Our Journey to Nature Retreat

It has always been my spouse's dream of homestay business.  This opportunity came when a few of my sibblings wish to retire on their own land, doing some farming and self sustain during retirement.  We traveled to KKB, Sungkai, Karak to explore the land available.  Finally we settled with Valley @ Bentong together with my brother who bought the same area.

We explored a few names and finally came up with La'Vista.

Lets read his version of story:

La Vista Nature Retreat 🏡 

@ The Valley 🎄

Meaning of La'Vista~The sight/the view in Italian. 

 

 

Most retirees are bored with ‘too much free time’ so they are…

… starting businesses for fun and extra income. 

After the novelty of retirement is over…

… and after taking all the trips and relaxation they need…

… retirees who have been busy a big part of their lives are now feeling…

 

😕 Bored and not stimulated

😕 Cooped up

😕 Unproductive

 

So comes the time to..

Reside   |   Retire   |   Relax

 

Time to turn a hobby into a small  business is a great way to earn some extra money - while having a good time.😃

This is how the idea of La' Vista Nature Retreat @The Valley came across. Getting this small plot of land overlooking The Valley and Titiwangsa mountains range with daily fresh breezy environments. 

 

The journey begins when my spouse and I decide to get a small plot of land in this quiet little town of Karak just an hour slow drive from the bustling city for our retirement. 

Returning to nature's embrace among the emerald glades where the air is fresh and crisp. Enjoy our golden years in a neighborhood gifted with rain forest's tranquility and the nourishment of earth and soil in the surrounding pastures. 

We made countless trips to this little town meeting up with property agents looking for a small manageable plot of land. Going in and out of every plot of land available for sale. Some that need a 4wd to access into the deep jungles looking for the plot that suits us until we spotted Lot 705 @ The Valley. Going into retirement age where our earnings is limited we need to make the right choice. After months of scouting around we have finally decided The Valley but with 138 lots of divided uncleared lands in Phase 2 to choose from is not an easy task. We repeated our scouting again but this time is within the vicinity of The Valley. Going in and out countless time to get the real feel of this area. Coming here in the wee morning waiting for the sun rise and looking for the piece with lots of morning mist. In the afternoon to be sure that it's not scoring hot and in the evening looking for the sunset view is not an easy task. Until we stop at plot no 705 he has this strong feeling that this plot suit our requirements. Just manage to glance through the thick uncleared plot i just fell in love for the view overlooking the valley and mountains. After having a deep thought we finally decided to embark on next adventure here. 

 

 

We had enjoyed pumpkin, hog plum, Roselle for the start while waiting for other fruit trees to grow,. Now we having lots of vitamin from passion fruits.  

Building a house took us a long time as the contractor is busy with other projects in the same area.  Finally in August 2024, all is finally done. Then we still need to think of what else to beautify the area and it still continues.  

Till February 2025 while we still celebrating Chinese New Year and had not much time to overnight so we can complete whatever task needed there.  We were busy too when my father was admitted since end November and then passed on 2 January 2025. So the plan to stay over halted.

Finally we have the curtain for first room, had our fridge in before we started to plan our sleep over.

First time we overnight on 3 May 2025 with elder son, nephew, his wife and daughter. With help from elder son, he set up the big camping tent which we intended to put as permanent that fit for 3 to 4 people.

We slowly improve the place with necessities for the small pantry area. With the place ready for overnight, we now usually travel down Friday evening and thus have enough time to look after the fruits trees, discussion with contractor etc on Saturday morning and leave by noon or late afternoon.

Before that we usually leave from home 6-7am, be in karak an hour later for breakfast and then start our routine and left by 1 pm. 

We have now decided only to rent out the empty land for camping but not in a hurry to do so as we realised by 9am is already hot, so we have just planted a few trees.

Hubby is always waiting for weekend as this is his favorite second home.

Childhood Dream

His childhood dream came true...

Since childhood, I often found myself captivated by the beauty of nature. The gentle rustling of leaves, the vibrant colors of blooming flowers, the fragrance of ripe fruits , the chirping sounds of birds and the misty fresh morning breeze were a constant source of inspiration for me. 

My childhood dream is simple; to own a small plot of orchard land with a small farm house on top of a hill. Little did I know that this dream would eventually came through when one day my wife's siblings planning to look for land away from the bustling life of the city. Since it's weekend we followed them along until we stop by this plot at Lot 705 The Valley, Karak.

Growing up as a kampung (village) boy I would cycled and spent hours wandering in the rubber plantations, swimming in the cold crystal clear stream that flow across the rubber plantations, admiring the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves while we swam. The experience of picking ripe mangoes and guava straight from the branches felt magical.

I fantasized about having my own orchard, a personal sanctuary where I could cultivate fruits and share the harvest with friends and family. This vision was not merely about farming; it was about creating a space filled with joy and connection to nature.

As the years passed, I remained steadfast in my dream. I like plants, animals and farming. I learned about sustainable farming practices through the Internet, added knowledge to my passion and helped me visualize the orchard that I dream of. 

During one of the outing scouting for land near Karak, my heart raced with excitement when we reached a hillside piece of uncleared land. After months of searching, I finally stumbled upon this idyllic plot that perfectly matched my vision. It was a small 1.1acres plot to be exact, sun-kissed hill overlooking the Titiwangsa range surrounded by trees and boasting fertile soil. Also a small natural spring water pond at the edge of this land.  I could almost see my hopes flourishing. I knew that I had found the place where my dream would come to life.

With determination and a clear purpose, I purchased the land and planned according to my dream. The journey was not without its challenges. My wife and I spent countless hours planning with the contractors clearing the land according to my plans, understanding the unique personality of my hillside land, build my little farm house and planting fruits saplings. I faced the unpredictability of weather, pests, and other obstacles that tested my solving skill. Yet, each setback only strengthened and deepened my commitment to nurturing this dream.

This year 2025 is going into the third year, my little plot started to transform into a orchard of my dream. All the fruits trees grew sturdy.  I embraced the rhythms of nature. Looking forwards for years to come during fruits seasons I can share the bounty of my dream together with families and friends. The orchard became a sanctuary, a place for reflection and connection not only with nature but with those dear to me.

Owning this orchard on a hillside was more than just fulfilling my childhood dream; it has fostered a deeper appreciation for the environment and a commitment to sustainable living. My childhood dream of owning a small orchard with a small farm house on a hilltop has blossomed into a reality that I am cherishing deeply. It is a reminder of the importance of perseverance, passion, and connection to nature. My orchard stands not only as a testament to my childhood aspirations but also to the beautiful journey of growth and fulfillment that comes when we dare to dream. I look forward to nurturing it for many more years to come, continuing to create memories that will last a lifetime amidst the serene beauty of the hills.