Showing posts with label [Pahang] Cameron Highlands 2008. Show all posts
Showing posts with label [Pahang] Cameron Highlands 2008. Show all posts
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Location: BOH Plantation at Sungai Palas, Pahang, Malaysia Date: 19 August 2008, 9.41am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/7.1, ISO Equiv.: 100
Tuesday, 19th August 2008 (Day Two - Hot Afternoon)
By 12.30p.m. arrived at Sg. Palas main junction. Lots of cars and vans parked at da side of da road. A few traders set up some veggies and fruits stalls along da road. Bought some oranges (extra large) and fresh veggies. Its a good bargain! Da oranges are SUPER SWEET and delicious!
Went to this Bee Farm. FOC! Spent at least 45 minutes there. No bees at all! The only thing that is visible are stacks of man-made bee hive here and there. Well, it look like a mini flower park than a bee farm! Some promoters are selling jars of honey. Its outrageously expensive!
My last destination of da day is da strawberry farm. A few strawberry farms in Brinchang. Went to da closet - EQ Strawberry Farm. Wanted to to pluck some fresh strawberries. But....plucking time is over by 12.00p.m. Damn it! The worker told me that daily plucking session from morning until 12 noon. Aiyah...miss it! Never mind....just ordered myself a vanilla ice cream top with strawberry and whipped cream! Two words to describe that serving...YUMMY! and LUSCIOUS! Here is a list of some of the strawberry farms in Cameron Highlands (Kasimani's Strawberry Farm, KHM Strawberry, Healthy Strawberry Farm and Raju's Hill Strawberry Farm).
Soon after that...took a taxi back to Tanah Rata's bus station and ordered myself a return ticket back to Puduraya, KL. Took my lunch and boarded da bus. During da journey back to KL, I was having bouts of nauseous. Wanted to vomit during da first two hours of da journey. Da next whole day...down with diarrhea. Went to da toilet at least 15 times! I suspected da lunch I took at Tanah Rata is not 'clean' (white rice with beef and gravy).
Summary>>Its a solo two days trip to Cameron Highlands. Da BEST thing about Cameron Highlands is da breezy and moderate climate + scenic view at BOH's plantation in Sg. Palas. Da WORST thing is da lousy and unreliable local bus service serving Brinchang area + expensive taxi ride + also steep prices of consumer goods.
O.K. enough of ranting for now. Add another 10 more pictures from my DSLR digital album collection. Cheers mate :)
Picture 2 - Another picture of a worker harvesting da green tea
Picture 3 - An awesome villa facing da plantation.
Picture 4 - Cacti madness. Lots of cactus plants. But...da price of these cactus plants are expensive! You can get cheaper price at KL!
Picture 5 - A dead bug still standing on a leave. Da brown exoskeleton is visible.
Picture 6 - A NICE flower. I call it PURE WHITE :)
Picture 7 - Man-made bee hive. Not even one bee is visible. Maybe my expectation is too high. Its around 1.00 p.m. Bees hiding? 
Picture 8 - Finally! A BEE and its a MUTANT GIGANTIC bee! Nah..its just a large sized display.
Picture 9 - Another nice photo 
Picture 10 - This flower is gorgeous. Have not seen it before in KL. Look like a squashy TRUMPET
Picture 11 - A big red hibiscus flower. Love da colours of this picture. Sharp and bright!
Picture 12 - A plantation worker
Picture 13 - Bee on display 
Picture 14 - Where are da bees? Should I shake the boxes?
Picture 15 - Fruits galore! SWEET!
Picture 16 - Green 'carpet'
Picture 17 - Dreaming to have a vacation house like that.
Picture 18 - Unbelievable scene!
Picture 19 - Another angle of BOH plantation in Sg. Palas
Picture 20 - Its breezy here..but it can be HOT as well. My skin peel off a day after da trip!
Picture 21 - Time to put your harvest in da gunny sack.
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Location: BOH Plantation at Sungai Palas, Pahang, Malaysia Date: 19 August 2008, 8.22am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/5.6, ISO Equiv.: 125
Tuesday, 19th August 2008 (Day Two)
Yippee!!!!!! Finally...its a bright, sunny and a breezy day. Woke up 5.30 a.m. Its damn COLD!!! I was shivering all over!! The day before it was raining cat and dogs. So..I guess surrounding temperature drop to at least 15 degree Celsius. Packed my gears (NIKON camera & tripod) and get out of my room. Went to da main bus station. Was informed that I can catch an early bus (6.30a.m.) to BOH Plantation and Visitor Centre at Sg. Palas, Brinchang.
Waited...waited and waited..fuck that stupid bus...did not turn up. Later checked with some locals and was truly disappointed when I was verbally informed that da Regal bus service hopeless. No taxi wee hours in the morning. Brave myself and decided to walk to Brinchang from Tanah Rata.
