Thursday, 28 February 2013

The Kuala Lumpur Album - From Cameron February 2013

A nice ride down through the Cameron Highlands en-route to Kuala Lumpur, although I probably won't fill up on a spicy breakfast next time!





Roads and Motorways empty!

The Big KL

A KL Suburb


Across the road to the MRT Train Station

Bus Station is underground

Southern Bus Terminal is like an Airport!

Check-in for the bus to Melaka

Tea, Oppa Gangnam Style - Melaka




Tenah Rate - KL - Melaka, February 27th 2013


Tenah Rata to Malaka...

Dawn breaks, reflected on the hills looking towards Kuala Lumpur, a clear blue sky for the journey south, final destination, Melaka. Departure isn't from the official bus station, but an office at the opposite end of the town. A change of bus is required at Kuala Lumpur involving a transfer across the city to the newly constructed Southern bus terminal, for all buses going to Singapore and Melaka.

Perhaps filling up on a spicey breakfast wasn't the wisest thing to do as the bus meanders away from the highlands taking sharp corners  - felling pretty queasy actually! About an hour and 20 minutes, the worst seems to be over as the terrain flattens and the highlands now distant shadows. The roads are good, a well maintained 3 lane motorway and quiet too as the bus picks up speed. Nothing like the amount of traffic to be found on a British motorway. Oh look, there's a Tesco lorry, no queue behind that one!

3 1/2 hours and the unmistakable Kuala Lumpur skyline looms on the horizon - a metropolis of concrete, steel and glass. A quick stop at KL Sentral for the airport links, then onto the main city bus station, Pudu. Up one level and across the walkway to the MRT rail station, for a train  link direct to the Southern Bus Terminal, about 50p for the 10 minute journey on a smart, new air-conditioned transit train - seamless integration with minimal effort.

Buses to Melaka about every 20 minutes so actually there's no reason to rush  around. Plan then is to buy the ticket ( no tickets on the bus) and allow time to get refreshments before the 2 hour journey to Melaka. It's like an airport terminal on 3 levels and even has a check-in desk and a gate number for the bus. Bus rolls out at 1.30pm and joins the motorway south headed for Singapore according to the Signs! With KL fast disappearing nothing to do but recline the seat, raise the foot rest and gab a few minutes nap, oh, and the IPod comes in handy too. The ticket cost a mere 10 RM, about £2.15 not bad for a 2 hour trip on a nice bus.

Rolling into Melaka, past the airport and into the Sentral bus station located about 4KM away from the main town. A couple of taxi drivers hanging around for business, nothing like the confusion surrounding bus arrivals often found in places like India or Cambodia though. Oh, first landmark spotted - a Tesco Superstore.

Next, getting into the town and finding the guesthouse and hoping they honour the booking made via an exchange of emails couple of weeks ago, it could all prove a challenge in the sweltering heat - must be about 33 deg c.

Next...Oh It's Freaky

Wednesday, 27 February 2013

The Cameron H. Album - And Finally, February 2013Penut

And finally a set of random photos from within the Tenah Rata town..
Peanut Pancakes

A Highlands Sunset

Tenah Rata

Durian Fruit

The demise of a nasty mosquito...

Food at Kumar, next to Starbucks

Cute l'il Bird

Giant Moth

Just a nice Photo..

The Cameron H. Album - Mossy Forest February 2013

In the Mossy Forest.. last in this series of photos depicting the sights of the forest.

Re-energised...

Strawberry Farm

Crop Chemicals

Chemical Residue in Strawberrys









Got a ride down...thankfully!

The Cameron H. Album - Mossy Forest February 2013

First in a set of photos depicting scenes on the way up to the Mossy Forest which meanders through the BOH Tea Estate...













The Last Day, Cameron Highlands February 26th 2013


Last day in the Hills..

A long breakfast, maybe a few shorts hikes close to town and catch up with some blogging. It's the last full day here in the highlands so any kind of strenuous effort today is out of the question, especially after yesterday's gruelling mountain hike!

