Number Plates of Malaysia

Cameron Highlands Part I

Introduction

I was at Cameron for 4D3N over the weekend and I must say it is a very good place to relax! There is not much to do there except visit vegetable, strawberry, tomato, cactus and other assorted vegetable farms, but the weather is fantastic. It’s dry, cool and one hardly breaks a sweat there. I can enjoy a charcoal fired steamboat dinner with my family and yet not feel hot, wet and sticky after the meal. Nice! It is basically a wonderful place to escape from the stresses of life in Singapore and the confines of the urban jungle =).

The hotel which I stayed at didn’t need to have air conditioners because it was just sooo cooling.

The Place

Nestled some 1500m above sea level, the highlands enjoy a cool climate with temperatures no higher than 25 degrees (it felt like 18 when I was there =)). Apparently the area is 2.5 times the size of Singapore. There are two major towns, Brinchang and Tanah Ratah, which are located 5km within each other.

I took a coach up to the highlands, and nearly puked along the way as the windy ascent took nearly 2.5 hrs, with lots of hairpin curves and blind spots. There is a new route from Ipoh, but the coach took the older road up, which is narrower and curvier. I would recommend flying to Ipoh first before taking a coach up. After a nightmarish 11 hr return journey (to be elaborated later), I think I am temporarily allergic to coaches. Anyway, here’s an introduction to the two towns:

Brinchang

Brinchang main street, 0800 hrs

KFC

Another view of the main street

Strawberry Moments

A snapshot of their menu

Another snapshot

Strawberry Crepe

Strawberry Tiramisu

Strawberry Strudel!

Some dessert for the young ones

Salad

Tiramisu!

Strawberry Milkshake!

The adjoining shop which sells strawberry related products

This is located about 5 km about Tanah Rata and is home to much more hotels than TR, steamboat eateries and zi char restaurants. However this place, like TR, is very small and can be covered by foot in about 30 mins.

The Brinchang night market operates every Friday and Saturday, but this is no different from our pasar malam.

A great place to have charcoal fired steamboat, which is delightful especially when the temperature’s 18 but prices here tend to be steeper than TR and the touts can be pretty aggressive along the main street where the zi char stalls are located. Do check the menu before ordering and be sure to ask for a breakdown of the price when calling for the bill – shops here do NOT have a habit of giving receipts.

Do check out the Strawberry Moments Cafe above which serves very delectable strawberry desserts and a shop which sold all things strawberry, like strawberry tea, chocolates, coffee jam and even honey (well the Highlands are known for their strawberry produce after all). Also check out the Cameron Organic Produce steamboat – I didn’t try this because I didn’t have time; shops are mostly closed on Sundays or Mondays.

Tanah Rata

This is a smaller town and is home to more backpackers. It is the administrative area of the Highlands, with a hospital and police station. I stayed at the Heritage Hotel, which was located on a hill 20 mins away by foot from the main street. I much prefer this area due to the cheaper food and the lesser amount of people here – it just did not feel as touristy as Brinchang.

Heritage Hotel

More to follow – updates on the various attractions plus more food!

1043

I think, I'm happy. =)

thought of the moment

Would you join me in my adventures?

Quotable quotes

Anything worth doing is worth doing well.

0151

I haven't blogged in such a long while. Perhaps it's a reflection of how I always find it hard to find words to express myself. Perhaps it's a reflection of how I guard my privacy. Perhaps I don't dare to say what I feel, for fear of offending someone or simply because I don't like to change the way people see me.

While going through certain cases (which I was supposed to have gone through in year 1, but which for some reason or another I can't for the life of me remember any details), I suddenly wondered: how much have I changed since I entered School? I cannot answer that question easily as much as I don't want to confront it head on, and I do not necessarily know how I have changed. But I could talk about how I've remained the same.

I'm still quiet and reserved, though I think I'm less quieter nowadays. I know law students are supposed to be outspoken but there's a thin line between making your views heard and babbling nonsence for the sake of class participation. I cannot stand the latter. I apply my own maxims to myself.