Have to say, da long and winding walking trip is such a memorable trip for me. Cold breeze was blowing all over da place. But, along da way, I managed to see lots of small to large sized veggies farm and local settlement such as orang asli huts. Da view is breathtaking!
But after walking for nearly 2 and a half km, cannot do it anymore. TIRED!!! Da night before unable to sleep properly due to the excitement. So, flag down a taxi and took a RM 25 ride to Sungai Palas. He drop me at da lowest point of da plantation and told me that is da best place to start taking photos.
Trusted him and start my mini hiking to da top of da mountain/BOH's Visitor Centre. Refer to my hand phone and da time is 8.00 a.m. Da view of da plantation is HEAVEN! Watching da Sun rising on top of my head is something I will remember for life! Walk...hike...stop..take pictures..
Another long journey..walk another 2km up to da mountain.
Finally, reach da mountain! Saw some wooden living quarters for estate workers and their families . All of them painted in light blue colours. Two jolly gals were chasing a dog. Take da moment and snap some good photos. LOVE IT!
Interestingly da BOH Visitor Centre is a modern architecture design in da midst of mountain and old quarters. I have to say...I am PROUD of myself being a lonely hiker climbing up da winding road up to da peak of da mountain! 99% visitors are actually on van tours or driving their own vehicles to reach da peak. Even middle aged Indian local was shocked when I told him that I am hiking up and down da mountain with my legs!
My conclusion....Its a tiring experience...but...then again...its a BLISSFUL and HEAVENLY experience for me :)
The following photos are in random order of my trip. Having a hard time organizing photos in blogger.
Picture 1 - Mountain view. Lots of green tea!
Picture 2 - Lonely red leave. I love da contrast of this picture :) 
Picture 3 - Another angle of da green mountain. Those gap in between of tea plants enable da workers to navigate their way easily.
Picture 4 - A Bangladeshi worker cutting tea leaves. Have to fill up da whole basket!
Picture 5 - A lonely dead tree in da middle of da plantation
Picture 6 - BOH Visitor Centre at da top of da mountain. Visitors can see da process involve in making tea leaves at da centre. A mix of modern and old day architecture. Also you can enjoy your cup of English tea with amazing scenery.
Picture 7 - Green leaves with a tint of sunlight. LOVE this photo!
Picture 8 - Capture this photo on my way hiking down da mountain. It was nearly 11.50a.m. Workers are busy packing tea leaves into gunny sack. An interesting moment to me.
Picture 9 - Green tea leaves. LOTS OF THEM! 
Picture 10 - A worker trimming da leaves and put it into da basket. Have a short chat with him and was informed his working hours from 7.30a.m. to 3.30p.m. He was staying in low cost quarters provided by da BOH's management. Later, he was a bit curious about da price of my DSLR camera. I think he was a bit shocked to learn that my camera cost thousands of ringgit.
Picture 11 - These girls were chasing a young dogie. Took da opportunity to snap some pictures. They are da children of da estate workers. Have to say...happy go lucky fellas :)
Picture 12 - Da visitor centre at da top of da mountain. I guess, I am da only young fella hiking up to da top of da mountain.
Picture 13 - Some blue painted wooden huts overlooking da green mountain
Picture 14 - Cold breeze blowing all over da mountain. NICE!
Picture 15 - Another picture of an estate worker. Same uniform given to them. Notice da yellow boots? :)
Picture 16 - Basket full of green harvest. Hard work needed!
Picture 17 - Happy mongrel....WOOF! Da doggie was licking me all over.
Picture 18 - Packing da harvest. I wonder why da workers are wearing gunny sack?
Picture 19 - Another mountain view! Day 1 - My Journey to Cameron Highlands (RAINY DAY! Pasar Malam at Brinchang)
20 August 2008
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Location: BOH Plantation at Sungai Palas, Pahang, Malaysia Date: 19 August 2008, 10.04am
Camera: Nikon D60 with Aperture: f/8.0, ISO Equiv.: 100
Monday, 18th August 2008 (Day One)
This is Part 1 of my trip to Cameron Highlands located at Pahang, Malaysia. Took exactly 4 hours bus trip (Bus Company - Kurnia Bestari) to Tanah Rata from Puduraya Bus Station. It was a smooth trip using the North-South Highway. But, the moment the bus is fast approaching the long and winding + twisted hill slope...it started to rain heavily!
Time taken for the bus to 'climb' up da top of the highlands took about 1 hour long! I was quite worried because there were LOTS of mini to medium landslide around the treacherous slope. Bus is moving up...but cars and lorries are also coming down da hill at the same time. Imagine navigating your way on a two way road which is less than 5m wide! Fortunately, the bus driver is well-verse with the direction and passengers are able to travel safely up to da hill.
Pass by Ringlet and finally da bus stop at the main station at Tanah Rata. Time of arrival is 12.45p.m. Still raining. Took a feeder van to Kang's Traveller Hotel (formerly known as Daniel Traveler Hotel). Paid RM110 for 2 night stay. An affordable budget stay with good facilities (hot water, bath tub, two beds, towels and etc.) Stay in my room until 4.00p.m. Shit! Wasted half a day. Unable to move around due to rainy and cloudy condition. Also not able to capture any photos at all during day time.
