The Cameron Highlands is 712 km of beautiful rolling hills and green lush vegetation about 1500 meters above sea level in the Titiwangsa Range. We spent a relaxing day visiting the many agricultural attractions of this peaceful hill station.
You can’t go far in the Highlands without seeing strawberries. The climate and hydroponic growing method allow the strawberries to be harvested year-round. They grow the berries above ground, hanging from little packs of coconut shells and nutrients. There are countless farms for you to explore, pick your own strawberries, and enjoy some fresh treats. We particularly enjoyed the fresh strawberries with cream, strawberry shakes, and dried strawberries.
Butterflies and insects abound in the tropical climate and vegetation of the highlands. We visited a little butterfly farm that also boasted a collection of extremely large beetles, snakes, spiders, scorpions, and other huge, frightening insects that I wouldn’t want to come across in the jungle. The butterflies were very nice though!
The most striking sight in the highlands are the never-ending bright green rows of tea that grow up and down the hills. We visited Malaysia’s leading tea grower, BOH Plantations. The company produces 4 million kilograms of tea each year (that’s about 6 cups a day). We watched the workers in the fields collect the leaves, toured the factory, and enjoyed a cup of tea and scone overlooking the expansive farmland from a great vantage point.
Our next stop found us wandering through rows and rows of roses, carnations, chrysanthemum, dalia, geranium, orchid, and other tropical flowers. The nurseries in the Cameron Highlands are Malaysia’s largest fresh flower producers.
We ended our day at the fifth largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, Sam Poh. It was the perfect tranquil ending to a lazy, tea-tasting, food-eating day.
The Cameron Highlands has a lot to offer, especially if you are in need of relaxation. There are some great local food stalls with friendly people, and loads of farms, plantations, jungle treks, produce markets, hostels, guesthouses, and hotels to make this a great backpacker destination!
Posted from: George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Kim & Clark Kays quit their jobs for an uncertain trip around the world. Originally from St. Louis, they relocated to Chicago after getting married in 2005. After working for five years in middle school and the Fortune 500, they realized there was more to life than the 9-to-5, so made the crazy decision to exchange money for time rather than the other way around.
Their hobbies include fighting over writing styles and searching for gelato. They think food, beer, architecture, and photography are some of the best things about travel—especially when combined. Their travel blog, To Uncertainty and Beyond, includes long-term travel tips as well as humorous anecdotes from their journey through Europe and Asia. They invite you to experience their journey and learn from their adventures and mistakes.
