Cameron Highlands is one of the most wonderful destinations in Malaysia, and is a great way to escape from the hustles and bustles of Kuala Lumpur. Perched at an altitude of about 1822 meters, Cameron Highlands is the largest as well as the most serene of all the hill resorts in the country.

Apart from being one of the most prominent tourist spots, Cameron Highlands is also credited to be leading producer of flowers as well as agricultural produces such as tomatoes and lettuce in the country. No wonder why Cameron Highlands is sometimes referred to as the ‘Green Bowl of Malaysia.’ Located in the northwest corner in the state of Penang, about 300 kilometers away from Kuala Lumpur, Cameron Highlands is much favored for its breathtaking scenery, comprising majestic mountain peaks, soothing mountain air, stunning waterfalls, incredible tea plantations, miles of strawberry and other fruit farms, and beautiful flower gardens.

The charm of this hill resort was first discovered by a British surveyor, William Cameron, in 1885. As a result, Cameron Highlands became one of the South-East Asia’s most popular hill resorts during the colonial period. Later, on realizing the healthy climate and the richness and fertility of the mountain slopes, the British planters choose this area to grow tea and agricultural produce. Even today, the hill resort retains its charm and glory of an English Village.

Among the key attractions in Cameron Highlands are:

Rose Center and Rose Valley – Rose center is the biggest of its kind in the country, with a great selection of roses. When comes to the Rose Valley, it boasts of about 500 varieties of roses, such as, thorn less rose, green rose, and black rose. Additionally, a good number of other flowers including gerberas, lily, camellia, honeysuckle, gypsy flower, and much more, can be seen here. Above all, don’t forget to climb atop the peak of the Rose Center to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Kea Farm valley coupled with terraced farms.

Butterfly Garden and Butterfly Farm – Both of them are located within easy reach of the Kea Farm. They are a great place to view such rare species of butterflies as the Raja Brooke butterfly, which in turn is regarded as the national butterfly of the country.

Cactus Valley: It boasts of a great variety of rare cactus, among which some are more than 50 years old. A variety of other crops are also cultivated here adopting hydroponics technique, such as strawberries, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Honey Bee Apiary Farms: Cameron Highlands is home to a number of apiary farms, of which perhaps the most popular ones are Ee Feng Gu honey bee farm and Habu Bee Farm.

Agrotechnology Park: Sprawling over an area of about 45 hectares, Agrotechnology Park is a botanical garden, with a large species of temperate plants and crops. Modeled on the basis of the British Kew Garden and Agro Dome in New Zealand, the park is worth a visit. It is categorized into several sections such as English Garden, Orchid Garden, Herb Garden, Rose Garden, and Research Center.

Multicrops Central Market: This is a one-stop center to shop all such items as pots, flowers, vegetables, and souvenirs.

Cameron Highlands Golf Course: Situated between Tanah Rata and Brinchang, this is an 18-hole par – 71 golf course. With rolling fairways, delicate greens, and meandering streams, the course is a must-visit for golf enthusiasts.

Boh Tea Plantation: Founded by J.A. Russel, a British merchant, in 1929, Boh Tea Plantation holds the distinction of being the largest manufacturer of black tea in Malaysia.

Sam Poh Temple: Erected in 1972, Sam Poh is one of the largest temples in the country. The temple is dedicated to the Chinese Muslim eunuch as well as the admiral of the Chinese fleet, Zheng He.

List of attractions in Cameron Highlands also include a number of strawberry firms such as Kasimani’s Strawberry Farm and Healthy Strawberry Farm; Parit Falls, Lata Iskandar Waterfalls, Robinson Falls, Taman Unc Sam, Time Tunnel, Kuala Who hot springs, and Night Market. Additionally, people touring the destination can engage in a number of activities such as jungle trekking, mountain hiking, shopping, camping, and golf.

In order to cater to the needs of the growing number of tourists to the destination, Cameron Highlands has a number of accommodation options to choose from such as hotels and resorts to apartments and chalets. Let it be of any type, an accommodation choice in the area is replete with almost all that are required to make your vacation enjoyable as well as unforgettable.

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It is a tragic sight. Four youths age 16 to 17 years old are still missing after the dragon boat they were rowing capsized off the shore of Leboh mccallum in Penang early Sunday morning. One of them, Jason Chng from Chung Ling school and their teacher who is the trainer were drown. The bodies were found by the rescue team. The parents and relatives of the other four missing young men are frantic, hysterical and traumatized. One of the mothers was seen treated by the doctor and sent away in an ambulance. They are still awaiting news on the whereabout of their sons. Divers stopped the search mission around 7 pm as it was too dark to dive in murky waters. They will continue searching at 8 am on Monday morning. However, surface search will continue through the night. CJ Chan Lilian who was at the scene met one of her sons school counselor who is also part of the dragon boat team committee in Penang. CJ Lilian understood the school children have used the seas off mccallum to train for several years already as it is conveniently located. Another thing is, the area where these rowers go for their training is more like a broken shipyard with huge metals structures. It certainly is not an ideal place for school youths to venture into due to the dangers. CJ Lilian hopes the Education Ministry, school authorities, dragon boat committee and the Penang State Government will come together to provide better facilities for this water sport. Music by : Kevin mcleod

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Penang’s first iband @ Maxis iphone 3G Promo, Queensbay Mall, Penang. The catch:- these fellas got together barely a week before they’re due on stage! xd Catch ‘em LIVE @ QB Mall, 7-10 May 2009. Now, how about some iphone music? Enjoy! ~ Covers: “Love Story” by Taylor Swift Featuring: (LR) Dexter, Jay, Chien, Melvin Apps used: “Band” & “Bassist” by Moo Cow Music, “pocketguitar” by Shinya Kasatani Facebook Fan Page: www.facebook.com Check out more of their stuff:- Mel & Dex: www.youtube.com Jay: www.youtube.com

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