Once we unpacked, we immediately fell for the island’s way of life with kittens behind every corner. It looks like cats have a special place in the hearts of Tioman’s residents. At one cafe the cat situation could be described as an obsession because we counted 16 cats before we got the coffee. Later we found out that Islamic tradition has an important influence on the island’s pets. In addition to that, it is awesome to see lazy cats casually stretching in the shade with the ocean in the background.

Speaking of an island lifestyle, don’t expect local restaurants and shops to be open all day long. There is an agreement between locals to follow the 8h working day, not more. We salute this deal and support it. Certainly, this way more businesses get a chance to earn a living because there is less competition. For example, some restaurants are open in the morning and the evening, while others cover the hours in between. Of course, the deal is off at the resort or hotel. There, the vacation bubble is in full swing, and everything you wish can come true for the right price.

Monkey Business

Well, to be honest not everything can be bought. Pristine nature is one of those items that can go their way despite your efforts. Tioman is indeed a paradise island where you’ll share the beach with colorful butterflies. Although butterflies are stunning in all colors and sizes, you shouldn’t fix your eyes just on them. You surely won’t want to miss monkeys, because they will get your stuff. One time we were on a beach and monkeys came to check what is in our bags. It didn’t take them long to unzip a bag and try how sunscreen tastes. At first, we were really happy to see monkeys, but later we took some precautions when the monkey troop came around. Our go-to defense system was throwing sand at them because who would want sand in hair and eyes. It worked every time, even when a large male sneaked behind us when we were walking through the village. 

Turtles

That monkey surprise happened on our way to the turtle sanctuary. Probably about a decade or two ago, the Tioman was home to four different sea turtle species. Now the only two species remaining are the Green and Hawksbill turtles, but who knows for how long. Sea turtles existed for 110 million years and only in the last century, their numbers are sad-looking. Hopefully, turtle hatcheries make an impact and the turtle situation will improve. The same optimistic narrative goes for the corals around the island. 

Tioman Island is famous for its diving activities around thriving coral reefs. When the season comes, even whale sharks come around! One whale has a friend at Salang Beach, a passionate diver Paul and they “hang out” when the time comes. In the past, healthy coral reefs were very close to the shore and people were having a snorkel blast. Sadly, the present is showing a changing image that is quite disturbing.

Coral Bleaching

We saw many bleached corals in the coastal water and quite a few dead ones on the beach. Dying reefs have to face climate changes and tourists who are pocketing souvenirs off the shore. Now visitors can listen to the tale about snorkeling off the shore during the boat ride to the diving spots. The good news is that a few people started to plant corals and are giving wildlife a chance to survive. What we learned about planting corals surprised us. Not only it is successful, but also that there are different ways of doing it. A particularly useful solution with strong currents is a lightly moving base.

Exploring Tioman Island

Whatever you plan to do on the island, please slowly walk around and explore it. We went literally around the island and were blown away by the surroundings. If you care for one more travel story, check how our search for a lonely beach on Tioman Island went. If not, we hope you enjoyed this tale.

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Today, we invite you to the footpath, where we share our twists and turns with you. However, we should warn you first, walking in Kuala Lumpur is not easy. With that being said, it makes sense to start the tour at an enjoyable and carefree KLCC area with a neat park in the middle. Here, we loved the contrast between the busy streets and the freedom that green space represents. Part of the privilege is the fountain of drinkable water and an abundance of lush greenery. To be honest, the whole city center is easy to navigate with abundant sidewalks where dense skyscrapers provide relief from the sun. But as you move further from the center, you’ll find an arrangement that makes no sense and fails you in the middle of the street. Oh, yes, that happened many times.

Keep Your Senses Alert

Tip number one. Besides the direction, keep all your senses alert at all times in every direction. Don’t be fooled when you reach the “sideways,” which are supposed to be safe; they have traps. It starts with metal spikes sticking out in the middle of the sideway. Stepping on this rusty metal in flip-flops will injure you. I can tell that from the first hand. You must be asking yourself what that metal piece is. It looks like someone cut the traffic sign and left a small part as a deadly trap. Of course, I kicked it right when we were about to cross the street. To be specific, this happened on the pedestrian crossing point with working traffic lights and zebra crossing path. Here is the dilemma: “Should I watch the traffic while crossing the street or keep my eyes glued to the ground to avoid tetanus infection?”

Sideways or Not?

Exhausted from the heat and mood swings, we reached the picture-perfect alley with giant trees sheltering us from the sun. It was so peaceful that we could hear each other and even walk side by side. What a joy it is when the street sound doesn’t literally hurt your ears! Then this wonderful sidewalk suddenly started getting more and more narrow, so once again, we were forced to walk in a row. So here we go again: “Wait, what did you say? Pavement amazement!” Indeed it was. As it turned out, this pedestrian-friendly sidewalk’s sole purpose was housing the street lights and garbage bins. Just like that, we were forced to slalom on the path, overcoming the garbage bin, advertisement and street lights. On top of that, you will be jumping because the kerbstone happened to be two feet high. Why? Maybe to keep my but cheeky? I’ll go with that.

