It was with great pleasure that I am doing this trip with Momo, and Mod, who is a Thai residing in Hatyai. So before we head up Cameron Highlands, Momo has to make a trip to Hatyai to fetch Mod, which I tagged along.
ITINERARY:
Day 1: Singapore - Hatyai
Day 2: Hatyai - Cameron Highlands
Day 3: Cameron Highlands
Day 4: Cameron Highlands - Singapore
DAY 1 (30 June 2010, Wednesday)
We met at Gelang Patah Esso station at 2359hrs and set off shortly after. We had fuel stops along Pagoh, Dengkil, Tapah, Semmangul and Gurun, before arriving at Bt Kayu Hitam.
After about 7hrs of riding, we were greeted by the sunrise at Semmangul R&R.
With dual Garmin GPS, you will never get lost again!
Finally, arriving at the Sadao border
Parking at the Sadao border, to do our immigration clearance and to get our vehicle import certificate done
Prior to our arrival, Mod has already booked for us a room at 'Be My Guest' hotel. The room rates are 480Baht per night, the rooms are decently clean, location is pretty near Lee Garden, and motorbike parking is secured and safe too.
Be My Guest
75 Sanehanusorn Rd, Hatyai, Songkhla 90110
Tel: 074-239231-2
Email: morn008@yahoo.com
Lunch at the nearby coffeeshop
Did a seat wrap to change my motorbike seat cushion cover for just 200Baht
Had a traditional Thai Massage for 240Baht (2hrs), and then walkabout around Hatyai town for some photos.
Great dinner at this stall next to New Season Hotel for 490Baht.
Night street stalls line the junction outside Lee Garden
DAY 2 (01 July 2010, Thursday)
We checked out of the hotel early in the morning at 0830hrs and had breakfast in Hatyai before setting off to Sadao border.
After crossing the Sadao border, we had fuel stops at Bt Kayu Hitam and Sg Juru before arriving at Simpang Pulai, the town at the foot of the hill. The uphill ride was cool and wet with ocassional rain dampening our riding speed up the winding roads.
When we finally arrived at the first town of Cameron Highlands, Kg Raja, I was disappointed that my favourite restaurant - Restoran Ngow Kee, was closed for 2 days.
We had initially planned to do our lunch stop here at Restoran Ngow Kee, but since it was closed, we stopped at the corner coffeeshop next door. Looking around us, most of the people in the coffeeshop were eating lo-mai-kai, so Momo and I did the same too. And well, the lo-mai-kai was one of the best I have eaten!
Mod ordered a curry chee-cheong-fun, only to be disappointed by the curry.
After the late lunch, we continued our ride to Brinchang town where we found Cameron Ria, a budget accomodation, for just RM50/night (weekday) and RM70/night (weekend). The entire place was newly built and the location is extremely sweet.
View of Brinchang from the hotel room
Ria Cameron also have apartments for rent. It can accomodate 6-10 pax, with 3 bed rooms, a living room with mahjong room, and a kitchen. All rooms at Ria Cameron comes with free wifi and Astro tv channels.
Ria Cameron Hotel & Apartment
7A & 8A Brinchang Point, Jalan Angsana Tiga, 39100 Brinchang, Cameron Highlands
Tel: 019-5593119, 010-2120261, 05-4901777
Email: andrew@riacameronhotel.com.my
Website: www.riacameronhotel.com.my
It's always great to have a hot pot of steamboat in Cameron Highlands when the weather turns cool at night. We had one at Fung Lam Restaurnt for RM57.
After dinner, we walked around Brinchang town to do some grocery shopping as well as stopping by at an internet cafe to keep up with the rest of the world.
DAY 3 (02 July 2010, Friday)
We started the day with breakfast at this restaurnt near our hotel. The yong tau foo kway teow is simply delicious. So are the half boil eggs!!
After breakfast, we hopped on our bike to explore Cameron Highlands, where we stopped over at Boh Tea Plantation at Sungei Palais.
The Boh Tea factory showing how tea is processed and made.
At the Boh Tea retail shop
A walk around the estate and plantations
Tea break at the scenic and cooling platform at the top of the tea estate
A visit to Cameron Highlands wouldn't be complete without a visit to a strawberry and flower farm!
At the flower farm
Machiam look alike! yes/no - 555!
Continued our ride to Tanah Rata town, where the town is filled with plenty of Indian shops, and Indian eateries. Can tell that the town is getting more commercialised as Starbucks has also established themselves here.
Sumptuous Bak Kut Teh lunch in Tanah Rata town!
Back in Brinchang town for XO durian... yummy
Brinchang town is full of colours and life, with shops and many steamboat restaurants owned by Chinese.
Moving towards Tringkap, a small town about 8 km from Brinchang, we stopped several times by the road side for photo opportunities. Famous spots along the way are rose valley, bees farms, vegetables farms and various stalls selling fresh vegetables, flowers, honeys, strawberry and local products.
Common form airborne transport to send goods to the other side of the mountain
Loveley colours at the tea plantation on the way to Gunung Brinchang
The ride to the peak of Gunung Brinchang is only 9km, but we took about 30mins due to the steep gradient and narrow paths. The temerature gets lower the higher we accend. Arriving at Gunung Brinchang, the highest mountain on Cameron Highlands, at 2031m above sea level. The wind is extremely strong and chilling at the top of the viewing tower.
The chilling view at the top of the tower
Waited till sunset to get these shots
After sunset, we got back to Brinchang town, where we parked our bikes and walked over to the Pasar Malam (night market) to grab some food and do some shopping. There were plenty of delicious food that you can find here.
We bought quite a handfull of food and snacks, and brought back to our hotel to eat. It was a wonderful meal given the variety, the company and the atmosphere....
DAY 4 (03 July 2010, Saturday)
It was time to check out and leave Cameron Highlands. Momo will send Mod back to Hatyai, while I make my way back to Singapore myself. We had breakfast together, and set off on our own way.
From Brinchang down to Tapah via the narrow and winding road, it took me about 1.5hrs. Once on North South Highway, it was a smooth sailing ride back to Singapore in less than 5hrs, stopping over for fuel at Dengkil and Pagoh.
MORE PHOTOS
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FAST FACTS
Travel Insurance: $25
Accomodation: $73
Fuel and transport: $117
Bike accessories: $27
Food & beverage: $91
Massage: $10
Shopping & miscellaneous: $16
TOTAL EXPENDITURE: S$359
Distance on a motorbike: 1,905.60km
Fuel consumed: 139ltrs
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 13.71 km/ltr
EXCHANGE RATE
S$1.00 = THB23.04
S$1.00 = RM2.32
TRAVEL GUIDES / NEWS / MAGAZINES
Hatyai - Thailand for Visitors
http://thailandforvisitors.com/south/songkhla/hatyai.html
Cameron Highlands
http://www.cameronhighlands.com/
Cameron Highlands.com
http://www.cameron-highlands.com/
Cameron Highland Destination
http://www.cameron-highland-destination.com/
MAPS
Hatyai
http://www.nature-run.psu.ac.th/images/hatyai_map.gif
Cameron Highlands
http://www.cameronhighlands.com/Destination_Guide/Maps/Maps/
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