A mountain ridge runs through Malaysia from north to south. This is the highest at the Thai border and disappears as you approach Singapore. In the north (below the Thai border) there is a road over this mountain range (East-West Highway).
The next road from east to west goes from Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan.
When Malaysia was still an English colony in the last century, British soldiers explored the interior of Malaysia. They discovered the Highlands, where the original population lived, namely the Orang Asli.
There were mountain peaks up to an altitude of 2000 meters. The cool climate in the mountains reminded the British of Europe and they withdrew during their leave. It was also possible here, in the cool climate, to grow the vegetables that were used to at home. Today it is a popular place for those who want to escape the heat of the warm plains. People go hiking or play golf.
THE MOST FAMOUS IS CAMERON HIGHLANDS, WHICH IS CALLED THE VEGETABLE DISH OF MALAYSIA. HERE YOU CAN VISIT TEA PLANTATIONS, ORCHID FARMS, BUTTERFLY FARMS. YOU CAN ALSO TAKE WONDERFUL WALKS HERE IN VARIOUS LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY OR PLAY A GAME OF GOLF.
Along the winding road to the Cameron Highlands, you can still visit Orang Asli settlements. The Senoi live here. The majority of this population works on tea plantations. The tea is only sold in Malaysia and surroundings. The plantations do not supply enough tea to also export to Europe. The production is too low to be able to export it to Europe.
Yet there is a company in Holland where you can buy BOH tea. It is available exclusively at Coffee World. You can choose from more than 20 blends. Website: www.coffeeworld.nl You can order your Boh tea here “online”.
The Genting Highlands is known for its casino and amusement park. There are also numerous opportunities to play golf here. Many Chinese from Kuala Lumpur go to the casino here in the evening to gamble, which by the way is very impressive. The Chinese are real gamblers and it is nice to see how they gamble.
The amusement park is around a lake with the same attraction as in the Netherlands.
There are various hotels and various options for eating.
Fraser’s Hillis a real destination for walking. There is a small village from which you can undertake wonderful trips. It is located at an altitude of 1200 – 1500 meters. At the odd hours you can drive up, at even hours you can go down in daylight! They are building a new way up. The old road is then only used downwards.
Bukit Larut (1250 m) is the oldest Hill Resort of the English. They called it Maxwell Hill. Tea was grown here for the first time. Unfortunately, that is no longer done. No private vehicles are allowed. You will be brought up in a 4-wheel drive jeep. You can rent a bungalow here, but you must reserve it in Taiping. Don’t you stay the night? Then it might be a tip to walk down.
Bukit Tinggi offers French entertainment. It is a reconstructed French town (Colmar) with a hotel that consists of 8 blocks. A cozy square with terraces and entertainment make it very cozy. It is about an hour and a half’s drive from the center of KL. There is also a golf course and a Japanese village.
Bukit Tinggi can also be an overnight stay en route from KL to Kuantan (or vice versa).
