Tough ride to Tanah Rata, day two

January 22

I wake up when the alarm sounds and get ready for today’s climb, which I already know is mostly uphill among crooked but divinely beautiful roads.
It was a problem to take the bike back on the road, the slope of the ditch was higher on this side and I had to invoke all the forces that existed.

Then get on the bike and pedal on, slowly, slowly and have to steer the bike between the worst hills.

About 6–7 km here Kampung Raja, the sign shows that I should turn right towards Cameron Highland. Now I get terrible downhill slopes instead, some are on the verge of dangerous.The area I am now in consists instead of rainforest of hundreds of gigantic tents that in some cases occupy an entire valley. There are nurseries for all kinds of plants, vegetables and fruits.
It actually looks a bit grotesque with all these tents. The places are called for example Lavender valley, Rose valley etc.

After a few good downhill runs, I get to climb again and the communities appear at regular intervals and I reach Brinchang, Cameron Highland’s second largest city after a tiring climb.

I seriously consider staying here but decide to continue up to Tanah Rata, the largest town in Cameron Highland. After a tiring climb of about 3 km, I arrive at Tanah Rata which means, flat ground in Malay.

Now I’m at the top of Cameron Highland, and if you stay after the main road and it feels liberating then I know that down to Pekan on the east coast it’s mostly downhill or completely flat.

When I arrive, the sun is shining and the thoroughfare is jam–packed with cars. The hotels are standing like rods on the hill and I walk into Plamters Hotel which is located by the thoroughfare and booked three nights.

I’ve planned to visit the surroundings which are more beautiful than all the beautiful things I’ve seen in a long time, that’s three nights.

I also have time to perceive that there are plenty of tourists here but never show up at anyone who speaks Swedish.

If I’m tired?… Completely exhausted, I feel like an empty, damp bag that is crumpled up and even though the heat today has been like a Swedish high summer day only.

See Yeah Later 
// P–G,  The Global Cyclist 1719