Weekend getaway at Sunset Valley in Langkawi island

Paddy House, where the writer stayed.

By AIDA AHMAD

This no-frills getaway offers a hard-to-beat sense of serenity. The peace is tangible. You can almost touch the quiet.

I wouldn’t call it a deafening silence but the serenity is almost too good to be true. My weekend sojourn at Sunset Valley Holiday Houses on Pulau Langkawi is exactly what I need to destress from the insane, traffic-infested concrete jungle that is Kuala Lumpur.

The green backdrop of padi fields and sprawling lawns is a clear indication of just how pretty and peaceful this place is. Local movie fans might recognise the surrounds, as Ombak Rindu, the hit 2011 movie starring Aaron Aziz and Maya Karin, was filmed here.

Before you pack your bags, though, you need to know that Sunset Valley is not your typical five-star resort. I would call it a boutique holiday getaway – sans room service. But before you frown at that idea, consider the fact that you won’t have to pay for things you don’t need. Another thing to consider before you go: Are you a nature lover who enjoys waking up to the sound of birds chirping and doesn’t mind the occasional bug or two flying about? If the answer is yes, then this is one place you should visit.

On TripAdvisor.com, you will come across a “complaint” from a guest who ranted about dogs barking and pesky insects. “Yes, we have three dogs and they bark occasionally,” laughs Gudrun Nienaber, the nice German woman who owns Sunset Valley with her Australian husband, David Bradley.

They recently adopted two mongrels named Boris and Sunny as well as another dog called Boikey. They also have a cat named Cinta. “We keep them in our house at night so they don’t disturb the guests,” adds Nienaber.

The couple, who live on Langkawi under the Malaysia My Second Home programme, recently bought over Sunset Valley from the previous Dutch owners. “This opportunity came at the right time, and we love taking care of people and engaging with them,” says Bradley.

But they want to make it very clear that Sunset Valley is not a full-service resort. “There is no changing of towels and sheets nor daily cleaning. Those services are available upon request and for a fee,” Nienaber explains.

The rooms in the all-timber houses are naturally cool.

This is because the couple believe in operating an environmentally-friendly resort and also in letting guests have the freedom of enjoying their holiday without paying for services they might not want.

For long stay guests, the cleaning takes place once a week. “Cleaning services is RM50 for three hours. Guests can let us know in advance so we can arrange for the cleaning lady. We can also do laundry for a fee,” says Nienaber.

You’ll know how serious they are about going green when you use the toilets: they have notices telling guests not to flush away toilet paper in the toilet bowl (don’t worry, the bathrooms are equipped with spray hoses). This is because the resort is not connected to a commercial sewage system; instead, it uses a septic tank. “We don’t encourage flushing anything down the toilet other than human waste. The water in the septic tank has natural organisms to dispose of human waste but not things like bleached toilet paper, which will clog up the system,” explains Bradley.

There are five individually appointed chalets, namely Forest (a two-bedroom house), Farmer’s, Paddy, Field and Gate, which are each self-contained with kitchenettes and ensuite showers and toilets. All the timber houses are equipped with mosquito nets, ceiling fans, a stove, kettle, microwave and refrigerator each.

I stayed at Paddy House (RM320 per night) and it was indeed a cute and cosy cottage (perfect for honeymooning couples!). It comes with two single beds that can be pushed together and it can also fit two extra beds for a fee of RM40 per additional bed.

I liked the fact that every house has a veranda to cast some shade and capture the breeze during the day. If you want air-conditioning, it is chargeable at RM25 per night (though I found the rooms cool enough at night to do without).

There is also a pool pavilion with an area for guests to barbecue and relax under the stars. There is a stove and microwave too for those who want to cook. I am told that the pool contains ionised water instead of the full-on chlorinated variety that is deadly to the environment. “It’s better for the environment and has extra free radicals in the water that kills all the bugs,” explains Bradley, who you will see painstakingly skimming the pool at 8.30am every day.

Sunset Valley Holiday Houses are set in green surrounds that are a balm to city-stressed senses.

If you hanker after activities outside the resort, Bradley recommends the mangrove tour and kayaking activities as well as snorkelling in the waters off Pulau Paya; pickup services to and from the resort to these activities can be arranged. Of course, Langkawi’s main strip, Pantai Cenang, also has an array of choices for outdoor activities.

I find out that there is no restaurant on the premises. “We prefer that the guests feel free to cook for themselves or eat outside. They are welcome to join us for breakfast at 9.30am, which we prepare for a fee, and that gives you a good meal of fruits, eggs, toast, cold cuts, juice and coffee,” Bradley says.

They have a pantry stocked with items such as bread, pasta, mineral water, snacks, beer, instant noodles and canned food, all of which guests can purchase. You will notice the “Sunset Valley Honesty List” on the counter that requires you to list down what you take, according to your conscience.

Free wi-fi is available throughout the resort if you can’t fathom the idea of going offline. And yes, there is no TV! The essential things you need to take with you to Sunset Valley are clothes, toiletries and a good book or two.

From the Langkawi Airport, Sunset Valley is a 15-minute drive heading towards Jalan Makam Mahsuri. From the Kuah jetty, at which you will arrive if you take a boat from Penang or the mainland, it takes about 20 to 25 minutes. If you’d rather not rent a car or motorbike to get to the homes, the couple offers pick-up and drop-off services from both arrival locations – RM25 each way from the airport, and RM35 each way from the jetty.

According to Bradley, they work with two reputable car companies that offer safe and insured cars for rent, available through a counter at the airport or pre-arranged to be delivered at the homes if you want to drive around the island during your stay.

SUNSET VALLEY HOLIDAY HOUSES
Lot 2220 Jalan Makam Mahsuri
Kampung Teluk
07000 Langkawi
Malaysia
Phone: 04-955 1055 / 017-284 4550 / 017-284 4590
E-mail: sunsetvalleyholidayhouses@gmail.com
Website: sunsetvalleyholidayhouses.com

-thestar online.