Showing posts with label [Cameron Highlands] ALL POSTS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label [Cameron Highlands] ALL POSTS. Show all posts
I LOVE Cameron Highlands. Breathtaking scenery, rolling hills, Tudor-styled cottages and exquisite tea estate atmosphere ~ truly a HEAVEN on EARTH. My last trip to Cameron Highlands was three years ago and I enjoyed every moment of my time spent at this place.
On my recent trip to Cameron Highlands, I had high expectations. But then the bad news started to appear. "Land clearing rampant in Cameron Highlands in the last four months", "Cameron Highlands in terrible shape due to land clearing and water pollution", "Illegal land clearing fouls water source for 13 farms in Cameron Highlands" and more! WOW! Are you kidding me? Daylight land clearing in Cameron Highlands?! This is insane! What's wrong with these people? Two words...HUMAN GREED! >.<
Despite all that, I boarded a local coach all the way from Pudu Sentral (formerly Puduraya Terminal, Malay: Hentian Puduraya is the main bus station terminus in Kuala Lumpur) to Cameron Highlands. A whooping 4.5 hours bus ride. The coach left Pudu Sentral 8:30 am and I arrived at Freesia Bus Terminal, Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands at 1:00 p.m in the afternoon.
Tanah Rata is the most popular destination among backpackers, resulting in a large collection of budget hotels, inns and lodges. Talking about budget stay, I had sleepless nights in Kang's Traveler Hotel....stone hard pillows, malfunction water heater, and night bugs. ARGH! I'd rather not go into details, but this shall be my last stay in Kang's Hotel :(
On Day 2 of my Cameron Highlands trip, I spent almost four hours exploring BOH Tea Plantation (Estate) in Sungai Palas, Cameron Highlands. The weather here is SO UNPREDICTABLE! One moment it rains so heavily, then the next moment you have the sun come out. I managed to track down a small group of tea pickers on a secluded hill. The trail is a bit tricky and steep, but again for a seasoned trekker like me it is just a piece of cake.
Upon reaching them (the tea pickers), the supervisor looked at me with grave disapproval. He told me bluntly to my face that I need an official letter to take pictures. WTF? Are you kidding me? I tried to explain to him that I'm NO reporter, photos NOT for commercial use. I'm just an ordinary photog. After much explanation, he finally relented and gave his permission. JEEZ!
Before diving into more details, let us first take a look at some COOL FACTS about BOH Tea Plantation and Estate in Sungai Palas, Cameron Highlands:
- In 1885, the surveyor William Cameron, described the 1,500 m high Cameron Highlands as a fine plateau with gentle slopes, shut in by lofty mountains. His account was the first record of the ascent on the mountain range although the native Orang Asli had been visiting the mountains for centuries
- BOH Plantations Sdn. Bhd. has a total of 8000 acres planted with tea. The BOH Tea Plantation, which is located at Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia is also the largest tea plantation in Southeast Asia.
- The current slogan of BOH tea products is "BOH ada Ummph!" (BOH has Ummph!).
- BOH Plantations was founded in 1929 by J.A. Russell, a British businessman during the British colonial era in Malaya. He was optimistic of the tea plantation business due to huge demands despite of the world-wide Great Depression at that time. As a result of the potential, he applied for and was granted a concession of land for his first tea garden in Habu, Cameron Highlands.
- Today, BOH Plantations owns four tea gardens – Habu, Sungei Palas and Fairlie situated in Cameron Highlands; and Bukit Cheeding in Selangor. To ensure the freshness of its tea products, BOH Plantations also set up a packaging factory near its main garden. BOH tea products are distributed both in domestic and international markets.
- The Fairlie tea garden utilises some of the most modern machines in the world.
- With a production capacity approaching 3000 kg per hectare, the company produces 4 million kg of tea annually which translates to about 5.5 million cups per day. This represents about 70% of all tea produced in Malaysia.
- Today BOH exports its brand of prime grade teas to various countries including the USA, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Singapore and Brunei.
NOTE: Facts and numbers are obtained from Wikipedia, Brunei Times and CameronHighlands.com.
