Cameron Highlands - Tea and Jackets

After leaving about 20 liters of sweat in Taman Negara National Park, we continue to the Cameron Highlands, specifically to the town of Tanah Rata. And why are the Cameron Highlands so great that the British primarily stayed there during their colonial rule? Correct. The area is situated at about 1500m above sea level and has a pleasant climate. During the day, temperatures rarely exceed 25 degrees Celsius, and in the evenings, you even need a jacket! (The locals even wear gloves, scarves, and hats, but that shouldn't be taken as a benchmark. Despite wearing headscarves and multiple layers of clothing in 30 degrees Celsius, they don't have a drop of sweat on their foreheads.)
Already on the bus, we can feel that it's getting cooler, and from the road, we already have an incredibly beautiful view of the tea plantations for which the Cameron Highlands are famous. Since it's still the TET holidays, there are many local families here enjoying the cool climate as well. The village and the streets are really crowded, but since the locals don't go hiking (too exhausting), we have nothing to worry about.
Together with the three men from Stuttgart, we check into the Galaxy Hostel, where you sleep in stylish and blue-lit spaceship capsules. The two Swiss guys have found a different accommodation.

In the evening, Max and I go out for Indian food and then retire early to our capsules. I'm tired, and my legs are a bit sore from the previous day.

The next day, we meet up with the whole German-speaking crew again for hiking. We go to the Indian place next door for breakfast with the guys from our hostel. Across the street, you can put together a generous and incredibly cheap packed lunch from the buffet, which we naturally take advantage of. Rice, sambal, fried egg, peanuts, and dried fish. It should be perfect after a few hours of hiking :) Cost: 1,90€ for both of us together.
Max already researched the most beautiful and still accessible routes the day before, and then the seven of us set off. At the beginning, we still wear our jackets. Unbelievable. First, we "climb" the 1700m high Gunung Jasar. Luckily, it's only about 200 meters in elevation, but despite that, it's still quite warm when we reach the top xD From here, we have a very nice view of the landscape (at least in the undeveloped direction).

So far, the path has led us through the forest, but after leaving the mountain behind us, we only walk in the sun. For some time, we slide more than we walk because it's steep downhill through 2-meter-high bushes and grass. I think all of us end up on our butts at least once (I twice) :-D However, in the distance, we can already see the tea plantations, and their sight is incredibly motivating. After walking through vegetable plantations for some time, we find a shady spot for our lunch break. Most of us already have red necks and faces by that time.
The second highlight of the tour (No. 1 was the summit) are the tea plantations. They really look beautiful, with the green hills shining. Just like in the photos we saw before on posters, etc. After walking several kilometers through the tea plantations, we arrive at an excursion spot on the main road. And THERE, the local tourists are also flocking. You can drive directly there by car and get a golf cart ride of 500m to the photo spot. And they actually do it, and it's not cheap. Crazy! But well, with ankle-length skirts, sweaters, jackets, and headscarves, I wouldn't want to walk far in the heat either...

Since hitchhiking is understood as a greeting when you stick out your thumb by the roadside in Malaysia, and you're supposed to wave your hand if you want to hitch a ride, we wave to a pickup truck on the main road and they give us a ride on the cargo bed. Luckily! The way back on the main road would have been really unpleasant and all uphill.

We hang out in the town for a while until the Swiss guys say goodbye and the German part of the German-speaking crew heads to the nearby waterfall. -1. One of the guys in the group has a stomach upset with coughing up chunks and prefers to stay behind. So there are four left. This time, it really should be a waterfall and not just whitewater rapids. Once we arrive, I can confirm that it really is a waterfall, although the water stinks terribly. That takes away SOME of the magic.
In the evening, we go out for Malay food together. By now, it's clear that all of us have some red spots. Damn.
The food is unbeatably cheap once again. We pay 3,50€ together for two dishes and two drinks, even though Max ordered the most expensive dish on the menu. It's going to be a real adjustment when we're back in Germany.
Our German and Swiss travel companions continue their journey north the next day, and Max and I stay for one more night but change hostels.
We spend the day eating, hiking, eating cake as a reward for hiking, planning our trip, watching a series, and eating chips while watching the series. Cheat day.
After three nights in the Highlands, we return to Kuala Lumpur. Yeahhhh, hot and humid. But only for one night ;-)