Town Crier

December 2004

Asia's hidden gems

By Felice Tusi
Is it the hip interiors? The best food you’ve tasted away from home? Or the ever-helpful concierge lending you a hand on those trivial requests? For those of us who regularly hop from one hotel to another be it for leisure or business, one is bound for some wonderful surprises along the way. We discover that big things do come in small packages. Boutique hotels prove that big doesn’t always mean best.

Most travelers have been bewitched by the enormity of charm, comfort and satisfaction from hotels with rooms as little as five. Take for instance the Boon Ton Restaurant & Resort which offers 4 antique villas modestly restored and laid out in a kampong style set up. This secluded yet convenient resort located in Langkawi, Malaysia is only 5 minutes away from Panta Cenang beach. Each villa dates back to 60 to 100 years and are fitted with mod cons such as minibar, airconditioning and DVD players. More importantly, what draws in the crowd is the restaurant considered as the best in the island!

But for a more rustic charms, Fridays Resort Boracay built with simple weathered wood and wind-raked thatch, would satisfy your fantasies of a Robinson Crusoe living. It enjoys a most delightful location, on the fine white sands of Boracay, one of the best beaches of the world. A choice of one and two-storey bungalows hold the 34 rooms which are sparse yet spacious. If you’re worried about being roused by beach revelries, then have no fear as the resort is well away from the bustle, keeping a low-key pace.

Hotels steep in history are always popular. Guests will feel like they are crossing a timewarp once they step into Lu Song Yuan Hotel. Located in an historical hutong neighborhood capturing the character of old Beijing. It is a little hard to find, but its position in the maze of charming back streets lends it an air of seclusion which is in keeping with its quaint Chinese personality. The 57 rooms are set in low buildings bound by a series of courtyards and quadrangles. They are generally small and Spartan, but decorated with memorable Ming-style furnishings such as the hard yet ornate beds. Larger rooms opening directly onto the timeless courtyards are especially popular. The hotel is basic, with few facilities found in today’s modern hotels, so it will not suit those looking for luxury, but those who want to be immersed in Chinese culture and history will love it.

Then for an insight into the melting pot of cultures in the Singaporian straits, both Hotel Puri Melaka and the Kerang Saik Singapore offer colourful features. Hotels like the Puri are totally unique. Situated in the heart of old town Melaka, on one of the oldest streets, it is an important part of the local heritage, having origins dating back to 1822. The building stretches from the street 100 metres back and houses just 50 rooms. The wonderful authentic tiled entrance with spiral wooden staircase, intricate fittings and grand piano give way to a delightful green courtyard full of mature trees, dipping swallows and the original water well. It adheres to the Peranakan style of shophouses once inhabited by the rich Chinese in the early days of Singapore.

Keong Saik Hotel on the other hand, is cute in all respects. A small and simple hotel with the most basic facilities to offer, this restored shophouse delivers service at par with 5-star places as the most simple request is readily fulfilled by the friendly and dedicated staff.

Another intimate resort is the Cliff, one of the earliest boutique hotels in Krabi, Thailand. It is stunning property dressed in classy, contemporary décor and set in a lovely garden. Though it lacks enough privacy as rooms are quire close to each other, it definitely earns high marks in the luxury department. Stunning views of limestone cliffs create a wonderful backdrop and the outdoor bathrooms with rain shower add a bold, stylish flair.

Tourists pay for walking tours to Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, but if you stay here instead, you get to experience it first-hand! The inconspicuous front gate might be easily missed, but this heritage site is well known among the residents of Penang so there is little worry about finding the hotel. Looking slightly worn down with a bare front yard, stepping through the front doors leads to a surprise. The painted tiled floor, intricate carvings, black and white pictures and Chinese structure is just absorbing in its simplicity. A simple wooden desk acts as the front desk and there is nothing that reveals this as a hotel. With such an intriguing reception, the rooms are equally unique. No two are the same, having been decorated and named by different designers.

On a much grander scale, The Strand in Yangon, Myanmar evokes the good old colonial days of Rangoon – the magnificent chambers in the wood-panelled Strand Bar, vaulted ceiling and chandeliers in the elegant Strand Grill, the huge teak-framed windows or the enormous beds. The rate is however too daunting but for the experience and the historical allure that goes with it, it’s a gem of a hotel.

Asia is full of little hidden resorts from those beach huts in Bali to the intimate family run hotels in Hanoi. In an age of commercialism, it’s good to step back and rediscover the basics. For indeed, boutique hotels are a respire from the monotony of soulless hotel living!

Top Hidden Gems in Asia
• Bon Ton Restaurant and Resort, Langkawi, Malaysia
• Fridays Resort Boracay, Boracay, Philippines
• Lu Song Yuan Hotel, Beijing, China
• Hotel Puri Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia
• Keong Saik Hotel, Singapore
• The Cliff, Krabi, Thailand
• Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Penang, Malaysia
• The Strand, Yangon, Myanmar
• Triple Two Silom, Bangkok, Thailand
• De Syloia Hotel, Hanoi, Vietnam
• Apa Colombo House, Colombo, Sri Lanka