Drove from Tanjong yesterday to Cameron Highlands and it's old colonial atmosphere. Strange to see some decidedly English architecture in this environment. The journey up here got more and more jungly and we drove through heavy rain, then above clouds, where the air was full of insect and bird sounds and the roads steamed. The rolling hills of tea plantations are beautiful, iPad photos don't do it justice. Along the way are locals selling baskets and fruit and veg. It's hard to know where they come from as there are no villages until you get near C.H.
The hotel is stunning. Beautifully furnished, with a definite colonial feel. A famous Thai silk magnate, Jim Thompson designed the interior. He is legendary here as he went for a walk in 1967 and disappeared never to be found. We are supposed to be going on same walk in half hour but it's monsoon rain outside, so could be off. We don't intend to disappear however.
Last night there was a log fire in the reading room, which is all dark wood panelling and library shelves. Wasn't necessary as temperature's still near 20 degrees. A man sat playing piano in the lounge, it felt like we should have been in period costume!
And from Pete some interesting facts
Beer from shop. £2 per litre -3 small cans
Beer in hotel. £7. 50 per litre
Wine in room( no tax) £ 24.00 per litre -£18.00 a bottle
Wine in hotel restaurant £75.00 per litre £50.00 a bottle
Petrol per litre.................£0.41 per litre
No that's not a mistake , I'm having to write it down to make sure myself
1.90 ringets per litre.
A trip to the petrol station with our trusty steed, the Nissan sniffy, siflis or whatever collection of consonants is written on the back is a joy.
Erm , is this pump calibrated in sips?
No sir that's right 12 quid for half a tank.....
Distance from motorway to hotel 40 miles, time taken, nearly 2 hours.
Even the map looks like its been drawn with a crayon lby a small child having a tantrum, and you know it's serious when the rain culverts are the size of a small canal, as Sara calmly pointed out.
One final observation for today in the over commercialised world of Jim Thompson here in treetop heaven, he may have been a great silk entrepreneur , but he was a crap map reader.
The hotel is stunning. Beautifully furnished, with a definite colonial feel. A famous Thai silk magnate, Jim Thompson designed the interior. He is legendary here as he went for a walk in 1967 and disappeared never to be found. We are supposed to be going on same walk in half hour but it's monsoon rain outside, so could be off. We don't intend to disappear however.
Last night there was a log fire in the reading room, which is all dark wood panelling and library shelves. Wasn't necessary as temperature's still near 20 degrees. A man sat playing piano in the lounge, it felt like we should have been in period costume!
Beer from shop. £2 per litre -3 small cans
Beer in hotel. £7. 50 per litre
Wine in room( no tax) £ 24.00 per litre -£18.00 a bottle
Wine in hotel restaurant £75.00 per litre £50.00 a bottle
Petrol per litre.................£0.41 per litre
No that's not a mistake , I'm having to write it down to make sure myself
1.90 ringets per litre.
A trip to the petrol station with our trusty steed, the Nissan sniffy, siflis or whatever collection of consonants is written on the back is a joy.
Erm , is this pump calibrated in sips?
No sir that's right 12 quid for half a tank.....
Distance from motorway to hotel 40 miles, time taken, nearly 2 hours.
Even the map looks like its been drawn with a crayon lby a small child having a tantrum, and you know it's serious when the rain culverts are the size of a small canal, as Sara calmly pointed out.
One final observation for today in the over commercialised world of Jim Thompson here in treetop heaven, he may have been a great silk entrepreneur , but he was a crap map reader.
