Fraser's Hill After Almost 50 Years

I recall visiting Fraser's Hill at least twice in 1973. The first was a day trip with the Ex-Fifians from the 5th Residential College Christian Fellowship. The second visit, in August that same year, was an overnight stay with a few members of the same group.

Although I have a fair number of old photographs that capture the places we visited  - a waterfall (Read here), a tennis court (Read here), and our place of accommodation - my memories of those locations are surprisingly vague. The images are there, but the details have faded with time.

My wife, on the other hand, has a much sharper memory for places. As we drove around Fraser’s Hill recently, she immediately spotted a directional sign that read “Rumah Methodist.” Without hesitation, she recognized it as the very place our group had visited back in 1973. Remarkably, Rumah Methodist is just 2.5 km from where we were staying at the Silverpark Apartment.

Today, Rumah Methodist is still available to the public as a lodging option. However, its exterior appears rather old and poorly maintained - a stark contrast to the cherished memories we once made there.

Colourized photo.

Old photo of 1973 trip when we just

arrived at Rumah Methodist

Now, moss and green algae have spread across the roof and concrete kerbs, giving the place a weathered and neglected appearance.

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Behind the living quarters, I was struck by a vivid memory - I could instantly recall an old photo taken with a few Ex-Fifian friends at that very spot during our day trip all those years ago (Read here). It was truly remarkable to find myself squatting in the exact same place at Rumah Methodist nearly 50 years later.

After graduation, our Ex-Fifian group continued to reconnect from time to time. We gathered in August 2009 (Read here), and again in August 2016 when David Tow returned from Sydney for what would be his final visit (Read here). Sadly, his health declined after he went back to Sydney, and he passed away on 2 October 2017.

Some of the men at the day trip in 1973.

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Some of our group members at the little open space
behind Rumah Methodist back in 1973.

Colourized photo.
Typical landscape at Fraser's Hill. We took a walk
along the sealed road back in 1973.

Colourized photo.

Colourized photo.
Photo of the Fraser's Hill outing group.

Original B/W.

Photo of the Fraser's Hill outing group.

Colourized photo.

Typical white colour low fence is still easily seen today.

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I’m certain that my second trip took place in August 1973, as evidenced by an old photo capturing a birthday celebration we had that evening. That August birthday girl would eventually become my wife!

David Tow was the cameraman.

KC Ho was the cameraman.

At the waterfall, most likely the Jeriau Waterfall!