Monday, December 19, 2013
The everest presentation finished around 4pm, so we had to make tracks on the Expressway to Ipoh, which is about 180 kms or 115 miles away. Halfway we stopped for fuel and starbucks and the strangest thing happened. The service station did not want to sell us fuel. Apparently there is a law in Malaysia that service stations can only sell RON95 fuel to Malaysian citizens or Malaysian registered vehicles. Research later on the Internet confirmed that this restriction is actually law and has to do with the government subsidizing fuel prices and not wanting Thailand and Singapore “border jumpers” getting the subsidy. As the service station only sold RON95, we left empty handed and proceeded to the next station which presumably chooses to ignore this law and provided us with RON95 fuel. Technically we are permitted under law to purchase RON97 fuel, but Sterlin prefers RON95.
Arrived late into Ipoh and had a little trouble finding the right hotel. First one was full, second did not have secured parking, third was a construction site, could not find the fourth one so ended staying at our fifth choice. But once checked in we promptly headed into town in search of food and found a nice little Irish bar.
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
A morning of temples. Ipoh is set among limestone cliffs which make ideal places to establish a temple. We visited (in order):-
- Perak Tong. Huge cave with some very nice buddhas and an outside staircase leading up the mountain side. But quite a commercial cave.
- Caves of Happiness. Very small cave currently being extended as part of a 10 year plan. Caroline liked this cave the best. As an extra bonus one of the local workers took 20 minutes out of his day to help explain the various buddhas to us.
- Ling Sen Tong. Very Chinese in style, lots of colour and execrated features. But lots of people offering josh-sticks so the place felt quite alive.
- Sam Poh Tong. A little sad. Main attraction is an over-crowded pen of turtles.
Kek Lok Tong. Set in a beautiful valley but quite austere inside and only a few buddhas.
So, enough of temples already. We made a last minute decision to head to the mountains, or more precisely Cameron Highlands. And quite a good decision it was. The 2-hour drive up windy roads was very pleasant. Stopped for tea in one of the many tea plantations. The temperature up here is a very comfortable 21C. The real treat of the Cameron Highlands is however the Land Rover Defenders, they are everywhere. Rumour has that over 4,000 Defenders are present in the Highlands. Clearly this is where Defenders come to die.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Great day in the Cameron Highlands. Started the day with a visit to Mossy Forest which is the local high point. The single lane 8km road to the summit was probably more fun than the actual summit. Lots of horn tooting was required on the bind corners. On the way down we stopped at the Boh Tea Company for a quick brew. We drove through the lush, green and wet forest back to Ipoh. This time we knew where to go to find M Boutique Hotel, so no repeat of our first night in town. And we loved M! As Caroline knew we would 🙂
