About that,maybe give and take 15 minutes. But from Kg.Raja to Brinchang might take another half an hour because they keep picking up passengers!

I too prefer the Tapah Road is travelling from KL but if you are from the North there's no choice. The accident occured 15 kms. from the Simpang Pulai junction and that part is actually quite fast although the speed limit is only 50 or 60 kmh. It looks easy but from the bumper scratches on the road dividers proves that it is actually quite hazardous. Not to mention the traffic operations there or maybe a patrol car 'cari makan' there.

I heard from friends in CH, it is a double decker bus and these buses centre of gravity is too high for winding roads like those and in the hands of Malaysian drivers the risk is doubled!

Funny thing is drivers from CH can reach Kampong Raja from Simpang Pulai junction in just a mere 45 minutes! They always make the trip for a drinking binge in Ipoh.

It is an average hotel but convenient as the location is right in the heart of Brinchang. As for parking wise, it is a disaster . You have to park, double park in front of the hotel, public parking lots around the back and front of hotel. Public Bank is also annexed to its building which makes the parking woes worse! Then again, it happens to all hotels located in Brinchang, hehe. Not to forget the local wet market is also situated there.

I think most apartments are already booked by now. It's only a month to go before CNY. Good Luck but I think hotels are still available. There are apartments in Tringkap area too but it is a bit far from Brinchang and Tanah Rata. You can contact the DJ (Ah Choi) at the karaoke in Rosa Pasadena for the apartments in Tringkap. He is from that village and he might be able to recommend others if his is booked.

That wantan mee stall is the owner of that shop and they only operate mornings. Must be loaded. I have tried renting their premises for the night but they won't rent it. Even through friends of them also no go! Their mee sucks too, LOL. Best wantan mee in Cameron is still 'Low Chee Hou' or old taste near the Strawberry Moment. At least you get real 'char siew'. OK Tuck OK larr considering it is small town. I have tried others and they are even worse. Anyone tried Ngau Kee in Kg.Raja? For 6 person I kena almost RM280 with 5 dishes and one fish among them. The Temoleh fish head cost RM120! and even that it was not steamed properly and had to be re -steamed and spoling the who;e dish.

I would advise those who rents apartments to buy some food from their hometown like ham,bacon etc. and cook themself. I am sure there will be less complaints.

Both are equal in rooms but De La fern is newer but facilities like meals and jalan jalan is more convenient at Century Pines. Century Pines is located near the bus station, in front of a public park, a short hop to Starbucks and Merrybrown, T-cafe and other restaurants and shops. Not to mention the trail just beside Century Pines that will lead to a lookout tower on the slopes of Gunung Beremban and further on will lead you to the Forestry Dept. near Taman Setia.

DeLaFern is on the mainroad from Tanah Rata to Brinchang which is in the middle of two towns and it would be a bore to drive everytime you need something.

Strawberry Moment is behind Regency Apartments in front of the Petronas Station in Brinchang. Expensive native products! Problem is the shop owners there have two sets of prices, one for locals (they can differentiate as the place and population is small) and another for tourist. Singaporeans are slaughtered even more kaw-kaw. The food is Tanah Rata is cheaper but not much but food is better tasting in Brinchang. Tanah Rata is a more official town as governmental offices are located there. One thing though Tanah Rata has less flies as there are no farms around there.

I read this in one of the blogs and I think Smokehouse is very lansi liao! They can't accomodate a lady's urgency and to think of it they have 21 pax entourage for scones and tea there. They miss that one.

[quote]Daddykhong had a company trip to Cameron Highlands last week but before I tell you more about the trip here, I have to make a PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT. If you are ever in the vicinity of The Smokehouse Hotel in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands and you have to answer the call of nature. Don’t even bother walking into The Smokehouse Hotel there to ask them if you could use their washroom. You are much better off doing your business in their front lawn!