Walking along the paths taken by tea workers can't be that bad, honestly. This is how you get to see their daily routines up close. I'll let my pictures do the the talking. If you enjoy reading my photo blog article, click LIKE and share it with your friends :)
Title: BOH Tea Center, Sungai Palas
About: That's the Sungai Palas Boh Tea Center. Located on a hilltop, amidst rows of tea bushes and close to Mount Brinchang, it offers spectacular views from a 20 foot overhanging platform. The Tea Centre is home to the Tea'ria, a souvenir and tea shop as well as an exhibition area with comprehensive information about the tea manufacturing process.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/60 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/6.3, FOCAL LENGTH: 26mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Snip, snip and snip
About: Traditionally, tea cutters with modified garden shears trimmed the outer layers of the plants that line the steep mountainsides. Today, many green tea plants are trimmed mechanically but it's still possible to spot the occasional picker hand trimming the bushes.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/1250 s, ISO: 400, F-STOP: f/5.6, FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Into the basket
About: Only the bud and the first two leaves are plucked using a small modified hand shear. The worker then throws the picked leaves over his shoulder into the wicker basket carried on his back.
Green tea leaves are hand plucked every two weeks when the new growth or flush appears, a very labor intensive process but an experienced plucker can harvest up to 200 kilograms of leaf per day.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/1250 s, ISO: 400, F-STOP: f/5.6, FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Supervising
About: I had a hard time trying to convince the supervisor (the man on top) that I'm NOT a journalist. I'm just a typical hobbyist photographer.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/160 s, ISO: 400, F-STOP: f/6.3, FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Off the beaten path
About: The Sungai Palas Boh Tea Center perched on top a small hill, right next to a gigantic tree. I decided to walk off the beaten path, all the way to the back of the tea center. One of my favorite shots :)
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTER SPEED: 1/200 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/6.3, FOCAL LENGTH: 18mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Free housing
About: What is profound is the housing and social structure that is provided for the workers: basic wooden housing lines the road to the plantation, as do a primary school, a clinic and several houses of worship: a temple, a mosque and a Christian church.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/200 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/7.1, FOCAL LENGTH: 18mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Abstract
About: Halfway walking, I found an Indian temple with side wall painted red and white stripes. A broken wooden ladder was lying right next to the wall. LOVE the contrast :)
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/320 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/9, FOCAL LENGTH: 62mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Pigeon
About: Domestic pet pigeon in a wooden cage, hanging on one of the workers house.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 s, ISO: 140, F-STOP: f/5.6, FOCAL LENGTH: 80mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Busy as bee
About: A tea plantation worker empties cut leaves into a wicker basket in the beautiful hilltop region of Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. It takes up to five years for tea bushes to come to maturity after planting. The leaves are plucked in regular 14 day cycles, with experienced pickers able to harvest up to 200 kilograms of leaf a day.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/800 s, ISO: 400, F-STOP: f/5.6, FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Happy - a basket full of tea leaves
About: Despite the rain-or-shine, labor-intensive duties and low pay, the tea picking job provides income and, in BOH tea workers, on-site basic housing are provided free. The tea pickers are mostly hailed from Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/800 s, ISO: 400, F-STOP: f/5.6, FOCAL LENGTH: 105mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Concentration
About: The weather here at Cameron Highlands can be quite unpredictable at times. One moment it could be sunny and warm, the next few hours, it was raining cats and dogs. The tea pickers were spotted at one of the secluded hill. I decided to climbed up the hill and snapped some pictures. A tricky trail. Luckily, I stumbled upon a BOH truck driver who gave me the proper direction.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/640 s, ISO: 400, F-STOP: f/5.3, FOCAL LENGTH: 62mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Working up
About: The tea pickers usually work in pairs, using a 3 feet long hand-held petrol-driven shearing machine, which cuts off the new shoots and blows them into a plastic bag attached to the machine.
Occasionally the pickers work alone (supervised by a senior picker) using hand shears and a plastic bucket on the least-accessible slopes.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/5.6, FOCAL LENGTH: 58mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Moving on
About: Today most of the tea leaf pickers are immigrants on work visas from Indonesia, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Each one comes for a minimum of 2 years to live on the plantations working six days a week.
