Showing posts with label hill resort. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hill resort. Show all posts

Monday, August 17, 2009

Trekking In Fraser's Hill, Malaysia

Fraser's Hill is awash with beautiful flowers.
A jungle trail.

A jungle trail.


Bishop Trail
One of the delights of Fraser's Hill for me is the opportunity to trek in the jungle. There are trails of varying levels of difficulty. Unless you try to be the next edition of Rambo, you'll not get lost as the trails are well-marked.

The Bishop Trail is an example of an easy trail. I took a leisurely walk on the undulating trail which even your grandmother will scoff at being too easy. The pleasure was in observing the lush foliage, the occasional birdsong from some well-hidden bird up on the jungle canopy and wild flowers.

However, some do underestimate the potential danger of trekking in a jungle. In 2005, a Singapore teen and his three Malaysian cousins were lost for four days while trekking on the Bishop Trail. A ground and air rescue operation was mounted. Finally, an orang asli tracker found them beside a stream.

On long treks I make sure I am fully prepared with adequate food, water, a poncho, insect repellent, a sweater, lighters, a survival kit, a medical kit, torch light, a roll of raffia and a cell phone. From experience, the key is eating regularly and not wait till you're hungry. Munching on groundnuts I discover is a good way to keep my energy level up. (If I trek alone, I normally arm myself with a weapon for you'll never know who you'll meet in the depth of the jungle - maybe Bigfoot or a WW2 Japanese soldier).


Happy trekking!





Friday, August 14, 2009

Fraser's Hill, Malaysia

The entrance to Fraser's Hill remains largely the same.
Fraser's Hill Corporation office with its hotel wing.
The golf course.
The golf club house.
The much photographed clock tower in "town".

The last time I went to Fraser's Hill, I stayed in a charming but crumbling old bungalow but on this trip i was astonished at the transformation that has taken place.

The Fraser's Hill Corporation that oversees the bungalows is now spanking new, with a hotel wing attached.

The old bungalows have also undergone a complete renovation, and are now privatised.

From Yong Peng on the North-South Highway, I veered off onto the old trunk road to Labis, Segamat, Gemas, Bahau, Durian Tipus, Manchis, Telemong, Karak Highway, Bentong to Fraser's Hill.

Any mention of Fraser's Hill inevitably draws comparison with the other popular hill resort of Cameron Highlands. I'll touch on this point in future posts.