North of Fraser's Hill lies another hill resort, but with a completely different character. A favourite getaway for the british colonial civil servants in bygone days, cameron Highlands has often been called 'a little bit of england'. Today the cameron Highlands is malaysia's 'green bowl' the major supplier of temperate and semi temperate vegetables to the cities of malaysia and to singapore. A flourishing flower growing industry also exists in the cameron Highlands with cut flowers being exported the world over. cameron5 The highest peak in the cameron Highlands is gunung swettenham standing at 1961 metres. The Highlands themselves were named after the british surveyor william cameron who first visited the area in 1885. There are three townships within the Highlands. Ringlet is the agricultural centre of the district, tanah rata is the town centre of the Highlands and brinchang, a small town known for its nurseries, fruit farms and tea plantations. A large new market for the farmers of the area is the export of fresh cut flowers. Malaysia is rapidly becoming a leading exporter of these flowers, which are new cultivated in abundance. Visitors will be dazzled by the profusion of colours at the flower farms, blooms such as roses, chrysanthemums, carnations, dahlias, geraniums, fuchsia and gladioli thrive in the cool humid atmosphere of the Camerons. No visit to the Camerons is complete without the purchase of some of these beautiful blooms. The Ringlet and Brinchang areas are dotted with market gardens. On terraced hillsides and valley floors the array of colours, sights and general neatness of the area spells efficient cultivation. The cool weather and fertile soils of the terraced slopes produce a fresh and healthy variety of vegetables including spring cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, leeks, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and capsicums. You should not miss a visit to one of these market gardens. cameron2 Tea plantations by their very nature occupy large tracts of land. You can watch the tea pickers at work and afterwards visit the factory to see the finer aspects of grading, blending and processing of the leaves. Cameron Highlands tea has established a reputation for quality, comparable to the best varieties around the world. cameron3 Many types of fruit are also grown in the Highlands, passion fruit, tangerines, persimmons,grapefruits and the most popular of all, strawberries. Most hotels and restaurants in the Camerons offer local strawberries served with thick delicious fresh cream. A visit to the strawberry park will not only allow you to see how they are grown but will offer you the opportunity to purchase the freshly picked English delight. cameron1 For nature lovers a walk along the many jungle paths winding along cool mountain streams should not be missed. Streaks of sunlight occasionally filter through the lush forest foliage glistening on the cascading waters. You can enjoy a cool stimulating dip in one of the many jungle pools found at the base of waterfalls or, just rest and admire the sights and the sounds while having a leisurely picnic. The most popular falls that are ideal for swimming are the Robinson Falls and the Parit Falls. The rugged climb to the popular peaks of the cameron Highlands is well worth the effort. Gunung brinchang, gunung beremban and gunung jasar are all easily accessible and on clear days your efforts will be rewarded in the panoramic, breathtaking views of the surrounding towns, and row upon row of vegetable plots and tea plantations. You may even see as far as the straits of Melaka. A wide array of Accommodation dots the Camerons landscape. Old country inns, chalets, apartments and modern hotels provide a variety to suit all tastes. A special mention, however, must be made of Ye Olde Smokehouse Restaurant and Hotel, where everything, both inside and out, is preserved exactly as it was during colonial times. The only additions being modern conveniences that have been added for the benefit of guests. cameron6 Cameron Highlands also offers ample facilities for sports lovers. Golfers can tee-off at the 18-hole golf course with waving fairways, winding streams and extremely tricky greens. Visiting membership fees are reasonable and a modern clubhouse will allow you to wind down after your game. Tennis and badminton courts are also available. Cameron Highlands is a 4-hour ride from Kuala Lumpur via tapah. The uphill roads have a gradual gradient and are well maintained. The journey itself offers splendid views, passing the roaring waterfall of lata iskandar.