Salam and Greetings
Meet the Selvarajs
That trip to Cameron Highlands (CH) with members of my family on Sunday June 30, 2013 was full of reminiscences of earlier visits to this place . . . one of Malaysia's famous highlands tourist spot.
I've been there on many an occasion. Each and every time on holiday at this cool rendezvous situated in the state of Pahang Darul Makmur I will surely make it a point not to merely 'bypass' Raaju's Hill.
And this time . . . especially if not incidentally . . . my family and I had put up for the night at the Equatorial . . . just next door to Raaju's Hill!
And this time . . . especially if not incidentally . . . my family and I had put up for the night at the Equatorial . . . just next door to Raaju's Hill!
Thus this day too . . . Monday July 1, 2013 . . . I shall not want to lose the opportunity to 'pop' in and enjoy the refreshing package Raaju's Hill has got to offer.
The story goes as far back as to the early 80's. I remember those days when I used to drive up the hills of Cameron Highlands to this place with my wife and children . . . to enjoy strawberry picking and sampling too.
The popular Raaju's Hill menu for refreshments . . . d ice-cream and d crispy Belgium wafer . . . will always be an instant hit with any first timers there trying it . . . and a constant crave (not just ordinary craze) for those regulars.
And . . . I'm back in CH again . . . more accurately at Raaju's Hill with my grandchild this time!
Though having been a regular to this highland's strawberry hills . . . I have never really had the opportunity to meet him (what more talked to him) in person . . . like what I managed to do on that particular Monday morning.
I guess I was plain lucky to have at last met Mr Selvaraj in person that day there. That was my first face-to-face meeting with the proprietor cum operator of Raaju's Hill. In short . . . d Boss.
Mr Selvaraj
Mr Selvaraj was just starting to go about his daily routine at his place of work (more accurately his biz centre) when my family and I 'bumped' into him at the vehicle parking area (by the side of Raaju's cafe). There were not very many people there yet at that time.
He was quick to acknowledge our presence . . . in the typical style of a 'matured' Malaysian business person. He greeted me and started talking.
When I mentioned that Amad my grandson (only 3 years in age now) wanted so much to see his strawberry farm and to have the experience of picking and plucking and sampling the strawberries . . . Mr Selvaraj immediately motioned to his worker to guide Amad to the spot.
After some informal salutations (which we Malaysians are very familiar with when meeting and welcoming our guests) and some light hearted chit-chat . . . both guest and host were quickly tied up in a sincere feeling of friendliness.
And . . . upon realizing that yours sincerely is a regular to his business premises . . . Mr Selvaraj offered me a box of strawberry to sample f.o.c and waived the entry restrictions of two persons per RM5 to the farm.
An entry fee of RM5 is normally charged for two persons on entering the farm to go about strawberry picking.
Visitors to the farm will be doing so under the watchful eyes of a farm hand. This is to ensure that no destruction will occur to the strawberry plants.
As Mr Selvaraj put it," Some visitors tend to be over zealous when picking the strawberries".
A charge of RM30 will be imposed on every half a kilo of plucked strawberry.
While my grandson and co. went on a strawberry picking and plucking experience at the farm . . . my wife, daughter and I went for an ice-cream treat at the cafe.
The charges are very reasonable.
The charges are very reasonable.
But just prior to that my daughter and I made a tour of the premises . . . to take a few shots of the surrounding area for keepsake.
The crispy Belgium wafer served with ice-cream was exactly the right combination for a delicacy worth trying. Perfectly delicious!
Amad and his 'gang' of strawberry hunters then joined us after about half an hour later.
They too did not wish to miss the mouth watering ice-cream with Belgium wafer dish.
I have come to understand that Mr Selvaraj would be very busy meeting the chores of his business demands most of the time.
Whenever he got taken up with heavy chores . . . his wife Mrs Selvaraj would be ever ready to help manage the job at their business premises.
Mrs Selvaraj
One immediate noticeable factor . . . the couple made up a very compatible team business wise . . . with their friendly approach and gestures.
At that appropriate time of my visit . . . I witnessed the truth of what was being said about this.
Mrs Selvaraj was busy at the cafe's counter entertaining guests while Mr Selvaraj was busy giving a hand to some construction workers at the far end of the premises.
Mrs Selvaraj was busy at the cafe's counter entertaining guests while Mr Selvaraj was busy giving a hand to some construction workers at the far end of the premises.
When asked what was going on . . . Mr Selvaraj cooly announced that he was working on an expansion of the car park.
Nice job Mr Selvaraj . . . but I was still wondering . . . what for?
I thought the parking space available was sufficient enough to accommodate the visitors to this farm.
Mr Selvaraj in a humble tone said, " Sekarang ada banyak orang datang bang . . . " . I understood.
I also learnt from Mrs Selvaraj about the Country Lodge Resort . . . their very own!
Congrats to the Selvarajs. ( God willing, I'll sample the Selvaraj's hospitality at that resort when I come up the next trip around.)
For now . . . May your entrepreneurship reaches greater heights.
Wish you well. Till we meet again.
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