EuCHO0.NET - (^(0o)^) The Pigatory

7am - off to Malaysia again with my pseudo-bro JH.. arriving at Brinchang after 9 hours of bus journey.. a lady named Jennifer (i presumed was a manager of Titiwangsa Tours & Travels) greeted us after the coach pulled up.. she gave a real good introduction of Cameron Highlands and of course took the chance to advertise their mini tours.. we signed up for the day tours "Nature Discovery" and "Agro Delight" although they cost RM60 and RM65, respectively..

anyway.. JH got acquainted with a friendly couple (G and P) on board.. so we decided to accompany each other briefly that day.. we walked up together to their hotel Country Lodge.. as expected the atmosphere was really cool and refreshing.. we were like walking practically in the clouds as tiny water drops flittered about us.. i would have very much preferred to have a warm and cozy windbreaker on.. but still the cold was tolerable.. after that we had a nice breakfast at an Indian restaurant.. i liked the roti tissue which was crispy thin and sweet.. thanks to G and P for the breakfast

8:30am - G and P were keen on following us to Tanah Rata where our budget hostel is.. so we took the shuttle down from Brinchang towards the small town.. the driver giving us a good thrill ride along the way..

after checking in to our rooms and dropping our baggage.. us four took a walk up the streets of Tanah Rata along the shophouses.. i was of course looking out for some bubble gums we eventually arrived at the bus station where we got our bus tickets in advance to Malacca.. Tanah Rata is a really small section so there wasn't really much to do here..

10:30am - further up the road is the Century Pines Resort where G and P were to stay for the last 2 of their 4 nights stay in Cameron Highlands.. we went in to get a better look and our friends seemed quite satisfied with the facilities..

off we went again towards the Parit Falls.. which seemed to be the next best convenient site to visit.. the Parit Falls is located along Jungle Trail 4.. a very simple trail to explore recommended for first-time trekkers.. actually we did not even walk the proper trail but rather walked in through a side trail near the resort directly towards the falls.. which is even simpler still.. it was a rather puny waterfall for my liking.. but did take a few photos there..

12pm - lunchtime! after the short walk we went back to the town.. there was a restaurant named T'Cafe located just opposite of the bus station.. the food on the menu looked attractive and we were all hungry from the walk so in we went.. they serve many types of western set meal such as steaks, pastas, pastries and tea.. the food was fair enough.. i would recommend the strawberry tea and the strawberry pastries.. where better to enjoy strawberries and tea than a town that actually produces them..

1:30pm - time to split ways.. a brief farewell with G and P as we return to our respective lodges.. took a long nap in our room.. had planned to visit Brinchang again that night for dinner and to walk the night market.. alas.. it started raining cows and pigs (as in cats and dogs.. only heavier..) so we dragged our cold bodies out of bed.. put on our warmest clothes and readied our umbrellas..

6pm - we left our rooms towards the main street.. still the rain continued to pour.. so much for Brinchang.. instead we picked a nearby Hong Kong restaurant for a nice warm steamboat dinner.. not much of a choice either since it is either Indian food or chinese steamboat if we were to sample the local flavor..

it costs only RM12 per person for the steamboat set meal.. must say that there could not be a better time to have a hot steaming pot of soup in front of one's face.. no Brinchang but the steamboat was great

8pm - that's all for the day.. explored the opposite side of the street for a short while.. but rain plus full stomach means go back to room early.. whaha.. turn in early for the night and prepare for the Nature and Agro tours the next day.. by the way.. there was free wireless facility at Daniel's Lodge and it was fun to be able to surf the internet on my laptop which i brought along for this trip.. crazy stuff huh.. i would not have imagined lugging my laptop all the way up the highlands before this..