Why? Because I had a very urgent need to go to the ladies and The Smokehouse was the nearest spot I could find. I rushed in and decided to ask for directions to the washrooms but instead of receiving directions, I was told that the facility is for guests only!!! WTF! We were about to stop there for some afternoon tea and give them 21 heads to chomp on their scones and sip their tea and they had the nerve to assume that I won’t be a guest of their restaurant after I finish with my toilet stop. Here’s a snippet of my conversation with the receptionist.

Mummykhong: “Excuse me, where’s your washroom?”

Receptionist: “Sorry maam, it’s only meant for guest use”

Mummykhong: “But it’s very urgent. PLEASE!” (with the possibility of staining their carpets any moment)

Receptionist: “Sorry, our GM is in today. I’m afraid he might catch you!!!” (there you have it, a hotel GM who doesn’t put the customer first. A Good-For-Nothing Manager perhaps?)
[unquote]

Well, there are three shops here. One is Mayflower Restaurant, next to it is Nyonya Restaurant and another selling coffee shop which is on the verge of closing the last time, so I don't know whether it is still open or not. The abandon building was supposed to be a shopping centre. They are on the same row as Maybank but the food is only so so.

IN my opinion, there is really no escape from touristy prices as locals are quite familiar to them. When I was staying there, I also eat with the locals and was also familiar to them. Prices was OK but when I came back to KL and then visits them after a short span of 6 to 8 months, I was charged 20 to 30 percent extra. I guess my face wasn't familiar anymore. I think that is how these places operate just like Langkawi as well.................sigh! Only way to save is bring your own food, at least half of your meals aand only eat dinner in Cameron Highlands and eat simple food for breakfast and lunch, afterall bacon, eggs, ham, toast and green peas needs no expertise to prepare. This is possible with apartment rentals.

The food they served there is only so so afterall.

You did not mention budget but I assume it is a romantic affair since it is Valentine's Day. I think more important is the couple thingee so I think any decent hotel will do. Equitorial Hotel is good and if your budget allows Highlands Hotel owned by YTL is also a consideration. If it is a public holiday eve then the 'Pasar Malam' should be ON! Any other info is all in this tread.

Walking distance to 'pasar malam' , there are many, in fact all hotels located in Brinchang is considered walking distance. Nearest would be Regency Hotel ( this is more like apartments)and those along the Brinchang belt is also quite near like Parkland, Kowloon, Jasmine etc. Rosa Pasedena is one street behind and further down the slop at the other edge of town is Iris Hotel and Titiwangsa Hotel. The whole town is scattered with smaller hotels above shoplots.

A lot have argued that the one is Habu is better in terms of view and is also has lesser tourist. The road is definately safer than the one leading to Sg.Palas's one as it is narrow and winding. Sg.Palas is more popular due to the proximity of other attractions around it and you don't have to go the other way but rather on the way to other tourist attractions. The one in Sg.Palas is sometimes so busy they have to close the road leading up to the tea house and tea factory. You have to park your car downhill and hike up to the tea house and factory making this difficult or impossible for the elderlies if you have them along.

My suggestion, CH tourist attraction are not that many and you don't spend much time in any of them, so why not visit them both. afterall each has it's own specialities.

I confirmed that the Habu one is more old fashioned meaning the it is more classical. The atmosphere is more relaxed and scenery, I heard is also nicer maybe not as cool as the Sg.Palas one. I also discovered the other day, I was looking for a friend and I stumbled into the old 'Gold Dollar Tea' factory. It is already closed and the owner is planning to turn it into an equine or horse riding place. So far the project is still stagnated and the only development I see there is the bungalow belonging to the owner, I suppose.

I was there on the eve of CNY and the place is quite isolated. The makan place is also waving with their menus (probably to slaughter, _. Maybe the rush starts after the 2nd day. I think by the 8th, the crowd would have dwindled and the jam not as bad or non-existant. Happy holiday. Also nice that my candle for prayers at the Sam Poh Chi temple is at the front,

HAppy Chinese New Year, everyone.