I still treasure the little things; work hasn't consumed me. I treasure the small talk I have with my good friends in the lift. I treasure good music insulating me from the humdrum of the MRT. I treasure the sweet smell of the morning dew. I treasure the brief moments when I bump into her - they make my day.

I need to be more patient. Life has taught me that there is no point in rushing for things. At the end of the day, one will become ashes and dust. I picked up this book recently - don't sweat the small stuff, and I think it is a good read. Take things easy; let nature take its course.

I need to care about my parents more. They are no longer as young and sprightly as they used to be. I've seen how vulnerable they can be, and the role I have to play in future. This responsibility has always been a major motivating factor for me to work (hard). I lose sight of it sometimes though.

I could go on and on but I realise I am stumbling over my words (not to mention it's late). I've had a not too bad start to the week and I know the upcoming weeks will not be easy. But I'll take things in my stride.

Tiesto - I will be here (Club life rmx)

Drinking Coca Cola

Ever wondered what happens to your body if you drink a Coke right now?

Calvin Harris - Supernova

Beyonce - At Last

Lemon Jelly - Space Walk

Setting up Outlook for NUS Microsoft Exchange Server

Microsoft Outlook 2007

If you choose to use the Microsoft Exchange Server

1) Control Panel > Mail > E-mail Accounts...
2) Under the E-mail tab click on New...
3) Choose Microsoft Exchange, POP3, IMAP, or HTTP and click Next
4) Check "Manually configure server settings or additional server types" and click Next
5) Choose Microsoft Exchange and click Next
6) Use pbx01.stf.nus.edu.sg as your Microsoft Exchange server and your User Name would be your NUS user id eg. U0808575
7) Click on More Settings...
8) Under the Connection tab, check "Connect to Microsoft Exchange using HTTP" then click on Exchange Proxy Settings
9) Put exchange.nus.edu.sg as the "URL to connect to my proxy server for Exchange" and click OK
10) Click on Check Name, you might need to login using your nus account eg. nusstu\u0808575, if successful your name registered in NUS would show up

If you choose to use IMAP4
The method to set up the mail account is similar to the above, just choose the appropriate option at Step 5 and take note of these addresses that are needed.

Incoming mail (IMAP4) server: imap.nus.edu.sg
Outgoing mail (SMTP) server: smtp.nus.edu.sg
Mail server user name: your Exchange userID
Outgoing mail server user name: your Exchange userID

For POP3

Incoming mail (POP3) server: pop.nus.edu.sg

Relaxing tunes...

Owl City

MAF ' 09

It's great to see everyone again! Every year without fail (well so far), us old students will invariably converge on the hallowed grounds of the school to meet up, to reminisce about the old days and to sing! There's so much meaning in those songs and it certainly brings back many many memories of my time in HC. Some memories are indelible, and these certainly belong to that category. It's been more than 3 years since I left HC but everytime I go back, it feels as if I only left the school yesterday...

Till next year then. =)

I think the lack of sleep makes one short tempered. Very.

E52

I'm amazed at how feature packed and successful this model has been. As I couldn't wait to lay my hands on one, I placed an order yesterday for one. It'll arrive tomorrow night and boy, I can't wait for it ;)

Vice

Oh no, I'm harbouring the familiar feeling of being caught within the clasps of a vice again. As the days go by, the vice slowly turns....and turns....

Up

Such a show of sheer simplicity and beauty! Love can be immensely enduring, and it can take us to the very ends of the Earth! It's been a very long while since I last saw such a simple yet stirring movie. It's as if something in me has been revived, and there definitely is a lot to life, beyond studying =X.

Time of our lives

Another turning point;
a fork stuck in the road.

Time grabs you by the wrist;
directs you where to go.

So make the best of this test
and don't ask why.

It's not a question
but a lesson learned in time.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

So take the photographs
and still frames in your mind.

Hang it on a shelf
In good health and good time.

Tattoos of memories
and dead skin on trial.

For what it's worth,
it was worth all the while.

It's something unpredictable
but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

Listening to this brings back the good old days, when we could live without a care in this world, and we could get away with whatever we did, or didn't do. School then was dreary, but there was exams and tests to look forward to. There was certainty, there was joy, there was familiarity. Most of all, we had fun. And we were 17.