SELANGOR, Dec 21 — The term staycation came into popularity a few years ago, reflecting a growing need among urban dwellers for a quickie respite on weekends to get away from the hum and drum of city living.
Sometimes, you just need a change of pace and scenery to realign your gears before plunging into another full week of meetings, deadlines and the oft-inevitable pressure that comes with them.
Hotels are aplenty for this purpose, modern sanctuaries that ensconce you in the creature comforts of room service, poolside bars, rain showers, high thread count cotton bedding, and maybe even a butler at your beck and call. It’s just what the stress doctor ordered and everything he would prescribe.
Still, these tend to be within urban settings where you’re never too far from a mall and other city hangouts. What if you want to leave the concrete jungle well and truly behind, to look out the window and see the greens of trees rather than the glass and steel of shiny skyscrapers? Where the chirps of birds replace the angry honks of impatient drivers on traffic-choked roads? In other words, to be a world away from your typical weekend in the city and ideally, not have to spend several hours traversing highways by car or boarding a plane to get there.
Village life
In all those respects, Kuang Kampung Retreat is the perfect spot to hide away for at least 48 hours. Located in Sungai Buloh about half an hour from Kuala Lumpur city centre, the 3,350sq ft single-storey bungalow was built in the style of a traditional Malay village home, complete with a chicken coop and goat’s pen.
The design fits like a dream with its locale: on an undulating piece of land that was once, like its immediate neighbours, a rubber plantation.
The latex-producing trees are long since gone and replaced with a variety of fruit trees, herbs, medicinal plants and also several species of timber trees including merbau, chengal, nyatoh and kembang semangkok – an experiment by the owner, who wanted to see what they looked like and to document their growth.
It is also a tribute, perhaps, to the bungalow itself, which was constructed from a mix of tropical timber and sits on stone columns. Diagonally across from it, a watch tower built in the same style houses a water tank (the water is pumped up from a well 200ft in the ground).
Climb up the wooden stairs to the top, from where you can look down over the entire property and beyond, though much is covered by lush foliage. This is also a gathering and dining spot, equipped with a kitchenette and dining table.
Next to the tower, a small house is home to the retreat’s caretakers, who watch over the place 24 hours a day so you have peace of mind – which is not difficult to achieve amidst the homey, bucolic environment.
It was, after all, conceived as a weekend home by award-winning architect Almaz Salma Abdul Rahim for her own family and for the first few years, it was kept for their personal use only.
Now, Kuang Kampung Retreat is listed under the Avillion Private Collection, which delivers intimate and boutique hospitality experiences through carefully selected private homes and villas across Asia. At each property, Avillion provides housekeeping, catering and personal assistance. In that, staycationers get to enjoy a “home away from home” plus the attentive services of a regular hotel.
Nature in and out
Almaz is known for integrating elements of Nature into her works, and the harmony is evident in every aspect of this property.
Right in front of the bungalow, a mini roundabout encircles an ancient raintree and guests can pull right up to the porch, flanked by 12ft-high tree trunks, to unload their bags.
Step in and a sense of calm prevails, thanks mainly to the plunge pool that sits in the middle of the house. With water spouting from a Balinese-style stone wall and the sun streaming in from the airwell above, it is an invitation to surrender to the peace of the moment.
The living room is clearly conceptualised for lazy lounging, with a mix of plush sofas and reupholstered retro furniture in neutral tones, punctuated with cushions in soft pinks and greens.
The latter matches the lime green drapes while several large paintings — contemporary abstract and Islamic calligraphy — deck the feature wall, framing a flat screen television. Some of the art were painted by Almaz’s daughter, who also shows her creative streak in the wood and crystal chandelier that lights up the dining area.
As you take in the details, it’s apparent that besides a home and a restful retreat, this property is as much a showcase of architectural styles, sustainable living and a nod to Malaysian heritage.
The high ceilings are supported by chengal beams that form a lattice-like pattern, highlighted by seamless joinery work. The floor is formed by balau and kempas planks that are a uniform 13 inches wide, 5 inches thick and at least 15 feet long – all salvaged from old buildings in Perak that were slated for demolition.
The windows are another focus point; traditional rumah Melayu louvred panels that were handmade by a Kelantanese craftsman for a palace in Kuala Lipis.
A column with jagged “teeth” in the centre holds it all together. Twist and push the pointy edges through the blinds to open them, and let some light and ventilation through. Turn it back to the starting position and the blinds will close, keeping the mosquitoes out in the evening.
More art pieces decorate the corridors and the three bedrooms, which sport the same pastel-toned aesthetics and can sleep between two or three persons each. Beautiful antique Malay furniture fill the rooms, all sourced from Malacca where the owner also found ornate floor tiles from an old house, and they now carpet the guest bathroom.
The master bedroom is a haven in itself, where you can get a restful night’s sleep on the poster bed and the windows open out to the lush garden.
The greens are not confined to the compound; the open concept bathrooms are each designed around a tall tree that extends through the roof so as to bring Nature indoors, while a rainwater harvesting system provides water for flushing the toilets.
Culinary contentment
You can easily spend the entire weekend doing little besides lounging in or by the pool, catching up on sleep or the television and indeed, the retreat provides various cosy nooks to do exactly that.
Poor phone connections in the area ensure that you will not be distracted by your smartphones or tablets, but spend quality time with your loved ones.
The only other ingredient you need to complete your weekend is, of course, great food. The large kitchen is so well equipped that you can easily whip up a kenduri for your clan but why trouble yourself when you’re on holiday?
Avillion will bring in caterers to provide a variety of freshly cooked hot food, including firing up the grill on the back patio for a barbecue dinner which you can feast on at the outdoor dining area.
The long tables and benches were cobbled together from smaller pieces of wood left over from the construction of the house.
The caterers, who are from the area itself and run a Malay restaurant nearby, will also prepare your breakfast, usually of Western favourites.
If you prefer, you can start your day with piping hot nasi lemak slathered in a mouth-watering squid sambal and garnished with crispy fried ikan bilis.
For lunch, prepare to feast on an array of appetising lauk and fiery sambal that you won’t be able to stop scooping over plates of steamed white rice. True to the village experience, you can tuck into authentic recipes such as gulai nenas ikan masin (pineapple and salted fish curry), daging kurma (braised beef), ayam goreng berempah (spicy fried chicken), sup sayur (vegetable soup) and tempeh (fermented soy cakes). There is really only one way to savour the delectable feast – eat with your hands.
You may leave the idyllic sanctuary with a heavy heart (and stomach) but you will go home refreshed by the isolation from noise and crowds. Busy week ahead? Piece of cake.
Book your stay at Kampung Kuang Retreat at www.avillionprivatecollection.com
Vivian Chong is a freelance writer-editor, and founder of travel & lifestyle website http://thisbunnyhops.com
