My Journey into The Past
An Unforgettable Time Tunnel Experience
Perched 1,500m high in the forest on a serene Malaysian mountain, a different world into the past awaited me. Amidst cooling resorts, tea plantations, beautiful flower gardens, and strawberry farms sprawling across gentle meandering slopes, and lush green valleys, I entered a Time Tunnel that stirred childhood memories that existed in my distant imagination.
Cameron Highlands in the Malaysian State of Pahang is a popular tourist and local destination. It rests on a tranquil sea of green rainforest landscapes bathed in a perpetual cool climate to provide the most perfect setting for a relaxing and meditative retreat.
An English surveyor, William Cameron, discovered Cameron Highlands while on a survey expedition in 1885 commissioned by the British colonial government. He discovered a beautiful plateau “shut up in the mountains” along the vast Titiwangsa Range. The place however remained unperturbed for 40 years, until British Administrator Sir George Maxwell developed it as a hill station.
Cameron Highlands has a population of about 50,000 people spread over 8 areas interconnected by good mountain roads. The main townships of Tanah Rata and Brinchang are highly developed with a wide range of facilities and services. A great selection of hotels, resorts, apartments, and shopping malls across the landscape provides accommodation and leisure activities for visitors.
On the main road on the outskirts of Brinchang Town, I discovered the Time Tunnel entrance into a rich assortment of memorabilia, pictures, artifacts, and various collectibles from a history several decades ago. They were curated by Mr Mr. See Kok Shan, a local Cameron Highlander whose passion included old stuff pertaining to the Cameron Highlands’ early days and Malaysian history.
TIME TRAVEL ON A PICTORIAL JOURNEY
The following selected pictures captured inside the Museum are organized by various topics of interest.
ORANG ASLI
Interesting pictures of the early Orang Asli (or “original people” in Malay) people who inhabited the Cameron Highlands before the arrival of the British and outsiders. Visitors can also visit the “Senoi” tribe village deep in the forest to gain further insight into their lifestyle and culture.
CAMERON HIGHLANDS TIMELINE
A historical time chart shows the origins of the highlands from their ‘discovery’ in 1885 by William Cameron up until their early development as a hill resort in the 1920s and 30s.
KOPITIAM (Coffee Shop)
A mock-up of a traditional old-style coffee shop with nostalgic music playing in the background.
BARBER SHOP AND HAIR SALON
A mock-up of a typical traditional barber shop with ancient chairs, mirror,s and accessories. Plus an authentic lady salon with hairdryer and accessories.
STREET FOOD STALL AND CLOG MAKING
A bicycle-mounted noodle stall, complete with utensils and containers of ingredients. An old bicycle selling ice cream. An old man masking clogs.
HOME KITCHEN
Glimpses of various home kitchens with utensils.
TV, TELEPHONES, AND GRAMOPHONE
DRINKS, BEVERAGES, AND MILK POWDER
OLD COINS AND JAPANESE MONEY
OTHER ASSORTMENTS
The above photos are just some of the things in the past coming alive as I walked through the Time Tunnel. Many more items await the patient explorer and discover, and I intend to visit the Time Tunnel again. There is so much more history than meets the eye.
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