'Forgotten' holiday hotspots like Desaru and Langkawi are witnessing a revival
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'Forgotten' holiday hotspots like Desaru and Langkawi are witnessing a revival
The holiday spots that your parents loved are back – and better than ever to cater to a new generation of jetsetters.
The Kasturi in Cherating, Pahang. (Photograph: The Kasturi)
01 Jul 2022 06:30AM (Updated: 04 Jul 2022 05:22PM)
We glide forth the narrow tidal channels of the mangrove forest in Langkawi's Kilim Geoforest Park on a small motorboat, getting up, close and personal with the flora and fauna of this unique habitat. From majestic eagles swooping overhead to monkeys frolicking and tree snakes lazily basking among the leaf and tiny sand crabs scampering among the roots, the ecosystem is teeming with life.
Equally Aidi Abdullah, resident naturalist at Four Seasons Resort Langkawi gives our grouping a thoroughly entertaining – and enlightening – tour nigh the mangrove's importance in the ecosystem, I am struck by a deep sense of familiarity that feels nearly similar deja vu.
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And then information technology hits me. Over two decades ago, I'd holidayed here with my family unit as a pre-teen. Back then, I was deeply impressed by the craggy 550 million-year-quondam rock formations jutting out of the Andaman Sea, fix against the lush, mountainous rainforests and mangroves of the Malaysian island.
My memories of the rest of the trip are faint, but I do recall visiting a bustling isle where tourists thronged the beach and indulged in duty free shopping. Every bit I grew older, Langkawi slowly fell out of favour as a holiday hotspot for regional travellers, with many people flocking to islands like Phuket and Bali instead.
But in contempo years, this island has been experiencing an uptick in fortunes. Malaysia'south prime number minister, Mahathir Mohamad, who was instrumental in branding the island as a tourist destination during his first tenure in part, successfully ran for last twelvemonth's elections in Langkawi. In the concluding few years, new five-star resorts like the St Regis and the Ritz-Carlton have opened while familiar favourites similar The Datai and the 4 Seasons have undergone extensive refurbishments to cater to mod travellers.
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And since Langkawi was awarded the Unesco Geopark Status in 2007, the island'due south tourism industry has been gradually offering more eco-witting activities that appeal to many of today's younger, affluent travellers, such equally the two-hour exploration of the mangrove that Aidi conducts. Tourism numbers are rise and by 2020, the Langkawi Evolution Authority predicts company numbers to striking 4 one thousand thousand annually.
After our bout, which debunks many misconceptions I have most mangrove swamps, such every bit it being a mosquito-ridden place (fact: The mangrove actually secretes a resin that prevents mozzies from breeding in the water), nosotros canvas dorsum to the Four Seasons, which is situated at the edge of the Geopark. There is no need to jostle for infinite on a crowded jetty, nor practice I need to featherbed the bustling town heart where the duty free shopping is – unless I want to.
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Instead, the boat stops correct outside my swanky beachfront villa and I hop off, wading breezily through a short stretch of crystal clear knee joint-deep seawater to get to the villa's entrance. The pristine, private beach is stunning with its soft white sand and gently lapping waves, an idyllic counterfoil to the 14-year-old resort'south exuberant redesign.
The Malay-Moorish buildings have been painted a vibrant aquamarine and central public spaces such as the antechamber and beach bar have been refurbished with an artsy blend of antiquarian and gimmicky furniture to create plenty of quirky chichi photo-spots for today's Instagram traveller. The resort'southward 23 villas and 68 pavilions are progressively undergoing renovations as well, so until all piece of work is consummate, hotel guests get their choice whichever decor style they prefer, whether it is retro-elegant or mod-eclectic.
Those who have the budget and are travelling in larger groups may enjoy the deluxe ane,400 sq one thousand Royal Villa, which comprises a living and dining hall and an outdoor pool that is flanked by ii bedrooms, each housed in a separate addendum for maximum privacy. Plus, its original decor scheme of timber furniture and beige toned upholstery that was all the rage in the nineties and early noughties is jump to bring about a impact of nostalgia for those of a certain historic period. Call up school chalet sleepovers but with the luxe factor dialled upwards to infinity.
Langkawi is not the only "forgotten" destination in Malaysia experiencing a revival. But across the Causeway is the Desaru Coast development, which aims to exhale new life into this formerly bustling embankment destination. At its peak nigh two to 3 decades ago, Desaru – which is located a 2-hour drive or a 30-minute ferry ride from Singapore – was a popular weekend getaway particularly for Singaporean families. Now, the mega US$1.1 billion (S$ane.48 billion) Desaru Coast development which includes a h2o theme park, golf course and four hotels is hoping to attract the crowds once again. For now, two hotels, Hard Rock Hotel and The Westin are in performance while the other ii, Anantara and One&Only, are slated to open at a later date.
Further north is Cherating, Pahang, a 3-60 minutes drive from Kuala Lumpur, which used to be known for its Club Med resort. Now there is a new luxurious – and discreet – five-star resort, The Kasturi, built by prominent Malaysian architect Hijjas Kasturi. The 23-key resort located by the beach offers the all-time of modernistic barefoot luxury with private villa pools and forest walkways to indulge in "woods bathing". Plus, there is an onsite turtle hatchery as well as a yoga deck to go along guests occupied during the day.
And for those who wish to venture beyond Malaysia, Lake Toba, the world'south largest volcanic lake in Indonesia, remains largely the mode it was two to 3 decades agone when it was a popular destination. The deep blue lake and its lush surroundings offer a serene respite from the concrete jungle and there are quaint villages populated by Batak people to explore. Their unique cuisine and civilisation makes Lake Toba a one-of-a-kind identify to visit. We bet it'southward simply a thing of time before new, trendy developments make their style here besides.
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Source: https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/holiday-resorts-in-malaysia-239921
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