Malaysia is a different world when visitors travel outside of Kuala Lumpur. Leaving the city, is always a pleasure after a few days for me. So a trip from KL to Cameron Highlands was a welcome relief to escape the city life and also the heat and humidity. A favorite stopping place for many on the way to Cameron Highlands is Lata Iskandar Waterfalls. The narrow two lane road takes a “U” turn right at the base of the waterfalls and a small collection of roadside stands has sprung up to tempt those that stop for a rest.
Lata Iskandar Waterfall
Local bananas for sale at the Lata Iskandar waterfall
The base of the waterfall is a favorite splash party play area for kids and adults seem to naturally migrate to the roadside stalls for a local Malaysian snack, fresh fruit or handicraft purchase.
Armed and ready for a blow dart demonstration in the Cameron Highlands
Not far from the Lata Iskandar waterfall was a roadside house of a native Malay who demonstrated the art of blowing darts for our little group of tourists.
Cameron Highlands
Strawberries for sale in the Cameron Highlands
At 5,000 ft above sea level, this area of Malaysia enjoys breezy, cool temperatures, rarely above 25 deg. C. and is ideal for strawberry, rose, vegetable gardening and tea plantations. The mountainous and sparsely settled area is full of interesting things to do and see. After the exceptional strawberries and tea have been sampled, there are the butterfly farm and insect display, honeybee exhibit, cactus nursery, roadside vegetable stand and several rainforest trekking tours are also available.
BOH tea plantation in Cameron Highlands
Trimmed tea plants at the Cameron Highlands Tea Plantation
One of my favorites is the BOH Tea Plantation. BOH (for Best of the Highlands) is the largest tea plantation in Malaysia and produces amazingly smooth, mellow tea. The best I have ever tasted! BOH has a great visitor center with a tea shop and seating area that overlooks a beautiful valley full of tea plants. The tea growing areas are not terraced and often have to be picked by hand if the 2-person hedge trimmers can’t be used. The tea plants are kept to knee height and trimmed with hedge shears. They are harvested year round whenever they have 2 new leaves of growth. The tea “shrubs” are from 30-60 years old and have thick woody trunks. The plants can produce harvestable tea for over 100 years. All the BOH plants are from Assam, India.
The Gardens outside the BOH tea factory in Cameron Highlands
The tea tasting room at BOH Tea Plantation
Tea plants if left uncut form large trees. The high elevation of Cameron Highlands, the better the tea. The increased UV levels increases the tannins and produces the quality tea. “Lowland tea tastes like grass,” commented a local tea drinker. “The perfect cup of Cameron Highlands tea is brewed 2 minutes (1 minute if you like light tea).
Pluck your Own Strawberries in Cameron Highlands
Strawberry growing is a big feature of the Cameron Highlands. Many “Pluck your own” opportunities exist and some “Do not pluck your own” nurseries too. The strawberries are grown hydroponically on raised benches under small greenhouses. The cool temperatures in the Highlands are perfect for strawberry growing and they can grow four crops throughout the year.
Roadside native bamboo orchids (Arundina graminifolia) in Cameron Highlands
Native pitcher plants blooming in the rain forest of Cameron Highlands
The Cameron Highlands also offers plenty of nature tours to explore the wilder rain forest parts of the region. Over 150 types of ferns, the showy pink, bamboo orchid (Arundina graminifolia), native rhododendrons, tree ferns, wild cinnamon, and many wonderful Nepenthes (pitcher plants) grow in the quartz soils and spongy humus soils in the Cameron Highland hillsides.
Baby orang utan in the Orang Utan Island Nursery
An orang utan baby in the nursery of Orang Utan Island
On the way to Penang island from Cameron Highlands is a unique private sanctuary for rehabilitating Orang utans called Orang Utan Island and EcoPark. Here adult orang utans roam freely on a 35 acre island and young babies are nursed back to health in a care facility. The facility is part of the Bukit Merah Laketown Resort and houses about 20 orang utans. Built to provide safe accommodation for the animals and human visitors, the nursery for example has big glass windows for visitors to interact with the babies.
Penang
Penang Island just off the Northwest coast of Malaysia is reached by bridge from the mainland. But be prepare for lots of congestion and slow moving traffic when traveling to the island.
