Over the Thaipusum weekend, I went to Cameron Highlands for the first time in my life. I had the preconception that Cameron was perhaps slightly smaller than Genting, with a small settlement of farmers and tea plantation workers. I was wrong.
Cameron Valley tea plantation
I now see why Cameron Highlands is spelled in a plural, there are quite a few towns scattered around near the top of the mountain range: Tanah Rata, Brinchang, Kampung Raja, Blue Valley, Ringlet, Tringkap; with a combined population of some 35,000 people.
strawberry farm
The people at Cameron actually live in Cameron, and many of them are born there, and actually refer to the Malaysia outside Cameron as “low lands”. They operate just like any small town except for the fact that temperature is a cool 8-10c lower than average. Day time peaks at about 28c and at night, it hovers at about 18-20c, I like it very much.
steamboat at BrinjangBrinchang, Cameron Hignlands
Our trip started out brightly, with 3 cars and 10 of us in a 4, 3, 3 formation. About 330 meters up (it’s about 1200 meters at Tanah Rata), our trip came to a slight interruption, and you can read about that at Horng’s blog. We ended up with 2 small hatchbacks, 10 adults, and way too much luggage for 1-night stay.
this is half of the group
Alas, the little incident did not derail out trip. We stayed at a bungalow with a fireplace and had baked potatoe, we had steamboat, tea and scones, visited strawberry farm and bee farm, shoots our own cheesy videos, and had loads of fun in between. It was absolutely awesome.
Mellissa and I
As with all trips, to me, destination come after the company, and I had the best with me.
There will be more write ups on this trip. The steamboat, the self baked sweet potato in the fire place, and maybe even a few silly videos. Stay tuned!
I did not know the existence of this place until my house mate Huey Fang the SS2 dining specialist (been to almost all restaurants in SS2 since she will usually get lost at other places) pointed it out to me last night. We then decided to have a light dinner there instead of visiting our frequent mamak square since the sky doesn’t look to be staying dry for long.
The name of the place is 中国华佗馆, pronounced “zhong kwok wah thor kwoon” in Cantonese. I didn’t spot any English or Malay names other than the HERBAL TEA printed under one of the traditional herbal tea containers (see picture below).
smallish place with nice ambiance, excellent porridge
The restaurant, only occupying half a shop lot, is pretty small but not overly crammed. The menu is pretty simple, offering several types of Herbal tea, “thong sui” (糖水), “guai leng gou” (龟零膏), and a few light dishes that can pass for a meal.
I ordered a five flower herbal (五华茶) tea and fish ball with glass noodle, while the other noobs went for porridge (神仙粥), chee cheong fun, and snow fungus with longan thong sui.
“thong sui”, fish ball soup, “chee cheong fun”, and a satisfied customer
The porridge was probably the best dishes. while the chee cheong fun and fish ball soup were pretty good as well. At less than RM 4.00 per dish, there’s pretty good value for money too. My traditional herbal tea and the thong sui were RM 2.00 per bowl (yes, old school bowl, not glass) were excellent too. I have also heard good things about the fried rice, but don’t bother to order the carrot cakes or curry chicken rice.
situated just the row behind McDonald’s at PJ SS2
This is a pretty nice little hide-out at the frenzy that is SS2. I’ll definitely go there again.
Address:
Jalan SS 2/55,
Petaling Jaya, Selangor
GPS: 3.116959, 101.621400
How many of you are sick of Starbucks and Coffeebeans? Places with somewhat decent drinks but basically no FOOD, and with lotsa Ah Bengs gathering at those places lately like vultures surrounding a dying elephant… er.. how to continue.. nevermind…
here’s how to get there, noob!
Introducing, TEAPOT Cafe at SS2. A place for tea lover, a drink with less caffien and won’t stain your teeth. Plus, it also makes you look slightly more sophisticated, especially if you can fake a British accent (something even the mat salleh can hardly do these days.)
nice environment yeh? just abit too many aunties tho. =/
Other than a handsome choice of tea, including the common Earl Grey, English Breakfast, to the more exotic fruit teas, they serve a variety of local and western food too. I tried their Chicken Kiev, and it was pretty good. Nice big flab of chicken breast with juicy butter & herbs trapped inside with the help of a few tooth picks. Yumm. Fish & Chips
FA said Hi, and made a FU Peace sign
This is a perfect place to bring your chick for a date and away from prying eyes of the Ah Bengs at Starbucks & Coffeebean. It shows that you have taste, or that you merely read this blog. If you don’t have a gf/bf, you can always be like me, bring someone whom you can somewhat confuse otherd to be your significant other, contrary to the reality. heehee
Cheers!
p/s: If you’re a hot chick and you would like to go there with me, drop me a mail!
Address:
169, Jalan SS2/24
Petaling Jaya
GPS: 3.116348, 101.622355
Tel: 03-7875 3024
