Wednesday 12th August 2009, Penang-Cameron Highlands.

Well after our early start of 5am, we were picked up about 6:30am (it should have been 6am), loaded into a mini bus and off we went on a 5 hour journey to the Cameron Highlands. Arriving around 11:30am.

We'd pre booked at Twin Peaks guesthouse/backpackers so we didn't have to wait long to get keys for the room. But long enough for a well longer for cup of coffee and an unfortunate fall by myself on to a hard floor on to the same knee that I cut in Koh Tao. So what was a heeling knee was then once agian a cut bleeding knee.

The drive to the Cameron Highlands was up through the mountains so some pretty spectactular views on the way. Cameron Highlands is the area but the village we were stying in as most people do was called Tanah Rata.

After our cup of coffee or 2 and a chat with 2 girls that had been on our minibus we decided that it was about time we headed out for a walk and some food, as by now it was about 1pm. Firstly we grabbed some food at a cafe in the town. I had tuna mayo sandwhiches (not good as they had too much butter on them) and Caroline had a pancake with chocolate and ice cream. We both also had some freshly squeezed apple juice, which was really nice!! I've never had frehly squeezed apple juice before, its always in a carton back home!!

From here we then had a walk around the area. We just kept to to the town and surrounding area today and decided to do a trek another day. We walked for a bit along a river, this also lead us through a park and alongside a school. As it was about 2pm by now it was around the time that the school closed so we were swamped by school kids. In Asia, school hours tend to be either 7:30am-13:30 or 14:00-18:30 or there about. Each day different kids go in at different times. As Malaysia is a mainly muslim country, the majority of the girls had head scarfts on. It seems strange to us, that even as kids there identity is some what chosen by religion. Whilst walking we came across a strawberry farm but it was unfortunatly closed at that point, but not too much of a problem as the Cameron Highlands are famed for there strawberry farms and tea plantations.

Our walk around took in the local sites of a mosque, a temple and a convent!! It also showed us the town and the people. One thing that showed up straight away was that we weren't been leared at, people were just being friendly. And the strangest thing in this town was that it was so small but it still had a Starbucks!!! Whilst out walking we also enquired about various trips for the next day. And then when the rain started we decided to do the blog for a bit and use the internet until it stopped. We went into the internet cafe around 5pm for a couple of hours, and although the rain did stop for a while it started again later and then proceeded to rain constanly untill around 11am the next day. It also became extremely cold as the sun dropped, the rain started and night fell, to the point that when we went for dinner I had 2 layers on and Caroline had 3 layers on!!!!

Prior to dinner and unaware that the rain was to continue we booked a trip for the following day. Dinner tonight was ata chinese/western restaurant. We had satay sticks to start, and then Caroline had Sharks Fin Soup and Spring Rolls and I had lamb chops. Mine was ok but I wouldn't rush back for it again but at the time it was what I fancied. Caroline enjoyed hers. We were in bed at around 11pm with jumpers and sleeping bags well and truly wrapped up!!!

Thursday 13th August 2009, Cameron Highlands

We were up today at around 8am to get ready for the trip which was due to leave at 8:45am. But once I realized that it was still raining I have to admit I wasn't that keen to go and wanted to postpone it till the next day. We've done trips before where its rained all day and although it doesn't ruin it, you get very wet and cold and the views are crap!! So I persuaded Caroline to hold off for one day. We weren't in a rush and although there was no knowing what the next day was going to be like, I just wanted to wait. So Caroline spoke to the lady about it and then we both went back to bed for a bit. We eventually headed out about 11:30am and typically the rain had stopped!!

From the guesthouse we went to Starbucks for lunch and coffee and then we bought a map and went for a walk in search of a tea plantation. The girls we had been talking to yesterday had told us about one that was about 5km outside of Tanah Rata, so we found it on the map and headed in that direction. It was easy enough to find as it was on the main road going down the mountain. The walk was along the main road but on the way there it was all down hill, so in the back of our mine's we were thinking its going to be all uphill on the way back!!! The road was also very twisty so at times we were a little concerned about the mad drivers and how close they like to get to the edge of the road!!! The original 5km took about 45 minutes but then we saw a path with a sign that said Christian Cemetery so we thought we'd have a walk down there to take a look. Well we walked for about 15 minutes and saw no sign of any cemetery but we did see a stream and a mini waterfall. Once back on the main road we then carried on for another 500m following a sign for a proper waterfall passing the tea plantation on the way. But we got to the waterfall and the gates were locked and there was no way of getting in!! By now tea and scones were calling so we went back to the tea plantation. Firstly we had a walk around the tea plantation and then we sat and had Strawberry tea with scones, jam and cream!!!

