Bagas Zakariah

 I fell in love with this house upon seeing it on Facebook.A friend posted it and without any hesitation I asked him for the way to get to this house.So he gave me a number,I called and that's how I became acquainted with Arie ,who manages the 'Bagas' (Mandailing word for house)and Azmin the owner.

So I drove to Gopeng with my sis and surprisingly the owner was there with his family.So I got to know about his roots and the houses.Some may call it a homestay but since the three Perak style kampung houses are nestled together in the massive durian orchard with a stream running through it, Arie said he calls it the Kampung Stay.

Yours truly listening to Azmin telling about the houses.

"My grandfather was a Mandailing and his name was Zakariah.When he first came to Gopeng in the late 18th century his first job was sending  water to houses which he collected from wells.Subsequently he saved his money and bought wells!The hardworking man then started buying lands with his saving and because it was the beginning of the rubber trees era,he used his lands for rubber plantation." said Azmin.

That was how Zakaria became a wealthy man and when he passed away he left many pieces of lands to his children. Azmin's father had five parcel of lands scattered around Gopeng and Azim who is the youngest in their family and also an architect came up with the idea of rebuilding the kampung houses together with Azmin.

The rumah asal is a hundred years old and is painted bright yellow.Their kampung houses are fusion of the old and new which is something  new to Perak.For example ,they have the hot water for shower, a jucuzzi and wifi.The rooms remain as it was except for the interior decoration which is simple yet attractive.There is no air cond because Kampung houses are airy and cold at night.Of cos there are fans but due to the high ceiling,the house is well ventilated and cooling.

The reception area is still work in progress and they have a herbal garden and durian trees plus other fruits.The best part about Bagas Zakariah is the fact that it is by the trunk road and guest can easily visit gua tempurung which is nearby and also visit the Gaharu plantation in Gopeng.For the adventurous ones,you can go white water rafting at Gopeng.Therefore guests have choices .

If you feel like cooking,they allow you to cook and you can just stay in their huge compound and fish at their stream.I love the stream because it is so clear that I could see fishes swimming.

I take my hats off to Azmin and family because they have come up with a good concept with their ancestral land.


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