Day 134 Cameron Highlands Sat 5 Nov

We wake up today in the Cameron Highlands! It is largest and most famous hill resort in the country about 1500 metres above sea level and it is raining in Tanah Rata as it has been for the last 18 hours. We spend the morning amusing ourselves and Tiegan builds endless houses of cards!

 However, cabin fever starts to set in after lunch so we take a trip out to an undercover attraction - the Cameron Butterfly and Insect Farm - just outside Brinchang, the next town along from Tanah Rata.

 It is a bit tired around the edges, but we descend the stairs into  a covered, enclosed area and the girls disappear complete with a camera! One of Cameron Highland's oldest tourist attractions; it's essentially a garden enclosure built along a hill slope, filled with free-flying butterflies and strange insects displayed in aquariums.

 

 The pictures probably say more than words ever could!

The butterflies cling to the netting high above us, but are also resting on the ground and on almost every plant. They are every colour imaginable and some have a wing span as wide as Tiegan's foot!

   

We suddenly hear squeals and laughter from somewhere deep amongst the paths and plants and so David and Nicole head to investigate. Visitors are not allowed to pick up the butterflies but some have crawled onto and landed on the girls as they are exploring the enclosure. 

Nicole spots a very large spider suspended and waiting for a tasty meal of fresh butterfly. It was fascinating to watch as it sped into the centre of the web and wrapped up its' catch. Nature at its most brutal.

 

 There were even the most outrageous looking caterpillars perched precariously on the tips of plants as they munch and munch their way to full size. The largest were fatter than David's thumb!

 

We spend an hour or so here before we return to the guest house, avoiding the worst of the rain!