REDISCOVERING MALAYSIA

Rumah Tiang 16 is a heritage destination located in the heart of Lenggong, Perak, a spot that has a rich history worth experiencing on your next trip

- LISON LOH , STUART DANKER

It’s no secret that Malaysians love travelling. Whether it’s by the coast, in the highlands or within the cityscapes, we love to spend our leisure time at places that take our minds off our daily worries. But oftentimes, we tend to explore destinations outside of the country because as the saying goes, ‘the grass is greener on the other side’.

But that’s not always true and many local travellers tend to miss out on Malaysia’s very own uniqueness and beauty within its lush rainforests and cultures. For starters, one can travel to the state of Perak and visit the quiet town of Lenggong, a land that was once part of the Malay kingdom of Pattani and a place that holds many archeological and historical treasures.

In 2012, this little town earned the honorary title of being a UNESCO World Heritage site. With this title, one man by the name of Abdul Nasir Jalaludin (Nash) decided to create a heritage homestay – Rumah Tiang 16 – to encourage the local tourism in his hometown.

A timber-and-brick building, Rumah Tiang 16 resembles a traditional Perak-Malay-styled house. Owned and cared for by Nash, the heritage stay is a door into the Lenggong lifestyle and the culture of Perakians.

An Enriching Journey

What can guests expect when they visit is the experience of the rural lifestyle with a generous serving of heritage. Nash, the host, specially curated this 3D2N stay for his guests in order for them to have the full Lenggong experience.

“It’s a very private tour, I cater to a maximum of six guests at a time,” Nash says. To make things more exclusive, Nash would sometimes close reservations before reaching those numbers if couples or trios make the bookings.