Cameron Highlands and Pulau Penang

From KL we took a bus north and headed inland to the cooler, wetter climate of the Cameron Highlands. We stayed in the areas largest town, Tanah Rata, around five hours from KL. Cameron Highlands is famous for, amongst other things, tea plantations and the many jungle treks.

We booked ourselves onto the ‘Countryside Tour’ which took us to a rose garden, butterfly farm, Buddhist temple and a strawberry farm, where we devoured a delicious strawberry milkshake. Best of all, we visited the BOH (Best of Highlands) Tea Plantation.

We stood at the top of the plantation and looked down on acre upon acre of tea plants, covering the ground as far as the eye could see. We were given a brief talk on the production process before taking a tour of the factory. We then retired to the factory tea rooms to enjoy a cup of BOH with scones and jam before heading back to Tanah Rata.

Prayer candles in the Buddhist temple.

BOH Tea Plantation.

Stephie enjoying a cup of BOH at their tea rooms overlooking the plantation.

From Tanah Rata we hopped back on the bus and headed for the island of Pulau Penang, the oldest of the British Strait settlements, pre-dating both Singapore and Melaka.

We stayed in the old colonial city of Georgetown at the north-eastern corner of Pulau Penang on Lovers Lane. So called on account of it being where wealthy men kept their mistresses. Our main reason for heading here was its reputation as the capital of hawker food in Malaysia, and it didn’t disappoint.

For breakfast we enjoyed Roti Canai Telur (Indian bread with a kind of omelette) and Teh Tarik (literally "pulled tea"). For lunch and dinner we enjoyed Char Kway Teow, (stir-fried rice noodles with shrimp and sausage) Assam Laksa (hot and sour soup with noodles) Curry Mee (spicy noodle soup with prawns) which had me sweating. Roasted Duck Rice, Roasted Chicken Rice, Cheese Nann with Tandoori chicken, Mee Goreng (Indian stir-fried noodle dish) Satay, fried and BBQ chicken (not necessarily in that order) all washed down with either an ice cold Tiger beer or Amla juice (aka Indian gooseberry).

Roti Canai Telur and Teh Tarik.

Roasted chicken rice.

Cheese Nann with Tandoori chicken - before and very shortly after.

Oh and aside from stuffing our faces we also managed to find time to visit the Kek Lok Si Temple, ("Temple of Supreme Bliss") the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia.

Kek Lok Si Temple detail.

Standing atop the pegoda at Kek Lok Si Temple.

We leave Georgetown today with full bellies and take a ferry north (so long as it doesn’t sink) to the island of Langkawi, our final stop in Malaysia before heading to Thailand.