The trip up to the Cameron Highlands was a stressful one, not because of the drive but because the Tigers were playing. Just as we arrived, so did the final siren of the game, with “Onto the next” as the caption under a post from the Tigers. Nothing new here.

As we stepped off the bus, we were confused, as the cold weather shocked our bodies and had us reaching for our jumpers—something we weren’t used to in Southeast Asia (SEA). After settling into our accommodation, it was clear we needed some food. As we strolled down the road to the main strip, Indian cuisine seemed to be the choice for the night—and ultimately, for the next three nights, lol. We both developed a hidden love for Indian food, but how could you not? 1) It was so cheap, and 2) It tasted amazing. We did our usual and came up with an itinerary for the next three days. First step: hire a vehicle to get around, since not much was within walking distance. But that could wait until the morning.

Day One

The next morning, we managed to secure a motorbike from our hotel. In no time, we were on the road, and I, as always, was the designated driver with Cass directing from behind. A good combination that has continued to work throughout our trip so far… Our first stop was a cute little hillside café overlooking a vast landscape filled with goats, rams, rivers, and an abundance of flora. The food was lovely, but the same can’t be said for the coffee. We’ve learned that you can’t rely on coffee in SEA—it’s very hit or miss, with more misses than hits.

Next, we headed to The Sheep Sanctuary. Imagine 20 sheep and llamas freely roaming, with an abundance of people all holding food. This was funny and a bit scary, as you’d be looking one way at a sheep approaching, only for your hand to be nibbled at by one behind you. It was fun while it lasted, but not for long, as the sheep were very hungry.

After that, we found ourselves at the Big Red Strawberry Farm, a must-visit when in this gorgeous town. Here, you can pick your own strawberries (minimum 1kg). Side note: Cameron Highlands is situated in the mountains, so you can bet this farm was quite hilly. Nevertheless, we made our way to the strawberry plants and began picking! It was an enjoyable experience, but one I’m grateful for only doing once. I now empathise with those who come to Australia for similar rural work. As we sat down, we devoured the best strawberries we’ve ever had—no surprise, since we picked the best of the bunch. However, let it be known: there was no way we were finishing an entire kilo of strawberries. Despite this, we managed to scoff down a strawberry sundae, and it was absolutely delicious.

Continuing our busy day, we visited the Agro Market, a quintessential stop in the Highlands, offering lush greenery and many different species of flora and fauna. This place was truly beautiful and also gave us some much-needed exercise after our indulgence.

After a huge day of exploring, we made our way back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Day Two 

We were up early on Sunday morning to watch the sunrise, although the sun doesn’t rise before 7:30am, so “early” might be a stretch. The ride there was challenging in the dark, especially along the cliff front—definitely not for the faint-hearted. It was all worth it, though, as the morning was perfect, watching the light shine over the tea fields before being engulfed by looming clouds. After about an hour, we made our way to BOH Tea Plantation for breakfast and, of course, tea. Once climbing a few more stairs, we reached the café overlooking the tea fields and got the perfect seat inside, right next to the window! Here, we enjoyed some pastries with the plantation’s traditional tea. Cass and I weren’t the biggest fans of the tea (mostly because they seem to mix it with condensed milk), but the pastries—my goodness, they were delicious!

After our food fix, we headed to Flora Park. We managed to get there early enough and were among the first groups in the park. This place was massive, showcasing the grand landscape filled with vibrant hues of every color imaginable. We spent hours exploring inside and out—it was one of our favorite destinations in Cameron Highlands. However, we did get lost at one point because it was so big. The landscape on the hill was beautiful, and photos don’t do it justice. I never thought I’d love flora so much. We climbed all the way to the top of the hill, exploring along the way and found a much-needed a café at the top. After a short coffee stop, we headed back down and out to head home for the day.

After cooling off in our hotel, it was time for dinner, followed by an episode of Severance. This series has been one we’ve kept up with and absolutely love. We highly recommend giving it a watch.

Day Three

A sleep-in was warranted this morning before a short run around town. The idea is to stay fit while travelling the world, which is difficult but doable—though I might need to lay off the alcohol, lol.

Our first destination for the day was the famous Cameron Valley Tea House. Similar to BOH Tea Plantation but on a much larger scale, here we were able to roam the stunning tea fields and even saw the staff at work, picking tea leaves. Of course, we had to taste the tea here, which was much like the one from the previous day, and our opinion still stands. However, we did try a couple of scones, which were top-tier.

After a little mix-up with the taxi, we were on our way home. No problems though, as it gave us time to hit the gym, continuing our little health kick. The gyms here don’t believe in air conditioning, and my goodness, when you’re four stories up training in a confined space, it gets hot—like a sauna!

Our last night saw us visit another Indian restaurant. I felt as if I needed to go back to the gym straight away—let’s just say it’s not the healthiest cuisine.

Our Feelings 

Our time in Cameron Highlands was beautiful. This rural town had an abundance of culture, flora, and of course, tea. The cooler climate was a nice change, and only added to what was an already amazing experience. We highly recommend a visit to the Cameron Highlands, which by us, will be missed!