How long have you last been to Cameron Highlands? Secret Recipe 'tapowed' already. It's been 2 years alreadythey decided that it was not worthwhile and now the shop is occupied by Guardian pharmacy.

Secret Recipe shouldn't be the only reason to visit Cameron Hihglands, It's the end of the year now and the coolest part of the year. It will last till CNY. Just came back from a day trip last few days and it is getting cooler. A few stretches along the Tapah road is only passable one way due to erosion due to the continous rain. Overall still OK.

From Malacca. drive to the PLUS highway and once you reach KL head towards Ipoh and proceed to PLUS highway to Ipoh. Keep a lookout for Tapah exit (for old road) or Simpang Pulai exit for new road. Faster if you are using Tapah exit. Save you 90 minutes of driving to Brinchang or Tanah Rata, C.Highlands. Once you pay toll at Tapah exit, at the traffic lights turn left and then all the way up!

Titiwangsa Hotel is on the newly built shoplots just before entering Brinchang. Reviews from the formmers here said it was noisy and I doubt the hotel has lifts anyway. It's only 3 storey high. with your budget I suggest DeLaFern which is the newest hotel at he moment. The rates is slightly above RM200 and it is nestled between the two main towns, Brinchang and Tanah Rata. For that budget you can actually get Equitorial if you deduct their meal vouchers. Still, contact DeLaFern and see.

Was it the one with many naked paintings? Owned by a educational toy company in Perak. Apparently there are a few there to let. I prefer the Bukit Lowick actually, more colonial. Eu Yan Sang the chinese herbalist store alss own a bungalow there and they do let out too.

You might be too late already!

Got leh! It is all mentioned in the earlier treads. Go back to the earlier threads.

I think your fear is baseless. Go ahead and bring from KL or if you still want to buy, you can get them in Tanah Rata. Namely, Excel Trading and Num Seong Trading.

This post has been edited by etigge: Dec 11 2011, 09:21 PM

Cameroon, hmm................ Let's see. Maybe you can take a flight to Durban, South Africa and ask around from there.

Ha,ha,ha. Actually you can take a bus from Puduraya. There are two bus companies namely Kurnia Bestari and Unititi. I suggest you take Unititi as the buses are better and prompt and the other one is exactly the opposite and they stop at Tapah to fill up the bus. The fare is RM35 one way and get the tickets early from their counter in Puduraya 2nd floor. There 3 services daily at 9.30am , 12 noon and 2.30pm.

Your visit dates are not that busy, don't worry about traffic. The CNY madrush is just over anyway at that time. It is still cooling at that date also.

This post has been edited by etigge: Dec 28 2011, 09:36 AM

This post has been edited by etigge: Dec 31 2011, 09:01 PM

I think most days are OK. Since the visit is not after the 15th day of CNY, it should be OK. The restaurants folks will take holidays after the 15th day (as they usually operates during the CNY) , for maybe a week but not all and definately not on a Saturday and Sunday. Most lorries takes Saturday off and some farm are closed on Saturday but not those tourist farms though. The 'pasar malam' in Brinchang opens only on Fridays and Saturdays after the holidays.

When I meant steamboat is the same, I mean all of them are not nice. I really mean none of them. After 3 years staying there, I have yet to find one that is nice, price aside. I would rather buy a styrofoam box and buys all the ingredients from KL and ice them in the box. Veges, off course can be bought in CH. Boil my own soup in the apartment (usually there is a rice cooker inside and it can be used or better still bring your own steamboat stove and pot). I did that when I bring friends there. Most don't have the premium ingredient like pork or beef sliced thinly, most also don't really have fresh seafood and as said most don't have nice sauces.

So, Str33tBoY, write a review and let us know, OK ?

It's a Friday, means a weekend day plus it is still CNY, my guess it will still be jammed. Usually the jams will start from the CNY eve and last for the first few days but with the Friday and another weekend, this year's will probably last a whole week. Only after that the crowd lessen. The jams are actually a nightmare and usually it starts after Kuala Terla and goes on until after Brinchang. It happens only one way though, funny. The sore thing is parking! Finding a spot for meals is also a headache.

It's Restoren dan Makanan Laut You Hoo. In the afternoons they also sells 'chap fan' and this is where the locals usually eats. Thee's a catch though, for the locals the price is fair but for tourist, you have to take a chance. There are also reviews of this restaurants selling very expensive. Luck, I guess. They do know locals very well as they can see locals eating there often just as OK Tuck Restaurant and a few others.

For tourist all eateries are expensive except an Indian aunty selling Indian food in front of the Planter's Hotel at the car park. Nothing fancy just nice and simple food!

Usually when I travel to places unfamiliar, I just go unplanned. Just travel on non-busy dates and find lodging after reaching the place. Even during peak period, there will be lodgings available. You can get take the bus from Puduraya, Unititi Express is the bus that provides service to CH. From Tanah Rata (that's where the bus stops) you can see many hotels on the main road, just check it out. Walk around town and check out the tourist counters. They have pictures of the attractions that CH offers. You can also book their tours and on the extra time, just sit around sipping hot tea and have your dinner at a relaxing pace. Problems with us Malaysians is they want to do everything on one trip which makes the trip stressful!

There are only two counters in Tanah Rata and that's the only ones I have seen but there are many other in the brochures in hotels. Actually any taxi driver can be the guide if you are visiting places of interest other than Lojing (for Rafflesia hikes) or Lata Iskandar (a waterfall on the route from Tapah). Other than the two places other attractions like Rose Valley, Bee Farm, Kea Farm, Sungai Palas Boh Plantation, Habu Boh Plantation, Strawberry Farm, Sam Poh temple in Brinchang is all within reach of the taxi driver. If you are into hiking, you can check with the hotel in Tanah Rata for Robinson's Fall trail, Lookout Point trail, Gunung Beremban trail is near the hospital, Lookout tower trail is near Tanah Rata police station and all are within walking distance from Tanah Rata.

I suggest you enjoy the slow pace of CH and not rushing from one attraction to another. You can book the taxi for half a day and finish the far places mentioned above and then spend the next day just wandering around Tanah Rata and also do a short hike into the jungle.

I don't know about ice cream but scones wise, reputably Smoke House's is good. They used to served it for tea. Another good one is T-cafe just above Merrybrown Chicken in Tanah Rata. Most tourist go for T-cafe though as some reviews says Smoke House's service is a bit 'lansi'. From Kuantan, you don't have to go all the way to KL anymore as the road from Raub to Bertam Valley in Cameron Highlands is already opened. Alternately you can travel to Gua Musang and from there you can drive to Kg.Raja in Cameron Highland.