A weekend gateway to the highlands on the backbone of Malaysia mountain range , a hilly valley of Cameron Highlands was inviting me for many years.
This was my office team-outing weekend trip. We start from home as early as 5.30 am as we needed to pick two of my colleagues and meet the rest of the team at the second Highway Rest Area on the North South bound highway.
We met as we had planned by 7am for a short breakfast grab and start our exciting adventure trip. As we were not in a convoy we will meet up in our next break. As all of us woke early and driving convoy would slow us down on the highway. So we decided to just at the next stop over about 60km from the first stop.
The weather was so welcoming and the sun was very happy. My friend drove my car while some good songs were playing on the background as we enjoyed the drive.
The North bound new Klang Valley Express highway(NKVE) is the best and beautiful highway that can be enjoyed in the early morning drives as we go towards Ipoh to Penang to Bukit Kayu Hitam.
Our journey was smooth I was relaxing has my friend drove as I woke too early and have a long day to go.
We reached our next pit-stop as our scheduled at 9am. We took a coffee break and continued the drive once again. I had a local kopi tarik to break my sleepy brains. This time I took over of my car and lead the other cars behind me.
The journey starts, we exited Tapah and took the Cameron Highland old Tapah road.
I have been on this road some 20 years ago when I went the last with family. The last I took Simpang Pulai road.
I have been on this road some 20 years ago when I went the last with family. The last I took Simpang Pulai road.
The Tapah-Cameron road was the only access to the higher land as use to the worn torn road. So this time was full adventure along with excitements.
The road was new and going through some country sides as we went along. At the foot hills we noticed the "Orang Asli" or jungle people villages equipped well with basic water and electricity facility..
The climb was smooth for sometime till we got stuck behind a bus that was slowing us down.
I managed to take over it before we hit the zig-zag road further up.
After that the drive was a real roller coaster adventure and challenging and as I drove I made sure I drove smoothly without the feel the bumps and curves for those in my car.
I loved the road, the drive and the air was getting fresher and cooler. We wind our window since we had the fresh natural air.
We reached our first location as we planned the "Lata Iskandar" falls. There were less crowd as it was still early. We parked our cars at the side of the roads as it is a narrow road and also the buses and lorries speeding at the corners.
Some of my friends planned to take some dip in the refreshing waterfall. Others were enjoying the nature and for me, I was clicking on my camera for some beauty of what the nature as to give.
We had a small picnic, my friend's wife made some tamarind rice and potato masala. All of us just grab on it as we were extremely hungry. I remember once when my mother made tamarind rice for our zoo trip with fried chicken that was when I was about 8 years old.
Lol...!!! Tamarind rice on picnic this time was an epic.
Lol...!!! Tamarind rice on picnic this time was an epic.
After our mini breakfast, we started our journey once again, I lead the other cars as I was the convoy leader. I was to mesmerized with the nature's beauty, my hands and eyes were aching to grab my camera as I missed a couple of good shots when my hands were busy on the wheels. Since I could not click anything, my eyes captured what I wanted on my camera frame.
What we see with our eyes will be the best memories preserved well in our mind as I used to keep this saying of mine in my mind always.
What we see with our eyes will be the best memories preserved well in our mind as I used to keep this saying of mine in my mind always.
Anyways we reach Ringlet as we scheduled by 11.30 am. Our second stop was the Lake House. We saw the Cameron Lake which looked like the "Tea-Tarik" or milk tea.
I guess they were expanding the lake banks since it was the reason for Bertam Valley flood which was an unexpected natural disaster that washed away villages, farms and some life's too.
I guess they were expanding the lake banks since it was the reason for Bertam Valley flood which was an unexpected natural disaster that washed away villages, farms and some life's too.
Lake House Resort was right opposite the lake on the hill. It was like going through a time-tunnel to the past. The garden's landscaping, the flower bushes, the old English style cottage and its interiors that were well preserved till to day.
Wow! Amazing just that we could not take much picture inside as it was not allowed but still clicked a few in mobile for my blog. I will plan a holiday for my family here very soon.
Ok, back to my trip, we took some group selfies and pictures at the garden as we enjoyed the fresh air and scenaries. It was so beautiful if the lake was in tea colour.
We continued back on our trip and stopped at the first interesting place that we come across along the road. It was a Bee Farm that comes with the strawberry pickings. The road passed through some vegetable farms at the road side. I could smell coriander as it was too strong.
It was good as we started early and reached Cameron early as schedule before the crowd as it was a weekend obviously lots of people would make their weekend trips.
The Bee Farm was interesting with lots of strawberries ripen ready to be picked and we were at the right time. The strawberries were sold so CHEAP.
We could pick our own strawberries by selecting the big one. I was too excited to use my macro lens to capture pictures of the flowers, the strawberries and the bees.
We spent an hour there and moved for on with our next destination. We didn't have a plan for rest of the day, so we went on the flow of the journey has we drove along enjoying the scenery.
As we continued our drive, tea plantations were visible. It was beautiful to see the tea mazes over the hills and more hills. We had a pit stop at the Bharat Tea estate for some delicious tea and cakes. It was raining and it made the view remarkably beautiful.
I enjoyed the a Masala Tea and a Pandan Butter cake, we friends were chatting and enjoying the rain and the chill wind. As the rain stopped we explored the estate and I took some more amazing pictures of rain drops.
After an hour, we hit the road again, headed to the place we booked to stay. An apartment with 3 rooms 3 baths which could accommodate 10 people.
We checked in and rest for while before we went out to the night market as it famous there on Friday and Saturday. You can get cheap vegetables ,fruit locally produced and roses other than that some snacks.
We headed back to our apartment and prepared for the BBQ dinner. It was cold and freezing but we went ahead with our BBQ(barbecue). It was fun having the BBQ(barbecue) in rain and cool.
We were up late chatting and making jokes. Morning we had to wake up early for the Mossy forest and Tea Boh Plantation.
Another splendid view of nature and forest. After that we had to checkout by 12pm, after checkout we had lunch and headed home.
As we continued our drive, tea plantations were visible. It was beautiful to see the tea mazes over the hills and more hills. We had a pit stop at the Bharat Tea estate for some delicious tea and cakes. It was raining and it made the view remarkably beautiful.
I enjoyed the a Masala Tea and a Pandan Butter cake, we friends were chatting and enjoying the rain and the chill wind. As the rain stopped we explored the estate and I took some more amazing pictures of rain drops.
After an hour, we hit the road again, headed to the place we booked to stay. An apartment with 3 rooms 3 baths which could accommodate 10 people.
We checked in and rest for while before we went out to the night market as it famous there on Friday and Saturday. You can get cheap vegetables ,fruit locally produced and roses other than that some snacks.
We headed back to our apartment and prepared for the BBQ dinner. It was cold and freezing but we went ahead with our BBQ(barbecue). It was fun having the BBQ(barbecue) in rain and cool.
We were up late chatting and making jokes. Morning we had to wake up early for the Mossy forest and Tea Boh Plantation.
Another splendid view of nature and forest. After that we had to checkout by 12pm, after checkout we had lunch and headed home.