You think you heard everything by now, right? Wrong! There is the deadliest trap of them all, the unmarked holes on this pedestrian walkway/sewage covers. Tip number two: eyes on the floor and fear of the dark.

Is KL Safe?

How about safety? By now, you know we spent some time on Kuala Lumpur’s streets, and not even once we felt insecure. At risk, yes, pedestrians are endangered species. Here we must admit that we avoided late-night walking because that is just common sense. Many people live in this metropolis, and statistics say that there are some people you’d want to avoid among a few million. Indeed, the razor wire fencing and robust security at every condominium entrance aren’t just for aesthetics. However, I warmly recommend chatting with security though. These are mostly Gurkhas, and they are super friendly.

Never Stop Walking!

As a true explorer, everyone should jump on the MRT (KL’s subway system) and minimalize the environmental impact. Public transport in Kuala Lumpur is clean, safe, and works like a charm. On top of that, the city even provides free (“percuma” – means free in Malay) buss for better public mobility. Here I should point out only one nonsense. If you take a regional train, there is no way one could buy only the ticket. You need to buy a plastic card and top on credit. Great, right? Sadly with one drawback. The plastic card is not refundable. Eat shit, mother earth! 

Is this diary to discourage pedestrians? Nah, this is a complaint about how unfriendly KL is to pedestrians, but we won’t give up. Walking in Kuala Lumpur, or any other city, is totally worth it, especially if you want to get a real understanding of the city. 

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How We Rate Buffets?

Probably you are asking how can you trust us with the rating? Let’s just say we are 100% foodies with a rare condition called – honesty. If something doesn’t meet our expectations we share our thoughts, because there is no time for bull****. Our buffet reviews have six criteria, scaling from 0 to 10. These are atmosphere, food offer, presentation, service, food taste and value. If I would say picking the best buffet here in Kuala Lumpur is an easy job I would lie. The offer is huge and various. After all, we can easily title KL as a buffet metropolis. So, I hope we helped you a bit with our selection. Shall we?

Mandarin Oriental Mosaic Buffet

The Mandarin Oriental Mosaic buffet menu is enormous and is, in fact, one huge mosaic of food. We have to start with their sweets tucked away in a separate room, just to warn you not to look at them before you give a chance to the savories. If you give in, we guarantee you’ll have to return to the Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur. Worth mentioning is the largest seafood selection in town and plenty of vegetarian dishes. Naturally, you’ll find Malay, Indian and Chinese stations, soups, BBQ, a roast station, a live pasta station, a selection of western food, a noodle soup station, and more. 

This Buffet Outlet is best for:

High end gourmands and special occasions

Grand Hyatt – High on Sugar

A walking distance from Mosaic restaurant is the Grand Hyatt with a trendy THIRTY8 restaurant. Here they serve some sort of hybrid between high tea and buffet. We simply enjoyed their signature afternoon tea buffet with savories on call and sweets on display. Here we must applaud them for delicious food, plus the 360-degree view from the 38th floor is just a cherry on top. On top of that, there were plenty of options to choose from.

This Buffet Outlet is best for:

All sweet walkers and high tea enthusiasts

Sizzling Sundays BBQ @ Man Tao, Hotel Stripes

Only on Sundays, one can enjoy the intimate BBQ buffet by the pool on top of the Stripes Hotel at Man Tao. As expected, the atmosphere is very relaxing, spiced with western-style dishes. Food options are adequate enough for any fussy eater, although you can revisit the favorites anytime. We couldn’t get enough of their cute mini burgers paired with roasted root vegetables. Here we must add that meat-free options were slightly lacking, albeit the BBQ is about the sizzling meat. Certainly, this Kuala Lumpur BBQ buffet offers a different spin and is all about the enjoyment of life.

This Buffet Outlet is best for:

Casual Sunday BBQ feast

Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara Buffet 

Kwee Zeen restaurant at Sofitel Damansara Hotel certainly shines for Sunday brunch; at least we witnessed that. On other days lunch and dinner buffet are open for the voracious public, where you’ll find a worldwide array of dishes with an emphasis on French delicacies. With that being said, cheese and bread lovers will adore the selection, which is the biggest as we experienced. We loved the gluten-free corner and healthier options like prawn guacamole and roasted green asparagus, to name a few. Sofitel Damansara Buffet is certainly one of the best buffet options here in KL!

This Buffet Outlet is best for:

Cheese lovers and gourmands in general

Aloft Kuala Lumpur Buffet Review

The Nook restaurant’s contemporary design serves as a vibrant background to the dishes from all corners of the world. Our favorite part of this Aloft Kuala Lumpur buffet was the light appetizers and Malay classics. The savory offer is big, especially when it comes to the Italian classics. However, the dessert section has room for improvement. Keep in mind that the buffet offer is changing and available for breakfast and dinner.