An artist painting the Cannonball tree at Penang Botanical Garden
Flowers of the Cannonball Tree at Penang Botanical Garden
Fruit of the Cannonball tree at Penang Botanical Garden
Just outside of Georgetown, on the island of Penang is the Penang Botanical Garden. The gardens have been operating since 1884 and were known as the Waterfall Gardens. The very tall waterfall still exists but it is out of bounds to the public as it is on water utility land. The downstream portion is very visible through the gardens though. The botanical garden was built on the site of an old granite quarry and the resultant bowl shape topography is still present. Today the gardens cover 72 acres.
One of the signature plants in the garden are the cannonball trees, and there are several planted in the main garden area. The cannonball tree (Couroupita guianensis) is native to tropical South America (the northern part) and the southern parts of the Caribbean. The attractive, fragrant, orange-pink flowers bloom on 3 metre long dangling branches close to the trunk. When pollinated by bees or bats, these form large, brown, woody fruits the size and shape of cannonballs. Often the flowers and fruit are on the tree at the same time. The cannonballs are also found on thick stems that grow from the trunk of the tree. Once the fruit is ripe, it falls from the tree and cracks open exposing up to 300 seeds. A word of warning… don’t stand under the cannonball tree. The fruit has been used for medicinal purposes for its antibiotic, antiseptic, and analgesic properties. [Do not self medicate without consulting a professional.] It is hardy to zone 9b.
Cactus and succulent collection in the Sun Rockery garden at the Penang Botanical Garden
The tools of a gardener's trade at Penang Botanical Garden - an umbrella, wheelbarrow and a homemade broom
Long-Tailed Macaques at Penang Botanical Garden
Many rare cacti and succulents can be enjoyed in the Sun Rockery at the Penang Botanical Garden. The gardens have long been the home to several troops of Long-tailed macaque monkeys, which fascinate and can scare some visitors. The botanical gardens brochures warn against feeding the monkeys, walking while eating or staring down the dominant male – always good advice when avoiding a confrontation.
Carrying the bell at the Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple on Penang Island
Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple Penang
Penang is home to many very beautiful temples and mosques. Beautiful in their architecture and homage to various Deities, whether Muslim, Buddhist or Hindi, these sacred places are fascinating to visit. Two noted ones are the Wat Chaiya Mangkalaram, a Buddhist temple built in 1845 with Thai, Myanmarese and Chinese architecture. It houses a 33 meter long gold-plated reclining Buddha. Across the street the Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple, founded in 1803, offers a different feeling and reflects the look and feel of Burma (Myanmar). The Monk on duty is readily available to offer advice and prayers.
Selling Dragon Fruit at the Tropical Fruit Farm in Teluk Bahang
Up on the hillside, 800 ft from sea level in Teluk Bahang is the 25 acres Tropical Fruit Farm. With an orchard as varied as any in the world, the harvest for sale in the shop run the gamut of shapes, colors and sizes.
It was fascinating to discover that Dragon Fruit, the round pink fruit with white fleshy interior and black seeds are from a vine-like, epiphytic cactus called Hylocereus. Dragon fruit is usually eaten raw and is served quartered with the outer flesh attached.
Durian fruit for sale (bottom left) at the Tropical Fruit Farm
Dragon Fruit and red bananas at the Tropical Fruit Farm on Penang Island
Not so fascinating was the discovery that ripe Durian fruit tastes like nothing that I would ever want to put into my mouth again. It is definitely an acquired taste that you have to grow up with, as our tour guide said. Yuck, bleah! To me, the large, lumpy spiky fruit, native to Malaysia, fully deserves the signs banning it from many hotel properties where we stayed. Even in the husk, the distinctive odor of the “King of Fruit” can be had.
Tropical Spice Garden samplings
Nutmeg and red mace at the Spice Garden
The Tropical Spice Garden on the island of Penang is an excellent destination for the plant lover. Covering over 8 acres, with more than 500 varieties of exotic plants, the garden has three trails with excellent signage for visitors to explore. Well worth the uphill hike, or tram ride, is the spice museum, gift shop and cafe, located strategically away from the main entrance to entice visitors through the gardens first. The shaded garden trails meander up and down the stream valley and offer an up close view of many great useful plants.
