Malaysia's Highland Getaways - Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highlands is famed for its vegetable and tea plantations. However in recent years, deforestation and land clearing to make way for more farms and plantations have become even more rampant. This has resulted in damage to the once pristine environment there. Nevertheless, it still retains its charm as probably the best colonial era hill station retreat in Malaysia. It was my return to these very highlands that I so adore after 12 years. The last time I set foot on the Cameron Highlands was in year 2004 during my ascent of Mount Irau. These highlands were where my mountain adventures first begun. I regard the Cameron Highlands as my training ground for my high altitude adventures and it will always have a special place in my heart.

Colonial charm of the Cameron Highlands hill station retreat.

The difference these days are the large crowds of local tourists flooding the Cameron Highlands. There was a massive traffic jam on the way to the town of Tana Rata from Ringlet. We did not even move more than 1 meter for 30 minutes and decided to turn back to Ringlet. This was not heard off those days. the existing infrastructure of the Cameron Highlands simply cannot cater for the huge number of tourists visiting the highlands.

Bharat tea plantation estate.

We stayed at the well preserved colonial era Lakehouse boutique hotel. The interior of the hotel is just as unique as its exterior. However the beauty of the property was marred by a noisy 24 hour dredging activity in the opposite lake. The dredging is to remove thick build up of silt inside the lake which has caused the Sultan Abu Bakar reservoir to become shallower. In 2014, the rainy season had brought unexpectedly large volumes of water to the small reservoir and prompted the authorities to release the water into the low lying Bertam valley below to avoid the dam from bursting. This had brought immeasurable destruction of lives and property to the entire Bertam Valley area and sent 

vegetable prices soaring for almost a year.  

The 24 hour dredging activity ongoing in the Ringlet reservoir. 

The Lakehouse boutique hotel.

At the terrace of the Lakehouse.