Cool retreat to Cameron Highlands
A first-time visitor to this popular highlands resort town, is drawn to the beautiful scenery and fresh produce
IT’S my first visit to Cameron Highlands and it gets even sweeter with the AirAsiaGo mobile app. The app offers attractive discounts when I booked my hotel. But my joy is tempered with questions of mode of transport. There were weeks of contemplating — bus, taxi, Uber or take a train to Ipoh and then a taxi. Thankfully, my father decides for me. He will drive me there.
We leave home at 10am for the 3½-hour drive to Cameron Highlands via the NorthSouth Expressway. We take the Simpang Pulai exit rather than the Tapah exit.
With calming music playing on our stereo, negotiating the uphill roads turns to out to be a pleasant journey. My eyes rest on the scenic view of limestone hills and small waterfalls, dotted with little shacks by the roadside where the Orang Asli sell bottles of honey. We soon reach our destination — Tanah Rata - where our hotel is located.
FERNS ALL THE WAY
The nine-year-old Hotel De’ La Ferns is strategically located between Brinchang and Ringlet. Beautiful flowers and plants are planted all around its compound. The six-storey Tudor-styled hotel gives a warm, homely feel as soon as you enter.
I love the Olde England concept. There are sofas in the lobby and an alfresco dining area that faces the hill slopes.
Why the name De’ La Ferns? Well, you will find fern leaves on the hills around the hotel. According to its hospitable owner S. Bala Krishnen, the hotel is shaped like a fern leaf if viewed from the air.
Our twin deluxe room is simple, warm and quaint. It is fitted with dark brown cabinets, and nice little rose lamps by the side of the beds. This room comes with a balcony that overlooks Brinchang hills. It’s so serene just enjoying the view while sitting in a foldable wooden chair on the balcony. The room is not fitted with either an airconditioner or fan as the natural air is more than enough to keep you cool.
This hotel doesn’t only have a wonderful environment but also delicious Asian and western cuisine. The Ferns Restaurant at the lobby serves an international breakfast buffet but come back during tea time for its freshly baked scones with strawberry jam, butter and whipped cream. As the temperature drops at night, the steamboat dinner warms you up.
FLEXING MUSCLES
The hotel’s location makes it convenient to get around by car. With no gym in the hotel, it encourages guests to hike and walk around the area. There are proper pathways to take a stroll.
In the evenings, we take a peaceful walk along Taman Sedia (the first Malay settlement in Cameron Highlands) where there are various homestays, houses and even a strawberry farm. As we trek further, there is a golf course open to the public. The good thing about exercising here is I don’t really get sweaty as the weather is cool.
Since evenings get a little quiet, we visit various tourist/agricultural sites in the day. We ask the hotel to arrange a half-day countryside tour by CS Travel and Tours. It costs RM26.50 for an adult excluding entrance fees to some sites.
CS Travel and Tours also arranges other packages with different pricing.
STRAWBERRY-LICIOUS
Strawberries and Cameron Highlands are synonymous. There are many strawberry farms minutes away from the hotel, but we pick Raju’s Strawberry Farm which has the best strawberry milkshake in town.
From 0.8ha of land, customers can pick their own strawberries (which cost a little more) or buy freshly packed strawberries. Mostly all the strawberries here are