New Straits Times

Glamp it up!

A fusion of simple luxuries, camping under the stars and a night caving adventure at the Lost World of Tambun keeps Hanna Hussein’s adrenaline pumping

- TURN TO PAGE 12

MY father used to take my siblings and I camping in the woods when we were kids. We built our own tents, made a campfire, dipped in the cool river and just enjoyed nature.

Now that I’m all grown up and busy with my career, I hardly ever do outdoor activities anymore, least of all camping.

But I do miss going outdoors, minus the back-breaking tent-making part, of course.

So when I heard Sunway Lost World of Tambun recently introduced its latest attraction called Glamping, I was all ready to book my stay.

Glamping, or glamour-camping, is a fusion of simple luxuries and camping, ideal for those who want to experience the positive aspects of camping without the “uncomforta­ble” negatives.

Yep, perfect for a city girl like myself who still wants to sleep under the stars, but in style.

Tambun is a short distance from Kuala Lumpur, less than two hours’ drive.

With some friends joining me on my three-day, two-night glamping adventure, I decide to test drive the Nissan X-Trail as well.

The sleek SUV is not only good looking but also a high-performanc­e-vehicle. I love the smooth automatic gear changes when I accelerate. It is super easy to manoeuvre although it’s a huge car.

The inside is spacious. It is a seven-seater and the back seat can be folded for more space for luggage and outdoor equipment.

I have always thought that a 4x4 vehicle is not meant to be a comfortabl­e car, but the Nissan X-Trail proves me wrong. It is a family-friendly car, even for a long drive.

MY GLAMPING ADVENTURE

Upon our arrival at the Lost World of Tambun, we check in straightaw­ay. Four of us are given a dark blue hand tag each.

A buggy takes us on a tour heading for our accommodat­ion which is located inside the Lost World of Tambun.

While the driver slowly accelerate­s towards the north-east of the park, he points out some of the attraction­s.

I am excited to try them out but sit tight while my eyes wander..

After less than five minutes on the buggy, we arrive at the Adventure Park where our accommodat­ion is assembled.

Our accommodat­ion lies on grassy land overlookin­g a serene lake and is surrounded by lush greenery and limestone hills.

There are only five tents available for now, and ours is positioned near the glassy lake. Excitedly, we make for our dark green glamping accommodat­ion.

To our surprise, the interior is spacious. The large tent fits a king-size bed and two single beds, two electric fans and simple furniture to hang clothes. There are power sockets, lights as well as toiletries and towels. Super cosy and exceptiona­lly clean.

A fruit basket welcomes us. .

The only disadvanta­ge is it does not have an attached bathroom so glamping guests have to walk a distance to go to the public shower and toilets.

Oh, and since the glamping is located on the Lost World of Tambun grounds, don’t expect a quiet stay during the day.

Well, it is not a problem as we do not spend the daytime lazing in the tent. Plenty of activities await us.

During the night, we get the serene lakeside to ourselves. It is so much quieter and relaxing too now that the Adventure Park is closed.

We even opt for a personalis­ed barbecue dinner by the campsite. The worker sets a fire-pit for the barbecue, and brings us half-cooked ingredient­s which include beef and lamb skewers, chicken wings, sweet corn and a big fish to grill to our heart’s content.

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 ??  ?? FROM LEFT: Satisfy your local craving at Ipoh Street; Transport at the park.
FROM LEFT: Satisfy your local craving at Ipoh Street; Transport at the park.
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