The Lakehouse





Tea Plantation





This blog is usually written retrospectively but occasionally time allows for it to be scripted as the journey in undertaken. This is the case with an entry about the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia.The Cameron Highlands seemed to be a Nirvana on the previous trips taken to Malaysia. As one marvelled at the modernity of Kuala Lumpur or the tropical excellence of Langkawi here was a part of the Malay peninsula that evoked images of Scotland. Surely not.Inevitably the journey began in KL but fears of hours spent negotiating traffic were unfounded and within twenty minutes were were on the road north, initially on the main highway to Ipoh.Then after turning to the Highlands we came across extraordinary scenery. Here the single carriageway road rose and twisted through rain forest and lush vegetation. No need to rush. Only one road takes traffic through the Highlands and it is not long before you come up behind a slow-moving heavy vehicle. The pace of travel naturally crawls.Eventually we came across our destination, a mock-Tudor Lodge close to the village of Ringlet. It goes by the name of The Lakehouse given it's proximity to a large muddy reservoir that provides the water for a hydro electric plant some miles away.Despite looking like a large Scottish hunting lodge it was in fact the brain child of an ex-patriot Brit in the 1960s. It strangely works. Around this area are any number of Malaysian tea plantations. We chose to look at one of the bigger ones, BOH. You can attach yourself to a short tour of the works and enjoy tea on cakes in the not-so humid air that you find in Kuala Lumpur. There is also ashort walk to a nearby summit for unsurpassed views.The Highlands are where you will find any number of strawberry farms selling their fresh produce. The unique atmospheric conditions allows for a near year-round supply of this popular fruit. This area of Malaysia is popular with tourists without being overrun. It is part English Lake District, Scottish Grampian and Malaysian rain forest. The Cameron Highlands are, fair to say, unique.