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Perak 'Hot Spot'

from TheStar 12 Aug 07

By JOLEEN LUNJEW

How would you like to soak in a private Jacuzzi filled with hot spring water? A relaxing retreat awaits at the Sg Klah Hot Springs Park, tucked away in the most unlikely of places – a Felda plantation.

A luxury hot spring resort in the middle of a plantation? Yes indeed, a wonderful therapeutic retreat amidst lush greenery.

I was impressed when I drove into the grounds. The first thing that struck me was that it was so clean. The grounds are nicely maintained and the landscaping soothing to the eyes. It felt as though I had entered another world.

A villa Jacuzzi

I checked into a beautiful five-star villa that comes with a Jacuzzi. The pool’s water temperature is adjustable as you can choose between filling the pool with hot spring water or mountain spring water from the nearby Titiwangsa range. The park has five exclusive one- and two-bedroom villas that

also come with a fully equipped kitchen. Guests at these villas have complimentary use of the facilities at the Park.

Hot springs are a common occurrence in Malaysia and are claimed to have therapeutic properties for ailments such as skin problems, rheumatism, arthritis, insomnia, respiratory concerns, spinal injuries, fractures, stiff joints and stress-related problems. The whole park is wheelchair-friendly. I saw at least five people in a wheelchair enjoying their visit here.

One of the smaller spring water dipping pools

The Park is run by Plantation Resorts Sdn Bhd and was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in May 2005. According to Plantation Resorts CEO S. Andrew Francis, the park has received 750,000 visitors to date, with about 6,000 visitors every weekend. Most come from the Klang Valley while the rest are from neighbouring states and countries such as Singapore, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and the Middle East.

Take a walk on the Natural Hot Springs Boardwalk as an introduction to the Park.

The Boardwalk will lead you to the Hot Springs Swimming Pool where you can relax and take a dip in the hot spring water with your whole family. The water temperature in the pool increases as you wade further in, so you can choose to stay in water that’s suitable for you. Families or groups who would like privacy can rent Family Baths for RM50 an hour which can accommodate eight adults comfortably.

Some claim that the algae found in the pools work better than most skincare products. All you have to do is rub the algae on your skin, wait 10 minutes for it to dry, then wash it off. I tried it and could feel the difference almost immediately! I don’t know whether it was psychological or something else, but my skin did feel smoother after this “treatment”!

The water temperature at the Egg-boiling Pool is 102°C

Further into the park, there are several smaller hot spring pools of varying temperature. You should start with the lowest temperature first and move to the higher temperatures as your body acclimatises. Remember, don’t go in on a full stomach as the blood will rush straight to your head and make you giddy.

For those who like reflexology, try out the Water Reflexology Course. The smooth stones with hot spring water running over them provide warmth and relief to aching feet and joints.

Sg Klah Hot Springs Park boasts the “hottest point” in Malaysia with a hot spring source recording 102°C. This has been turned into an Egg Boiling Pool where visitors come with baskets of eggs to boil. Visitors claim these eggs taste different because they have absorbed the mineral properties of the hot springs. You can purchase the eggs at the park if you haven’t brought your own.

If you’re having a wedding, the park can boil the eggs to give out to guests. In 2006, the world’s egg-boiling world record was achieved at the park when 50,480 eggs were boiled in 43 hours.

Other facilities, which will be available soon, include a spa centre offering traditional and Ayurvedic massages, upgrading and expansion of the Family Baths and a three-star hotel with 64 rooms targeted for completion in December this year.

During my visit, Felda had organised a reunion for New Zealand land surveyors who had worked for them 50 years ago. An orang asli dance by the Semai tribe was performed to welcome them and the New Zealanders were invited to join in. It was really nice to see these elderly folk enjoying themselves.

Overall, the stay was enjoyable and relaxing but the management could improve on the service standards of the villa staff. Although the staff were friendly, they should be given proper training in hospitality.

The management has assured me that a proper training programme would be in place. Let’s hope they improve as I’m definitely going back for a visit soon.

Sungai Klah Hot Springs Park

Sungkai, Perak
Tel: +605 441 4493
Fax: +605 438 8760

DIRECTIONS

Turn off at the Sungkai toll exit on the PLUS highway and turn left at the junction. Follow the Sg Klah Hot Springs Park signs and you will reach the place after about 8km of plantation trunk road. The entrance fee for adults is RM8 or just RM5 for the hot spring pools.