Malaysia 2024

Thursday31October

After two days of trekking in the jungle, palm groves line our path. Remembering to stay on the left! Forced legacy of the British Empire's colonial past... Malaysia has been independent since 1957.

Lunch break on the journey at Kuala Lipis in a small restaurant.

The owner not speaking English very well, and me even less, after several attempts at explanations to have a very cold orange juice, I end up with a hot orange juice...  

Here we are in our holiday resort at Kea Farm in a large real estate complex overlooking the valley. We are in the Cameron Highlands at 1600 meters altitude, climate very appreciated by tea fields covering a good part of the region.

Shopping in the small shop "99 Speedmart" Dekat lagi Murah to restock our supplies.

Our Airbnb.

Once is not custom, it's cooking at home for tonight.

We go down to town where there is a small funfair.

We will take advantage of the massage chairs to relax our little muscles that were well stressed during the two days of trekking.  

Friday1stNovember

A new day begins in the Cameron Highlands.

The view from the apartment does not overlook the valley but the other side on the top of the hill, much less charming...

On the day's program, short hike to the summit of Mount Jasar from Tanah Rata.

The trail begins with pretty climbs in the rooted forest.

We are approaching the summit, topped with its electric pylon...

Superb 360-degree view of the Cameron Highlands.

The Cameron Valley Tea and its tea plantations.

Tanah Rata.

The pretty lines drawn by the tea plantations.

The region relies heavily on real estate...  

The summit of Gunung Jasar at 1704 meters above sea level.

And hop, U-turn, back to the car!

We continue the visit of the Cameron Highlands at "Boh Tea" in Sungei Palas.

BOH is the largest black tea producer in Malaysia. Founded in 1929 by a British businessman, J.A. Russell, the plantation covers more than 1200 hectares in the Cameron Highlands. The Russell family has remained owner of the company until today. You can visit the plantation center to learn more about tea cultivation and processing, while enjoying a spectacular view from the café.

The large café room from where you can enjoy the view of the plantations.

The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is a shrub of the camellia family, which can reach up to 15 meters high in the wild. In plantations, like those of the Cameron Highlands, shrubs are pruned to about one meter to facilitate the harvesting of young leaves and buds.

Black tea is distinguished from green tea by its manufacturing process, which includes a complete oxidation step of the leaves after picking. It is this oxidation that gives the infusion its copper color and robust taste.

And I never stop snapping these rows of tea plants...  

Return to the parking lot from where the view is just as nice.

We take the road that winds between the plantations.

Whoa, looks like a whole load of tea spilled.

Short stop to go walk in the alleys of the plantations.

A Tudor-style half-timbered house recalls the colonial past of the region, where the British came here to enjoy the calm of the countryside.

The tea leaf is the basis of all types of tea, whether white, green or black. The difference between these teas lies in the post-harvest processing process.

Back in the car, the opportunity to talk about another plant that is entitled to its own prohibition sign in the car: the Durian (Durio zibethinus) whose smell is most nauseating. Public authorities and many private companies officially ban durian in enclosed places. It is therefore common to see "No Durian" signs in public transport such as buses, trains and the subway. Hotels also have strict policies and often display clear bans at the entrance and in rooms. Offenders face fines.

The smell of the fruit once opened, recalls sulfurous aromas like onion or garlic, but also sewers or smells of cheese from dirty socks  . Once in the mouth, this smell fades, giving way to a creamy, sweet and sometimes even slightly bitter flavor. Its texture is often compared to that of a pastry cream.  

Dinner will be far from durian...  

Saturday2November

This new day begins with a short visit to the Perkuburan Islam, the Muslim cemetery of the city of Tanah Rata.

It is a simple natural rock that serves as a tombstone to honor the memory of Amini binti Ngah Sur, who died at the age of 72.

We move on to the next stage, "the Mossy Forest". We must first brave an hour of traffic jams to cover the remaining 10 small km. Then, it's the road that seems blocked 1500 meters from the finish... We will finish on foot the last kilometer and a half and the 220 meters of elevation gain to reach the entrance to the site.  

Arrived at the top, here we are in front of the entrance at almost 2000 meters altitude, in the clouds that humidify the famous forest. The entrance is closed due to the risk of slipping on the course... The last car leaves the scene leaving us alone in the rain...

Nobody...

And the entrance to the forest is not really closed...   Come on, let's go take a look at this mossy forest!  

In its cloud, the forest is not so photogenic...

The course is wet and not so slippery if you are careful.

Some signs to learn more about our environment.

And finally moss...   Well, no more than in other forests here or elsewhere in the world in fact...

A tree blocks our way...

That's it, that will be our quick tour in the Mossy Forest.  

There is not only tea in the region, there are also cabbages...  

The guardian of the cabbages.

But tea plantations remain the rule nonetheless...  

It is time to hit the road again and leave the Cameron Highlands to reach Ipoh, our next stop 1h40 away. But the weather deteriorates and turns into a Cyclone and the rain came to play spoilsport in the middle of the course. The road is cut due to flooding, and no deviation route exists! We must therefore turn back and take the southern road which takes an hour more... That deserved a little chocolate for the trouble!  

Phew, here we are safe in Ipoh, in the nice Airbnb at the Majestic Condominium.

The view of the city from the apartment. Tomorrow, we replace tea plantations with cave temples! Quite a program!