After Batu Caves I was heading towards Cameron Highlands where I was planning to spend the night. Again, finding the right exit for Cameron Highlands was not as simple as it could be. Or am I missing something in the sign system here? I was off the highway going through town by town. I had a beautiful Chinese (are you starting to figure out that I like Chinese food yet? ;-) ) lunch at one of them – rice with some chicken pieces, vegetables and additional piece of grilled chicken plus tea for about 6 Ringgit again, while I was watching the weather building up for rain.

It wasn’t long after I had my lunch when it did start to rain, so I zipped in my waterproof jacket lining and continued riding. I didn’t care about putting the pants’ lining in as it was warm and I was too lazy to do that. It didn’t take long before I had my boots full of water thanks to the water running down my legs.

I saw an old man being thrown off his motorcycle as he was pushed towards a kerb by a lorry on a little bridge. This guy, as everybody else here, was wearing his slippers, had short trousers and had a rain jacket that he wore unbuttoned with the opening on his back. They do this here even with normal jackets – they just put them on with the zip or buttons on their backs. This is apparently that they still have air flowing around their backs while being protected from any small flying objects on the road. It looks very funny :-) Anyway, this guy was visibly shaken, but had no major injury. His ankle was bleeding a bit as were some other parts of his legs, but nothing major really. I was quite surprised by this fact considering the “protection” they wear while riding… :-)

Thanks to the rain (and probably the excitement from seeing the accident) I missed the turn to Cameron Highlands so I had to ask and turn back. It started to really pour down so I decided to stop at one of the many motorbike workshops to have my oil changed – something my bike was due for anyway - and give th rain the chance to go away. The oil change was very swift and I got my 2.5 liters of synthetic Castrol oil for which, together with the work, I paid mere 39 Ringgits (or not even 14 Australian dollars)! I am going to like servicing my bike in Asia… J

Even though we talked for a bit with all the guys in the workshop, who were (as everybody here) very interested in the bike, in my GPS and in where I was coming from and where I was going, the rain still hadn’t eased out a bit. Well, I was mostly wet anyway, so I got back on the road. As soon as I got to the foot of the highlands it really started pouring down. “Oh great!!” I thought to myself and was feeling sorry more and more for not being able to enjoy the up-hill ride full of sharp bends and the views these highlands surely offer plenty of. What I got was a road full of streams of water running down the hill and very low visibility thanks to the rain and fog all around me. When I got to about 800 meters above the sea level I parked my bike under a roof of one of the many deserted stalls along the road and laid myself down on the bamboo bench it offered. It didn’t take long before I was joined with a family on a motorbike – yes, you are hearing correctly – a family… Mother and father plus two kids on a 125cc motorbike! And don’t let me make it seem like it is uncommon here. On the contrary, you see four people on these bikes quite often. If it has a sidecar (a hand made one, never a proper one) it can carry up to 7 people! I mean 7 is what I saw, but there was still space for at least one more passenger.. ;-)

These people hiding with me under the tarp of the stall were really tiny. I think they were even smaller than the Malaysian average. But then again, I haven’t shared a small stall with anybody else before so I might not have noticed properly yet. When the girl sat in a squat next to me I would have guessed her being about 8 years old. No joking.

When the rain eased a little bit they left. I changed my helmet visor from dark to clear so that I could see at least a bit better and continued too. When I got to about 1100m the rain stopped. Probably thanks to the fact that I was now above the clouds.

I was quite cold as the temperature up here is much lower, even more so due to the rain. I was soaked and shivering. 

Another hundred vertical meters and I could see my first beautiful view from these highlands. What was in front of me were hills covered with beautiful tea bushes that they grow here. Once again I was regretting that the sun was not shining, as it would have made the view much better yet. Hopefully tomorrow…

When I finally reached the town of Cameron Highland it was already dark. First thing I could see was a big Internet lounge sign, apparently the cheapest in town – for 2.60 Ringgit per hour. I asked a taxi driver standing next to his cab for the cheapest place to stay. He suggested a hotel just a few meters from where we were. It only took a few more seconds before a man rushed towards me asking whether I was looking for accommodation. I confirmed and added that I was looking for a cheap one. He offered his friend’s guesthouse just up the side road (N4.47250 E101.37617). The prices sounded interesting so I went to check it out.

The guesthouse was more than fine and so although they didn’t have any single room left (I think it was 16 Ringgit per night) I stayed in a dormitory with a couple of other guys – a Korean living in KL and a Canadian. The price was only 7 Ringgit and you get a big locker and a bed for it. There is a dormitory without lockers for 6 Ringgit per night. I can’t remember the name now but this place is in a street that is to the left of the main road almost opposite the Internet lounge on the first floor on the right. (You will also have the local bus station on your right further ahead after the turn to this street.)

I had a …. Chinese -  yes, again … dinner and went to the Internet lounge to process few mails and wanted to upload new pictures and articles, which I didn’t get to do at the end.

(366km)