Cameron Highlands Feb 2018

Hi guys!

Say goodbye to 2017 and welcome 2018; and let the new chapter begins! (Sorry, it's a little too late to say such a thing) Days flies so fast that I couldn't keep track on it. All projects and internship programme all came to an end... Finally, I have the freedom to do all the SHIT I want! XD


A week ago, my relatives came to Singapore for a visit. They wanted me to bring them around Singapore. So, I brought them around to famous tourists attractions such as Sentosa, Orchard roads and Chinatown etc. Suddenly, my cousin came towards me.

"Sister, I would want to shop for snacks that aren't available in Indonesia. What can I buy here?" my she asked me curiously. At first, I would suggest her to go bugis or chinatown as these places sell many cheap souvenirs or snacks than other areas (correct me if I'm wrong). However, Singapore currency is so high! Even a dollar have to be spent wisely. I rested my head on my hand as I replied, "Let's go Malaysia instead, where you can find various snacks in a cheaper price. Besides, you can also travel there for holiday. So, you are hitting two birds with one stone!" Upon hearing my replied, she was enlightened and agreed to go Malaysia.

We wanted to escape from the heat in Singapore. We would want to go somewhere my grandma could join us too-somewhere relaxing at the same time exciting. So, I thought why not we go Cameron Highlands? It fits all the criteria: cool place, relaxing and exciting; a place where all fresh vegetables and flowers grow (That means all of us can inhale fresh air as well as consuming organic food, which is good for my grandma). That was why we decided to Cameron Highlands...

I went there for 3 days 2 nights. We were chartered by a Malaysian driver for the whole trip. We left Singapore at 7 a.m.  It took us 9 hours to reach there. Before heading to Cameron Highlands, we stopped at Ipoh for 2 hours to have lunch and purchase some snacks for souvenirs. It is a city where foodies would love to visit. It is basically a food city! Everywhere you go, you would find restaurants or stores that were related to food! (I don't have pictures, sorry. I was mesmerized by the moment that I couldn't take pictures). After all the shopping, we headed to Cameron Highlands.

We reached Cameron Highlands at around 7 p.m., I stayed at Copthorne Cameron Hotel located at Brinchang. The location of the hotel wasn't so bad. There were restaurants and a market nearby the hotel. Hotel room was neat and tidy, with a great view. Let me show you the hotel room I stayed.

1 night costs S$80++ You need to pay 10RM per person on top of your hotel fees for hotel tax and a deposit  of 200RM.

  Copthorne Cameron Hotel room: Twin beds

The view of Cameron Highlands from the balcony

The next day, we decided to leave early to go Lavender Garden. For entrance, you have to pay 10RM for adults and 7RM for children. Let me show you what they have there...

It is best to visit this garden in the morning so that you could avoid all the crowd. Open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lavender Garden view from the sovenier shop

Different types of Daisy

A small strawberry farm at Lavender Garden

Souvenir Shop full with Lavender and purple colours goods

After visiting the Lavender garden, we decided to visit Sungai Palas Tea Garden. We had to climb up stairs to reach the top where you could find a cafe, a small "museum" and stunning view of the tea
plantation.

There is no entrance fee. Open from 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. If you bring an elderly or young children, security guards would allow you to drive to the top of the mountain. Otherwise you would have to climb. There isn't much food choices at the cafe. From Lavender garden to Tea Plantation took 1 hour. The road is really dangerous. If self-drive, do be extra careful. Best if you could ask an expert to drive you there.

A view of tea plantation from a stop point before reaching the top

The view of tea plantation at a cafe's balcony (top)

By the time we left Sungai Palas Tea Garden, it was time for lunch! We had steamboat at Cameron Organic Steamboat restaurant. Each person costs 23.50 RM. You have to choose one out of three sets food. (The restaurant concept is just like a buffet) I rate the food 6/10. But chilli sauce 9/10. So the restaurant was okay overall...

Front view of Cameron Organic Steamboat restaurant

Steamboat that uses charcoal to burn

Next, we went to the Time Tunnel Museum where you would learn the history of Cameron Highlands.

Entrance fee 10 RM. Opens from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

The ticket counter to enter Time Tunnel Museum

Display of a chinese old kitchen of a restaurant

Display of a chinese old restaurant

For dinner we went to eat some fried yong tau fu and ban mian. (sorry no pictures, it wasn't that fantastic. Not for recommendation) However, I suggest you guys to try duck rice 鸭饭. Even though I did not try it due to some circumstances, but that restauranat was really crowded when I went there... It was located somewhere near the chinese village.

Last day of the trip, we checked out at 9 a.m. from hotel. Then, we travelled to Cactus Garden. They sell variety of cacti from a cactus as small as your palm to a cactus as big as your head or even bigger!

Entrance free. Opens from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

A small cacti that is the size of your toe!

That was our last stop over at Cameron Highlands. Again, on the way back to Singapore I suggest you to travel by the old route (they called it the "pig's tail", in chinese 猪尾巴). You would able to explore the whole Cameron Highlands. There are better views than the video below because I was too fascinated that I had forgotten to capture them.

The route took us to various cities Kampong raja, Bentong, Bukit Tinggi, Genting Sampah and Kuala Lumpur. We drove past these cities and you are free to drop off to any cities you want. I decided to stop by at Bentong to have lunch. Here is a little view of the city.

View of Bentong city from car's window while drizzling

We reached at around 7 p.m. in Singapore. We were lucky that there wasn't any traffic jam!

Note: Cameron Highlands is a place suitable for hiking or sightseeing. Not really a place for shopping. Better change your currency in Singapore than Cameron Highlands because the exchange rate is lower. Getting from 1 place to another is inconvenience if there is no vehicle for you to travel with. Before you stay at Cameron Highlands, you should spend a night at Ipoh and try their variety of food (that was the part that I regretted T T ).  If you decided to go Cameron Highlands by plane, nearest city to drop by is Ipoh. Then, you have to travel by bus/taxi/private vehicles to get to Cameron Highlands.