Photos sharing - Sam Poh Temple (?????) at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands

After breakfast at the hotel, before we check out from the hotel, we visited this Famous Buddhist Temple at Brinchang - Sam Poh Temple (N4.48878 E101.39056).

"Sam Poh Buddhist Temple located in Brinchang. It built high on a hill overlooking Brinchang town. Due to its location, the temple has a good view of Brinchang town and the houses that dot the little hills surrounding Brinchang. Sam Poh Temple built in 1972, is is the 4th largest Buddhist temple in the country. Amongst others, it houses a large statue of Lord Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. The temple is quite pretty and has been well maintained by residents and monks. Surrounded by a bright yellow wall, the temple is serene and peaceful. Inside are lots of different statues, both Buddhist and Chinese, and incense burning in the background in memory of those passed on. Remove your shoes before entering the temple halls. But be careful, the marbled floor is so chilly to the feet without wearing a pair of socks." Source from here.

Beside of praying, there are many rooms beside the temple. According to friends, those Buddhism can stay at the temple for RM80 per day, for praying, chanting and meditation. But I couldn't find any other information about it...especially the contact person...

Let me share some photos of the temple here....

The main hall once entering the temple

The Deity in the main hall...

Both side of the Deity are the 'Four Heavenly Kings' (????)...

'Four Heavenly Kings' (????)

On the second hall...

Proceed to second hall...

The deities in the second hall

The third hall...

The thrid hall of Sam Poh Temple

On the right of the three halls...there was another small praying area...

There are many deities here which I cannot recognize them....
On the right of the deity above...

Left...

We were walking around the temple for about an hour and enjoyed the peacefulness of the area...there were some monks around doing the cleaning and some tourists and locals who came for praying...

The outlook of the temple on 1946 (below)...just wondering, it's this temple related to 'Cheng Ho'? Because of the name - Sam Poh which is similar with the Cheng Ho well at Malacca...

Sam Poh Temple during year 1946

Once we left the temple, it was almost the time we say bye-bye to Cameron Highlands....proceed to check out from the Rosa Passadena Hotel...

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Location map of Sam Poh Buddhist Temple at Brinchang, Cameroon Highlands

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Mountain House Charcoal Steamboat Restaurant at Brinchang, Cameron Highlnads

Most of the poeples will try out the steamboat when they visit Cameron Highlands, same as us especially in the cold weather. Bringchang town is famous with the Steamboat Restaurant and we decided to have a walk then simply pick one of them for dinner...

There are about 5-6 restaurants in the same row of KFC Brinchang town, another 3-4 same type of restaurant across the main road. We decided on this Mountain House Restaurant (N4.49180 E101.38856) because of not crowded that we no need to stand and wait for table. I like the way when the boss or person-in-charge approched us...

Mountain House Charcoal Steamboat Restaurant, Brinchang.

Service was fast, less than 10 minutes...everything was on our table...

Fresh vegetables and mushrooms

Bean curds, fish cakes, fish and meat balls...

Prawns, pork, fish and some cutterfish...

Noodles and eggs

You can request 2 types of soups without extra charges...one tomyam another side was normal soup...

All vegetables, mushrooms were really fresh! Same as the prawns and others, but we were disappointed with the soup, because of too much msg that made it over salty. The boss noticed that and apologies politely. Well, we did enjoyed the steamboat dinner due to the cooling weather...:)

Kind of unique charcoal steamboat

The Damage : RM30.00 for 2 persons included drinks. Children are free of charge. The price was reasonable...

We saw the next door restaurant which was also same with the charcoal steamboat had a 'Tripadvisor' sticker presented on the wall...we decided to visit it in our next visit...

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*  My Cameron Highlands 3 days 2 nights trip on November 2012

Loaction map of Mountain House Steamboat Restaurant at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands

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Another visit to The Big Red Strawberry Farm at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands

Due to the early rain (about 4pm) in Cameron Highlands, we visited the The Big Red Strawberry Farm (N4.49624 E101.38656) in Brinchang town because it's fully cover in the farm. This was our second time visiting the farm and we like the way they arrange the plants and vegetables nice & neat, and it's clean too!

