrance which itself displayed so many types of plants and flowers. We also checked out their souvenir shop.
 |
| Red rose |
 |
| Yellow rose |
 |
| Cactus rose - hey what does this mean? |
It would have been nice if the husbands had surprised us (me and sis) with a bouquet, or just one rose, but I guess after 10 years of marriage, these thoughts are far from their heads. Just some wishful thinking.
 |
| This is called Jade Vine .. |
Climbing up the Rose Garden, one can get a panoramic view of the Kea Farm valley with its terraced farms and villages.
Kea Farm Valley, Brinchang
 |
| Kea farm |
Kea Farm is actually located right behind Equatorial Apartments. So if you get a room with a view, this is what you will see. It is known for its terraced farm and villages. We stopped here awhile to check the various vegetables that were grown here. They had cauliflowers and other Chinese vegetables, some are exported to other Oriental countries.
 |
| A Bangladeshi worker picking a vegetable |
Kea also owns apartments and to keep up with the rest of the farm owners, have set up shops selling their farm produce.
Cactus Point, Brinchang
 |
| N at the entrance to Cactus Point retail outlet |
Cactus Point is a retail nursery unlike Cactus Valley, which is a farm. There is no admission fee here. You will get to see many varieties of flowers, roses, carnations, daisies and cactus in varios odd shapes. Plenty of photo opportunities.
 |
| Some carnivarous plant.. |
 |
| Pretty carnation |
 |
| All photos of flowers are by Rishi |
There are cute miniature cactis for sale too, you can buy 2 tiny pots for RM5. Thivya bought some, wonder if it can survive in KL?
----------------------------------------------------------
For lunch we stopped at Restaurant Kumar, Tanah Rata. I needed a carbo boost so nothing compares to a banana leaf meal, right? A vegetarian meal with 4 different type of veges and pappadam is priced at RM7. We also ordered chicken rice (a Chinese stall in an Indian restaurant) for the kids at RM5 per plate. Kumar's dhall curry was tasty and their tea excellent.
Robinson Falls, Tanah Rata
 |
| Under maintenance work |
What used to be a fall is now mud. Due to development nearby, the colour of the water has turned a dark horrid brown, we locals call it the colour of 'teh tarik' (pulled tea). The entire fall is polluted.
 |
| The colour of the water..see the cables crossing |
As we followed the trail, we came across a little cottage like house, quite pretty. The Indian family here makes homemade blackberry and orang marmalade jams. They have put up a little signboard to welcome visitors. The house faces the waterfall so the sound of water lashing is ever present. We sampled their products and bought some as it tasted so fresh. We could see the blackberries growing in their front lawn. If you are heading to Camerons, I recommend you stop by this place. I regret not buying more.
 |
| See the smaller signage that directs you to the house selling homemade jam |
Orang Asli Settlement - Kampung Sungai Ruil, Tanah Rata
We stopped at this settlement just to check out. It is a village on a hill. I remember this place was in the local news in Aug 2011 due to a landslide that killed 7 people. What irked me was the development that was taking place close to this settlement.
Whether the natives' ancestral land will remain here in a few years' I can't tell. Two boys actually asked us for a lift to the main road.
Hope the state government intervenes and speak for the rights of these natives to their land...
Sam Poh Temple, Brinchang
 |
| Deities in Sam Poh temple |
This is a Buddhist temple that sits atop a hill. A little bit isolated so do get your directions right. Peaceful place with signs asking for 'silence' on its walls. Lots of quiet chanting and rhythmatic drum beats.
N, ever an admirer of Buddha, got us to light up incense sticks and helped himself to lots of free Buddhist books. Just watching the graceful monks in their flowing robes and baggy pants with beads and ornaments was wonderful. The whole place looked so well managed and clean; biggest patrons being the local Chinese population.
Seems the temple is dedicated to the Chinese Muslim eunuch and admiral of fleet, Cheng Ho. The temple houses some fine brass statues, including the Main Vairocana Buddha image, Avalokiteshvara, the Four Great Kings and the 21 Louhans or Arhats (Asia Explorers).
You don't have to be a Buddhist to visit. The temple is open to all and nobody will approach you , all you need to do is just keep the peace. The Oriental architecture is worth a visit.
-------------------------------------------
That evening, on our way back to the apartment, I bought a butter cake to celebrate Harish' and Kreetha's birthday. (I couldn't locate any bakeries in Tanah Rata or Brinchang.) The kids suggested I spread some blackberry jam on the cake but I figured not everyone will like it that way.
 |
| Sorry Harish...couldn't get a better one than this |
So, happy 7th birthday Harish! and Happy 12th birthday Kreetha!
 |
| Kreetha and Harish sharing a cake |
As it rained that night, the men went out and packed some 'roti canai' (parathas) from Tanah Rata town.
All pictures are copyrighted. I can be reached at sivakay2009@gmail.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for stopping by.
Cheers,
Sivakay