This Buffet Outlet is best for:

Playful folk and casual meetings

Majestic Kuala Lumpur Buffet Review

This Kuala Lumpur buffet has the most comfortable seats. To be more specific, the sofa is the one you will refuse to leave after the “all you can eat” experience. What we can say about the food is that savories outperform sweets. We were particularly pleased with a wide array of Pan-Asian dishes, especially Japanese soups and Indian open kitchen. For those looking for western flavors, we can calm you that you’ll find the most beloved classics like pizza, pasta, and so on. The sweet finish was most enjoyable with cakes and bowl desserts. Majestic Kuala Lumpur Buffet is a classic!

This Buffet Outlet is best for:

Heritage hotels lovers and bigger groups

Royal Chulan Hotel, Bunga Emas Restaurant

Bunga Emas Restaurant has to be the best option for tasting genuine Malay cuisine. Given the modest number of dishes, we were able to try all and are happy to report that everything tasted great. Most of all, we remembered the Rendang Daging at this Kuala Lumpur buffet. The best thing is that the food had a homemade feel to it, plus the Malay food tag added a mysterious oriental charm to the experience. That is especially true for the local desserts, which couldn’t be more different from Western sweets.

This Buffet Outlet is best for:

Everyone who would like to taste genuine Malay cuisine

Conclusion

And we are at the end of our best buffet in Kuala Lumpur article. I hope we helped you a bit with your choice for the next buffet in this all-you-can-eat city. However, in pandemic times, some outlets don’t offer buffet options, so please check before your reservation. However, if you are a high tea lover like us, than check our best high tea in Kuala Lumpur article.

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Meaning of BOH?

The meaning behind the name is a mystery with a few possibilities. Whether the name stands for the initials “Best of Highlands” or is a tribute from tea origins Bohlia in the Szechuan province or Bohea Hills in China’s Fujian province is up for a debate. Also, the early tea trade practice in China appointed high-quality tea leaves as the “bohea.” A simple guess might also point to the meaning of the mandarin word boh, which is precious happiness.

Story of BOH Tea

In 2019 BOH tea celebrated its 90th anniversary, and what a journey they have been through! Still, the essential BOH’s values stay the same, like creating well-loved teas through mastering the art of tea from tea bush to teacup. Another example of their success-oriented mindset is a constant search for ways to give back to the local communities.

Beginning of BOH Tea Plantation

Growing tea in Cameron Highlands was on John Archibald Russell’s mind from the global market crash in the 1920s. Before he carried out his tea plantation idea in 1929, John Archibald Russell made most of the British colonial era with numerous diverse business arrangements. After leaving England as a child in the 1890s, he had many opportunities to gain a wide range of knowledge and partnership. He most likely came across the veteran tea planter A.B. Milne on some business trip to Sri Lanka. With whom the tea planting works began as soon as the virgin jungle was gone. Whey started planting tea bushes, Cameron Highlands had no roads and no community to land a helping hand.

Second BOH Generation

John Archibald Russell’s widow, Kathleen, kept the BOH business going despite financial difficulties. Her situation got worse once the Japanese occupied the plantations during World War II. Not much could be done until the war ended when their son Tristan joined the business. Finally, the turbulent times were over when Malaysia gained independence, and the Russell family was ready for some serious business.

Actually, the first BOH plantation grew to four plantations quickly, and Tristan was looking to modernize the tea manufacturing at every stage. New machinery cut the cost while a very successful campaign made the BOH tea the most popular tea in Malaysia.

Third BOH Generation

Tristan’s daughter Caroline took over the CEO position in 2003. She continued her father’s environmental actions such as “new home for elephants” and “new home for orangutans.” Under her supervision, the BOH tea assortment expanded along with the new Tea Centre. Now they are focusing on more sustainable packaging and delivering the desired taste that demanding consumers’ love.

BOH Tea Plantation Tour

How often can you drink the tea right on the estate where it was grown? The experience certainly enriches and expands horizons no matter the background. That and the stunning views from Tristan’s terrace at the Sungai Palas Tea Garden are a Cameron Highland must-have. We should also mention the tea factory you can tour and join in the tea tasting session. 

Naturally, one can look around the original Habu plantation, Fairlie Tea Garden, and Bukit Cheeding in Selangor. All plantations produce about 4 million kg of tea a year, picked on about 1200 hectares of land. Quite a lot, but still a far cry from about 29 million kilograms of Malaysian yearly tea demand.

Cameron Highlands Resort Review

Afternoon Tea at The BOH Tea Plantation

There is no secret we are huge afternoon or high tea lovers. It is a lovely tradition and what can be better than having tea in the weather like here in Cameron Highlands. So, do they serve afternoon tea here at Boh Tea plantation? Sadly, no! One can buy some desserts and make his own afternoon tea, but don’t expect sets. However, if you are wondering where one can find the best afternoon tea in Cameron highlands, check our article.

Final Thought

Indeed it is spectacular to see the tea plantation surrounded by jungle. At least it appears to be surrounded by the wilderness; the question is for how long. Growing demand for all kinds of produce from Cameron Highlands leads to only one thing – more farms. What is even sadder is the heavy use of pesticides in the area and terrible water management. We sincerely hope that the BOH tea will focus on a sustainable future from start to finish. Luckily, they have shown effort in the packaging department, which is a start.

