Sweet Escape

This is my birthday pressie from Joshua:



No, no. He did not buy me a lovely tudor house in some English countryside. He isn't that rich.

But what he did do was no less impressive. He took me on a weekend sojourn to this peaceful place up in the highlands and set amidst tons of greenery. It took my mind completely off work!


The hotel maintained so many of its original fittings that I felt transported back in time into the world of Hans Christian Anderson. The hotel surprises with several serene corners and grassy lawns where one could sit and sip tea while listening to the songs of the birds.


Everything about the hotel exudes old world charm. There were flowers everywhere. Warm lights are used under lampshades of red. Lush maroon carpets with gold patterns lay atop old wood panel floors. Armschairs and seats are all country-styled.



I say, this is what you call cosy!

I spent my afternoons doing what I loved most - sipping Earl Grey tea and savouring warm scones laden with strawberry jam and fresh cream. Ummm!



True to its country-side appeal, the hotel does not have a rowdy lounge. Instead, a cosy room filled with plush armchairs was the place for guests to unwind over a glass of wine, port or a mug of beer. I spent two quiet evenings there, warming my tummy with good shiraz before dinner, and again after dinner until I am pleasantly drowsy and ready for bed.



And if the evening is too chilly, a spacious living room offers a fireplace. Hotel staff will light the fire everyday at 7pm and the crackle of burning wood is just so enchanting. Guests would cosy up on one of the many soft sofas laid out in the living room to read or to play boardgames into the night.



The hotel and its decor may be old world, but nothing is ever old and musty. The guestroooms are bright, fresh and immensely comfortable!

I so LOVE the poster beds with billowy sheer drapes. How romantic!

The bathroom is roomy and surprisingly modern with classical black and white tiles. It spoils me with a long bath and a pampering rain shower instead of the common showerhead. Whooooot! Rain showers provides the best showering experience!

Even the bath amenities are so quaint!



I took my dinners at the hotel's one and only restaurant. For such as small hotel - it has only 18 guestrooms - the wine selection is pretty extensive. I fell in love with a Rosemount Estate shiraz from Australia. I even found my favourite Kingston Estate there! This Kingston Estate is pretty elusive in Singapore and I could only find it in Bangkok and Shanghai's Attica bar by the Bund.



Although the menu may be limited, every meal was pure delight. To ensure the freshness of the ingredients, only quality stock is purchased and meat is bought in small quantities, so nothing is kept frozen too long. I like how the hotel grows its own parsley, lemongrass and other herbs and spices.

Now, would you believe that this was in Cameron Highlands?

No kidding, the Malaysian highland possessed such a gem! The hotel that stole my heart is The Lakehouse.

The hotel takes great effort to do the little things that you would not expect. There was always supplies of fresh strawberries and other local fruits, chocolate, buttery shortbread and walnut cakes in my room. Staff greets me by name. The waiters acceded to all my requests for extra chicken sausages and grilled tomatoes for breakfast at no extra charges at all.

And the most amazing thing was that my car was always washed every morning! Who would have expected that, eh?!

Oh, I must also tell you of the surprise the hotel had for me. On the afternoon of my birthday, the general manager and his team found me having my afternoon tea by the fireplace and presented me with this enormous bouquet and a birthday cake. :)

Super duper sweet, right?!

So I shared the cake with everyone in the hotel. Heh.

As much as we loved the peaceful Lakehouse, we did not kept ourselves inside all day. Since Cameron Highlands is home to renowned tea brand, Boh Tea, we journeyed up a long and winding road to the tea factory. It was quite a scary ride cos of the numerous tight bends and no safety barricades. Joshua had to toot his horn before he takes on a bend cos there was no way to see if another car is coming towards us.

Once up at Boh Tea territory, we settled for more tea! I think all I drank on this holiday was tea and wine!



After sampling several teas, we took a 10 minute butt-aching hike to the highest point of the tea plantation and found a breathtaking view. We rested our jelly legs as we took in the sights.


Apart from being known for Boh Tea, Cameron Highlands is also a strawberry paradise.
If I had my way, I would rename Cameron Highlands to Strawberry Hills for the number of strawberry farms it houses! Joshua and I headed to a strawberry farm to pick strawberries.



Then I had a strawberry supper that very night.



It reminded me of Manna's tale of how the kinky Japs would pay someone to eat strawberries a full week so that the 'service-provider' could pass strawberry flavoured shit for the client's sexual pleasure.

It would be fun if my shit turns a lovely shade of pink and smells sweet.

And so, that was how I spent my birthday! This has got to be the BEST birthday I've ever had. Joshua and I loved the place so much, we plan to head back in the year end. :)