THE HILLMAN 2013 ASIAN ADVENTURE
Section I: Malaysia
Page 20
www.hillmanweb.com/asia/malaysia20.html
Photos by Bill and Sue-On
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Captions by Sue-On
(expanded from our FaceBook pages)

CAMERON HIGHLANDS I
Roadside Colour
 Enroute back to Kerry and Edah's home in Yan, Kedah, 
our friends took us home via Cameron Highlands, 
famous for the tea plantations 
established long ago during British presence. 
The highlands are much cooler, by 10 degrees, 
and are perfect for growing tea, vegetables, and serve as resorts 
during the hot weather in the lowlands. 
Marble quarry along the way. 
Hard to imagine those gorgeous shiny slabs 
used for kitchen counters came off these slopes.
 Throughout our drives in the rural areas
there are many palm oil plantations. 
The tall palms are now being replaced 
by a shorter variety, making harvest easier. 
There are often young trees inter-planted among older ones 
that are nearing their end of production.
Bamboo grows wild and fast. 
Often, mature plants are cut 
and bundled for use or sale. 
 These are temporary shelters for road repair gangs, 
not for overnight use but for shade during rest periods. 
Often, we see run-off from the mountain. 
Some areas have had some kind of covering to prevent, 
or slow down erosion of the soil. 
Sometimes, the covering is like a net 
with clumps of grass planted within.
 Where there is a flat straight length of road,
there are many vendors selling wicker ware, 
souvenirs, and daily necessities.
Not sure if this was a stop 
for school bus or just a rest stop. 
 These seem to be abandoned homes, 
but may also be used as temporary shelter for the vendors.
Kerry and Edah spoke about the "original people" 
and their primative homes. 
This may have been one example with thatch roof. 
 Any groomed area is usually a water resevoir.
An inhabited shanty town. 
 Yes. People DO live like this. 
Economy is poor, and often, people go hunting 
in the jungle and sell whatever roots they can dig up 
to sell so they can buy food.
Maintenence of the road is constant. 
The road to the highlands is very winding, narrow, 
and the drivers constantly tempt fate! 
 This is one of the better stretches on the road up. 
A driver must be vigilant to stay alive 
when the trucks decide to "make the move" on a curve! 
All these homes have small "stalls" on the side, 
selling goods such as fruit, vegetables, 
and warm unidentifiable drinks.
 They may even "import goods"
from the lowlands to sell.
Did I mention that the driver sits 
on the right hand side and the car is driven 
on the left-hand side of the road? 
A carry-over from the British days.
 There are towns springing up all along the climb up. 
The cooler highlands are attractive to vacationers 
seeking relief from the humid heat down in the lowlands.
A rest stop with shops. 
 Bathroom break before the long stretch!
I love all these fresh produce stalls! 
There are so many kinds of tropical fruits, 
vegetables, flowers, and of course, local Cameron tea.
 Many of the established businesses 
are runn by Chinese or East Indians. 
Often, they hire young Indonesians as sales people.
A trestle over the river, 
always a pretty sight. 

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MALAYSIA / SINGAPORE
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Bill and Sue-On Hillman Eclectic Studio
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