S24 • THEEDGE SINGAPORE
| DECEMBER 3, 2007
Sweet Escapes
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X’mas
in the tropics Joan Koh lists six holiday spots that can be reached in less than six hours. And the best thing is, there is no need to pack winter coats or snow shoes for a stay at these gems.
Bon Ton Resort Where: Langkawi, Malaysia Why go: It’s a resort like no other: Australian Narelle McMurtrie transformed eight age-old kampung houses into cool villas. A 10-minute drive away is LASSie, an animal shelter for the 150 cats and 100 dogs she rescued from the streets. One of the best things here is staying up late at night, chatting with the spunky 54-year-old who takes great pains to get to know all her guests. She’s one reason her guests always return. Don’t miss: Bon Ton’s Nam restaurant serves some of the best cakes and Nyonya dishes on the island. Also, don’t miss the sunset; better still, charter a yacht for sunset cocktails. What’s happening for X’mas: Festive, vegetarian and children’s menus are available. McMurtrie says: “Last Christmas Eve, we had three puppies dumped here, which turned out to be the best activity for the children of our dinner guests. The kids played with them for hours while their parents had time to enjoy a leisurely dinner.” How much: Rates for the festive period start at RM590 ($255) a night. www.bontonresort.com.my
Losari Coffee Plantation Where: Central Java, Indonesia Why go: This resort which sits 800m above sea level is surrounded by volcanoes, including the active Mount Merapi. Most of the 32 villas, which are old houses collected from all over Java, offer a commanding view of the volcanoes. The organic coffee farm at the foot of the resort dates back to 1830 and was owned by the Dutch. It was later abandoned until Gabriella Teggia, an Italian biologist and the former developer and co-owner of Amandari in Bali, stumbled upon it. Don’t miss: Rise early to see Borobudur, the ninth-century Buddhist monument, at the crack of dawn. You will be served organic coffee, made from beans harvested from the resort’s coffee plantation. What’s happening for X’mas: Expect cocktail parties and festive menus. The New Year Holiday Programme includes a heritage train tour. How much: Rates for the festive period start from US$400 ($578) per person for two nights. www.losaricoffeeplantation.com
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