|
Introduction
 Fraser's
Hill is perhaps the prettiest hill resort in Malaysia.
It nestles at 1,524 meters above sea level in the state
of Pahang, a one and a half hour drive from Kuala Lumpur.
This charming little resort with a population of approximately
1,000 residents is not unlike a quiet Scottish Village.
Granite-colored mock-Tudor cottages sit amidst the brilliant
colored blooms of an English-style country garden. Some
of these bungalows are private residences but some have
been converted into holiday bungalows. They enable visitors
to enjoy a country-style holiday in cool, refreshing
ambience where evenings bring on swirling mists descending
upon the little village and cold winds howling through
lofty pine trees.
History
Fraser's Hill takes its name after a Scotttish trader,
Louis James Fraser, who set up a tin-ore trading station
in the forested mountain between the Selangor-Pahang
borders during the end of the 19th century.
Using a mule train to ascend the hill, Fraser traded
in tin-ore until the fateful day when he dissapeared
in the forested hills.
The bishop of Malaya at the time, Ferguson -Davis, mounted
a search for Fraser. The search failed to find him but
the potential of the hills as a cool gateway was uncovered.
The hills were surveyed and in 1919 developed into a
hill resort named after the missing Scotsman.
What
To See and Do
The resort is best suited for quiet relaxation and gentle
pursuits that are largely nature-based.
The
Town
Life in the little town resolves around the market square
dominated by a small clock tower. Picturesque colonial-style
buildings have found new use as the post office, police
station, clinic, tourist information center, inns, cafes
and restaurants. There is also a Nature Education Center
and an active bird watching group here. Though equipped
with good visitor amenities, development at this resort
has been careful to harmonize with the environment,
thus much of the original charm of this place has been
preserved.
Bird
Watching
Fraser's Hill has long been a top bird watching destination
for local and international birdwatchers. The relatively
undisturbed jungle-clad mountain terrain and the cool
climate attract over 250 species of birds, some of them
migrants from countries as far as Siberia.
Around the middle of every year, international as well
as local birdwatchers gather at the resort, to participate
in the Fraser's Hill International Bird Race, a non-competitive
event which requires bird watchers to race against time
to spot as many bird species as possible within the
routes in Fraser's Hill. Some of the species found here
are silver tailed mesia, chestnut-capped laughing thrush
and many other kinds of birds.
|