Initially, I was thinking to buy some plants or flowers for my garden...but just worry about the weather is different from the Highlands and it may not grow properly....

The flowers that I like...

Nice and colourful!

The prices of the flowers and the plants are much cheaper compare with the nursery around Johor Bahru  sell here. End up, we just bought some nice cactus...6 for RM10.

Lovely Green flowers...

The water stayed in the middle of the plant after rain...

Then we walked into the Lettuce and Strawberries area...

The Hydroponics Lettuces...

Lettuce seeding and the growing lettuces

Now they allow visitors to enter the Cassarova Strawberries area to pluck the strawberries, the fees is RM25.00. The Cassarova Strawberry is different from the normal strawberry where you can see it everywhere in Cameron Highlands, it's bigger, much sweeter and not that sour.

'Cassarova' Strawberries farm

We spent about 30-40 mintues to 'harvest' in that area and this (below) was what we got ...:)

Cassarova strawberries from The Big Red Strawberry Farm

The Strawberry Chocolate Fondue is the popular dessert at Cameron Highlands during our visit. It's widely available on the highlands including this strawberry farm...

I didn't take note on the price for the Fondue package at the cafe....

I think we will visit the farm again on our next trip, just felt very comfort walking in the farm...the staffs in the farm also freindly as usual...

We were hanging around the farm until the rain stop, then went back to the hotel for some rest...

The pink Hibiscus

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Location map of The Big Red Strawberry Farm at Brinchang, Cameron Highlands

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Uncle Chow Kopitiam (The Hidden Gem) at Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands

Recommended by one fo my friend - Ben, and read a lot of positive review of this cafe...we decided to give a try during lunch time.
From the guide of Garmin GPS device, we drove into Taman Royal Lily which is located at the inner part out of Tanah Rata town. The Uncle Chow Kopitiam (N4.46722 E101.37244) is situated at the corner unit of Jalan Royal Lily 4/2.

Uncle Chow Kopitiam, Tanah Rata

No problem on the parking area and the shop just next to a small hill, cooling and refreshing!
The setting is simple and cozy, even it called it kopitiam but I'm quite disagree with it because of the comfort, clean dining area, it should at least name it - Cafe. :)

The setting and environment

The kopitiam is selling Local, Chinese and Western food, beside that...they also have many type of snacks and dessert, a good place for afternoon tea break too...

The dessert of the day...

The snacks and kuih-kuih displayed in the glass cabinets next to the counter...I saw some Nyonya kuih (snacks) also available, surprised! :)

Kuih-kuih (snacks)

We placed our orders...with the lady boss. She was friendly!

I had a Nasi Goreng Kampung (Traditional Fried Rice), my wife and daughter sharing a bowl of Chicken congee and order the Aloe Vera dessert...

Nasi Goreng Kampung ( Fried rice)

Chicken Congee

Aloe Vera Dessert

Food taste were above average!
I like the fried rice with the sambal chili. Nice!

The sambal served with the fried rice

My wife and daughter were happy with their Chicken congee and especially the Aloe Vera Dessert! The dessert was nice and not too sweet...
The Damage : RM21.00 for the meals above included drinks.
Too bad we will leaving soon, otherwise I would like to have the tea break again in this 'Kopitiam'.

I had a chat with the friendly lady boss and realized that the cafe awarded the 2nd position in Cameron Highlands by its Cleanness and Comfort by the town council, another award was 'One of the Top Restaurant at Cameron Highlands' by Cameron Highlands Online.

The awards for the restaurant

Do visit the Kopitiam if you happen to be around at Tanah Rata town, I think you will like it! Recommended cafe in Cameron Highlands.

Uncle Chow Kopitiam

 C2-G-01 Block C2
Jalan Royal Lily 4/2,

Taman Royal Lily,

Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands.

