Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
HOMESTAYS IN SUGAI PENCHALA
A jungle
kampong
(village) experience while not leaving Kuala Lumpur's city limits? Yes, it's possible by bed-
ding down in Sungai Penchala, a 20-minute taxi ride (RM20) from Chinatown. Here are the options:
Bayan Indah
(
Click here
)
This elegant rural escape, with four lovely ensuite rooms, balconies and lush gar-
dens, was once the home of superfriendly food writer and cook Rohani Jelani, who serves delicious breakfasts
and is a mine of local information. There's a minimum two-night stay and you get the run of the whole house
which sleeps up to eight people, plus dinner and a cooking class for your party.
Nada Lama
( 016-308 0356, 017-616 4924;
www.wix.com/nadalama/org
;
Jln Penchala Indah, Bukit Lanjan
Damansara; r incl breakfast from RM180; ) On the same property as the Balinese-style spa and restaurant,
and surrounded by the forest, there are a couple of charming rustic cottages to stay in here. One of the cottages
offers a sweeping view through the trees from the verandah of Petaling Jaya across the expressway and both
have very modern bathrooms. A traditional Malay-style breakfast is served.
Chinatown & Masjid Jamek
BACKHOME$
HOSTEL
(
2022 0788;
www.backhome.com.my
;
30 Jln Tun HS Lee; dm/d/tr incl breakfast from RM42/110/150;
;
Masjid Jamek)
This chic pit stop for flashpackers offers polished-concrete finishes, Zen
simple decoration, fab rain showers and a blissful central courtyard sprouting spindly
trees. It can be noisy on the street outside, but the hostel offers earplugs for light sleepers.
Also check out its cool cafe, LOKL (
Click here
)
.
REGGAE MANSION$
HOSTEL
( 03-2072 6877;
www.reggaehostelsmalaysia.com/mansion
; 49-59 Jln Tun HS Lee; dm/d from RM35/120;
; Masjid Jamek)
Grooving to a beat that's superior to most backpacker places, including
its own guesthouses in the heart of Chinatown, this is one cool operation. The decor is
white-washed faux colonial with contemporary touches including a flash cafe-bar, rooftop
bar, and mini cinema (RM7 including popcorn and a drink).
EXPLORERS GUESTHOUSE $
HOSTEL
(
03-2022 2928;
www.theexplorersguesthouse.com
; 128-130 Jln Tun HS Lee; dm/s/d from RM30/68/88;
Pasar Seni)
Another of the new backpackers giving the Chinatown oldies a hiding. Ex-
;
