This past week I had the great pleasure of spending a few days in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia with my sister - a little getaway into the mountains. The cool, fresh, mountain air was a nice respite to the year round hot and humid air in Singapore. We flew to Kuala Lumpur and then drove about 3 1/2 hours up into the mountains. This place is famous for the tea plantations and agriculture (particularly strawberries).
We saw this beautiful waterfall on the drive up the mountain - there were tons of waterfalls off the sides of the road, this one being the biggest.
We stayed in an old Tudor style colonial home that has been made into a hotel - 'The Lakehouse'. Cameron Highlands began as a getaway for the British who lived in Malaysia during the 1950's. This hotel had that British colonial feel - especially the afternoon tea. It was more like a bed and breakfast and had such a quaint, warm, serene feel - loved it!
The scones and strawberry jam with fresh cream were AMAZING! The setting was just as incredible.
We saw acres and acres of tea plantations- it was really quite breathtaking. We visited three or four different tea plantations during our full day tour. We also learned how the tea leaves are processed to make the black tea that is common for the Malaysian people.
We took a trek thru the local jungle and learned about important plants and bit of the ecosystem that is important to the area. We also learned about medicinal and edible herbs and plants. We were so lucky to have this incredible guide who grew up on the tea plantations (his grandfather came from India to work on the plantations and settled there) and is now an eco biologist.
He took us way deep into the cloud forest to the mossy forest trail - entering what he liked to refer to as 'Pandora'. It was a pretty surreal experience.
If the hills weren't covered in tea bushes, than it was other agriculture. People from the surrounding area come up to Cameron Highlands to buy their fruits and vegetables. The streets were lined with fruit and vegetable stalls.
The tea plantations hire workers (usually men) from other countries (like Bangladesh and Burma) - they live on the plantation for 3-5 years picking tea leaves all day and sending the money home to support their families.
A woman working out in the fields (not very common - it was mostly men).
We also visiting an aborigines village way out in the jungle. Although there are some government projects around (a few houses and water tanks), the people here still live off the jungle - hunting every morning with their dart guns, fishing, and eating the vegetation. 
It's a unique experience to see such extremes in the different way so many people live around the world.
Practicing my blow dart skills - good thing I'm on dependent on that for my food (although, don't think I'd want to eat porcupine anyway).
Our last day we spent a little time in Kuala Lumpur (the capital of Malaysia) checking out a bit of the town and, most importantly, doing some shopping. A wonderful getaway!