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The Lord’s Cafe

Locals recommended us to try the best scones in Cameron Highlands that are served at the Lord’s Cafe. Well, first thing first, they are referencing to the Chrisitan “lord” and second, their scones aren’t really the best in Cameron Highlands.

However, If you are looking to get your money’s worth, then look for the sign of Lord’s Café in Tanah Rata. It is a bit hidden, but you’ll find it on the first floor in the building, next to the Terminal Freesia. Once there, you’ll praise the Lord for cheap goodies that indeed are worth every penny. With that being said, don’t expect the “to die for” refreshments and “five-star” service.

Cameron Highlands Resort 

Afternoon tea time at the Jim Thompson Tea Room is unique for its airy colonial interior and authentic bites. We liked a delicious tribute to the surrounding area in the form of fresh strawberries and BOH tea.

Actually, the standard companion of the Cameron Highlands Resort high tea set is a Gold Blend BOH tea or coffee. It was a great fit to the airy and moist scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam. Cameron Highlands Resort afternoon tea menu is light with the best scones in Cameron Highlands, classic sandwiches, and more or less traditional desserts.

Cameron Highlands Smokehouse 

The romantic garden with numerous blossoming flowers is incredible and perfect for the alfresco afternoon tea. If that is not possible, the Smokehouse has a large dining room just for the occasion. The Smokehouse high tea menu is relatively modest, but it will keep you in the perfect illusion.

Both medieval English exterior and indoor monuments full of all sorts of antiques will set you in a different zone. Old-school bites also raised to the occasion, with all present homemade feel from strawberry jam to the bouncy fruitcake.

BOH Tea Plantation 

The BOH Café at the Sungei Palas Tea Garden is extremely popular with tourists. After all, a cup of BOH tea is a must once the tour of the biggest BOH tea plantation is over. There is more to the tea tour than just bushes, and so is to their café.

The most astonishing is the view over the lush tea forest. Then there are numerous desserts, perfect for a personalized afternoon tea set. We recommend adding a fluffy carrot cake and moist egg tart on your menu. As you can expect, their tea offer is abundant and very thirst-quenching before a trip to the gift shop. How about scones? To be honest, they were packed in plastic which took our appetite away, so we simply skipped them.

Best Scones in Cameron Highlands

If you are looking for the best scones in Cameron Highlands, you should stop at The Smoke House. Their scones can be described as perfectly school ones. Great taste, nice texture, and lovely aroma without any inferences. However, if you are looking more for experience and the best high tea in Cameron Highlands, then the right address for you is Cameron Highlands Resort. Their afternoon tea is lush, tasty and adorable with a help of the ambiance.

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Smokehouse Ambiance 

From a distance, one can appreciate the traditional English Tudor design from 1937. Really, the Smokehouse hotel couldn’t be more British, and yet it somehow fits in the Malaysian Highlands. Longtime present British influence in this area deserves a monument like this. Also, the neighboring golf course only intensifies the feeling of landing into the British bubble.

No wonder British expatriates took refuge at the Smokehouse when their homesickness became overbearing. We bet that blossoming garden and cozy indoors with dark wooden beams swept away heartfelt longings. 

Moving into the original building, you’ll notice many antiques, not just furniture and carpets, but also porcelain and copper tableware. Some of its charms are also present in the extension where we had our afternoon tea. Sadly, the metal greenhouse with ugly terracotta tiles is an undeniable failure in this head to toe heritage place.

Therefore, we urge you to enjoy the beautiful outdoor area with a handful of tables surrounded by countless fragrant flowers. Just keep in mind that the weather can be British as well.

Drinks

Every afternoon tea set at the Smokehouse restaurant comes with a local black tea. In case you want alternative tea or coffee, you’ll get it for an additional 0,70 USD or so.

We kept the original offer and were eager to try local tea from Cameron Highlands that wasn’t from the famous BOH tea plantation. For a change, we got to taste the Cameron Valley loose black tea. Therefore, we can confirm that we noticed the fine mouthfeel and complex flavor.

Scone and Cream

Rustic beauty had a firm crust that crumbled away in our mouths while the interior maintained the desired moisture. We were happy with a pleasant flavor that indicated home cooking without powdery shortcuts. Topping still warm scone with homemade strawberry jam and thick Devonshire cream was an absolute joy.

Cameron Highlands Resort High Tea Review

Afternoon Tea Bites 

We will remember Smokehouse afternoon tea after a taste of homemade cooking embraced with old school charm. Here we are talking about the classic finger sandwiches that tasted fresh and delicious. The same goes for a fruit cake slice, which had only one flaw; it was too small. We can see the point of keeping the tea set as traditional as possible, but one more treat for the sugar maniacs wouldn’t hurt.

