Traffic-free weekend at Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands
September 4-6, 2015

Ravi impulsively rounded us up for a weekend trip to Cameron Highlands last month.  Reena was able to join us, her mother allowed her to skip her Saturday tuition class.  We drove right after work that Friday and reached the Smokehouse Hotel around 11pm.

Ye Olde Smokehouse  - our favorite place to stay at Cameron Highlands

Charming English style building with lovely gardens

A hearty breakfast started our Saturday morning.

New experiences made this trip memorable for everyone.  There was a great strawberry farm very near our hotel.   Previous farms we visited were on the small side which didn't have a lot of fruits for picking.  We came early to beat the weekend crowd and ended up having the strawberry farm to ourselves.  Reena and Sarah loved it!

Clockwise from top: Neat rows of strawberries, ripe berries, new fruits coming out.

We drove up to Gunung Brinchang, the highest mountain in Malaysia accessible by car.  Admittedly the road condition was pretty rough on some parts but we made it alright.  We climbed on a wooden viewing platform and saw the surrounding hills and valleys before the fog set in.

Clockwise from top left: Mount Brinchang at 2032m signage, the wooden viewing tower, Reena at the top.

Valley views.

Sarah at the viewing tower.

The fog crept by pretty fast, blocking the surrounding views!

We had a stopover at the Mossy Forest on our way back.  An elevated walkway within the forest stops after a few hundred meters and the more adventurous continues on foot to explore more.

Signage by the entrance.

Roots as stairs.

Well maintained walkway, thumbs up!

Some parts of the mossy forest look spooky.

The next day was spent at the hotel gardens and at Boh Tea Center before heading back.  We reached Penang safely by 8pm.  A great weekend escape!

On the way up to the tea center.

Cliff-side Boh Tea Center

Very scenic plantation view from the tea center.

Sarah and Reena among the tea leaves.

Tea time at the center's restaurant.  

Reena and Sarah exploring the restaurant area while waiting for our food.

Poster information all about tea.

Buying tea products.

Picking tea leaves on our way back.

See you next time Boh Tea Center!