Cameron Highlands (2008)

BOH's old tea factory. Admission is free. There's a guided tour every half an hour from 9.a.m. – 4.30p.m. daily except Mondays.

This old factory produces tea equivalent to 820,000 cups per day!

Plucking or harvesting the tea leaves

One of the rolling machines in the factory

Some stages from tea bushes to tea cups

Paid tea tasting session can be arranged

Tea'Ria

Some BOH Tea bought at BOH Tea Centre. They were much cheaper than those sold elsewhere. I think BOH Cameronian Gold Blend is the best black tea ever! My coffee–drinker friends told me that BOH coffee is good too.

In the photo: Cameronian Gold Blend, BOH Ice Blackcurrant Tea, BOH Ice Green Tea with Lime, BOH Ice Peach Tea, Strawberry Raspberry, Seri Songket Mango, Seri Songket Passion Fruit, Seri Songket Earl Grey with Tangerine and Seri Songket Lychee with Rose.

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More of the beautiful BOH Tea Centre in Sungai Palas.

Cameron Highlands (2008)

BOH's original design

A map showing BOH's tea gardens

The sign near the public carpark

Up, up we climbed

BOH's lovely tea leaves

The views from BOH Tea Centre

The public washrooms. Those were bamboo poles.

Local timber as walls. Unique!

Views from Tea'Ria, the café at BOH Tea Centre

After a few stops to get some fruits and vegetables on the way up, we headed to BOH Tea Centre in Sungai Palas. The centre is open from 9a.m. – 4.30p.m. daily (closed on Mondays). Admission is free. BOH is Malaysia's largest black tea producer. Read more about BOH on www.boh.com.my.

Cameron Highlands (2008)

Big forest bamboo shoots collected by the local aborigines for sale

Tampoi sold by the local aborigines

View of the highlands on the way up

Welcome to Cameron Highlands

Some plants for sale

Salad leaves and white radish

Baby bok choy (left) and leeks

Sweet cherry tomatoes

Fresh sweet corns. Good on its own. No need to cook 'em.

After a long hiatus (more than 10 years!), I returned to Cameron Highlands with my parents and cousins. My parents are regular visitors of Cameron. We used the Simpang Pulai route on our way up and the long, winding Tapah route on our way back. If you've motion sickness, use the Simpang Pulai route.

A bit about Cameron:

Cameron Highlands is a highland region located about 121 km east of Ipoh and about 214 km north of Kuala Lumpur, in the state of Pahang, Malaysia. At 5,000 ft (1,500 m) above sea level, it is the highest area on the mainland, enjoys a cool climate, with temperatures no higher than 25°C and rarely falls below 12°C year–round. Cameron Highlands is a district in the state of Pahang Darul Makmur although the road entrance is via Tapah and Simpang Pulai in the state of Perak Darul Ridzuan. The size of the whole Cameron Highlands district is roughly two and a quarter times the size of Singapore.

Cameron Highlands was discovered by government surveyor William Cameron on a mapping expedition in 1885. However, it was Sir George Maxwell, Chief Secretary during 1920 –1926, who was responsible for putting Cameron Highlands on the map of Malaysia. Upon the initiative of Maxwell, the highlands were developed as a hill station. The cool weather attracted people to build homes and retreats on the plateau and before long, a small community was established.

Cameron Highlands comprises a series of little townships inclusive of Ringlet, Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Tringkap, Kuala Terla and Kampung Raja. Visitors can take a walk through little villages, visit the butterfly, fruit, vegetable and apiary farms, and sprawling tea plantations or dine at the delightful Tudor–styled country inns.

Sources: Wiki and Tourism Malaysia.

Homemade 'Aidilfitri Goodies

Some palas leaves for Ketupat Pulut (glutinous rice cakes)

My aunt stuffing the par–boiled black glutinous rice into a semi–weaved ketupat.

Ketupat Pulut (glutinous rice cakes) in the making

Some stuffed and weaved ketupat, waiting to be boiled again before serving.

The end results. Ketupat Pulut originates in the northern states of Malaysia. Ketupat Pulut is par–cooked glutinous rice in coconut milk, wrapped with palm leaves in a triangular shape & then boiled. The texture is sticky, some would add groundnuts for extra bite & flavour or use black glutinous rice.

Ketupat is usually served with Rendang or Serunding. Rendang is spicy chicken or beef curry cooked with shallots, onions, chillies, lemongrass, galangal & coconut milk. Serunding is spicy chicken/beef/fish floss fried with shallots, chillies, spices and grated coconut.

Ketupat Pulut Hitam (black glutinous rice cakes) with Beef Rendang

My mum's Biskut Arab

Mum's Chocolate Topping Biscuits; more popularly known as Almond London.

Mum's Biskut Buah Pinggang

Mum's Steamed Fruitcakes

Mum's Orange Cakes

The traditional Kek Gula Hangus (Honeycomb Cake), another favourite.

Grandma's ketupat with chicken curry

A relative's tasty biryani rice with ayam masak merah (chicken in chilli and tomato sauce) and daging masak hitam (beef in black sauce)

Daging bakar (Malay–style grilled beef slices) and condiments for bihun sup (vermicelli soup) served at a relative's.