Marcia
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My Cameron Experience - 2001/08/14 13:30
15 August 2001
Hi everyone,
I was there at last - after a nauseating 1-hour trip up the highland and at least a hundred twists and turns! The time was 7.10 in the morning and the sky was a deep deep blue. The air was crisp and cool and the place utterly enchanting. The long and tiring ride from Singapore through the night became a small discomfort soon to be forgotten the minute we stepped into our rooms at the Heritage. Clean sheets and hot bath, coupled with tea in the open balcony overlooking green hills and a flower garden - what more could we ask for?
We arived on a Sunday and most shops in Tanah Rata were closed except for the food and grocery shops. The Roti Chanais we had for lunch were GIGANTIC and we had great difficulty finishing them. The prices of food may be high by Malaysian standard but to us who were used to paying more for less, they were fair and reasonable. I particularly enjoyed the Masala Tea (which is tea flavoured with spices). Thick and peppy - Gorgeous!
Being a Sunday, the Pasar Malam was on - from early afternoon to about 10 pm. The goods on display ranged from CDs to clothes,shoes, fruits and cooked food. The Fried Rice and Fried Kway Teow / Noodles sold by the Malay locals were the first to get sold out.
## We had a little 'encounter' on our first trip down the slope from the Heritage to town. The time was 8.45 pm and somewhere in the middle of the stretch between the guard-house and the shops where one street light went on-off on-off by itself at 3-minute intervals, we heard a child calling out to us with 'Hellos' and 'Excuse Me'. Naturally, we looked around to seek out the source - but, other than bushes around, not a soul was in sight! The street was totally deserted - yet we could have sworn someone out there was trying to make contact with us. Feeling spooked, we dared not walk that side of the road again. Twice we waited at the foot of the slope for company to walk back up to the hotel and twice we were lucky to have someone stop to offer us a lift back (they thought we were waiting for taxis). To these two kind gentlemen, our sincere gratitude. A resident there was not at all surprised to hear of our encounter for she said that there was indeed an old convent there, which at one time was used as a military hospital by the British. Encounters like the one we had were not unusual in a place like Cameron, she said. We never walked on that side of the road again while we were there for the next 4 days and we never heard that uncanny voice calling us again.
Farm-hopping - that we did on our third day there. The produce were what we could get from the supermarket - airflown and fresh. So I wasn't really impressed by what I saw. Strawberries - not cheap though freshly-plucked. Some pre-packed ones rot quite easily - overripe, perhaps. The 'Cameron Apples' I was told could only be found in Cameron Highlands. They cost about RM6.00 a kilo. Mangoes and tangerines cost about the same price. Nothing special and not any sweeter than those from anywhere else. We only went to the Boh Tea-plantation although there are a few more smaller ones around the highlands. I was disappointed to hear that the tea-leaves at Boh were 'pruned off' from the plant instead of being 'hand-picked' like they used to be before. Somehow, in my mind, tea always tastes better when only the tender leaves are hand-picked and processed. Surely selecting the leaves is the first important step in getting high-quality tea?
What impressed me the most were the flora and fauna found in Cameron. The different varieties and the different shapes, colours and sizes - they make you realize how great our God is - to create them all, each species so beautiful and so spectacular.
On the fourth day, we went to Robinson Falls - an easy-to-reach place without the need of a guide or transport. The walk took about an hour from the part of town opposite the police station at Tanah Rata. I had a 5=year-old with me and we made it there and back without any difficulty. So no one should fail on a simple hike like this!
All should go there at least once. The thrill is in the search itself so that at the end of it, we can say "We found it!' or 'Here it is at last!'
On our last day, we saw a rainbow. It was beautiful and rare (where we came from). Naturally, we were thankful for the spectacle.
Overall, food was reasonably good and fairly priced. The pace was slow and easy-going. Didn't meet many residents there - so can't comment on them but the people we saw in town (the tourists) were friendly and approachable. The spirit of friendship was strong among the folks we met - the shopkeepers, the locals as well as the visiting tourists. The Indians we met and spoke to in Cameron were especially friendly and helpful.
Our stay was restful and rejuvenating. To those wishing to get away from the madding crowd, Cameron is the place. But get ready some plastic bags (if you are the nauseous type) for your journey up or down the mountain. You may just need them. Take with you some warm clothes and anti-histamine medication in case you develop allergies and rashes from contact with the vast varieties of plants and flowers there. That done, relax and get ready for a restful break at Cameron!
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