Actually I have offered you the other day but I think my offer was too low but I was fair. Anyway, the rates after CNY is RM218 plus a RM98 food credit for weekdays and RM288 plus RM98 for food credit on weekends. My guess is your voucher does not include food credit. Check the rates here,

http://www.equatorial.com/cam/index.php?na...&sub_navi_id=13

If you want better and nearer to facilities, it is definately Highlands Resort. Lakehouse is actually the first resort you see when you drive up from Tapah. It is just beisde the lake on the oposite side after Ringlet but the lake is very muddy now due to silting. They are in the process of rehabilitating the lake now as there are too much silting which jams up the electric turbine further down. Most of these resorts have immigrants nowadays or the 'orang asli' manning the kitchen assistants or housekeeping. Lakehouse is owned by a Singaporean company and their pay is really really low! Last time I tried was RM300 basic for Commis 1.

Public transportation is totally UNRELIABLE in Cameron Highlands, especially Regal buses. They break down most of the time or else you will inhale diesel fumes if they are working. Taxis or rather 'kereta sewa' is not metered so prices are a bit steep. ANyway for YTL Highlands Resort , it is about 10 to 15 minnutes walk to Brinchang and maybe half an hour walk to Tanah Rata. Lakehouse is also quite known for their afternoon tea. It's for knowledge anyway, so I think you should be ready for a bit of hardships, regardless of what race are there, english is always terrible anywhere, nowadays.

You Hoo and OK Tuck is a safe bet for chinese food but expect it to be expensive. As for steam boat, I usually take it in Country Lodge which is behind the row of hotels in Brinchang. I think soup wise they are good. I went back a few days before CNY and found out that standard has deteriorated in 'Lo Chee Hou' restaurant. Although not as nice as last time but still acceptable. I heard that they also have steamboat which is slightly more expensive but worthy. If nothing fancy is wanted, their wanton noodle and chicken, duck, roasted pork rice is OK.



This post has been edited by etigge: Feb 13 2011, 03:58 PM

I have never heard of specialised farms for orchids but the tourist map did mention a wild orchid farm around the bee farm which is just at the junction from where we enter Sg.Palas tea plantation. I doubt they have much variety though. There are Rose Center and Rose Valley. Those orchids sold by the orang asli are scavenge from the wild just like those hairy thingee from the paku tree and petai. When in season there's wild durians too.

Just came back from a 3 day 2 nights trip. Since all are elders, I just took them to Boh Plantation and 'Sam Poh Chi' for prayers. Other than that we just stayed in the apartment playing gin rummy and watching astro. Weather was still very cooling. We had pork chops for the first night and steam boat for the second night. Breakfast is an assortment of bacon, ham, sausages, baked beans, eggs, toast all cooked on your own. All the stuffs are self cook in the apartment and a few utensils brought on our own. It is much much better than having it outside and total cost for per person RM150.00 inclusive of accomodation, petrol, all the meals and also breakfast in Sin Yuan Loong in Ipoh and a mee meal in Bidor in the way back. I never thought we can still do this 3 days trip co cheaply!

We came back to KL totally relaxed! That's what we want from holidays, right?

Most of us wanted to have breakfast in Sin Yuan Loong (white coffee) so we went all the way to Ipoh first for breakfast. Nothing special larr but two of my cliques are really into coffee but I find that those in Nam Heong are more foamy like cuppacinno. Anyway I obliged because I am not into coffee anyway. Had the chee cheong fun with mushroom sauce and also Ipoh hor fun. We went up via Simpang Pulai but return via Tapah which actually saves you another 80 minutes drive. Imagine wasting time driving back to Kg.Raja (30 minutes from Tanah Rata), then another hour or so to Simpang Pulai and another 30 minutes to Tapah. Old road takes averagely an hour to reach Tapah from Tanah Rata.