Hotels & Resorts: Lanjut Beach & Golf Resort

Lanjut Beach & Golf Resort: An Unexpected Brilliance in Kuala Rompin

Text by AINA NABIHAH Images by PNB MANAGEMENT SERVICES SDN BERHAD (PMSSB)

After four hours on the road, I felt crippled from that long journey that limited my movement to only a short stretch of my arms. But as I stepped out of the vehicle, a sort of excitement fueled all my limbs and resurrected the childlike wonder burrowed in me as I headed straight into the resort. My whole mood was uplifted as I thought to myself: “This is going to be a great stay…”

Lanjut Beach & Golf Resort is a big surprise to me in an essence. The serene environment, the private beach, the spacious rooms; everything was screaming unexpected brilliance in this quaint resort village. Tucked in Kuala Rompin, PNB Management Services Sdn Berhad (PMSSB) – the company managing this newly developed property – invited a group of local media members, including I, to a soft launch. On top of that, we were also brought to a series of adventures that are filled with authentic local charms that guests can experience when staying at the resort.

When I first walked into the lobby, the boxy structure of the building greeted me with the full view of the resort’s grounds and two wide pools. The open concept allows fresh air and lush natural light to flood the main spaces. Bright, colourful array of couches are paired with earthy, wooden tables that define the lobby as a contemporary lounge area. I was greeted with the staff ’s enthusiasm and warmth while having my luggage delivered to the front door of my room.

Made up of two blocks, Lanjut has a total of 196 rooms, divided into six categories. Interestingly, all are built with own private balcony that presents a pleasant view of the clean and quiet serenity of the resort either facing the South China Sea or the pool. Lanjut offers a range of rooms starting from Superior Garden/Pool view at RM450 and Superior Sea View at RM500, all the way to its most exclusive category, the Executive Suites that come in two-bedroom apartment configuration, which is priced at RM1,200 per night. The rooms strut classic elegance with warm, earthy tones and common woodwork that is sweetly reminiscent of the past.

I had the opportunity to stay at the property’s Superior Triple Room, with sea view. The room is located at the corner of the building, with extra floor space that makes it look more spacious and accommodating. The balcony faces the sea, with a direct view of the sand volleyball field and the private beach. Sitting by the balcony was an experience of its own, with the cool breeze blowing over me and the fresh smell of the ocean wafting in the air. One particular charm of this resort was the silence of its environment, where only the sounds of the wind and birds can be heard echoing across the area. The General Manager, Mr. Hizam Shah Omar said that Lanjut is home to a large population of the iconic hornbill birds, and they are determined to domesticate some of it for the bird-loving guests to see up close. He is convinced that the birds are one of the most attractive points of the resort - their existence is congruent to the resort’s motto, which is ‘Nature’s Harmony’.

This made a lot of sense when I was introduced to one of the most breathtaking aspects of the resort: its private beach. The beach was like a gem that possesses multiple angles of allure and splendour as it stretches 3.5 kilometres across the vicinity of the resort. It offers an unobstructed view of the horizon and during the golden hours, it becomes a mirror-like entity that reflects the summery blue sky magnificently. Due to the open seas, I was told that Lanjut beach also features the opportunity of seeing dolphins during dawn when they swim across the bay. The quaint, undisturbed sandy shore was especially Instagrammable during the golden hours, with a set of gigantic swings, placed strategically along the coastline making it picturesque and rather romantic. However, the beach is only suitable for swimming on a certain period, still, the two huge pools would be more than suffice.

Another interesting fact about this resort is its goal in offering extensive food and beverage options to its guests. Due to its secluded location and the massive resort quarters, food is quite hard to find. As such, the resort puts in effort in maintaining the quality of their culinary offerings at Anjung Brasserie and encourage residents to eat in rather than having to travel out for meals. And it is very convincing. The restaurant offers breakfasts, lunch, and dinner without fail every single day.

The most exciting offer was their signature Seafood Galore package, where guests are served with an impressive assemblage of marine delicacies. Pick and choose, they say, as they handed me a plate and asked me to grab as much seafood as possible and hand it over to the chefs, in the open, by-the-pool kitchen where they cooked me the best-grilled fish and Chinese stir-fried clams ever. The main point of this buffet is personalisation, where the customers are encouraged to pick a menu that suits their appetite best, through the help of professional chefs (that are also helpful in guiding you through their best menu) so you can have a wholesome dinner of your own choice. For the non-seafood lovers, the restaurant also offers a BBQ package with the same concept and quality. An array of quality meats are put on display for the customers, with complementing sides that are so good, you can have them without the grilled meat.

