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Cameron Highlands is not the only highland to offer around Malaysia. There are many others, each with their own unique charm and character. Heading to the hills is one way to cool off from the incessant pounding of the humid tropical climate without the use of artificial air condition. There are days when it is so hot I can't imagine not having air conditioning to cool down from the hot weather. No thanks to the green house gases, it seems the world climate has climbed up a few notches and wild weather swings are to be expected in the near future. Already the unpredictable climatic changes have many people wondering what will be in store for us in the future.
Nevertheless, we can always reflect about this (or not at all..?) when we head up to the highland countryside and leave our worries behind just for a little while. The highlands are also the perfect getaway for Churches organizing camps as a way to have a retreat while enjoying the works of the Almighty and perhaps get a little closer to heaven. And when a choice accommodation was chosen, it will surely be almost completely book by the church to house all its members.
Not all highlands in Malaysia are alike; each has their own unique features and theme. Where you want to go and what you would like to do will depend whether you plan to have a relaxed getaway or an activity filled vacation, and perhaps choosing an environment for change in scenery and pace.
Based on the statistic for year 2006 for visitors to Pahang published in the papers, top most on the list is of course Genting Highlands, with a 3.2 million visitors a year, while Cameron Highlands was third on the list with 300,000 visitors a year and Fraser's Hill at fifth place with 90,000 visitors a year.
Apparently a lot of people like to go over to Genting Highlands perhaps with its close proximity to Kuala Lumpur taking only 45 minutes to drive there. Perhaps the casino is also a big draw for people who would like to try their luck at making a jackpot killing, but more often than not, it is gamblers' pockets that get burn instead. Apart from the casino, there is the outdoor theme park with its screaming inducing roller coaster and thrilling rides. A great way for family visits. For those who enjoy performances, Genting boast a wide variety of celebrity entertainers which they invite from overseas. Magicians, singers and many others come over to give their extravagant performances.
Genting too heady for you? Need somewhere to get away from the rat race and not replace with one of the same? Then the rest of the list would really look milder in comparison. Apart from Cameron Highlands, there is of course, Bukit Fraser or Fraser's Hill with its colonial charm; there is the very quiet, perhaps too quiet, hill station at Bukit Larut or Maxwell Hill in Perak; the French town replica of Colmar Tropicale and the beautiful Japanese Garden at Berjaya Hills Bukit Tinggi, Pahang; Kundasang in Sabah, said to be the Cameron Highlands equivalent in East Malaysia. In Sarawak they too have a highland resort, but I will need to find out the correct name.
So, I bid you adieu till my next posting about the various highlands around Malaysia.
Cheers!
Jan.
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