Sg Ruil Orang Asli Settlement, Cameron Highlands
It started to drizzle, and we decided to take a short cut to an Orang Asli village after consulting an Orang Asli uncle who was passing by. It was only 15 minutes to the Orang Asli Village from the Perdah Peak while it was 40 minutes to get back to Tanah Rata through the jungle. We reckoned that if it rained at least, we will be walking on proper roads after reaching the village. Following the trail out of the Perdah Jungle, we were greeted with an Orang Asli house in the mist.
The view was somewhat mystical and foreign. Something which we did not expect in Cameron Highlands.
Sg Ruil Orang Asli Village, Cameron Highlands
Walking past the house on the hill slope, we could see a whole village in the mist. This is the Sg Ruil Orang Asli Village
It was truly a beautiful village in the hills. We were not prepared for this pleasant surprise. It was supposed to be just a moderate 4-hour trek, but it turned out to be much more, great weather, beautiful terrain and to top it all, a cultural experience.
When we reached the Orang Asli village, we found the local indigenous people having a dance class in their community stage. This was really the highlight of our trek. It was impromptu but it felt like it was made for us. Something out of a Lonely Planet travel book.
We stayed and watched. We were invited to join the dance which we shyly declined. But I took a lot of pictures, and the people were very obliging, and the children were posing for us. What a way to end a beautiful day!
It begins to pour but our spirits were up. From the village, we walked 35 minutes in the rain on a dirt road to get back to Tanah Rata.