One Great Tree - A Rainforest Experience
By Jacqueline Koay
When new to Malaysia, many expatriates fall into the habit of getting on a plane every weekend to jet off somewhere exotic. And why not? Asia is full of postcard destinations that poor souls back at home can only dream about, and with the proliferation of low cost carriers, everyone can fly.
We, too, fell into that trap. And then the toll of getting to the airport on Fridays and coming back to traffic jams on Sundays made the penny drop. Why are we getting fatigued and increasing our carbon footprints in the process?
Kuala Lumpur does have a little jewel that many would not dream of finding so near the capital: one of the world’s oldest rainforest is at its doorstep. We made our acquaintance with the rainforest and its inhabitants of hornbills, butterflies, wild boars and monkeys, and fell in love a little bit more with Malaysia (what a wonderful change from shopping malls!). Our entree into this magical world is through One Great Tree (like in Enid Blyton stories).
One Great Tree is actually the house belonging to Pat Lim and Jimmy Khaw, and their three delightful children. It is simply beautiful, built along clean lines so that Le Corbusier’s principle of light, space and nature truly comes alive. One Great Tree (in tribute to the 100 year old tree that still remains in the house) is sun-filled and yogic. Calls of the wild and rainforest smells fill the nourishing, unpolluted air. Here you can breathe in deeply with a clear conscience, and good air in your lungs is integral to your wellbeing. This is indeed the place to live well, albeit for an all-too-short weekend.
The herb garden in the house is often raided to add flavour to food cooked in the open-plan kitchen. Activities include hike to the organic farm to pick your own organic vegetables (to eat and to take home) and jungle trek led by a ranger. You will learn more about the flora of Malaysia firsthand: sweet potato leaf to cure diarrhoea, cat whiskers for diabetes, mulberry leaves for beautiful, youthful skin.
One Great Tree is available for rent at RM1,500 per night. It easily sleeps 20 in clean dorm-style bedrooms. Situated in the Tanarimba resort, it is mere 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur.
Book your stay at One Great Tree now!
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