After mama D leaving us at the sheraton and another round at the free breakfast buffet, we pack up and head north to the Cameron highlands. Named after the British (obviously) governor surveyor William Cameron. And where there is British heritage, there are tea plantations, lots and lots of tea plantations. Our first night we peruse the streets and book ourselves on a tour the next day. The trip includes a jungle walk in the morning, with copious amounts of leeches sucking into the feet of these foreign explorers, and burning them off when necessary. The end of our jungle walk leads us to the rafflesia, the largest plant in the world. On the walk back the guide shows us some secrets of the jungle. Some wild ginger growing, a plant that smells like peppermint chewing gum, and leaves that have a tiger balm qualities.
The scheduled aboriginal century old blow dart demonstration was effectively a teenager blowing a dart out of a piece of bamboo at a polystyrene dart board. Not quite the Bear Grylls scene we had imagined. A quick stop at an Indian restaurant and we off again, this time to the tea plantations. The green fields stretch for miles. Different shades of green represent different stages of the process. The altitude and the cool temperatures make the Cameron highlands a perfect place to grow tea.
We walk around the factory before making our way to the canteen to have a quintessentially British, cup of tea and a scone. Next stop was the highest peak, 6,666 ft to be precise. A view disturbed by invading clouds as they engulf the ground that we walk on. We walk around the mossy forest. A 150 million year old forest that looks like something straight out of lord of the rings. Our final stop was the strawberry fields, just a fleeting visit before we drive back to the guesthouse.
That night, un-satisfied with our Indian meal at lunch, we dine at one of the many Indian eateries. Tandoori chicken with fresh naan. I mean vegetarianism just isn't an option in Malaysia. Later that night we have a couple of drinks so some fellow travellers we met on the tour earlier on in the day.
Back to KL for a rendezvous with the glamorous Emirates air hostess Holly.