Cameron Highlands ~ land of all things strawberry

It sounds like an unlikely name for a place in an Asian country but Cameron Highlands (I think) was probably named in the time of British colonisation in Malaysia.

The view from the top of our apartment block

The hills surrounding the farms in the valley are always covered in swirling mist.

View from our window on the way there

 

It’s one of only two cold spots in Malaysia, the other is Genting Highlands. Both are the highest points on the mainland. When I say cold I don’t mean cold to you and me, I mean cold to the natives. It was quite funny to see my extended family rugging up in big parkers, snow jackets, gloves, beanies, ear muffs and other assortments of cold weather gear when I was perfectly comfortable in the 20˚C air. The coldest temperature in the daytime got to about 17˚C which to me is perfect (those who know me know that I wear shorts and t-shirts around the house in 10˚C...).

My cute little cousin Deborah all rugged up

I love Chloe's strawberry earmuffs!

I think someone got a little hungry in the car... (My cousin Rachel)

What is Cameron Highlands famous for? Its farms of course. Because of the tropical location of Malaysia, it’s impossible to grow certain fruits and vegetables (mostly western varieties) in most parts of the mainland. Cameron Highlands therefore is the biggest producer of teas, fungi, flowers, tomatoes, lettuce... Name anything that needs a controlled temperature, water level and a green house and Cameron Highlands probably grows it.

Flowers of every variety

Tomatoes in a greenhouse

Cacti and succulents as far as the eye can see- I wish I could've taken some home!

"Crap! They caught me!"... Lolz. That eye looks demented Milz >__<

Strawberries on the left, hydroponic lettuce on the right

Strawberries are one of the most popular tourist/ local attractions in Cameron Highlands. I don’t just mean the edible kind; they really advertise strawberries of every kind. I think we bought 6 strawberry cushions, earmuffs, slippers, soap... They have strawberry flavoured/ shaped EVERYTHING. Tiff and I wanted to try the strawberry wine before we left but we didn’t get a chance. We did get to try fresh strawberries at a strawberry farm (there’s “Self Pluck” strawberry farms everywhere lolz) and I have to say, I was a bit disappointed. The strawberries were tiny and tart – nothing like the genetically modified monsters you see in Australian supermarkets. They went really well with vanilla ice cream though.

Dried strawberries are... I dunno. A bit too sweet for me.

These strawberry popsicles are yummo but packed with sugar... O_o

See? I told you they had strawberry EVERYTHING!

These strawberries are considered big in size in Malaysia

I've always wondered what "Taman Agro Tourism" translated to in English...

'And it was decreed that the 3 little strawberries shall rule munchkin land'... *Ahem.

Cute cup of strawberries with cute kid standing next to it- these strawberries are plastic though.

Fried strawberry ice cream heart with fresh strawberries and cream :D

Yogurt, fresh strawberries and honey (mashed potato and gravy in the background...)

Strawberry sundae. Gah. Cravings... *drools.

I love the signs that advertise "Self Pluck" strawberries lol. It is strangely very fun picking your own produce.

We munched our way through fresh hydroponic lettuce, fresh strawberries, had a family steam boat with local mushrooms, and only briefly saw beautiful tea plantations and flowers. I think that the most disappointing part of our trip to Cameron Highlands was that we only got to stop over at the tea plantations and flower nurseries. I really wish we’d had a proper chance to look around but my uncles and aunts had to go back to work the day after so apart from the night markets and fresh produce market, we didn’t get to look at anything in detail. Oh well, fair enough I suppose but next time I’m taking some time to unwind with a nice local cup of tea and a strawberry sundae :D

German lemons are HUGE!!!

Steamboat - too many different things to list; use your imagination.

I swear they have every flavour of Cheetos and Twisty in Malaysia - I've taken more Twisty flavour pics but haven't posted them yet. Some other flavours were Curry Twisties and Durian Cheetos!

At the markets we munched on the local street hawker version of Tempura. Basically battered and fried veges. I think I ate my weight in steamed sweet potatoes too... >__<    O__O

The market entrance

Me. Tea. Me drink tea? No... :(

Lunch anyone? Ribbit. Frogs are delicious- better than chicken in my opinion ;)

I've never seen anyone gut, skin and clean a frog so fast before! This guy should contact the Guinness World Book of Records- the whole process took less than 1 minute!

Kek Lok Si temple, Air Itam, Penang

Sometimes I enter a building meant for prayers, a shrine dedicated to the Gods, a temple enshrining the spirit of a deity and I feel with all my being that something higher than the average mortal surely had a hand in inspiring the creation of such a place. Kek Lok Si temple also made that impression on me.

The main pagoda and surrounding hills rising up to meet the sky

The climb up to the temple situated in Air Itam (also spelt Ayer Itam) was probably the most strenuous I’ve made all holiday... which is not saying much seeing as most of my time in Penang seems to have been spent on level ground in air conditioned shopping centres. The bargains I made as I browsed the stalls on the way up to the temple were few and far between. This was mostly because of the clever system predetermined by desperate shop keepers – all of the stalls sell the same gimmicky products but the prices gradually get more expensive as you climb the hill and then get even cheaper still when you descend. However, if you’re unfortunate enough to be spotted as desperate to buy a certain item, the price increases threefold and only reduces down to a bare minimum price after you walk 2 metres away from the stall. Price tags of course are just for show. I found myself being ripped off a couple of times but I suppose I can’t really call myself much of a traveller if I haven’t been ripped off in a market place at least a once.

PLASTIC POO!!! Can you believe they sell this crap??? ;P

Typical items sold up the hill

 

Overpriced hill side stalls aside, the temple itself was the main attraction. There was something almost magical about the way the ornate roof tops rose to stand among green jungle and cloud capped mountains. I took pictures of the whole island sprawled beneath the giant bronze Kuan Yin statue  – the reality is that the island is really just a blip on the map but geez it’s beautiful. I could go on forever but I think the pictures speak for themselves.

The view of the temple from the bottom of the hill - spot the white man? That's my grandpa :D

I’ll definitely be coming back here on my next trip to Penang to pay my respects and admire this tiny island off the coast of Malaysia.

Lower forecourt

Ornate rooftops - haven't been cleaned in a while but they're beautiful nonetheless

Too many koi in one pond; they were huge, the pond was small but they still looked majestic

My grandpa and my uncle Hwa at the base of the bronze Kuan Yin statue

Can you spot Chloe? ;P

A rare picture of my grandparents together and happy :)

Inner gardens at the peak; you have to take a cable car to get to the top

Turtle pond at the base of the temple

So many turtles in one pond!

Feeding frenzy! Om nom nom >__<

Construction work still going on after 5 years

You can't really see how big the bronze Kuan Yin statue is but trust me, it's HUGE.

Pagoda

Lower level of the temple