My recent holidays to the Cameron Highlands

[catttan]

My wife and I recently went up to our holiday apartment in the Cameron Highlands for a week. I have mentioned elsewhere about the Cameron Highlands and also posted pictures of the Arundina graminifolia found here.

The Cameron Highlands was developed by the British colonialists in the beginning of the 20th century for tea growing, a very valuable commodity in those days.The British following their tradition in India also established this place as a 'hill station' for R & R. And to add to the nostalgia of good old England erected buildings in pseudo-Tudor style - many of which survive to this day - notably the two well-known hotels 'Ye Olde Smokehouse' and the 'Lakehouse Hotel'. Believe it or not they even have the old red British public telephone booth made famous in the first 'Dr Who' outside the 'Ye Olde Smokehouse'. One of the highlights of many Caucasian tourists is to have tea and scones with strawberry jam in the gardens of the Olde Smokehouse.

Indian workers were brought in especially from Ceylon ( Sri Lanka) to work in the tea plantations and Chinese immigrants soon followed setting up their vegetable and flower farms. Today tea, vegetables, fruits especially strawberries, and flowers are produced both for the local Malaysian market and export. In spite of all the agricultural activities going on it still retains its unique charms and attracts a lot of tourists, both local and foreign.

Local tourists come here to escape the lowland heat and to buy fresh veges and fruits. Retired Brits come here for the nostalgia, young Western backpackers come to enjoy the jungle treks and white-water rafting and Japanese retirees come here to escape their cold winters and to enjoy cheap golfing. Recently we see a lot of Middle eastern tourists during their hot summers.The temperature here seldom goes below 12 C or over 25 C.

Pix #1 - Our apartment blocks - misty evening,quite common.
Pix #2- The Heritage Hotel in the background - in 'traditional' pseudo-Tudor architecture
Pix #3- Old type colonial house perched on the hill-side
Pix #4- Almost mandatory tea in the tea-house overlooking the tea estates

[catttan]

Here are more pictures of he Cameron Highlands mostly showing scenery. Flowers and orchids will follow in later posts.Attachment 31863

Pix #1 - The Boh Tea Estate , one of the 3 big tea estate
Pix # 2 - The colourful workers quarters in the Boh Estate
Pix # 3 - More of the workers quarters at the foot of the hill while the manager's house is perched at the top of the hill.As most of the workers practise the Hindu religion the Hindu Temple,the tallest building among the workers' quarters plays a very important role in their lives.
Pix #4 - The Manager's house of the other tea estate, Bharat Tea.

[catttan]

Here are more pictures of the Cameron Highlands

Pix #1 - Picture of the KEA Farm - what started out as a vege farm soon grew
into village with a cluster of the farmers houses.
Pix #2 - Typical vege farm with polythene coverd tunnel houses for the vege
Pix #3 - The 18 hole public golf course which attracts a lot of Japanese golfing
tourists
Pix #4 - View from the viewing tower at the top of Gunung Brinchang, the tallest mountain in the Camerons at 2000m ( 6000 ft). This peak is unique because you can drive right up to the viewing tower.

I will post pictures of the flowers grown here as well as some of the local orchids in bloom in my next post.

[ManilaByNight]

I just love the undulating landscape and the misty, cool evenings. Probably would be a nice place to grow orchids or start a farm there.

[Paph]

The landscape is outstanding and I belive you had a relaxing holiday.
Unlike Jojo I do not like cold nights - current rains washed away the summer, it has gone definitely - we are having now morning 10 °C and 15 °C during the day, I'm already missing warmer days. And nights of course.

[Tom-19951]

Sounds like a relaxing vacation. Thanks for the tour.

[delilah]

Amazing pictures, Yew! If I could get my hands on them easily, I would post pictures of the Tata tea estates in Coorg and other parts of south India. The workers' quarters, and hills covered with tea are remarkably similar.
The last picture of mountains shrouded in mist is gorgeous.

[catttan]

Thanks Jojo,Branka,and Tom for looking in.

Gita, I would really love to see the pictures of the Tata tea estates in Coorg.Not surprising at all about the similarities in the tea estates and workers' quarters as the founder of the Boh estates had his beginnings in the NE India and Ceylon.By the way few of descendants of the original Tamil workers still work in the tea estates as most of them have done well in life and are now in the professions or are tradesmen in the towns of the Camerons.

[pavel]

Beautiful mountain picture as well as the 'tour' photos! Thanks for sharing them

[delphiguy]

sounds like another future destination for me.... that is if i can find time to escape work.
I love the last shot of the mountain.