Fraser’s hill mayday weekend trek
It was Rahim’s idea. Why not play tennis in cool weather like people in temperate countries? But what about those who don’t play. Well they can trek! So that’s how we decided to plan a trip to Fraser’s Hill.
It was Tan who organized the trip to an old (built in 1919) but well kept High Pines Bungalow which sits atop a ridge with a grand scenic views, and are on grounds as big or bigger than a large soccer field. Tan was accompanied by his wife Nellie. Click on the pop-ups to have a closer look at the place.
The views were elevated and grand and the temperatures were a cool 18 to 24 degree centigrade, and it was wonderful to have my wife along on this May Day holiday.
There is only one little town, if you can call it that, with maybe six or seven coffeeshops, and other essential functions, but largely unspoilt by big commerce, unlike Genting highlands or Cameron highlands.
There were many bird watchers walking and lugging about their cameras, large high tech telescopic lens, and binoculars. Eric brought binoculars and we did catch sight of some beautiful and colorful birds. It seems Fraser’s Hill is actually renowned world-wide to keen birdwatchers. There were many Caucasian tourists with knowledgeable local guides. We also checked out the Methodist House for pastor Mary for a possible youth leaders 
retreat. This is a place which several pastors love to come to pray and to plan for their church and preaching year. We walked for two hours to get there so Mary owes us big time.
We did a lot of walking, a lot of walking, and I am not talking about the trek but just exploring the whole place walking on the roads. Of course we did trek too and that was one of two main things. The forest was cool and filled with sounds of birds, all kinds of different bird sounds, and less of cicada, and of course there were the leeches.
We also tried the Bishop’s Trail because we wanted to figure out how a Singapore boy and his Malaysian cousin got lost as reported in the newspapers recently. We simply concluded they must have gotten off the well-marked paths. By the way it was in these forests and hills that Bill Thompson, the founder of the modern Thai silk industry, got lost and disappeared. Some say kidnap went awry, some say CIA, some say murder. But I think he just got lost off one of the other longer less-used trails.
And of course we did what a lot of Singaporeans love to do. Both in the town and in the bungalow which had an in-house cook, we ate and ate and ate.
Add comment May 3rd, 2006