The view into the Tropical Spice Garden on Penang Island
Silver Joey Palm (Johannesteijsmannia magnifica) at the Tropical Spice Garden
The Water Garden at the Tropical Spice Garden
Destination Langkawi, a group of islands off the northwest coast of Malaysia
- A birdwatching hut in Langkawi
Composting in old bathtubs at a resort in Langkawi
Spider Lilies in Langkawi
With so much nature and wildlife around, we found a bird watching hut erected at the Frangipani Langkawi Resort that was made of bamboo walls and a palm roof. The resort has taken significant steps to be eco-friendly, including making their own compost in recycled bathtubs. The compost decomposes in 3-4 months with this method.
Bougainvillea flowers after the rain in Langkawi
Bougainvillea in Langkawi
Bougainvillea, with their long-lasting colorful bracts after a daily mid-afternoon rain in Langkawi.
White, dwarf Mussaenda, also known as white wing (Mussaenda luteola), with its silly single white bract was a shrub growing in the hotel gardens. Hardy to zone 8.
Fragrant Frangipani at sunset in Langkawi
Frangipani at Langkawi
Frangipani (Plumeria sp.) is a gangly shrub or small tree when not in bloom and wouldn’t rate a second glance. The fragrant, vivid flowers though are definitely a sight to behold.
Three week old rice paddies at Laman Padi in Langkawi
Gardeners at work in the Rice Museum (Laman Padi) in Langkawi
A unique and very informative destination on Langkawi is the Laman Padi, The Rice Museum. The self-guided museum features the history and development of the Malaysian rice growing industry. The museum also offers an elevated view of the padi fields from their rooftop.
Coconut seeds at Laman Padi in Langkawi
Coconut sprouting at Laman Padi in Langkawi
Screwpine (Pandanas) on the beach in Lamgkawi
An interesting herb and edible garden lies between the museum and the rice fields.
Water Buffalo in Langkawi beside the Rice Museum - Laman Padi
Dwarf White Mussaenda in Langkawi
Picturesque and authentic water buffalos reside in the nearby rice fields.
Heliconia in Langkawi
Ixora in Langkawi
Wooly Morning Glory (Argyreia nervosa) in Langkawi
Sunset on the beach in Langkawi
Putrajaya – An intelligent Garden City
Putra Mosque from Putrajaya Lake in Putrajaya
Putrajaya, a city of the 21st century is Malaysia’s designated Federal Government Administrative Center. The city was started in 1993 and is expected to be completed by 2012. At the heart of the city is a 400-hectare man-made lake that can be traversed in a wooden traditional Malay perahu boat. The boat cruise is the best way to see the impressive landmarks that border the lake. These include the Putra Mosque, large enough to accommodate 15,000 worshipers, the palace (Istana Melawati) of the King and Queen, the Taman Botani (Putrajaya Botanical Gardens), the office and residence of the Prime Minister and the palace of the Sultan of Selangor.
Putrajaya Botanical Garden visitor's center
Canna blooms at Putrajaya Botanial Garden
Taman Botani Putrajaya Botanical Garden
This relatively new botanical garden has “matured” nicely during the 10 years that it has been open and now is a fitting landscape for the new city of Putrajaya “City in the Garden”.
Most of the plants are well labeled and the garden is laid out well to lead the visitor from one section to another in a meandering pleasant way. A modernistic visitor center adds a dramatic flare to the garden entrance and a focal point to the garden.
Local Ladies waiting for a tour of Putrajaya Botanical Garden
From the visitor center, the first views of the garden are from the canopy bridge, suspended 170 metres across the valley and culminating at palm hill. The canna collection and vine garden were two additional highlights.
Handkerchief Tree at Putrajaya Botanical Garden
Handkerchief trees (Maniltoa browneoides) provide visitor interest from the parking lot to the visitor center.
Maiden's Jealousy in Putrajaya Botanical garden
One evergreen vine that caught my eye inside the botanical garden was Maiden’s Jealousy. This fragrant, native, yellow blooming vine blooms year round and is called Tristellateia australasiae.
Carnation of India Tabernaemontana at the Shangri-La Putrajaya hotel gardens
The Shangri-La Putrajaya Resort gardens and the neighboring city park provided great floral attractions during a couple of short walking tours at the start and finish of a busy day of touring. One interesting plant was the Carnation of India (Tabernaemontana divaricata) which reminded me of gardenia with its fragrant white flowers.
Turnera in Putrajaya city garden
Adjacent to the Shangri-La is a city garden Putrajaya Taman Putra Perdana with many additional interesting plants and a panoramic view of Lake Putrajaya.
