Glamping in Janda Baik

Magical Valley - Janda Baik

Searching for Shangri-La

This page has a twin subject. The first section giving some information about this place called Janda Baik then intertwined with the second subject the current fad of Glamping . Anything as long as it is new people take a fancy to try out new concept Glamping is nothing new. The hospitality industry coining out a new term to rejuvenate business Glamping is another way of calling resort business using the wilderness as theme You have seaside resort lakeside and mountain top resort This time you have Jungle resort. Some clever fellow push the concept further by offering secured camping sites So for Glamping prices starts from over Rgt400 pax to just Rgt50 pax for an empty space. So for resort living tons of ideas and endless amenities to attract This page would shown how a secured campsite looks like and how customers are taking after the concepts.

First a short story about Janda Baik.This is a valley in Bentong District, Pahang, Malaysia. It is about 45 km from Kuala Lumpur and 800 m above sea level. The village was estimated to have a population of around 2,820 in 2019. Beautiful mother nature, dense forests, rolling hills, fogs and mists – these are the words that come to mind when one talks of the valley of Janda Baik

Some background about the name Janda Baik. It was a serene rural place where life continued peacefully; the families married and intermarried, and its population grew. The story about this place went back to1932. A farmer by the name of Three Haji employed a couple to him, namely Batin and his wife Endut. With the planting done and waiting for harvest, the couple grew tired of each other and decided to part ways. They both wander off in separate directions.

Time passed and both simultanously thoght about the harvest and made their own back. On their way back they both met at an island at the confluence of Sungei Benus and Sungei Cheringging.

The decided to make up and return home.

The villagers so impressed with this making up and decided to name this place Janda Baik - the village of the Returning Divorcee. Good story. So where about is this Janda Baik?

#1 Karak Highway - From Bentong to Kuala Lumpur

Kampong Bukit Tinggi

Very near to the tunnel at the Genting Sempah Pass. At that interjunction take the Old Bentong Road. Most people prefer the more visible route. Go down the hills towards Bentong. At the bottom of the slope there is a left turn and under pass below the Karak Expressway. Take that and joint the slip road as this picture shows

#1 On old Bentong Road - the Signage

Pass by the village which is very busy during the morning hours and jammed on Weekends

#2 Entrance to Janda Baik

Huge sign, cannot miss at the junction

3. The Janda Baik Road

It is a single lane country road, passing through sparse settlement and one Orang Asli village. Not a jungle road with forest or belukar. It is full of junctions, house here and there. If you don't have any particular agenda but merely to see the valley. Use this name as target. This is the main thorough fare and that's the end point

4. End of Road

After this point, no more human settlements

5. One junction before the end

Take the left turn where the road hugs the Benus River

6. Welcome party for me

A pack of wild dogs to remind me "GO no further"

It is a nice and easy drive, kampong houses and weekends bungalows. Though having Heliconias and Calathias plants at every tunrs, overall the surroundings are not well ornamented but with trees. This is Janda Baik Valley. To reach the specific resorts, you need the address and using GPS or Waze to guide. These hide away locations are deliberately chosen to be out of sight from the public. So there is no way of accidental bumping into some nice gardens or resorts

Glamping - a new term

After the introduction of Janda baik, the place, next topic- the concept

"Glamping" It is a new concept for camping that re-defines lifetime experiences, a unique camping experience for the entire family or group of friends. Glamping literally means "Glamorous Camping" where one experience the outdoor lifestyle without compromising on comfort. To ensure that the standard meets with your comfort, quality mattresses and hotel bedding sheets as well as a fluffy comforter are provided so you could enjoy a wonderful night in the outdoors with style. The common toilets meanwhile are designed like no other with individual gardens in each unit as well as hot and cold rain shower type facility.

That's 5-star living as we all know but with a difference, away from the hustle and bustle and incomplete wilderness. After that concept was implemented, customers or consumers have different level of affordability and also willing to compromise when it comes to luxury. So from a concept with 5 Stars facilities, other outlets started offering their own interpretation of Get-away places accompanied with affordable prices. Here I have collected example of lower end "Glamping" offerings. The features and staying close to concepts of wilderness and freedo.

7. Permanent fixtures huts besides a lake

Confined space but with good surrounding and ambience with some privacy

8. Tree House

Some for get together and others as individual unit for staying in.

9. Tree House with facilities

Same concept but with different level of amenities within the compound.

10. Could be as straight forward like a home stay

Here, the feature of wilderness and seclusion is retained

11. Another A-tent concept but using canvas as roofing materials

Again, the location is secluded in the midst of forest and around the lake. Change is that this looks like community living

12 Lastly towards the tail end - Lonely Planet style

Bring your own tent, resort owners provide the land and security

In this page, I want to show how a concept from luxurious living is slowly spun around to be become a marketing concept. Our own education about the modern world style of enjoying. From the word "Go" - break free, being pampered and enjoy life - to running away and feeling like getting lost in a refugee camp.

13 This is the most voluminous market -Glamping

Land owner provides a dry solid ground for camps to be pitched and a continuous long canvas over head as a shelter from heavy rain.