Malaysia (Cameron Highlands, Pahang) July 2019

" Don't cry over the PAST, it's gone. Don't stress over the FUTURE, it hasn't arrived. Live in the Present & make it beautiful " 

" My 4 days 3 nights by bus from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands (Tanah Rata & Brinchang) with Lam, my travel buddy from Singapore (9-12 July 2019), another oldie & goodie outstation trip in my home country, Malaysia - my last visit to Tanah Rata & Brinchang was in the early 80's - a memorable cool cool green green Cameron Highlands re-visited ! "

Total costs incurred (4 days): Rm210 (US$51)
Hostel (3 nights): Rm80 (dorms)
Coaches (KL>Tanah Rata & return): Rm35.40 + Rm24 (senior): Rm59.40
Town bus (Tanah Rata>Brinchang & return): Rm2 x 2
Food & groceries: Rm61
LRT Rapid KL (SS15>Bandar Tasik Selantan & return : Rm3.10 x 2 (senior)

Exchange Rate: US$1-Rm4.13

Travel itinerary: Kuala Lumpur > Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands > Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (road distance 212km) 

My travel buddy, Lam from Singapore

Day weather in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands: 21c-25c; night temperature slightly below 20c

" Cameron Highlands was discovered by a government surveyor, William Cameron in 1881 and was first developed as a hill station in 1925 with the construction of government rest houses, parks & agricultural terraces. A Development Committee was formed to coordinate the development of this mountain retreat & continued to function until 1931 when the area was put under the purview of the Lipis District Office. The cool climate of Cameron Highlands is ideal for the cultivation of vegetables & tea, which are exported to all parts of the world. Moreover the green terraced slopes and mist-covered mountaintops also made it an ideal holiday resort and an attractive retreat not only to locals seeking temperature respite from the hustle & bustle of city life but to foreign visitors as well " 

Travel Highlights:

A) Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands 

1) Mardi Agrotechnology Park, Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands

2) The Clock Tower, Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands

3) Hindu Temple, Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands

4) Abu Bakar Mosque, Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands

5) Mountain hiking to Gunung Jasar (5,565ft), Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands (09.00>14.00)

6) Cameron Valley Tea Plantation, Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands

7) Tanah Rata Town, Cameron Highlands

8) Parit Falls, Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands

B) Brinchang, Cameron Highlands 

1) Brinchang Town

2) Sam Poh Buddhist Temple, Brinchang, Cameron Highlands

3) Cactus Valley Garden, Brinchang, Cameron Highlands

4) Big Red Strawberry Farm, Brinchang, Cameron Highlands

5) The Mossy Forest, Cameron Highlands - KIV (Keep in view) for my next visit 

Malaysia (Tanah Rata,Cameron Highlands,Pahang) July 2019 D-1

Day 1 Tuesday 9th July 2019 - Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands 

1) The start of my early morning (06.00) train ride from my home place to Bandar Tasik Selatan bus terminal - LRT Rapid KL train (Kelana Jaya Line) from SS15, Subang Jaya > Masjid Jamek > Bandar Tasik Selatan (BTS) 

2) Bandar Tasik Selatan Bus Terminal

3) Bandar Tasik Selatan - an integrated transport hub for KTM & LRT trains & outstation buses to various states of Peninsula Malaysia & Singapore

4) Boarding Unititi bus from Bandar Tasik Selantan > Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands (Rm35) 10.15>14.30

5) Countryside sceneries in Cameron Highlands as viewed from the bus's windows

6) Lata Iskandar Waterfalls - midway between Cameron Highlands & Tapah, a popular tourist attraction ! 

7) Arriving at the Tanah Rata Bus Terminal, Cameron Highlands 

8) Tanah Rata Town, Cameron Highlands  

9) Agrotechnology Park, Mardi Cameron Highlands, Tanah Rata - agriculture R & D on strawberries, tomatoes, chilies, sweetcorn etc 

10) Cameron Highlands District playground

11) Nine Emperor God Temple, Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands 

12) Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus School, Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands - a major historical landmark since 1935 !