They are paid by the kilo of tea leaves they collect. One kilo is valued at 20 cents.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/5.6, FOCAL LENGTH: 24mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: On the green slopes
About: A lone tea picker on a secluded slope in Sungai Palas BOH Plantation. A steep and slippery trail, but I managed to climbed up the slope to obtained some up close shots :)
Many high-quality tea plants are cultivated at elevations of up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level: at these heights, the plants grow more slowly and acquire a better flavor.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/8, FOCAL LENGTH: 35mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: Bountiful harvest
About: Rain or shine, there's always bountiful harvest in BOH's tea plantation.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/320 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/9, FOCAL LENGTH: 38mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: To the factory
About: Only the most tender leaves are picked every morning at Sungai Palas BOH’s tea plantation. These are immediately transported using trucks to the tea factories to be processed for the flavor and aroma unique only to BOH.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/8, FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: To the tea centre
About: The BOH Plantation at Sungai Palas, Cameron Highlands has a unique cafe where tourists can enjoy a cup of tea with a panoramic view of the estate.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/100 s, ISO: 400, F-STOP: f/5, FOCAL LENGTH: 18mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: The decades old basket
About: A rope woven basket on display at the BOH tea center.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/15 s, ISO: 1600, F-STOP: f/4.8, FOCAL LENGTH: 42mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: The tea roller
About: Carved on the gigantic tea roller, the inscription reads: 32" Economic tea Roller, Sole Makers, Walker Sons & Co. Ltd, Colombo Iron Works, Colombo.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/100 s, ISO: 140, F-STOP: f/5, FOCAL LENGTH: 18mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
Title: The tea leaves
About: These green tea leaves on Sungai Palas BOH Plantation (Estate) are SUPERSIZE! I was holding some leaves of Camellia sinensis, the tea plant. The smaller the leaf, the more expensive the tea.
Photo Technical Details:
SHUTTER SPEED: 1/200 s, ISO: 100, F-STOP: f/7.1, FOCAL LENGTH: 50mm, CAMERA: Nikon D3200
BOH Tea Plantation (Estate) Sungai Palas—Getting there, Maps and Directions:
By car:
Sungai Palas Tea Plantation (Estate) is accessible from a small road turn a few kilometers North of Brinchang town. To be exact, as you head North, Kea's Farm to your right should be a good landmark to indicate that a left-turn into this tea estate is eminent. Of course, signboards are put along the way to guide you.
By bus:
In Cameron Highlands, the Regal buses ply daily routes from Ringlet to Brinchang using the main road, consequently passing by most major tourist attractions along the way. However, the schedules are rather haphazard, though technically, they are supposed to run on an hourly basis.
The Regal public bus service SUCKS BIG TIME! SPAD needs to check on these peeps :(
By taxi:
Taxi services from Tanah Rata include Ringlet (per car RM15), Brinchang (RM6), Sungai Palas Estate (RM20) and Boh Tea Estate (RM25). For touring around, a taxi costs about RM25 per hour, or you can go up to Gunung Brinchang and back for RM70.
Tanah Rata Taxi Hub Contact Number: +6054912355
7 Days Weather Outlook for Cameron Highland from Malaysia Meteorological Department
Opening hours and contact details:
The Sungei Palas Tea Centre is open daily – except Monday – from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Admission to the factory visit is free and information tours are conducted approximately every 30 minutes.
Sungei Palas Tea Centre,
Jalan Gunung Brinchang,
Brinchang, Cameron Highlands.
Phone: +605-4962096
Email: info@boh.com.my
Google Maps:
BOH Tea Plantation (Estate) Sungai Palas—Things to Do and See:
- Learn about the tea plantation in Cameron Highlands, the benefits of tea and the fascinating history of BOH Plantations who was a pioneer in the tea industry since 1929. That's 83 years ago!
- Visit the adjacent tea factory to observe how natural and simple the tea making process really is.
- Take a picture near the six foot diameter solid brass tea rolling table at the main entrance.
- Savour the various teas uniquely manufactured by BOH in Malaysia.
- Admire the superb views of the estate from a 20 foot overhanging wooden platform.
- Try the yummy snacks and light meals available at the Tea’ria. Taste scones, chicken pie, Boh Ice Lemon Tea, Cameronian Pot of Tea and more!
Last updated December 22nd, 2012 (12:33 p.m.)
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I’ve spent a net total of RM224 on my 2D/1N Cameron Highlands trip. It was meant to be a budget trip with a maximum allocation of RM200. But, I guess blowing an additional RM24 is no big deal. I cannot help myself trying out different kinds of food. I just have to taste them. My mom loves those green veggies I brought back from Cameron. She enjoyed eating the raw corns!
