To Cameron Highlands Via Simpang Pulai.

1st August 2005, Simpang Pulai to Cameron Highlands.

Today I experienced for the first time the new road up going to Cameron Highlands from Simpang Pulai. Traditionally to go up to CH one need to go to Tapah and then go up the winding old road for about 60km before reaching CH. From Simpang Pulai the distance is longer at about 80km. But the road here is much better, not less winding but wider and one could drive faster. I was at Simpang Pulai at 8.20pm and arrived at The Heritage Hotel at Tanah Rata at 9.45pm. The night drive is rather scary at times due to some rather tight corners and pitch black darkness on the left and right side of the road. I imagine the views during the day would be nothing less than spectacular. On at least two places there were major slope stabilisation works going on but there were no work on the road itself - the road surface were good all the way. At the back of my mind I dread to think what would happen should I had a puncture or breakdown, there were not that many traffic at that time of the night. Are there wild animals? Bandits? Hantu? I probably won't drive alone again at night on this road. I was lucky the weather was good & I could move up as fast as I could safely. It was a big relieve to arrive at Kg.Raja. It was another 26km before I reached Tanah Rata. Up here you don't need the air condition on, it is nice and cool!

The town centre at Tanah Rata look a bit messy, there were construction works going on to improve the road between Brinchang and Tanah Rata and building under construction in Tanah Rata itself. One particular building is being build too close to the main road. The building columns are right at the edge of the road pavement! Hardly any space for a drain between the building and the road - rules are being broken here as far as planning is concerned!

2nd August 2005, Heritage Hotel, Tanah Rata.

Dinner is steam-boat. The fun having a meal like this is everyone doing sort of 'cooking' before eating. All kinds of food are boiled in hot soup in a deep pan in a the middle of the table. Once cooked, you pick up whatever suits your taste. The meal lasts an hour and a half, rather quick for we had work to do. The food was healthy - nothing is fried and lots of vegetables - but most of all we enjoyed ourselves and had real good conversations. Finished work at 11.30pm and then off to town centre for tek tarik till 1.00am.

3rd August, 2005. Cameron Highlands to Simpang Pulai.

Cameron Highlands during midweek is jam-free, smooth flowing traffic, parking space not a problem. A row of stalls supposed to be selling fruits, vegetables, souvenirs etc. remain closed in Brinchang. I'd imagine all shops would be opened during weekends. But at other spots there are enough shops and stalls open business for whatever visitors want to take home.

From Tanah Rata one need to go to Brinchang, then on to Kg.Raja. From there the road meets the Simpang Pulai - Gua Musang road. This is where the fun really stars, if you enjoy driving that is. From this junction to Simpang Pulai is about 55 kilometre of twisting winding road. You don't want to be passenger when you are travelling on this road. I was alone so the drive was really an interesting one, at times testing my driving skills tackling those corners. It was a pleasure to swerve the car left and right down the hills but I don't think my usual passengers would have approved, they would puke in no time.