Cameron Highlands Strawberry Picking

September 2011 (Continuation) - Backdated post

And finally, no Cameron Highlands holiday is complete without picking fresh strawberries. So, on the last morning before we checked out, we promised Ryan that we will bring him to pick some strawberries ...and the nearest strawberry farm that we can find is just outside Equatorial Hotel.

We paid Rm20 to pick 0.5kg of strawberries and we would have to pay for the extras if we picked more.

It was rather ordinary for me but super exciting for Ryan and that is what the trip is all about. Would I pay another Rm20 again to pick strawberries? For me...NO but if Ryan wants, YES of course....I guess that is what every parent would do anyway ..right??

Teaching Ryan how to pick strawberries properly....
Ryan enjoying his ice cream with fresh strawberries

Next ....our trip to Bali Club Med....

Cameron Highlands Ye Old Smoke House (Hot nights in a cold place)

September 2011 (Continuation) - Backdated post

OK. Back to backdated post on our recent travels. Continuing on our short holiday to Cameron Highlands, the next venue to yak about would be Ye Old Smokehouse located just after Tanah Rata on the way to Brinchang.


This quaint little English cottage style boutique hotel was once listed as the place for the rich and famous. With limited rooms, our first stay there was something like 10 years ago. Over the last decade, we had stayed there three times and we enjoyed the atmosphere very much. The service was top notch back then and the staff literally know you by your name. (Have to right? Only less than 20 rooms in total)

I must say that this is the ideal place for young couples looking for a romantic getaway or honey mooning couples looking for a romantic nest for some `hot' nights in the cold cool weather of Cameron Highlands.....(try to imagine warm bodies under the blanket on huge brass bed in rooms decorated in the old English cottage settings...need I say more....hmmmm)

Come to think of it, it would also be a cool place for `old married couples' to `abandon' their children for a hot spicy weekend (read about rekindling our sex lives in one of the post by bro Eugene from Bold Talk).

Anyway, we found it rather expensive to bring so many to stay there this round and hence we opted for a more economical Equatorial. However, we still wanted to enjoy the atmosphere and hence we went there for a good old English breakfast ...Turned out to be the most expensive meal throughout our trip (but then I knew that it would not come cheap in the first place considering that the junior suite rack rate is already close to RM500 per night).

The garden terrace where breakfast and tea are served.
Ryan in his happy mode and fooling around
Having fun with mommy...

Pretending to be zombies like in the `Walking Dead' series...
`Hello? Hello?' errr....excuse me? Shouldn't you guys be in the phone booth?

Cameron Highlands Bharat Cameron Tea Plantation

September 2011 (Continuation) - Backdated post

There are basically two major tea plantation companies in Cameron Highlands. There is BOH Tea of course. The other is the Bharat Cameron Tea. The tea plantation for Bharat Cameron Tea is much more accessible. There are two that we encountered during our visit there recently. One is located after Brinchang before we reached the Equatorial Hotel. The tea house is modest and the plantation is much smaller. The other is before Tanah Rata and can be seen on the main road leading down to Tapah. This is definitely much more impressive and the tea plantation, much larger.

We made a stop at both tea plantations. The first was before we reached our hotel on the first day. The other was on my second day after we visited the Boh tea plantation.

Zipping a cup of hot tea while enjoying a delicious scone in the cool weather that we don't normally get in KL is definitely a welcoming change. There is such a care-free atmosphere that all the work stress and worries seemed so far away (at least for that few precious moments). Looking at the vast piece of green landscape that goes as far as the eyes can see brings such tranquility to the soul. I must said that I can not help but to be amazed at God's marvellous creation.

(This is the Bharat tea plantation located before Brinchang if you are taking the Simpang Pulai route to Cameron Highlands)

(This is the Bharat Tea Plantation located after Tanah Rata on the way down to Tapah. Located by the roadside, you just can't miss it) (2 workers working on the tea plantation. They are dwarfed by the sheer vastness of the entire landscape)
(Ryan getting bored and started fooling around with his water bottle)

Cameron Highlands Steamboat Dinner

September 2011 (Continuation) - Backdated post

Any visit to Cameron Highlands is not complete without at least a steam boat meal. There are plenty of steam boat restaurants in Brinchang and I'm sure most of you would have had at least one when visiting Cameron Highlands. We were not sure which is good but we know that we preferred one that uses charcoal rather than the electrical steamboat pot. Parking at Brinchang could be a nightmare and we were lucky that we went on a weekday instead of a weekend or a public holiday. Even that, we have some problem looking for an empty parking space. Hence, the restaurant that we chose was the one where we found a parking right in front....It turned out to be quite nice and pleasant experience...Price is reasonable.

(Ryan getting impatient waiting for the food to arrive)
(Ryan getting excited over the steam boat pot with the tall funnel)
(Mother and sister getting the steam boat ready)

Cameron Highlands Water Crest Valley Restaurant

Sept 2011 (Backdated post) - Continuation

We took the route from Simpang Pulai to Cameron Highlands and hence we will hit the top above Brinchang on our way to the Equatorial. It's a much more pleasant drive as compared to the windy road from Tapah with lorries driving like maniacs and overtaking at every opportunity.