Business hour : 8am - 4pm.

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Location map of Uncle Chow Kopitiam at Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands

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Sungai Palas BOH Tea Centre at Cameron Highlands

The farm alley is still narrow and winding all the way till the visitiors parking of Sungai Palas BOH Tea Centre (N4.51579 E101.41634). The total journey from the Brinchang Main Road to the Tea Centre parking area is approximately 3.5KM.

BOH Tea Vivitor Parking area

Once we got out of the car, there still a short distance to walk to the Tea Centre, it's locate at the small hill in the Tea Farm. The walk was refreshing and relax, it took about 10-15 minutes.

It was a nice walk within the Green...

The BOH Tea Centre is one of the Famous Attracttion in Cameron Highlands. I had been attracted by the unique structure of the tea centre on the hill which is not too far away...

The unique structure that protruded on the hill

If you notice the stairs next to it, that will be our return path later...

Sungai Palas BOH Tea Centre at Brinchang Town

The place was crowded! Yeah...it's a tourist hotspot. :)

I like the design very much. Let me share some photos in the cafe...

The Cafe area of the BOH Tea Centre

Everyone is busy queuing up for their snacks and drinks...included me...

There are indoor and outdoor area in the cafe...

The ourdoor or so call balcony area of the cafe

The scenic view...

We had 2 cups of BOH milk tea and a sausage with the unique name - 'Firecracker'. I bought it cause by the name...total bill was around RM15.

The sausage

The 'tea' was quite bland and the sausage was cold, not crunchy...but all of this was not our purpose to visit, it was actually the 'View'!
Look at the Breathtaking view from the cafe! It was Fantastic! We were relaxing at the cafe for more than an hour...Nice!

Scenic view from the cafe

This was the place where I can forget about everything and just sit at the cafe to enjoy the Marvelous view of the tea plantation! We can see the small village (where we parked our car) clearly from the cafe...
The photo above was on my right and the photo below was on my left...

Scenic view from the cafe

There is a small session selling all the tea leaf produced by the farm just within the Tea Centre, beside that you can also read the history of BOH Tea Farm at the gallery...

The BOH Tea Centre Gallery

That is the machine to grind and dry the tea leaf (correct me if I'm wrong) which is still in operation at the factory.

Had our factory walk after the tea break, and it's open for public.

BOH Tea Factory

Once we stepped in, there were 2 machines grinding the tea leafs....there's no clear explaination on the operation, so we have to base on what we saw within the production area.

The grinder machines

The word 'Sirocco' at the machine, I guess that's the Brand...too bad I can't find any information online...

The next session is where all the grinded dried tea leafs send for packing...I guess...

The tour was rather short, it took only 10-15 minutes to glance through the operation in the factory...

We chose to walk through the tea farm in our return path to the parking area. You can smell the tea leafs while walking...nice!

The path where we walked back to our car...

It was a nice experience having the tea break at the cafe! Especially the fresh air! I wish they can provide some info at the production area, and all visitors can understand the process of the tea leafs, that's make the perfect trip to BOH Tea Centre of Cameron Highlands.

History of the BOH Tea Plantation at Cameron Highlands
"BOH Plantations was founded in 1929 by J.A. Russell, a British businessman during the British colonial era in Malaya. He was optimistic of the tea plantation business due to huge demands despite of the world-wide Great Depression at that time. As a result of the potential, he applied for and was granted a concession of land for his first tea garden in Habu, Cameron Highlands.
Today, BOH Plantations owns three tea gardens - the first garden in Habu, Fairlie Tea Garden and Sungai Palas Tea Garden. To ensure the freshness of its tea products, BOH Plantations also set up a packaging factory near its main garden. BOH tea products are distributed both in domestic and international markets." Source from Wiki.

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*  My Cameron Highlands 3 days 2 nights trip on November 2012

Location map of Sungai Palas BOH Tea Centre at Cameron Highlands

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