Monday, January 17, 2011

one of the most beautiful place u must visit when u come to cameron!!

The mossy forest grows around the peak of Gunung Brinchang, the second highest mountain in Cameron Highlands. This is also where the highest tarred road (leading to the peak from Kea Farm) in Malaysia is located. Tourists and visitors on holiday to the Cameron Highlands are highly encouraged to visit this beautiful mountain, which is full of the treasures of nature. The road also provides easy access for most vehicles to the peak.



 

At 2000 meters above sea-level, the scenery from the peak is amazing and breathtaking, allowing you to gaze across an endless landscape of mountains and forest. In addition, the strong winds and chilly mist provide an exhilarating touch to the atmopshere. To catch the view, you can climb a watch tower perched on the peak alongside some telecommunication towers.


Through the mossy forest that grows on this mountain is home to a wide variety of birds, snakes, frogs insects and plants. The endemic Trimeresurus nebularis, or the Cameron Highlands pit-viper, occurs here, being found no where else in the world. During the night, insects and montane frogs can be heard calling, punctuating the silent atmosphere with their voices.




What distinguishes the mossy forest from lowland or hilly jungles is the tremendous amount of moss and lichen enveloping the entire environment. The trees themselves appear stunted in appearance; thin and twisty, with short stumps and wrinkled bark. Such trees and plants thrive only in these high altitudes where there is perpetual moisture and rain.



To visit the mossy forest of Gunung Brinchang, visitors can take the left exit on the road downhill from Butterfly Garden and continue through a path that passes colonial bungalows, plantations and the Boh Tea Valley. Along the way, it is highly recommended to stop for photos and take in the amazing view of green tea fields. At the last few km of the journey, the road becomes abruptly steep. Vehicles with weak horsepower or low engine displacements often stall on the road, so skillfull avoiding is advised. Previously, the road up was marred by pot holes and strewn rocks, but it was recently repaired though it is only a matter of time before it reverts.