Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

I departed Singapore on a 10-hr coach to Cameron Highlands.  I was the only passenger; I had the whole bus to myself.  I felt like I was personally escorted like a king all the way to Cameron Highlands! And the coach was new too!  Woo-hoo!

Arrived at Cameron Highlands (Brinchang) at around 7am.  The place was just starting to wake up and it was slightly misty.  Tourists staying at the hotels around the square in Brinchang town centre were making their way to the food court for breakfast.  There was a KFC.  Not sure if it was open at that hour.

Titiwangsa Tours

Was sold by a slick sales rep the various tours organised by Titiwangsa, the main tour operator in Cameron Highlands.   The various tours are

• Leisure Tour (RM$25 for adults departs at 9am and 2.30pm every day, 2.5 – 3 hours.  Visits House of Potted Plants, Strawberry Centre, Central Market, Honey Centre, Rose Centre – additional RM5 entrance required, Butterfly Centre – additional RM5 entrance required, Chinese Temple)
• Nature Discovery Tour (RM$60 for adults departs at 9am every day, 4 hours. Visits Gunung Brinchang – the highest point of Cameron Highlands at 2000m, Mossy Forest, Boh tea plantation.)
• Agro Tour (RM$60 for adults departs at 9am and 2.30pm every day, 4.5 – 5 hours.  Visits water cress farm, strawberry farm, flower nursery, mini fruit orchard etc.  Ends with a steamboat dinner which is included in the price).
• Sunrise Tour (6-8am everyday) Sunrise views of Cameron Highlands from a high vantage point followed by early morning views of tea plantation.

I joined the Nature Discovery Tour.  I was brought to (in this order) Boh tea plantation, which was pleasant enough and allowed a lot of snap shots of the green tea fields.  Usually, there would be a guided tour on the tea factory and tea processing but it was suspended when I visited.   There was a café where you can sit and enjoy various Boh teas, but it was crowded when I went and the teas on sale at the café didn’t seem any different from the ones you can buy back to your hotel and enjoy in the tranquillity and privacy of your hotel room, especially so since the cakes and pastries available at the café were very run-of-the-mill.

Next Gunung Brinchang.  I had heard that it was freezing up there, but it wasn’t when I went, presumably because I went around noon.  You climb up a rusty, steep tower which allows views of the rolling hills of Pahang and Perak (as Cameron Highlands is situated right between the 2 states).  Nothing extraordinary, except bragging rights that you have visited the highest point of Cameron Highlands.

Mossy Forest.  It did not match the picture in the Titiwangsa brochure nor the description.  The brochure stated a broadwalk where you could appreciate the mossy forest and the picture showed a wide open space.  Instead, you trekked through the rainforest, clutching at tree trunks and branches as you climbed up.  Be prepared for your shoes to be very very muddy.  The mossy “forest” we were led to was just a small clump of moss-covered trees.

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