The beauty of the hills

After an overnight stay in Georgetown, the very colonial capital city of Penang, we drove to the Cameron Highlands. As soon as we got to our destination, I had a feeling of comfort and delight - probably because there are green trees everywhere and the air is surprisingly fresh.

Today, Nikki and I ventured into the rainforest. We started in Gunung Brinchang, the Cameron Highlands' highest point. Unfortunately, we didn't see much because the sky was not clear enough but every now and then we catched a glimpse of the landscape and imagined just how beautiful it could be behind all the fog.

We then went for a walk in the mossy forest and I must say that I was highly impressed by Nikki's grace during the whole experience. I truly believe that she is the rainforest's Grace Kelly. I, on the other hand, am closer to being the rainforest's Bridget Jones. Good thing that a Swedish guy behind me managed to - how should I say this - propel my bottom in a way that I could reach a tree trunk without falling. Anyway, I'm just glad I made it through the lushiness of the world's oldest forest in one piece.

Next on the agenda was a scenic view of a tea plantation - my favorite moment of the day. The sights were magnificient and at some point I actually thought that, if I would fall, I would be launched to the sky unharmed - that's just how fluffy the plantation looked like. We then moved on to a tea factory and, after a quick guided tour, decided to have a cup of tea. I went one step further and had a slice of strawberry cake as well. Delicious combination.

Just before coming back to the guesthouse, we managed to visit a butterfly farm, as well as a strawberry farm. This last one was not particularly special but it was my opportunity to taste a handful of local strawberries, which I found worthy enough.

Throughout the day I couldn't stop thinking just how nice it could be to grow products like coffee, tea, strawberries, honey and then sell them in a cozy little coffee shop. It occurred to me yet again that a simple life could be a source of joy and happiness - especially when you're surrounded by this kind of natural beauty. The question I am now trying to answer is - would that always be enough?