Smokehouse Sundae

Since the Smokehouse afternoon tea set is short of sweets, we couldn’t resist the extra strawberry sundae. Righteously so, since it was a mouthwatering combination of fresh strawberries, homemade strawberry syrup, and vanilla ice cream.

Final Thought

We can see why Smokehouse is a popular place for high tea occasions. The experience of an old school English bubble in Malaysia is more real than we thought.

However, all this might be true if you are enjoying your high tea outside. Once inside, this romantic vibe isn’t that strong anymore. There are too many things cluttering the space, and if we add the darkness…

The food at the Smokehouse afternoon tea was lovely to be fair, and we wouldn’t mind some extra sweet bites. The whole other story is the presentation. Where is the English charm?

Cameron Highlands Smokehouse Afternoon Tea Review Card

• 8.2/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 8.2/10
• 7.3/10
  SERVICE – 7.3/10
• 6.0/10
  TEA SELECTION – 6.0/10
• 3.0/10
  PRESENTATION – 3.0/10
• 8.9/10
  BITES – 8.9/10
• 7.9/10
  VALUE – 7.9/10

Price and Location

Smokehouse afternoon tea for one comes at almost 11 USD, while strawberry sundae costs a bit under 5 USD. Here is a link to the location for easier navigation.

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Ambiance

Colonial style continues throughout the Cameron Highlands Resort Spa, while the open design effortlessly connects you to nature. Inevitably it begins with an open-air arrival, but the sounds of running water and singing jungle birds do triumph. It is the connection between outside and inside that brings a unique feel to the experience.

Spa Village Cameron Highlands

Spa Village is famous for recognizing surroundings and combining it with local traditions in the spa treatments. We have mentioned before the rock stars of Cameron Highlands; strawberries and tea. Both splendidly entangle English roots into beauty treatment. So do the roses and mint, which can be extended by various ala carte treatments.

Don’t miss the healing therapies that are based on ancient knowledge of the local indigenous people! Even though the life of the native, Orang Asli people took a “modern” turn, some knowledge has been preserved. Well, not just preserved, but put in action via the Semai treatment for her and him.

Cameron Highlands Resort Spa Review

Tea & More

After meeting the charming receptionist, we found ourselves sipping chamomile tea under the outdoor gazebo. There we filled up the spa questionnaire while appreciating the tranquilizing view.

Tea Bath

You’ll get sarong regardless of the therapy you choose because you’ll need it to enter the tea bath. Show respect and keep the sarong on as long as you are in the company. Only when you’ll be alone, you can take advantage of the privacy and unwind. Enjoy the benefits of a warm bath filled with black tea’s antioxidants. Keep in mind that the skin has to be clear to absorb the nutrients. Therefore, the Spa Village Cameron Highlands Resort provides sugar scrub for the whole body. You can apply it freely by yourself and continue with the use of eye mask and lime slices for areas with hard skin. 

Chill Time

After the warm bath, we stopped outside to cool down with a heated neck pillow. We felt incredibly relaxed during our time in the fresh air and excited about the upcoming massage. Before entering the massage room, we got a new set of heated towels to accompany us on the short walk. 

Traditional Malay Massage

We loved the long kneading strokes down the muscles with incorporated acupressure. Surely the massage worked wonders on our relaxed body due to the soothing motion alone. However, the Malay tradition includes plant support next to the action. The healing spice combination invigorates circulation while it helps to detoxify the body. At first, I was concerned about the possible unpleasant smell of garlic and onion in massage oil, but my doubts were put to rest with citronella and cinnamon in the blend. The finish of our pampering time couldn’t be nicer; quick wipe of our feet with a hot towel for excess oil absorption. 

Conclusion

Each treatment is possible as an individual experience or in a company of a loved one, except Ala Carte Experience. We loved sharing the extremely pleasant experience at the Cameron Highlands spa and came out feeling light as a feather and rejuvenated. We highly recommend visiting Cameron Highlands Spa, after hiking in the what is left from Cameron Highlands jungle. There shouldn’t be any excuses for the spa; everyone deserves to be spoiled here and there.

Cameron Highlands Spa Review Card

• 9.5/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.5/10
• 9.6/10
  OFFER – 9.6/10
• 9.5/10
  MASSAGE – 9.5/10
• 9.7/10
  RELAXATION ROOM – 9.7/10
• 9.4/10
  VALUE – 9.4/10

Price & Location

The 80 minute Malay massage therapy costs about 80 USD per person. Here is a link to the location of Cameron Highlands Resort in case you don’t know where it is. Enjoy your massage keep loving yourself!

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Cameron Highlands Resort Background

Cameron Highlands was established as a hill station, attracting British colonials and expatriates, who escaped the searing tropical heat. Delightful spring-like climate and fertile grounds quickly made this area trendy, and it became known as a ‘little piece of England in Asia.’

For this reason, the hotel rooms were very much needed. Therefore in the 1930s, they extended the existing cottage and made this place perfect for guests. Nevertheless, the main architecture on today’s resort dates from the 1970s.

