langkawi magazine

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Redemption at Tanjung Rhu

BACK AGAIN IN LANGKAWI

Short flight from KL to Langkawi and my wife and I were greeted at the airport by the friendliest of staff who actually seemed genuinely happy to see us.

And we didn't have to search high and low for him. Bags loaded and off we went in the comfort of air conditioning and pleasant conversation. 'How much for the ride to the resort?' I asked. 'Don't worry, sir. We provide transportation.' OK. That was one less time I had to touch my wallet. Not bad. A scenic ride later and we had arrived. Destination, the highly touted Tanjung Rhu Resort.

THE REEDUCATION BEGIN

I was prepared for a royal fleecing. We had stayed at a different 5-star resort on Langkawi before and it was the worst vacation of a lifetime. We swore we'd never go back, but the allure of Tanjung Rhu had me curious enough to take the plunge. The entrance to Tanjung Rhu isn't the grand welcome you might expect from a resort so highly praised for its design. Quite the contrary, actually, but only in the understated sense. It blends seamlessly with its environment, which is exactly what good design should do. I've always believed that simplicity breeds elegance and Tanjung Rhu is no exception. I suppose it's indicative of the intended feeling of the resort as a whole. This 'form-meets-function mentality' demonstrates itself beautifully in the landscape design around the resort, which includes the use of herbs, both for their aesthetic quality and for use as fresh seasonings in all 3 of their very impressive restaurants. This is not a resort in the 'Club Med' sense, but an experience that unfolds itself gently in front of your eyes. Not heavy-handed or pretentious, but a very comforting, subtle feeling. I had been working ridiculous hours and it had turned me into a short-tempered louse at home. As a peace offering to my loving wife, I booked us the 'Love Sonata - Avicennia' package. Ordinarily, I avoid packages because they never turn out to be packages at all, but just a way for a resort to unload a bunch of junk no one ever uses. However, this was a compelling offer which, I was assured, would not disappoint. The only difficult part was choosing. As it turns out, Tanjung Rhu offers several packages, each a creative and well-conceived offer that gives you the opportunity to enjoy your holiday on your own terms. If packages don't tempt you, you can book on a room-only basis. Good news, though - they'll still pick you up at the airport and let you enjoy the breakfast buffet, which is a sight to behold all by itself. Upon arrival to our room, we were greeted by the exotic aroma and stunning colors of fresh flowers adorning the entire space. Before I continue, I should mention that 'room', in the Tanjung Rhu sense, is a loose term. Even the basic 'room' they offer is a fully apportioned, 50 sq. meters suite with TV, CD player, VCR, well-stocked mini bar, lounge, balcony, wonderful bedroom and bathroom and lots of natural light. All of it decked out in rich hard wood floors with drapes and upholstery made of pure, Indian cottons. My wife didn't say much, because she couldn't. Her mouth was agape and eyes wide open, absorbing the splendor before her. 'This is beautiful', she said. 'I could spend the whole holiday in the room'. However, this would not be the case - for all the right reasons.

THE BEACH (Lenardo DiCaprio not included)

The day started with the obligatory stroll to the beach (imposed by yours truly) and, I have to say, the beach is gorgeous. At 2.5 kilometers in length, it sits in a small, protected bay with islands just off the shore and an evening sunset that conjures images no clich' could describe adequately. Just absolutely stunning. We sat down for a respite in the shade of the perfectly placed umbrella for an afternoon cocktail and I commented to our server at the pristine beauty of the groomed, bleach-white sands. 'Actually, sir', he said, 'We can take you to a secluded beach not far from here for a picnic whenever you want. It's brilliant. You'll be all alone and the food is fantastic.' My interest was piqued sufficiently. 'Really? How much is that?' I asked, fully prepared to be given a vague answer that would later lead to a huge dent in my bank account. Confidently, our friendly server told us, 'Don't worry sir. It's included in your rate. Just tell me when you want to go and I'll make the arrangements.' Now my mouth was agape. The resort's beach was gorgeous, but the private beach was beyond postcard perfection. That afternoon, we, along with our picnic basket, wine and all the trimmings, were deposited to our private beach in regal fashion. Even my wife, who has no affinity for the beach or the ocean, was awestruck. What a perfect day. Great food, crystal-clear water, sand so clean and white that each grain must have been polished by hand - and we had it all to ourselves. This was the perfect beach. At 5:30 sharp (as requested), there was the boat to pick us up for the journey back to the resort. The day wasn't even over yet and it was already one of the best I've ever had. Bliss defined.

SERENDIPITY AND ROBOT

I have to tell you that my first Langkawi experience left a profoundly bitter taste in my mouth. I didn't go into much detail earlier, but let me assure you - by the end of that first visit, it would have taken a miracle to convince me that I could have enjoyed myself there again. Tanjung Rhu just turned out to be one of those truly sublime experiences that elevated us to a different state of mind. You cannot not feel peaceful here. It's a purely genuine experience. Most resorts are places where the staff act more like salesmen who browbeat you with the latest lunch specials and super-mondo cocktails served in imitation crystal salad bowls. Nobody bothers you at Tanjung Rhu, but the staff are always ready for you when you need them and it comes off so effortlessly and gracefully. You really feel like a guest instead of a walking credit card. I've never enjoyed the stuffy, rigid style of service at many 5-star resorts and hotels. So often, the staff in such places have all the warmth and sincerity of robots. I'm sure you know the type. The almost military style of service that leaves you frightened to ask for or say the wrong thing for fear of being passed off as a Philistine and left to fend for yourself. No such attitude at Tanjung Rhu.But Wait, There's more...For whatever reason, I always make it a point to check out a resort's meeting facilities. Don''t ask me why, but it's just a thing that I do. Tanjung Rhu's is not your run-of-the-mill conference set up. It's beautiful. Bathed in natural light and fitted out with every state-ofthe-art amenity you would expect from even the most modern convention center, the facility offers an aesthetic quality, attention to detail and discrete privacy that the mega-convention hucksters cannot duplicate. It may not be the biggest (maximum capacity is 100 people), but the center is anything but an afterthought. This is the real deal and would be an ideal destination for annual corporate meetings, weddings, reunions and conferences.

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