Exploring Cameron Highlands
In early 2023, we spent three months in Malaysia for work. After six insanely busy weeks, my schedule finally allowed for some exploring beyond the city centre of Kuala Lumpur. We decided on a short road trip to Cameron Highlands, which is located approximately 200 kilometers (124 miles) north of Kuala Lumpur. Originally discovered by British explorers seeking respite from the tropical heat, Cameron Highlands quickly became renowned for its cool climate, stunning vistas, and fertile soil that supports the growth of tea plantations and fresh produce. We were very excited for cool climate, after 30+ days of 32 degrees Celsius (90 Fahrenheit) and over 90% humidity.
We scheduled to pick up a rental car at 1pm, but when we arrived everyone had gone for Friday afternoon prayers so we had to wait until around 2. I knew not to schedule business meetings around this time, but assumed that if the system allowed be to book this pickup time it wouldn’t be an issue.
There were two funny things that happened when we were picking up the car.
- The agent seemed very confused when I was doing the paperwork, and when we went out to inspect the vehicle, he asked if Andy could drive it.
- As we were leaving, another customer arrived to drop off their vehicle. As he exited his car, he yelled over to us in a thick Aussie accent, “Watch out for the breaks, you really have to pump ’em!” This was a little troubling.
Driving in Kuala Lumpur is, in a word, terrifying. There are a zillion motorbikes, which aggressively weave in and out of traffic. Luckily, we picked up the car on the outer part of the city, and we were a few hours before peak traffic. We were given a toll pass, but it only had $30 Ringit (about AUD $10) and we had no idea how long that would last, so our first stop was a petrol station to reload it (which can only be done using cash). Approaching the toll plazas was pretty stressful, because there are several different types of toll passes, each with their own lanes, and they are never in the same order.
The drive typically takes around 3 to 4 hours, and once out of the city the landscape turned to lush greenery, rolling hills, and dense palm plantations. The first two hours were easy highway driving, before turning off onto a steep and windy road.
When planning this trip (a week in advance), we found two options for accommodation: Cameron Highlands Resort and The Lake House. The former looked like it was nicer and had a better location, but the latter had rooms with bathtubs (which our apartment in KL lacked).
The hotel was managed by a friendly Indian family who went above and beyond to ensure our getaway was truly rejuvenating. We received an upgrade to the “Cameron Suite” located in a separate annex which we had to ourselves. The suite was enormous, featuring a luxurious king-size four-poster bed. A wood-burning fireplace added to the cozy ambiance, however the “cool climate” turned out to be a pleasant 21 degrees Celsius (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit) so we opted for open windows instead of a fire. The bathroom was laughingly large, and from all rooms we had a view of the nearby lake.
We basically had one full day to explore, and our objective was to just get outside and take some photos. We started at the Arulmigu Sri Subramaniar, a Hindu Temple in the nearby village of Ringlet.
We then headed north to the Cameron Valley Tea Plantation. We didn’t do a guided tour and instead opted to wander on our own. We enjoyed being outside and not sweating for the first time in over a month.
The map showed several farms and gardens further north, so we decided to visit a butterfly park. It wasn’t exactly what we were expecting, but there were lots of colourful butterflies.
Photographically, our best shots from this little adventure were taken in the gardens at the hotel.
It was great to get out of the city for the weekend and explore more of Malaysia, but Cameron Highlands felt kind of, well, weird. The region showcases colonial-style architecture reminiscent of British influence, yet the majority of the local population is of Chinese heritage, resulting in an unusual cultural mix. The highlands’ cool climate and lush landscapes, more reminiscent of temperate regions, contrasts with the tropical surroundings of the rest of Malaysia. This amalgamation of various cultural and environmental aspects creates a distinctive and sometimes unexpected atmosphere that sets Cameron Highlands apart in a wonderfully captivating way.