Sadly, the location of the Cameron Highlands Resort isn’t the dreamy one as it was back in time. The view over the golf course will be interrupted by the main road, which can get very busy. Locals are desperate, especially on jammed weekends, when local tourists are all over the Cameron Highlands. Because of that, expect your commute six times longer than usual and stay calm. Despite all, once you get to the resort, your nerves will undoubtedly relax.

Ambiance

The exterior of Cameron Highlands Resort is reminiscent of old colonial times. Black and white facades with French doors, sporting fanlights, plantation-style shutters, and ironwork balconies give pristine colonial feelings. The view is facing the 18-hole golf course in front and forest at the back.

After all, the interior is the one that matters the most, and it will amaze you. Colonial-era design on every step makes this hotel remarkable. Public rooms are furnished with cane loungers and comfy sofas beneath lazy circling fans.

Plenty of warm wood and wall decor will soothe your visit. Overall, the atmosphere can be described as tranquil and hearty. After all, isn’t that the main goal for every heritage hotel on the globe?

Our Room

Each of the 56 well-appointed rooms perfectly captures the colonial feel. Polished timber floors, beamed ceilings, and plantation shutters. What can be more colonial than that? On top of that, bespoke furniture merges perfectly with Jim Thompson’s finest teak and silk. The last time we had his silk at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, and it was great to feel it again.

The main color scheme is cream, chocolate brown with hints of copper. The room is spacious with a good layout and, most important – it has a balcony, from where you can enjoy the sounds of the birds and sip your favorite tea.

The bathroom is decorated in dark marble, floor tiled in the black and white pattern, and offering both – spacious shower and bath. It is quite similar to those in the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur. After all, these two hotels have the same owner – YTL Hotels.

Amenities and Facilities

When it comes to the amenities, it has everything that you can expect from the 5-star heritage hotel. It is great to see that they are offering BOH tea, which is essential in the Cameron Highlands. Not only that, we even got local strawberries with chocolate. Yum.

Regarding Facilities, there is a dining room, bar, tea room, and even a steamboat restaurant. Somehow, we don’t find it fit for this hotel, but we suppose it can be a nice way to warm up in the evening. Still, we prefer to get comfortable with the fireplace in the downstairs library.

Anyway, for all who would like to warm more active, there is a small but very functional gym. Sadly, you won’t find any swimming pool. On the other hand, the air in Cameron Highlands is quite crisp, so we bet you won’t miss the swimming pool after all.

Nonetheless, there is a pleasant in-house spa with many treatments that perfectly fit in this tranquil environment. Here you can read our Cameron Highlands Spa Review article for more juicy details.

Dining at Cameron Highlands Resort

At Cameron Highlands Resort, they serve English plates and Malaysian classics. There is a self-serve breakfast with live station, lunch and afternoon tea at Jim Thompson Tea Room, a la cart dinner in the dining room, and hot pots at Gonbei Restaurant. We have tried out almost all the options, except the hot pot.

Breakfast

Buffet style breakfast at the Dining Room includes the classic Malaysian breakfast dishes and Western favorites, plus fresh fruit, pastries, and cold cuts. Here, we must admit that we’d rather see the processed cheese slices and pale ham sausage gone.

On the other hand, a la carte breakfast menu stretches morning offers. Really, don’t miss on the eggs benedict with free-range eggs. We also recommend the buttermilk pancakes with delicious house-made apple compote.

Lunch at Jim Thompson Tea Room

During our stay at the Cameron Highlands Resort, we loved the choices between the creative and healthy appetizers and fulfilling mains. We loved the succulent prawns with sweet melon and crunchy lettuce in a Marie Rose sauce for our appetizer at Jim Thompson Tea Room.

Our favorite main dish has to be the pan-roasted lamb with slow-roasted garlic butter potato beside a reduction of mustard and balsamic. Toothsome sticky toffee pudding satisfied our sweet tooth with moist cake and warm buttery sauce, not to mention the delightful scoop of banana ice cream on top.

Dinner at the Dining Room

Let us shortly share the favorites of our romantic candlelight dinner with you. Both appetizers, the dancing prawns, and the Mossy Forest salad were fresh and luscious, with only a minor drawback. The caramelized walnuts were unnecessary and overly sweetened the dish, in our opinion.

However, we did enjoy them on their own. Chef kept a healthy touch throughout the main dishes. Both were light on the carbs and heavy on the proteins, with modest seasonings that connected the fish and vegetables.

Since we kept our dinner light, we had to have a dessert; cheesecake with strawberry sauce and ice cream, and chrysanthemum infused creme brulee. Both were exquisite and ticked all the boxes. 

Afternoon Tea at Jim Thompson Tea Room

The classic afternoon tea set consisted of the traditional bites that were freshly prepared and tasty. Both plain and raisin scones were light and didn’t overly crumble. Every piece of dessert and each sandwich was different, so we ended up sharing everything. After all, the afternoon tea is meant as a light refreshment before dinner. If you would like to know more, don’t miss our Cameron Highlands Resort High Tea Review.

