02/11/2025

ON SUNDAY November 2, 2025 II theSunday Special

By curating what we consume, we create space for peace, clarity and real connection.”

dawn and the distant splashes of freshwa WHU ¿VK UHSODFH WKH KXP RI DLU FRQGLWLRQHUV RU PRUQLQJ WUḊ F Across Temenggor, access often re TXLUHV D VKRUW ERDW ULGH 7KH MRXUQH\ LWVHOI serves as a boundary – a crossing from digital dependency into a space governed by sunrises, swims and slow cooking. Mobile coverage is intentionally poor, DQG JHQHUDWRUV DUH VRPHWLPHV WXUQHG R̆ by 10pm. It’s a place where digital devices naturally lose their grip. I VODQG LVRODWLRQ 2̆ JULG OLYLQJ LQ Langkawi and Semporna While Langkawi is known for duty-free JRRGV DQG ¿YH VWDU UHVRUWV LWV OHVV GH YHORSHG DUHDV VWLOO R̆ HU VHFOXVLRQ 2Q WKH LVODQG¶V QRUWKHUQ DQG HDVWHUQ ÀDQNV WKHUH are privately owned chalets and restored kampung houses hidden deep within MXQJOH FOHDULQJV 6RPH RI WKHVH UHTXLUH walking through forest trails or boat rides along mangrove estuaries. Solar panels often power essentials and there is an unspoken encouragement among hosts to leave phones in drawers. Afternoons are spent cooking with local herbs or napping in hammocks, not doom scrolling. Visitors report improved sleep cycles, reduced anxiety and heightened sensory awareness after just a few days.

Local digital detox: Isolated home rentals to escape city life BY DAYANA SOBRI F OR the past 20 years or so, screen fatigue has become real and burnout feels inevitable. The desire to disconnect is no longer a luxury – it is a necessity.

homes where your mobile phone might show “no service” and your entertainment FRPHV LQ WKH IRUP RI ¿UHZRRG ERRNV DQG stargazing. Lakeside silence: Recharging by the waters of Temenggor and Chenderoh For some, healing comes not through silence but through the slow rhythms of water. In Perak, the man-made lakes of Temenggor and Chenderoh have seen an uptick in sustainable rentals built along the water’s edge – many of which are operated by local communities. In Chenderoh, one of Malaysia’s old est hydroelectric dams, several private KRPHV WXUQHG UHWUHDWV R̆ HU D WUDQTXLO experience. These lake houses often run on solar power or rainwater harvesting systems and nights are spent around oil ODPSV RU VPDOO FDPS¿UHV %LUG FDOOV DW

Into the clouds: Mountain hideouts in Janda Baik and Cameron Highlands There’s something about altitude that lends itself to stillness. The village of Janda Baik, nestled in the Bentong district, is a favourite among Klang Valley dwellers in search of cool air and calm weekends. A short drive from Kuala Lumpur, this forest-fringed enclave has seen a rise in eco-cabins and minimalistic wooden homes, many designed without television or internet by intention. Some homes sit beside gushing brooks, R̆ HULQJ WKH VRUW RI ZKLWH QRLVH WKDW UH places the need for playlists. Others perch above the treeline, where early mornings reveal mists rolling through the valleys. Electricity and running water are basic comforts, but mod cons like microwaves and smart TVs are often absent – a de liberate design to let nature lead the day. Further north in Cameron Highlands, off-the-beaten-track homes near Blue Valley or Bertam Valley provide a more rustic experience compared with the tourist-heavy Tanah Rata. These are

Across Malaysia, an increasing number of XUEDQLWHV DUH LQWHQWLRQDOO\ ORJJLQJ R̆ QRW just from their devices, but also from the relentless pace of city life. A recent survey by Statista found that Malaysians spend an average of nine hours and 18 minutes daily on the internet. It’s no wonder that digital detoxing has become more than just a buzzword – it’s an emerging lifestyle choice. B XW JRLQJ R̆ WKH JULG GRHVQ¶W UHTXLUH DQ LQWHUQDWLRQDO ÀLJKW RU D FRVWO\ UHVRUW VWD\ Tucked away in Malaysia’s hills, forests and islands are homes designed to help visitors unplug, breathe and simply exist. 2IWHQ R̆ OLPLWV WR VWURQJ PRELOH UHFHSWLRQ DQG ZL ¿ WKHVH UHPRWH VDQFWXDULHV DUH proving to be vital spaces for mental reset. Here are some home rentals across the FRXQWU\ ZKHUH WKH RQO\ QRWL¿FDWLRQV \RX¶OO hear are the rustling of leaves or the call of distant hornbills.

Embun Luxury Villas