What can be done in the Cameron Highlands? Plant tea, strawberries and vegetables. And as a tourist? You can cool down from the heat of the rest of Malaysia and while hiking on one of 15 selected routes you can (not only) view these agricultural activities. Highlights among these are without doubt the enormous tea plantations in all shades of green, the long stretches of glass houses with strawberries in pots have less charm.

Jason, a local guide, leads in a five-hour hike over steep steps made of roots and through the undergrowth to a tea plantation and answers questions about fauna and Malayan styles of living on the way. Next to the “path” there are lots of flesh-eating (or rather deadly swimming pools offering) plants, wild orchids and beautiful views.

Best known in the area is Boh-Tea: during our extensive walk from the public bus to the factory we can watch the workers harvesting tea. But actually this represents only a more elaborate way of cutting hedges.

After taking a look at the goings-on in the factory and tea with scone on the viewing platform we are now well-informed about how tea is made – essential knowledge for the Brit in me 😉 – and ready again for the heat of the lowlands. Next stop: Kuala Lumpur.

As the first days were quite intense after all, we now take it easy on the island Perhentian Besar. In the warm, mostly crystall-clear water of beach Pauh there are plenty of fish to see and once in a while a turtle swims by. In the evening we have delicious grilled fish. Makes you want to stay 🙂