On the way to Brinchang and about 5 minutes away from the Equatorial Hotel, we came across this restaurant which I have read from the internet. Known as the Water Crest Valley, they are actually water crest farmers with a restaurant that served water crest recipes as well as steam boat.

(A view of the water crest grown here)

After checking in, being hungry and lazy to explore other places, we drove back to this restaurant for our lunch. The food was like home cooked meals, delicious and the price is reasonable. In fact, we actually went back to this restaurant for one last lunch before going home.


(Tasty meat patties) (Stirred fried fresh mushrooms)
(Omelet)
(Chicken fried with water crest)
(Water crest)
As we finished our meal, the storm clouds were brewing and I managed to catch this shot with the dramatic clouds against the clear blue skies...

Cameron Highlands Boh Tea Plantation

Sept 2011 Continuation (Backdated post)

Visiting tea plantations and having a cuppa amidst the cool weather is the one thing that everyone who travels to Cameron Highlands should do. (Unfortunately, this is the first time I doing it as all my previous trip were either visiting vegetable farms or playing golf)

I must say that it is a rather pleasant experience especially if you are going and doing it with your loved ones. We visited three plantations in total, two belonging to the Cameron Tea while another is the Boh Tea Plantation located just before Tanah Rata.

Going in from the main road leads to a windy narrow road which took almost 20 minutes. Was apprehensive as our 7 seater is not exactly a small car. But the journey is well rewarded with a cool breezy and cozy place for a warm cup of tea.

(The family enjoying a cup of tea together...Priceless)
Boh Tea Plantation has a Look Out Point which is a hill which will take approximately 15 minutes steep climb to reach the top. So proud of Ryan that he took up the challenge and walked up the entire journey. (Coming down was another matter...daddy has to carry!)

The view of the plantation while climbing up the Look Out Point
Fooling around with her favourite `ku cheh' (my youngest sister) at the top of the Look Out Point.
This is an excellent pose by this little rascal. I placed him on this concrete bench and teach him this pose and the result was fantastic. In fact, he was telling me to do the same pose when I had my picture taken with my wife ...

More pictures in the next post ...keep following ...

Children's First Trip To Cameron Part One

Sept 2011 (Backdated post)

(View of the Boh Tea Plantation located just before Tanah Rata)

My mum has been staying with my sister for a couple of months now and she expressed the desire wanting to go back to Kampar to visit my grandmother who is still there. We volunteered to drive her home and took the opportunity to arrange for a short 2 nights at Cameron Highlands. This trip is going to be the `first' for several reasons and we were all very excited about it.

- First outstation trip for Chenya.
- First Cameron Highland stay for both the children.
- First travel together as a four member family (besides the maid)
- First travel together with my youngest sister (yes..we don't get to travel that often together)
- First outstation trip for our recently acquired 7 seater.

(View of the Cameron Tea Plantation located after the Boh Tea Plantation but before Tanah Rata with an excellent look out point where you can have your tea looking at the vast plantation)

We have not been to Cameron Highlands for a couple of years now. When we were a couple, we used to travel there for short stay and we have stayed at the Old Smokehouse a couple of times (absolutely loved the experience), the Equatorial and the hotel directly opposite the golf course (now taken over by YTL). We loved the steamboat dinners and the golf rounds we had with the nice cool weather.
(Attending to some messy business before getting down to enjoying the meals)

Staying at the Smokehouse is out of the question as it is way too expensive since we have 5 adults and 2 children. So, we opted to go back to Equatorial again where the rates are more affordable. (Verdict: the hotel is pretty run down now as compared to when we were there years ago. For the price of which they are charging, they should have done some form of refurbishing)

The trip up was pleasant and exciting as we could comfortably put all 5 adults and 2 children with the loads of luggage into the MPV. (Wise decision to buy this rather than the smaller Estima though a little more costly). I was rather surprised with the performance of the car going uphill with the load.

And activities in Cameron Highlands... (what else??)

- Visit and having a nice cup of tea at the different tea plantation. We were at Boh Tea and the Cameron Tea plantations on different days and the experience was relaxing and the view absolutely stunning.
- Steam boat with plenty of fresh vegetables for all dinners.
- Leisurely English breakfast at the Old Smokehouse (yes yes..we must go there because we absolutely adore the settings). The most expensive meal!!
- Lunch at the Water Crest restaurant where food is simple but delicious.
- Strawberries picking where Ryan was totally excited.

All in all, it was an extremely pleasant trip and travelling together with my family, my mother and youngest sister made it even more memorable. As we left the mountains, our thoughts were looking forward to our next destination in a week's time ....Bali Club Med ..(more of that in the next post) ....

(A lonely tree sitting right on top of the Look Out Point at the Boh Tea Plantation)

More pictures coming on Cameron Highlands holiday....don't go away ....hahaha