During this 2D 1N solo trip, I’ve explored BOH’s tea estate in Habu, reached 360° Viewpoint in Habu, climbed Mount Brinchang, visited aboriginal village, Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cactus Point, Veggie Farm, Highlands Strawberry Farm, Mountain Strawberry Park, day market and Brinchang night market. I preferred to explore these places UP, CLOSE & PERSONAL. It can be a tiring hike or even a long walk up to the plantation. But, I guess this is the best possible way to enjoy what nature has to offer.
If you’re seeking a relaxing trip with endless green, Cameron Highlands is the recommended place. Looking back, I treasured every single moment. My legs are itchy again. I’m leaving KL this Thursday. I’ll be exploring the mysterious Kellie’s Castle, discover Taiping, tasting Ipoh’s famous delicacies and more.
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Title: Picture Perfect
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:46pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100
The golden light of the setting Sun was all over the temple. I was lucky enough to capture this image.
Title: The Temple's Guardian
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:47pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 110
One of the two lions guarding the temple. The statue was painted in gold colour. I was leaving the temple when I saw the setting Sun. The golden light from the Sun illuminates the entire temple. The statue look like a huge chunk of gold!
Title: Entrance to the Temple
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:47pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 100
This picture was taken at the entrance of the temple. I LOVE the composition and angle of this picture.
Title: The Temple's Pagoda
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:49pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 110
A small pagoda in the temple.
Title: Getting Dark.
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:48pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
Captured this picture in time before the Sun set.
Title: The Temple's Mini Guardian
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:46pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100
This statue look like a medieval gargoyle.
Title: The GODS
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:25pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.0, ISO Equiv.: 800
I'm not sure if those idols are Lord Buddha or the compassionate Kuan Yin. I have not pray for ages. Already a humanist and believer in science.
Title: The Guitarist?
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:17pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 640
Nope...its one of the four Heavenly Kings idols in the temple. These statues are HUGE. Very similar to the 4 Heavenly Kings in Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang. The Heavenly Kings consist of Kwang Mu (Guardian of the West), Tou Wen (Guardian of the North), Ch'i Kuo (Guardian of the East) and lastly Tseg Chang (Guardian of the South).
Title: A Mesmerizing Stare
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:14pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.2, ISO Equiv.: 900
A statue with artistic design.
Title: The HEAVENLY KINGS
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:18pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/3.5, ISO Equiv.: 450
One is holding a pipa (a four-stringed Chinese instrument) and the other a sword.
Title: Over Here. Feed ME!
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:36pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 800
These koi fishes are CUTE, TAME and FRIENDLY. They even sucked my fingers like a baby.
Title: Move over, BIG MOMMA is here
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:34pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.0, ISO Equiv.: 800
The koi are HUMONGOUS! The length of these large-sized koi are around 50 cm - 70 cm long.
Title: Feeding Frenzy
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:39pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 800
I guess these koi fishes were too excited seeing my fingers lingering above the pond.
Title: The Temple's Roof
Location: Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 6:49pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200
Interesting lotus print on the roof.
I returned to my budget hotel and took a short rest. Later in the afternoon, I decided to pay a visit to Sam Poh Buddhist Temple in Brinchang. I expected the temple to be an ordinary temple. But, I was wrong! It was a BEAUTIFUL medium-sized Buddhist temple. Once you step into the temple, you’ll experience authentic Buddhist’s architecture. I saw four humongous God idols guarding the entrance of the temple. It’s very similar to the four God idols in Kek Lok Si Temple. I’m a humanist. But, I feel PEACEFUL, QUIET and SERENE in the temple. I’m the only visitor that time (around 6.30pm). I walked into the grand temple and saw a KuanYin porcelain statue beneath a huge golden Buddha statue. The inner temple is so special. The four walls were decorated with thousands of Buddha’s motifs.
After that, I ventured to the outer part of the temple and saw a pond filled with extra large koi. The koi pond is a MUST-SEE attraction in the temple!!! The fishes are HUMONGOUS. It’s pretty tame and will swim to you when you move your fingers. The fishes’ mouth were opening WIDE trying to suck my fingers.
