So we left Batu Ferengi this morning in the moderate luxury of a private car, on a four hour drive up to the Cameron Highlands, it sounds extravagant but it didnt actually cost much more than a bus. Our driver was very pleasant, and was very handy at taking sharp hillside bends whilst playing with his Galaxy Note!
We stopped at a highway service station for a late breakfast and found ourselves in a real gritty Malaysian experience. There was not a western face in sight, although a full mix of Malaysian workers and travellers mingled about the dozen market stalls, selling things from boiled peanuts to durian fruit. Durian is the disgusting smelling fruit that is often on reality TV shows as a forfeit for contestants, it is eaten widely in these parts although hotels take an extremely dim view to anyone who tries to bring one in and signs are posted everywhere. We have steered cleart from any temptation to try it, as the lingering smell we occasional get when passing is certainly enough to dampen any bravado that would draw one in. We sat at a table close to a counter that had a selection of rice and noodle dishes, I pointed at one that closely resembled a Chicken Chow Mein, and then at another that looked close to a chop suey, we were playing it as safe as possible. The cost was 5 ringitt for the two dishes, so about a pound, and on the side I had a bag of boiled monkey nuts, thinking that hot nuts taste good in the pub back home, so how bad can these be! The food was predictably completely inedible, and so we headed back to the car. I caught our driver as he was leaving the WC's and I offered to buy him some breakfast, he said " no thanks it all looks disgusting to me". Hey ho!
The Cameron Highlands is yet to leave any form of impression on us, as we have not seen any tea plantations, and the strawberry fields are all covered in makeshift polythene sheets. Less impressive than the scenery is the opportunity to buy a beer! We had a steamboat dinner, that is a simple fondue concept but instead of oil or cheese, you boil things in a noodle soup, pretty foul, yet the kids seemed to at least enjoy the noodles and chicken. I asked if I could have a beer, which was met with a disgusting look and the comment " No, this is Halal!"
We are now back in our hotel enjoying a Chang that I bought form the shell garage up the road, living the dream!
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