It's been a good few days in the highlands, cool and fragrant air especially in the forests and around by the tea fields, although the aromas emanating from the town leave a lot to be desired! Exotic birds are few up here, but there is an abundance of flora and an amazing variety of colourful spiders, grasshoppers and a host of bugs. Tourists are not fleeced up here, not that I heard about anyway. Prices are of course higher as in any tourist hotspot, but still pretty reasonable really, for food I mean. The tours however are grossly overpriced considering that some of them are pretty localised affairs, with attractions just down the road, easily accessible by local bus. with  a bit of effort and an enthusiasm for hiking, much can be seen under ones own steam, and of course more time to notice those little things that make a trip all the more worthwhile.

On the move again tomorrow, this time to Melaka. I got the ticket day before yesterday, 30 RM, about £6.50 and it's a direct bus at 8am for a 4 hour Journey.

Mossy Forest - Kea Farm, Malaysia February 25th 2013

All Mossy in the Mossy Forest...

All mossy in the Mossy Forest 25th

It's a forest on top of a mountain accessible from Kea Farm, according to the various leaflets flying around, offering visits by van for 35 RM. A few of the hardy European hikers have made the journey there from the guesthouse, but most opt for that minivan for about 8 quid. It's a fair distance, about 16 KM in all, slightly shorter via a jungle trek starting from somewhere in Brinchang. Even getting the local bus to Kea Farm and starting the hike from there will be a challenge - the hike, not getting the bus. A challenge I shall endeavour to complete, yes, contemplation over, off to get that bus.

Thankfully there are plenty of signs as the hike up begins, energised after a relatively easy day yesterday. Drizzling slightly, probably a good thing for a strenuous hike up a mountain. It's actually not difficult since there is a tarmac road all the way to the summit for those who have paid their £8 a pricey ride for the short distance. About 30 minutes into the hike, and a scene reminiscent of a few weeks ago. Tea fields stretch for several miles. Undulating terrain, valleys and hillsides with tea fields as far as the eye can see - nice photo opportunity and a break from the climb. At the lower level, a collection of wooden houses for the tea workers probably, of which are some in the fields yonder.

An hour into it, and still a long way to go, about 4 KM and the terrain steepens. Drizzle turns into steady rain, and the thought of an abortion starts to manufacture itself. A sign up ahead, it points to a strawberry farm, with a hot drink symbol attached. Ok, let's go there, get the drink and dry out a little, then decide what to do - carry on to the mossy forest or abort.

A pot of tea, and surprisingly it comes with real milk, gotten from a cow I think -  what a treat, pricy though at £1.50. It's a nursery with all kinds of plants, vegetables and a big field of strawberries all under a polythene greenhouse. A quick look around, not that interesting unless the to buy plants of course. I did discover a blue residue on the strawberry plants leaves and when I enquired, the attendant admitted that they are sprayed with Chemicals.

Well, it's back to a drizzle, but refreshed after the tea, and with renewed enthusiasm, well more determination really, the hike begins again. I may not be the best mountaineer in the world, but now I've made it this far, shame to turn back, only 4 KM left.

Doubts are creeping in as to whether it's actually worth the effort since this hike seems to be taking forever, and it's raining again! Maybe I should have paid for the 8 quid van ride after all. Only 1.5 KM to go, shouldn't take long now, maybe 20 minutes if I get a move on. The moss is beginning to show on trees, hanging and clinging as though holding ancient secrets, quite eerie in the mist and drizzle with the subdued light.  Must be close then, I hope so.

At last, a sign that says this is the Mossy Forest. A wooden walk-way has been provided - unlike the Malaysians to think about health and safety. Up, down, up again as the walk meanders between the trees, yes, covered in moss. Different varieties, some flora and some nice photos capturing the eeriness of the ancient woodlands on top of this mountain, in the clouds. About 30 minutes to walk the walk through the forest, glad I made the effort actually, it's quite a different aspect of the nature these hills and mountains can produce, and it's free for all to experience and appreciate.

It's my lucky day as a French couple stopped their taxi and offered me a ride down - very welcome indeed as the long hike is starting to take its toll on my feet. Actually, they are going all the way to Tenah Rata, even better, saving me the bus ticket - thank you French tourists, you know who you are!

Tuesday, 26 February 2013