Peninsular Malaysia West Coast: Islands to Highlands in a Week

February 23, 2013 by 2 Comments
BOH Tea Plantation in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

We never intended to tour around Malaysia that month. Our original destination was Siem Reap, Cambodia but an unfortunate event forced us to drop the idea. Our connecting flights were in Kuala Lumpur so we figured, Why not explore Malaysia instead? So just a couple of days before the trip, we found ourselves rummaging through the Internet for travel ideas. After a night-long research, we listed down the destinations we wished to visit and most of them are located near the West Coast. Our initial list had five cities but, wait, that was too many stops for a 6-day trip! Since I had been to Malacca and Kuala Lumpur in separate occasions, they got the cut. We settled for three destinations … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget and Expenses, Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Malaysia, Penang, Planning a Trip, Sample Itineraries Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Review: Kang Travelers Lodge (Daniel’s Lodge) – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

February 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Kang Travelers Lodge

There was a bonfire in the far end of the Jungle Bar, where guests were gathered around. Selina, a British lady I met on the road, pulled a chair, invited me to sit beside her, and introduced me to the rest of the group. The bonfire was providing the warmth on that chilly evening but a different fire sparked within me as our conversations went on. For the first time ever, I was able to break out of my bashful bubble and make friends with other travelers on my own. That alone sealed Kang Travelers Lodge's position on my Most Memorable Hostels list. Before this, I had never traveled alone and never made an effort to befriend other travelers. But the hostel fostered an atmosphere that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Accommodations, Cameron Highlands, International Trips, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Restaurant Review: Steamboat Hot Pot at Rosette Café – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

February 10, 2013 by 1 Comment
Big, big hot pot

The hunger that was tormenting me was starting to burn a hole in my tummy but I was sure I won't be having a meal any time soon. My travel buddy and I stared at the menu for more than five minutes, deciding on what to have for dinner. We arrived at the restaurant to try their steamboat feast but the Western dishes on the menu were making the task difficult. I wanted to try them all but, alas, my digestive system has a very limited capacity. "Not ready?" asked the waitress whose impatience leaked despite a very polite facade. "Not yet," I answered. "Give us five more minutes." And with that, the waitress rushed to the next table. She's the only server on duty at the time. After a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cameron Highlands, Food, Malaysia Tagged With: , , , , ,

Cameron Highlands Tour: Farms, Forests, and Tea Plantations – Malaysia

December 1, 2012 by 1 Comment
Raju Hill Strawberry Farm, Cameron Highlands

"Forgive us for talking loudly non-stop," Kuya Rey apologized for everyone in the middle of a highly lively conversation. "It's just that it's not often that we meet fellow Filipinos here at Cameron Highlands. There are only 11 of us here." Kuya Rey works as a travel agent in Cameron Highlands in the state of Pahang in Malaysia. The weather was rather gloomy but the bright energy filled the atmosphere in the town of Tanah Rata. We were fortunate and thankful that in our 3-day stay there, we were able to come across six OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) in the region. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cameron Highlands, Farms, Features, Food, Forests, Malaysia, Mountains and Hills, Waterfalls Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Rose Center: The Hunt for the Blue Bud – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

November 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Where oh where is the blue rose?

I was the biggest cliché in Cameron Highlands that time. From the moment I spotted a big dark crimson rose that sat in a green throne of leaves and thorns up to my very last second within the premises of that petal paradise, I whispered the rhyme Roses are red, violets are blue like my entire life depended on it. Before I knew it, over an hour had passed and I realized I had stayed longer than I should. Ah, such is the power of flowers over me. At the risk of sounding effeminate, I have always had an unshakeable fascination with and weakness for flowers. (I even won a flower arrangement contest when I was 10 back in the country.) Flowers are just one of those things that are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cameron Highlands, Malaysia, Parks Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Mossy Forest of Gunung Brinchang – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

September 11, 2012 by 1 Comment
The Mossy Forest of Gunung Brinchang, Cameron Highlands

All that was missing was the Big Bad Wolf and I would have been convinced that I was in a Grimm fairy tale. There is something haunting about the Mossy Forest of Gunung Brinchang, the second highest peak in Cameron Highlands and the highest point in Peninsular Malaysia that is accessible by road. Even from afar, when I was looking at the area from the 50m tall Lookout Tower, I could feel the eerie atmosphere it fostered as it slowly welcomed the blanketing thick sheet of low-lying clouds. At 2000 meters tall, the summit of Gunung Brinchang regularly catches a lot of rain and constantly embraces mists and clouds, ensuring a moist and dewy environment, to the satisfaction of the wide array … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cameron Highlands, Forests, Malaysia, Mountains and Hills Tagged With: , , , , ,

BOH Tea Plantation: Just My Cup of Tea – Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

September 10, 2012 by 2 Comments
BOH Tea Center, Cameron Highlands

A French couple meandered in the middle of the tea plantation, squeezing their way in between the shrubs that make up the hedgerows. The man stopped upon finding a good spot and the lady asked him to just stay where he was. She grabbed the camera dangling from her neck and aimed a shot at him, who flashed a sincere smile. Before she could press the button, however, the man let out a loud sneeze. In utter embarrassment, he froze and she mildly beamed. Neither said a word. The lady walked toward the man and planted a deep, wet kiss. They both laughed as they prepped up to take another photo. The day just turned brighter for the two lovers. It was like a scene from a romantic comedy but it … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cameron Highlands, Farms, Malaysia, Mountains and Hills Tagged With: , , , , ,
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