I got up on Thursday morning, made myself a quick breakfast and finished packing up all my stuff. I caught a taxi from outside the apartment and waved goodbye to Fairoz, with a promise to visit next week. I then spent the next 40 minutes in chock-a-block traffic, as we tried to make our way to the bus station. Luckily I had left plenty of time and I arrived at 9 o'clock to pick up my reserved ticket for 9.30.

At 10 we finally set off for the Cameron Highlands! The four hour trip started on big roads bordering palm plantations but after a half hour break we moved onto small windy roads that started to make even me feel queasy. The countryside opened up onto hills covered in tea plantations and mossy forests with orchids growing wild along the road. Eventually we arrived in Tamah Rata.

I am staying at Father's Guesthouse situated up on a hill just out of the town and my pick up was waiting when I arrived. The Guesthouse is an old rectory that has been converted, with double rooms leading out onto the gardens and the main reception rooms turned into a large 18 bed dorm. Another building houses reception and a café that served good food with very decent portions. The Guesthouse is surrounded by beautiful well-kept gardens a pond and home to 3 friendly dogs.

Once I was checked in (15RM a night is about £3) I went to explore the town with a girl I had met in the dorm, Claira. There is not a lot more to Tamah Rata than the main street, which is dotted with souvenir shops and good restaurants. We went to an Indian for lunch before deciding to try one of the trails in my guidebook. It took us out of the town along the river to a waterfall. It was pleasant with most of the trail paved for easy walking but there was no temptation to have a swim, the weather was cool and the river was quite dirty.

A mud slide that had wiped part of the path away made for a good place to turn around and instead made our own walks around the outskirts of town visiting a Buddhist temple and wondering around the English influenced buildings. We ended up back at the hostel just as it started to rain and decided to eat in the café instead of bracing the weather to head to town. Tempted by the chicken burger, after living on rice for I don't know how long, we tucked in, and it did well in satisfing our cravings.