The walk back in to town took just over 50 minutes, so even though it was uphill, it didn't take much longer!! We thankfully got back into town just as the rain started, so after grabbing the umbrellas and jumpers we had a chat for a bit with the 2 girls and then went out to use the internet.

Dinner tonight was a Chicken tandoori set meal for us both. They were 7rm (about a pound) each and consited of a leg of Tandoori chicken, a nann bread and 2 curry dipping sides. Very tasty and cheap!!!

Once again bed time consisted of wrapping up well because although the rain had stopped it was still bitterly cold at night!!

Friday 14th August 2009, Cameron Highlands

Today was trip day and there was no rain!!!

The first part of the trip was a walk on Jungle path 1. What they didn't worn us until we started was that it was all up hill and at some points we would have been better off with climbing equpiment not walking shoes!!! We knew some of the trip was trekking but this particular walk turns out to be the hardest trail around the highlands. But on the upside it was very pleasing to hear that and to know that the walk we did took us to the highest point in the Cameron Highlands. The walk/trek/climb took us about 2 and a half hours. There was us, another couple and a guide. In places it was extremely muddy and slippy, by the end I was covered!!! And in some places we had to use ropes to pull us up the various rocks and slippy surfaces. Although it was hard it was really good fun even when I found myself swinging like a monkey off 2 trees that I thought were stable! How wrong was I!!!

The walk took us through the jungle up to the highest point, this being 2030m above sea level or 6666ft. Although we were pleased with ouself it was a little disapointing to discover we had only actually walked 3km!! But because it was uphill it felt like a lot longer!!

After we had admired the views and cooled down a bit we then jumped into a minivan and were taken to a tea plantation. This was a different one to yesterday and it was a lot bigger, it was also owned by a Scottish family. Yesterday's was owned by an Indian family. If you have ever heard of BOH tea it comes from the tea plantation we visited today!! We only had about 40 minutes here, so after being shown around the factory we had curry puffs, cake and tea!

After the tea plantation we were taken too a butterfly farm, not really us but it was interesting all the same. There were also lots of different reptiles in there as well. There was also a cactus and flower garden. Mum we have photos for you!!!

From here we were taken back to Tanah Rata for lunch, we all had fried rice of some sort or another, and then from there it was an hour's drive to a Orang Asli Village. We didn't see any of the female villagers but we did get to see some of the men and children. We were shown one of their huts and then one of the men who was dressed in traditional clothing (with his bum on display!) showed us all how to work the blow pipe. Our guides talked us through the use of them as the villagers don't speak English. There basically made of bamboo, very light in weight and then you put bamboo made darts in to the pipe and blow. There used for hunting and when your good, blowing should be enough to fire the dart into the animal. Sometimes there normal darts othertimes they have poison on them too. We all got to have a go and I was terrible!! Caroline at least got hers near the target. Mine just went out the end and then dropped! No strenght behind my blow!!!

After here the village man lead us all to a near by waterfall, it was impressive but we didn't stay long as by now it was raining!! After this it was back to Tanah Rata for the end of the day.

Once back we showered and changed before going to make some phone calls to accomadation in our next place of discovery! This took forever and was not very successful! Malaysia has been the 1st place where we have had to book ahead, everywhere else we've just walked into the town had a look at a few places and then picked our favourite. Here its a different story all together!! Its a lot busier (time of year) and accomadation is a lot harder to obtain. The other problem being is that when you ring they say there full but then you get there and they have rooms!! How does that work??!!

Dinner tonight we as at another Indian, I had another Tandoori Set (last nights was that good) and Caroline had a different sort of set in a Banana leaf. Neither of them were as good as last night but they were alright!!

After dinner we packed and then had an earlish night ready for travelling tomorrow.

Saturday 15th August 2009, Cameron Highlands-Taman Negara

Early morning with a 8am pick up but typical Asian time it was 8:30am before we were picked up and then it was a long journey ahead of us!! See the next blog for the details!!