Sail around the world

Today, we made the journey from the freezing heights of the Cameron Highlands to the warm embrace of Petaling Jaya (PJ), a city close to Kuala Lumpur (KL). The first 50km were straightforward because there are only two roads to enter or leave the highlands: one heading North, and the other South. We took the Southbound route toward KL until we reached the first major intersection.   Since the navigation was simple and the drive uneventful, I decided to use this time to blog about driving and traffic in Malaysia—or Southeast Asia in general.  Driving in Malaysia is an adventure, a cultural experience, and sometimes a test of patience—all rolled into one. For German drivers used to precision and Ordnung, here’s a quick guide to navigating the unique traffic landscape of Malaysia: Speed Bumps Galore   Source: The Star Speed bumps—or " traffic calming devices "—are everywhere, often unmarked, and come with varying levels of annoyance and potential for vehicle damage...

Cold air streams through the open window as I wake up. The sky is gray, cold 19°C outside, and raindrops patter softly onto the roof. It’s not exactly the ideal weather for trekking through a rainforest. Instead, we decide to visit a tea factory. This time, we choose the BOH plantation and factory—an older and smaller operation—in hopes of avoiding the crowds.   After a 15-minute drive along the main road, we turn onto a narrow, winding side road, cutting 6 kilometers into the wilderness. The road is so narrow that two cars can barely pass each other. A weathered sign warns: "Sound horn on blind corners." For a German driver like me, this is oddly thrilling, as honking unnecessarily back home is practically a crime. the road snakes upward, and soon a worker stops us, directing us to a massive but nearly empty car park. A parking assistant eagerly waves us toward a spot, though the options are abundant. As we step out, we’re greeted by a family of friendly, tail-wagging car pa...

Today’s destination is a tea plantation—an essential stop, as tea was the very crop that laid the foundation for the growth of the Cameron Highlands. While the Boh Tea Plantation might be the most famous and the first established here, we decided to visit the Bharat Tea Plantation instead. Unlike a strawberry field in Germany, a tea plantation is more than just rows of plants; it often combines elements of a nature retreat, a children’s playground, shopping centers, and restaurants. After passing a few plantations yesterday, Bharat caught our eye. It’s one of the earliest plantations in the area but less crowded than Boh .   To avoid the tourist rush, we left our hotel at 8:30 a.m. and arrived after a short 15-minute drive. Fortunately, we secured the last available parking spot. View at  Bharat Tea Plantation  As we entered the plantation, we were greeted by a stunning view of rolling hills blanketed in lush, light-green tea bushes—a refreshing contrast to the gr...

We left Taiping just before 11 a.m., heading for " The Smokehouse Hotel " in Cameron Highlands. It was a 160-kilometer journey, starting on the motorway and transitioning into 80 kilometers of winding roads through the rainforest. Traveling through this lush green wilderness is always awe-inspiring; the power of nature is palpable.  In a German forest, towering trees dominate, with a scattering of ferns and smaller plants below. Here, in the Malaysian rainforest, trees also reign supreme in size, but every gap is filled with dense layers of ferns, shrubs, and creeping vines. It feels as if an invisible force is pressing leaves and branches into every available space between the trunks. It’s only a matter of time before the two-lane road is overtaken by nature, disappearing under the relentless growth.  Tea plantation on Cameron Highlands Source: Wikipedia But before nature reclaims this path, we need to ascend to an elevation of 1,600 meters. Since we turned onto the trunk ro...

Vacations aren't always as relaxing as one might imagine. Some days are packed with back-to-back appointments, and Boxing Day was no exception for us. Our schedule was fully booked: breakfast with family, lunch with friends, a visit to the hairdresser, and tea time with more friends. Having indulged in plenty of food throughout the day, we decided to keep dinner light and headed to a nearby food court for a quick snack.   Exotic offerings in one of Taiping's food courts While exploring the various food stalls, we stumbled upon a surprising discovery. A German food stall stood out among the local offerings. Curious, we stepped closer to take a better look. The setup was intriguing: young locals served food at the tables, while behind the counter, a friendly German man named Michael worked as the cashier. His wife, Cellie, originally from Taiping and of Indian-Malaysian descent, was busy in the kitchen as the chef.   Menu and busy owner Despite the bustling dinner rush...

Taiping Lake Garden After last night’s hearty dinner, we decided some morning exercise would do us good. To avoid the heat and crowds, we agreed to meet a few friends at 7:00 a.m. sharp in the hotel lobby. But before setting off, here’s a little background on Taiping.   Taiping Smoke Grill : Hog feast platter Taiping grew rapidly in the 19th century following the discovery of tin. The mines drew large numbers of settlers, particularly Chinese immigrants, fueling the town’s prosperity. The mining boom led to the construction of Malaysia’s first railway in 1885, connecting Taiping to Port Weld. This historic train took its maiden journey on June 1, 1885. Today's population is about 250,000 (Chinese: 46%, Malay: 40%, Indian: 12%). The site of the current Lake Gardens was once a mining ground before it was transformed into Malaysia’s first public park. Today, the park features 10 scenic lakes and ponds, surrounded by century-old rain trees whose dramatic, arching branches have b...