La Rue Vibre !

How comical is the history of Tanah Rata! Brits living in Malaysia were suffering from the hot and the humidity. Therefore, they settled few hotels and village, high, high in the Cameron Highlands, in a setting reminding them of their home country (At the time a trip back to England took place every 10 years or so).
But Brits are also clever people, and so they directly understood the great quality of the soil (that is after cutting the jungle), very good for cultures.
And because vegetables don’t grow themselves, soon Chinese and Indian workers were emigrated. Then the villages prospered, and tourists discovered that they liked also the cool weather and the beautiful setting.

Nowadays, it’s a real pleasure to arrive in Tanah Rata, mainly a big street with (in this order) tour-operators, tourists restaurants, tourist coffees (and a Starbucks, wtf?), and then cheap restaurants.

Also some local stalls are selling food specialities, and delicious roti canail (TIP: best in town at KS Curry house, last restaurant going toward Brinchang)

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Yes, it is less hot than downhill, but the town is still surrounded by jungle, hiding nice walks. In fact these are more tracks than walks, as some parts are as steps as ladders, with the roots being the rungs, and it is very hard to cool due to humidity.

True to their agricultural past, Cameron Highlands are full of strawberry farm, spices culture and gigantic tea plantations.
Visiting the modern and nice BOH tea plantation made us shameful for our great lack of knowledge about the main drink in the world. And before a cup of tea you’re in for a lot of troubles.
First you have to grow the shrubs and prune it. Then you can pick the green leaves, role it, ferment it, dry it, and finally sort it.

In short, Tana Ratah is a very nice spot to relax and walk, and cool of!

And last but not least here is a very special vehicule we found in the Cameron Highlands: the bus-airplane !

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(TIP about accommodation: trust the “cheapest room in town”, RM25/night for a double clean and new, former SchwabingHaus “)