Bad holiday in Camerons

Thursday October 26, 2006

IF the authorities have no idea how to deliver the promise of local tourism, then please don't bother to promote it.

My family came to Cameron Highlands on Sunday. We rented one of the apartments, and within a span of just slightly over 24 hours, we began to regret spending our holiday in this so-called highland resort.

First, the traffic jam was terrible. I am not talking about the jam on the highway. That was insignificant when compared to the traffic jam in Cameron Highlands itself.

Illegal parking was rampant along the main road in Tanah Rata as everyone parked everywhere except in a building designated as a car park.

Their inconsiderate parking (and even double-parking while waiting) narrowed the already narrow street, causing massive jams to build up.

There is a reason why no one wanted to park in the designated multi-storey building. The new building's design is very bad. The lanes leading to and from the car park are so narrow that motorists will inevitably scratch the sides of their vehicles.

Even the clock has also stopped working in the building. Buses and taxis which are supposed to use the building are also avoiding it, thus adding to the congestion.

It is a sheer waste of taxpayers' money. But no one is learning because new traffic lights (which serve no real usefulness except to take up valuable parking lots) have also been set up along the narrow street.

Our woes culminated the next evening with the water authority cutting off water supply. Though a second dam has already been built, they claimed there is not enough water.

If that is the case, then Cameron Highlands should be taken off the list as a local tourist destination.

Can you imagine no water to wash our dishes and crockery during dinner time?

And not enough water to wash, bathe or flush the toilet?

Can the town council and water authority please explain?


ANITA QIU,
Penang.