THURSDAY 8TH & FRIDAY 9TH MARCH 2007

Set off to the Cameron highlands with Linda & Steve. On the way we stopped at a waterfall which was quite impressive especially after some of the ones we'd been to in Thailand. We stopped at a local stall for coconus and bananas then continued until we reached Tanah Rata. Stopped there and had a wander around the town. It was small & very local & nice for that exact reason - not really overly westernized. We then reached the hotel which was r.nice & then had a bit of a wander in the evening and got some locally picked strawberries mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.We're stayin in Brinchang which is a small town near the largest tea plantation - not much there but nice as all the shops sell locally made produce - not commercial in the western sense AT ALL.Obviously aimed at tourists though cos thats what their community lives off.

On the friday we went to Sungai Palas Boh tea estate which is a large tea plantation with tea rooms & a working factory. Gaz was in his element surrounded by all the tea!!! We walked through part of the fields to get to it and saw the tea leaves on the bushes. We then had a guided tour around the factory which showed us how tea is made & learnt the history of the esate which was interesting.We then sampled some of the tea in the tea rooms outback which overlooked the whole plantation. Was quite spectacular. It was really green & a complete contrast to KL obviously!We then went to Robinson waterfall & on a bit of a jungle walk. Gaz, Linda & Steve had a swim in the fall but it was far too cold for me. On the way back we sampled some homemade honey, marmalade & jam! After all our hard work walking we then went to ye olde english smoke house for Devonshire cream teas & A steak sandwich for Steve! It was an old english tea room & was lovely. Full up after our scones & tea we went back to the hotel! At the nt we went to the local market & then onto a local restaurant where we shared a steam boat - a local dish of soup boiled with meat & veg that u cook urself. Went down a treat excpet for the fish balls which although we al tried no-one took a fancy for! Gaz and Linda did manage to sample jellyfish too although me & steve passed on that 1.