I was on my way leaving the temple (to visit the night market in Brinchang), when the Sun started to set. It was the most beautiful moment in my life. In less than five minutes, the whole temple was illuminated with the ‘golden light’ from the setting Sun. The temple was automatically transformed into a GOLDEN TEMPLE! I’m not exaggerating. Look at my pictures. The lion statues guarding the temple turned into a big chunk of gold. I hurriedly snapped lots of pictures before I missed the moment.
My last post is coming soon; wrapping up my amazing journey to Cameron Highlands. Remember to follow for more reviews and pictures.
Day 3 Expenses (My Budget Travel):
a) Breakfast at Restoran Sri Brinchang (ordered Maggi Goreng again) = RM4.00
b) Handpicked Strawberries at Highlands Bee Farm (around 20 fruits) = RM12.00
c) Mixed Veggies from a Bangladeshi stall (9 packets) = RM10
d) Petrol = RM20
e) North-South Expressway toll = RM17.90
c) Bought these from a generous Chinese lady who’s also a farmer:
- Corns (3 large pieces that can be eaten raw) = RM3.00
- One big packet of baby tomatoes (over 40 fruits) = RM1.00
Total Expenses on Day 3 = RM67.90
(+) Total Expenses on Day 1 & Day 2 = RM156.10
Overall 3 days expenses = RM224.00
Cameron Highlands – Getting There:
Please click this link for more info:
More info?
Read these articles before you travel:
Cameron Highlands – Map
Download FULL PDF MAP listing all places of interests including these townships: Ringlet, Habu, Tanah Rata and Brinchang. [PDF File, 902kb]
Destination [5] Aboriginal Resettlement and [6] Sam Poh Buddhist Temple
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Title: A Happy Day :)
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 2:02pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.3, ISO Equiv.: 200
Best friends captured in photo.
Title: What About ME??
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 2:13pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.0, ISO Equiv.: 280
This boy was not very happy being left out. The group of kiddos were actually looking at my hand phone. They LOVE the video I recorded on them earlier - asking permission to play it again, again and again.
Title: Lean on me
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 2:16pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.8, ISO Equiv.: 280
I was sitting on the hillside admiring the scenery when I noticed this kiddo puts his hand on my leg. I took the camera and capture that moment instantly.
Title: Brothers in Arm
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 2:15pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.2, ISO Equiv.: 280
A comforting embrace by the elder.
Title: I'm the next MUSCLE MAN :)
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:58pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200
This boy is 12 years old. One of the brightest and matured fella I met in the village. He was intelligent and seems to understand lots of stuff. When I asked him about his ambition. He told me he is going to be a fireman. I'm very sure, he can be more than a fireman.
Title: A Candid Shot
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:59pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 180
These two girls were trying out different funny pose. I LOVE this shot! It portrays the happy time they were having earlier.
Title: Brothers & Sisters
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:09pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 100
I was exploring the village and these kiddos were curious looking at me from a distance trying to figure out my intention. Once they understand that I come in peace, they approached me. I showed them the pictures I captured earlier with my Nikon DSLR D60 camera. They were asking lots of questions about photography. Later, they asked me to take their photos. I obliged immediately :)
Title: Here I come! Standstill, OK!
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:00pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/6.3, ISO Equiv.: 100
Three good friends playing. I was a bit worried with the boy who was armed with that 'weapon'. One innocent shot from it will surely spoil the camera lens.
Title: The Fight Club - Junior Version :)
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:04pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/4.2, ISO Equiv.: 200
The boy in red was quite agitated. He wanted to teach the boy in white a real good lesson with his 'weapon'.
Title: Stacked it UP.
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:39pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200
Interesting way to keep shoes.
Title: The Mist, the Mountain and the Village
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:48pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
The weather that day was so uncertain. I was sitting on the hill enjoying the lush greenery on the settlement. In less than 15 minutes, the surrounding area turned cloudy! If you refer to this picture, strong winds and mist was blowing. Faraway, you can see it was still a bright and sunny day!
Title: Hillside Homes, Anyone?
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:13pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 160
It's a big aboriginal village. Once you stepped outside from your car, you'll see lots of huts/houses scattered all over the hill. Some of these huts were built on top of the hill entirely with zinc sheets! I asked a native about the risk of being zapped by a thunder, she answered "SO FAR SO GOOD" No casualty yet.
