Cameron Highlands

This weekend we had the privilege of bring driven two hours north to the mountains to meet some of our sisters and brothers in the Orang Asli community. We went with Daniel's church, Bangsar Lutheran Church, to install a solar panel on the small community's church building.

We were surprised that the community was right off the main road and not more secluded.

Most of the houses sat on stilts and made from a combination of bamboo, tarps, tin roofing, and plywood.

The church is large and carefully crafted from concrete.

While Daniel worked with the solar-panel installation crew, I wandered around the community and talked to people (with a translator of course) about the church, people, and culture of living in the mountains. The women in this community really love Bollywood films, so some of the Indian women from Bangsar taught them how to prepare Indian snacks. We made onion pakoras (onion fritters) and corn pakoras (corn fritters). It was some of my favorite food we have had so far (I am finding I am partial to South Indian food).

Adding ginger to the onions for onion fritters.

Frying it up!

Mashing the corn for the corn fritters.

About the time we were finished frying everything, the solar panel engineers had finished with their work. It took a lot of work and shaky ladders, but just about the time the sun started beaming down, the wiring was ready to be done.

Lights inside the church will allow the community to gather despite the setting sun. Kids will be able to work on their homework and read late into the night. 

After the hard work of cooking and solar paneling, we relaxed and hung out with some of the kids (from Bangsar and from the Orand Asli community). And I, of course, went to take some pictures.

The boys from Bangsar were happy to get dirty.

Daniel relaxing in the sunshine.

 That night, we made our way further up the mountain to the Lutheran Mission Bungalow. It's a huge beautiful house that sits above a valley. As we went up, everything was covered in a thick fog, making the trek pretty creepy. After settling in to our rooms, we went back down the mountain about 2km to the town. It was finally dinner time! Steamboat was on the menu. Steamboat is basically the Asian equivalent to fondue. You get big plates of meat and veggies and add it to a pot of boiling soup stock. 

The next morning we were greeted by cool weather and fresh air. We lounged around for a portion of the morning after breakfast enjoying the beautiful view from the bungalow. As we made our way back down toward Kuala Lumpur, we stopped to see the famous Cameron Valley tea fields. 

We also got to stop at one of the most beautiful and largest waterfalls I have ever seen. 

The trip to Cameron Highlands couldn't have been more perfectly timed. It was a great 24 hours of balanced work and relaxation - the perfect place to take a break and recharge. I have definitely found my happy place.