Conclusion

There is no doubt, Cameron Highlands Resort is the best hotel in Cameron Highlands! Charmy colonial look, perfect service, lovely room, amazing spa, and decent food are just a few things that can only confirm my bold statement. The most remarkable is the service itself. To point out, the staff is super nice and always ready to chat with you. For this reason, staying there will give you that homely feeling instantly.

However, even though the hotel is top, there is always room for improvement. I think there should be some maintenance to be done and redesign as well. Some sections look dull and not so luxury, if I may. In a word, with some creativity and a small investment, it could be easily improved. And remember old is gold! We need to take care of our heritage.

Cameron Highlands Resort Review Card

• 9.3/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.3/10
• 9.2/10
  CLEANLINESS – 9.2/10
• 9.2/10
  ROOM – 9.2/10
• 9/10
  FACILITIES AND AMENITIES – 9/10
• 8.9/10
  FOOD AND BEVERAGE – 8.9/10
• 9.9/10
  SERVICE – 9.9/10
• 9.0/10
  VALUE – 9.0/10

Price and Location

A night at Cameron Highlands Resort will cost you about 200 USD. Here is a link to the location for easier navigation.

The post Cameron Highlands Resort Review appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Atmosphere

The first part of the Jim Thompson Tea Room is a small resting area with a stunning antique rattan set. Right behind the daybed is the shiny black piano, played by the house pianist in the evenings.

Naturally, during the daytime, the view of the lush greenery is exposed by the parted curtains. Simultaneously, the dimmed light softens the large tea room and adds a jolly stir. Jim Thompson Tea Room is a bright and snug place that also serves the a la carte lunch with desserts, besides the high tea.

Who Was Jim Thompson?

Jim Thompson was a successful businessman – the world’s biggest silk merchant, whose mysterious disappearance still causes agitation. As a matter of fact, it was less than a mile away from the Cameron Highlands Resort, when he was last seen.

BOH Tea at Cameron Highlands Resort

The standard companion of the Cameron Highlands Resort high tea set is a Gold Blend BOH tea or coffee. The BOH Gold Blend tea is made of young shoots, which are naturally left to ferment two hours. The final product is the stimulating black tea with a deep smooth mouthfeel and rounded buttery taste. In case you want to pick some other tea for the occasion, expect the bill to be higher for about 2 USD.

BOH Tea

Anyone who explores the Cameron Highlands has to stop at the BOH tea plantation. Lush tea bushes are an item of admiration, but the view of the largest tea plantation in Malaysia is even more impressive. There have been many changes since the tea planting begun in 1929 by John Archibald Russell’s initiative. Likely the most noticeable difference being in the business expansions. Even so, the company continues to be run within the founder’s family, as the current CEO is his granddaughter, Caroline Russell.

Cameron Highlands Resort High Tea Review

Old English custom of afternoon tea feels at home in the Jim Thompson Tea Room. We say so because the English colonial era left some visible remains around the highlands here. Plus, the afternoon tea set honors the old times with classic tea set.

Sandwiches 

Each of four sans-crust sandwiches had a different filling, but all were traditional. We loved the soft, moist bread that guaranteed freshness. All versions tasted great, with just enough filling to shine through the bread.

Scones & Cream

As tradition acquires, the rustic beauties were freshly baked and delivered to our table still warm. Both plain and raisin scones were airy and moist, with a firm crust. They were resting right next to the luscious clotted cream and strawberry jam. 

Sweets

We were eager for the old school desserts that all tasted domestic. Most of all, we liked the scrumptious fruit cake and delectable chocolate-walnut brownie.

However, their lemon pie was a bit off. Probably that was because of our high spirits from the lunch, where we had unforgettable sticky toffee pudding.

For the final bite, we saved the strawberries, which came with a chocolate dip. A thoughtful homage to the area, known for strawberry farms that supply the country and Singapore simultaneously.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoy our Cameron Highlands Resort high tea review because we sure did. An afternoon tea menu is light and focuses on scones and classic sandwiches, just like in old colonial days. Can we all just agree, this is one of the good things colonization brought? However, is this the best high tea in Cameron Highlands? To be continued…

Cameron Highlands Resort High Tea Review Card

• 9.6/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.6/10
• 9.7/10
  SERVICE – 9.7/10
• 7.6/10
  TEA SELECTION – 7.6/10
• 8.0/10
  PRESENTATION – 8.0/10
• 9.0/10
  BITES – 9.0/10
• 9.4/10
  VALUE – 9.4/10

Price & Location

A high tea set for two persons will cost you about 26 USD, which is a bargain. Their English Afternoon Tea is served daily 3 pm – 6 pm in Jim Thompson Tea Room. Here is a link to the location for more straightforward navigation.

The post Cameron Highlands Resort High Tea Review appeared first on Wild 'n' Free Diary.

Ambiance

The futuristic setting of the Nook restaurant appears airy and uplifting. Spirits are lifted with intense colors, and lighting, which add the playful element. Personally, we like the easy navigation and excess of space around the buffet.