Throughout the trip, we relished Lanjut Beach & Golf Resort’s hospitality, especially when it comes to the live cooking show by the pool to showcase Anjung Brasserie’s best dishes. One of them is Sang Har Mee, the restaurant’s special menu that highlights Rompin’s specialty: the Giant Freshwater Prawn. Big, luscious and fleshy prawn seasoned to perfection with handpicked spices and herbs sit atop the smooth the Yee Mee gravy noodle, turning the dish into a visually pleasing, mouth-watering and aromatic ensemble. Just one look at the meticulously presented dish sent my salivary glands into an overdrive as I took photographs of it. There were a number of other dishes on show such as Ketam Nipah Bercili & Roti Goreng (Chilli Mud Crab & Fried Loaf ), Lanjut Beef Burger, Curry Prawn with Honey Pineapple and Wild Chicken Rendang. As the live cooking show wrapped up, we all sat down to savour these culinary masterpieces. The atmosphere suddenly quietened down and we only communicated by giving nods of approval as we indulge in the gastronomic delights.

The resort is also a brilliant MICE venue as it provides event spaces such as the expandable Grand Ballroom that sits up to 500 people and four function rooms to hold corporate and private functions, including a business centre. Other than that Lanjut also offers leisure facilities such as fitness centre, a wellness spa, family karaoke, cycling activities, beach soccer, volleyball court and more for guests’ convenience. A surau and a convenience store are also available to meet guests’ needs.

We were given an inspection of Lanjut’s Golf Course, which boasts eighteen holes. Some of us were given the chance to play and receive exclusive lessons from the sports instructor on how to have the perfect ‘swing’ – the overall golfing experience was fun-filled and appealing even for an amateur like me. This further increases the resort’s appeal as a staycation destination, where guests are not pressured to venture outside to be entertained. The resort itself is like a self-contained village that even comes with a preserved tropical rainforest where guests can engage in activities like trekking.

Guests would have a great time staying at Lanjut Beach & Golf Resort that when it is time to leave, they would do so with heavy hearts, similarly to how we felt. We truly hope to visit the resort again soon, this time lugging our family or friends or even loved ones along…

During the trip to Lanjut Beach & Golf Resort, we were also brought to several interesting attractions around Kuala Rompin, including along the journey to Kuala Rompin. Although Lanjut Beach & Golf Resort in it itself has enough attractions within its grounds, the spots outside the resort are just too good to pass…

» D’Sawah Breakfast Stall, Ulu Bendul. This humble but photogenic breakfast stall sitting by the vast paddy fields serves up some mean breakfast fares. One interesting dish is the signature Poket Doraemon (stuffed fried white bread) that is savoury and crispy at every bite. Nasi Lemak, Roti Canai and fried noodles sold at this stall are the typical favourites. Each dish cost less than MYR10, making a second round of breakfast irresistible.

Opens every day from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Call +6 019 364 6515 or check out https://www.facebook.com/KedaiSarapan-DSawah-159044844616007/

» Teratak Zaba, Batu Kikir. What was once an uncompleted hovel, it has now become a beautiful wooden mansion that enshrines the legacy and literary works of Za’ba, a local scholar iconic and intellectual figure. For history buffs, this abode provides valuable information about the personality and relevant artefacts. Travellers are even allowed to leaf through the books authored by Za’ba.

Opens daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call +6 06 498 5193. Admission is free.

» Kampung Deraman, Kuala Rompin is one of the indigenous villages in Kuala Rompin, which has a small population of wonderfully hospitable natives showcasing their culture. Tourists are feted to educational and entertaining performances, a short lesson on local arts and crafts and their unique local produce that can be purchased at the community stall.

» Angling at Rompin’s sea, Kuala Rompin. Anglers would be delighted to be in Rompin as this district is internationally well known among anglers from around the world for the Royal Pahang Billfish International Challenge. Travellers are recommended to try their hand at catching the iconic billfish in Rompin’s waters and brag about it afterwards. If angling is not your thing, then try clam fishing, where you have to actually get off the boat and reach the river floor to find them. When in season, you will definitely be able to collect shellfish in buckets.

» Zaini Salai House, Ulu Bendul. Situated right across D’Sawah Breakfast Stall, this larger eatery serves up combination of smoked meats cooked in creamy, zesty and spicy gravy cooked with authentic local salad or ulam to give it a fresh, smoky and leafy flavour that goes well with white rice. It is considered as local specialty. One plate would not be enough as the spicy gravy titillates your taste buds. The smoked meats range from duck, chicken, and quail to freshwater fishes; all cooked to perfection according to their authentic flavours.

Opens daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. except Saturdays. Call +6 013 488 6491 or check out https://www.facebook. com/ZainiSalaiHouse/

For more information and online booking visit https://www.lanjut.my/