The Beauty of Cameron (part 1)

I am sure that everybody had been to Cameron Highlands. But how many had really see the true colors of Cameron Highlands?

Cameron Highland is located in the state of Pahang and access to the highlands is by road only. it is tricky to some drivers as the roads are winding and certain driving skills is required. Senang citer kene tere giler gaban la nak masuk.

Once there you'll be suprised. it is heaven on earth. The cool and fresh environment would immedietly captures your heart.

the travelling time would take 2-3 hours depending on the driver (of course!) But it's worth it. beyond the winding road, you'll see there are still orang asli living between the trees. Although some technology managed to reach them (exp: electricity) some of them are still primitive.

Cameron Highlands consists of 3 main towns and a few smaller villages and town totaling about nine altogether. According to Wikipedia there are nine towns, in no particular order they are Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Ringlet, Kea Farm (which personally I didn't even feel it was like a town or village) Tringkap, Bertam Valley, Kuala Terla, Kampung Raja and Blue Valley. Some towns are so small I would consider them as village rather than town. Anyway, of the most interesting would be the main tourist towns - Tanah Rata and Brinchang.

If you are driving up from Tapah way, after about 45km distance, you will arrived first at Ringlet. Then a further 13km away, you will reach the main town of Tanah Rata. If you continue on for another 3km, you will reach the town of Brinchang.

Ringlet felt more like a trading area for commercial activities with its various "kedai runcit" and old style shops for the Cameron Highland folks. It is usually bypassed by most visitors. For the intrepid explorer it could be an interesting place to walk about. This town was the first settlement in the Cameron Highlands so it has a long history around this area. As you drive around the bend on the main road you can see the vast valley area populated by the old style housing of the locals.

Along the route between Ringlet to Tanah Rata as you travel onwards to the highlands, you will find the charming tudor style country house Lakehouse Cameron Highland Hotel, sitting atop a hill, overlooking a sorry looking lake. Opposite the hotel is a short row of market stalls where vegetables, flowers and souvenirs can be found.

Tanah Rata is where you might base your stay. With its many shops, eateries, banks and government buildings, it would be considered the hub of Cameron Highlands.
Brinchang is somewhat more crowded, and looking for a parking space on peak period may be a problem here. There use to be a night market at the central parking lot. But it has now shifted to a new location located at the street between Cactus Valley and Star Regency Hotel Apartments with ample parking space in front of Brinchang Police Station.

Tringkap, Bertam Valley, Kuala Terla, Kampung Raja and Blue Valley are located on the other end of Cameron Highlands which you will surely pass by these towns and villages if you using the Simpang Pulai way. The roads here are rather haphazard and sometimes narrow which are ill equip to handle the heavier traffic volume during holiday breaks as more and more visitors use the easier Simpang Pulai way to travel to the highlands.

These towns are becoming better known now that the new route passes through these places. Cameron Highlands or on the way to Gua Musang, and like me maybe you don't even take note they existed while traveling along the road. I didn't know they even existed until I read about some environmental issues about the Lojing area. Talk about selective information retention! Our brain just sift through and take in only the relevant information and ignore the rest.

Up there is just plain beautiful. If you're staying at Brinchang, there would be a daily night market selling everything from pillows to cute strawberry t-shirts. But choose wisely as you may end up spending more than you'll ever need. Some of the items are cheap! They also sells farm goods such as cabbages strawberries and many more. They are fresh to the last taste!