Day 5: Cameron Highlands

The itinerary for today required an early wake-up to visit all the destinations before the expected rain showers. So, breakfast at eight consisted of tea and toast. The toast was accompanied by a really bad version of Nutella and some strawberry jam that seemed to be locally sourced. This was necessary because one of the places I planned to visit was a strawberry farm. Specifically, the BIG RED STRAWBERRY FARM.

So I hopped on the rented scooter to find the elusive plantation. Upon arrival, I was somewhat disappointed because it was more of a garden where strawberries were also grown. However, there was a bistro and souvenir stand dedicated to the red fruit. I must say, the advertised milkshake truly evokes a summer feeling and was definitely worth it. After that, I headed north along the main road. Along the way, there were small stalls, tourist attractions, and animal and plant farms scattered at regular intervals.

In this case, the journey was the destination. It was incredibly fascinating to ride through the valleys of the many mountains covered in dense rainforest. However, I often had to stop due to activities on the roadside, viewpoints, or traffic congestion. I quickly learned that in Malaysia, filtering between lanes is necessary, so motorcycles and scooters weave their way through the gaps between the shoulder and the cars.

Another highlight of today was visiting a tea plantation. It was located off the main road, reachable via a small pass that was a relaxed ride on the scooter due to its width. Once I reached the top, the first goal was to climb to the View Point. From there, I had a fantastic view of the mountain landscape, with its slopes covered in tea fields and dense rainforest. Unfortunately, the factory was closed for a guided tour today, so I could only buy the finished product directly from the local shop.

On the way back, I unfortunately got caught in a tropical midday rain shower. After a quick stop at the gas station, where I paid only 60 cents for 1.5 liters of petrol, my time with the scooter came to an end and I had to return it. Despite concerns due to critical Google reviews, the return went smoothly.

Back at the hostel, I took some time to relax and tonight I'm going out to eat Indian food. I've booked a guided tour for tomorrow to the highest accessible mountain in the Highlands and a hike through the Mossy Forest.