Title: Clash Between Modern & Traditional
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 12:35pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200
Traditional orang asli's hut on the hill and modern day buildings at the main road. The resettlement village has a kindergarten, a primary and secondary school, a sundry shop, community centre, JHOEA office and a clinic. Some orang asli huts were even equipped with Astro satellite dish. Talking about modern day influence!
Title: Life Goes On
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:38pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200
It's a simple life for these aborigines.
Title: Cock-a-doodle-doo
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:33pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 200
There were lots of domestic animals beneath the orang asli's huts. This chicken is one of them. The rooster was clucking away even though it's afternoon. Be careful with stray dogs.
Title: It's Laundry Day!
Location: Aborigine Resettlement @ Kg. Sg. Ruil, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Date: 22 May 2009, 1:31pm
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 125
Hmmm....strange. Everyone seems to be doing their laundry the day I visited them. It was a dull and cloudy day. I guess the cold and windy condition is helping the clothes to dry.
I lost my way trying to locate Kg. Sg. Ruil (the aborigines resettlement village). I asked around and was informed the village was partially hidden behind an apartment. I followed the direction given and arrived at the community centre.
At first glance, it look like any other kampung (translation: village) in Malaysia. There is a kindergarten, a school, a sundry shop, a community centre, a clinic and a JHOEA – Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli Office (Aborigines Affairs Office). It doesn’t look like a traditional aboriginal village to me. I walked out from my car and got to see for myself the influence of modern day development on the community. The houses/huts are scattered all over the hill. I followed some narrow trail to reach the aborigines settlement. Halfway, I was surrounded by a group of CUTE and FRIENDLY orang asli kids. The kiddos were asking lots of questions. I was dumbstruck for a moment. They were speaking in Bahasa Asli (translation: aboriginal language). Fortunately, I bumped into an adult orang asli. She translated our conversation back to Bahasa Melayu.
Chatting with that lady breaks the ice between me and the aborigine communities. She was wearing sarong and hanging out some clothes to dry. She asked me lots of questions “Dari mana ni” (Translation: “Where are you from?”), “Nak buat ape dengan kamera?” (Translation: “What are you doing with that camera?”) I assured her that I’m no journalist. I’m stopping over to see or myself the aborigine village.
Later, I met another young lady (perhaps same age as me). An intelligent and pleasant girl. She answered all my queries about the orang asli. The ONE BIG QUESTION I like to ask her was “Cik, orang asli kat Pulau Carey buat kraftangan. Orang asli kat Cameron Highlands ni buat apa?” (Translation: “Miss, the aborigines in Carey Island make crafts. What about the aborigine community over here?”). She told me 60% - 70% are working as civil servants in government departments. Before I bid goodbye to her, she asked me to consult Tok Batin (Village elder) for detailed facts and figures about the community. Tok Batin is the village’s shopkeeper.
Then, I bumped into a group of teenagers. The moment they saw me, the boys and girls were calling me with all sorts of Chinese names. Well, I just ignored them. The name calling stopped after a while. They decided to sneak behind me following my every steps discreetly. I decided to show them pictures I took with my Nikon D60 DSLR camera. They were so excited and invited me to take their portrait pictures. It was a genuine expression of happiness.
I noticed 70% of the aboriginal population has been modernized. The kiddos and teenagers were fast adapting to modern day culture. Only 30% (mostly elders) were still practicing their treasured native culture. Nonetheless, the people still has distinct physical and facial features that resemble typical aborigines in Malaysia.
Overall, it was an insightful trip. The younger generation is getting compulsory formal education. Some of them were even admitted to reputed universities. I believe in less than a decade, Kg. Sg. Ruil will be transformed into a modern day village – no longer an aboriginal village. I don’t know whether wanton modernization is good or bad in the long run. One thing for sure, the traditional values are slowly dying. The community prefers modernization than living on a day-to-day basis (hunt and collect) for their meals.
Cameron Highlands – Getting There:
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Cameron Highlands – Map
Download FULL PDF MAP listing all places of interests including these townships: Ringlet, Habu, Tanah Rata and Brinchang. [PDF File, 902kb]
Destination [5] Aboriginal Resettlement and [6] Sam Poh Buddhist Temple