Drinks

One can quench thirst with free flow of four chilled beverages, or check Nook’s menu. We especially liked water infusions, lemon & cucumber, and apple & watermelon. In addition to that, tea and coffee are also in an endless supply for the duration of the Aloft buffet. Let it flow!

The Food at the Aloft Kuala Lumpur Buffet

An abundant variety of dishes is set to make vegetarians content, but the omnivores are in for the treat. Regardless of your diet, you’ll find plenty of options to test your belly’s capacity. Chances are you’ll find yourself overindulging into the traditional Malay dishes if not in international ones. We like the balance between the classics and ingenious bites, which makes Aloft buffet Kuala Lumpur more exciting.

Appetizers

Creative appetizers are our favorite part of the Nook buffet at Aloft KL Sentral. For this reason, we kept returning for compressed watermelon with feta cheese and artichokes with sautéed onions. Both were mouthwatering and shared the pleasing sweetness that was highlighted with light seasonings.

Salads

On the salad aisle, we found the combination of thick mayonnaise dressing on the apple & orange salad the most enjoyable. After all, that doesn’t mean other salads weren’t thoughtfully put together. Notably, the most fulfilling one was the chicken salad with chickpeas, beans, and black olives.

To point out, part of the self-service salad bar was a mixture of leafy greens with classic and more daring dressings. We customized it with tuna tartare in a tasty marinade with shallots.

Cold Cuts & Cheese

Next to the salads, we found smoked salmon and cured belly, while Camembert, Gorgonzola, and Cheddar cheese were right next to the freshly baked bread, nuts, and butter. However, the cheese selection outnumbered the modest collection of cold cuts. It wouldn’t hurt if there would be a bit bigger offer.

Seafood

Those looking for ocean taste, we advise walking around, to discover the daily seafood offer. We found whole black mussels and prawns on the ice, while tuna tartare and smoked salmon were only a few steps away.

Soup

Soup section spoiled us with sweet corn soup that had a generous amount of coconut milk in it. This creamy soup was incredibly rich in all its simplicity. On the other hand, more complex and completely different was the clear herbal chicken soup with vegetables.

To our surprise, we found the creamy mushroom soup to be the mildest tasting. Surprisingly enough, but it is possible that the mushrooms weren’t the strongest tasting bunch since they lacked the desired umami flavor.

Noodle Corner

Asia is crazy about noodles, and Aloft Kuala Lumpur Buffet is no different here. For the first time in our travel around Malaysia, we come across the Sarawak laksa. We liked the fragrant herbal base with medium heat thinned down with coconut milk and chicken stock. In addition, the bounty of add-ons included vegetables, fish balls, prawns, tofu, and four different rice noodles. Among them, we picked a traditional Sarawak laksa option – thin rice vermicelli noodles.

Besides Sarawak laksa, we also tried vegetable broth, chicken broth, and prawn mee. They were decent but didn’t satisfy our hedonistic souls. Kind staff complied with our desire for tiny portions, which is a good idea if you want to try as much different food as possible.

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Mains

The international array of mains present Malay classics in strong light, but it doesn’t outnumber the western style dishes. In general, the food was tasty, even though as time goes by, the quality declined.

For this reason, the chef tackled a problem by creating some hardy items, like thick lamb stew or vegetable dhal. Additionally, there is also Italian (pizza and pasta) and satay live station, to maximize the freshness.

Desserts

Fine looking sweets were neatly displayed on the dessert aisle. Some were bite-sized, others ready to be cut as pleased. Cubes of moist opera cake and Malay Kuih were a handy bite on the go for seconds, but tiny cupcakes and peanut butter cakes were best next to the coffee.

However, the majority of the desserts did disappoint as we could taste the powdery additions. Among all, we liked the creamy coconut panna cotta and coffee brulee the most.

Everyone should try local specialties; the refreshing sweet lotus seed soup and the popular Ais Kacang, known as the shredded ice. We really liked the board with the guidelines so anyone could make the proper version of it.

Conclusion

Aloft Kuala Lumpur Buffet is a playful buffet where you can try local and international specialties and classics. The offer is big and the quality of the savory bites is good. However, the dessert section has room for improvement. After all, the sweet kick makes the biggest impression. Or are we spoiled from the unforgettable Mandarin Oriental Buffet? Nope, sweet standards should be high!

Aloft Kuala Lumpur Buffet Review Card

• 9.3/10
  ATMOSPHERE – 9.3/10
• 9.2/10
  FOOD OFFER – 9.2/10
• 9.2/10
  PRESENTATION – 9.2/10
• 9.3/10
  SERVICE – 9.3/10
• 9.1/10
  FOOD TASTE – 9.1/10
• 9.2/10
  VALUE – 9.2/10

Price & Location

Kuala Lumpur Nook Buffet at Aloft hotel is possible every day for breakfast (6:00 am -10:30 am), lunch (12:00 pm – 2:30 noon), and dinner (6:30 pm – 10:30 pm). Here is a link to the Aloft Sentral for easier navigation to your buffet.

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