Ask around and discovered there is a Pasar Malam (Night Market) located at Brinchang. So...pack my gears and boarded a taxi to the night market. Public transportation in Cameron Highlands is in a FUCKING MESS! The one and only public bus servicing da whole Cameron Highlands is managed by Syarikat Regal. But, its totally unreliable and hopeless. You need to wait for very long hours before da bus is finally arrive. Most tourist rely on package tours which are VERY EXPENSIVE to locals like me. Lots of taxi...but the fares are UNBELIEVABLE EXPENSIVE! My total taxi fees for my two days trip over there is nearly RM100!! No choicelah..have to pay...tourist location are mostly located at Brinchang (about 2-3km away from Tanah Rata)
Pasar Malam at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands is HUGE! The market opens daily during school holiday. Lots of delicious food on sale such as deep fried mushroom, fresh strawberries, veggies, plants, toys, clothes and etc. Its EXTREMELY COLD that night - temperature drop to 15 degree Celsius! After spending 1 hour there, return back to my room. There is no ceiling fan or attached air con in my room. Just open my window and the night breeze that blow in really chill you up to your bone! TRUST ME - ITS REALLY COLD!
This is Part 1 of my trip to Cameron Highlands located at Pahang, Malaysia. Took exactly 4 hours bus trip (Bus Company - Kurnia Bestari) to Tanah Rata from Puduraya Bus Station. It was a smooth trip using the North-South Highway. But, the moment the bus is fast approaching the long and winding + twisted hill slope...it started to rain heavily!
Time taken for the bus to 'climb' up da top of the highlands took about 1 hour long! I was quite worried because there were LOTS of mini to medium landslide around the treacherous slope. Bus is moving up...but cars and lorries are also coming down da hill at the same time. Imagine navigating your way on a two way road which is less than 5m wide! Fortunately, the bus driver is well-verse with the direction and passengers are able to travel safely up to da hill.
Pass by Ringlet and finally da bus stop at the main station at Tanah Rata. Time of arrival is 12.45p.m. Still raining. Took a feeder van to Kang's Traveller Hotel (formerly known as Daniel Traveler Hotel). Paid RM110 for 2 night stay. An affordable budget stay with good facilities (hot water, bath tub, two beds, towels and etc.) Stay in my room until 4.00p.m. Shit! Wasted half a day. Unable to move around due to rainy and cloudy condition. Also not able to capture any photos at all during day time.
Ask around and discovered there is a Pasar Malam (Night Market) located at Brinchang. So...pack my gears and boarded a taxi to the night market. Public transportation in Cameron Highlands is in a FUCKING MESS! The one and only public bus servicing da whole Cameron Highlands is managed by Syarikat Regal. But, its totally unreliable and hopeless. You need to wait for very long hours before da bus is finally arrive. Most tourist rely on package tours which are VERY EXPENSIVE to locals like me. Lots of taxi...but the fares are UNBELIEVABLE EXPENSIVE! My total taxi fees for my two days trip over there is nearly RM100!! No choicelah..have to pay...tourist location are mostly located at Brinchang (about 2-3km away from Tanah Rata)
Pasar Malam at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands is HUGE! The market opens daily during school holiday. Lots of delicious food on sale such as deep fried mushroom, fresh strawberries, veggies, plants, toys, clothes and etc. Its EXTREMELY COLD that night - temperature drop to 15 degree Celsius! After spending 1 hour there, return back to my room. There is no ceiling fan or attached air con in my room. Just open my window and the night breeze that blow in really chill you up to your bone! TRUST ME - ITS REALLY COLD!
Picture 2 - Green aliens - CJ7 toys...cute toys and key chains on sale (Pasar Malam Brinchang) 
Picture 3 - Potato Toy - Add some water into these gunny-sack like toy and it will grow into a green monster! (Pasar Malam Brinchang)
Picture 4 - Fruits galore - Large sized fruits on sale. Those pictured above are lime oranges. Flavour? Sweet and sour (Pasar Malam Brinchang)
Picture 5 - Mixed jewelery - Along Tanah Rata shops, you can see a few mini stall manned either by locals or foreigners selling decorative items and also leather products. Pictured above are some creative necklaces. all of them are handmade! (Tanah Rata)
Picture 6 - Fish balls - Mixed of meat and veggies (Pasar Malam Brinchang)
Picture 7 - Char grilled corn - Smell and taste good! Must try! (Pasar Malam Brinchang) Download Cameron Highlands Comprehensive Maps & Manuals:
Cameron Highlands - Getting There:
Please click this link for more info: http://www.journeymalaysia.com/MH_cameronget.htm
More info:
CAMERON HIGHLANDS LOCATION (GOOGLE MAPS):
