The nostalgic village housestyle homestay is becoming more and more popular
KEPALA BATAS: Inns or homestays with a nostalgic village atmosphere are increasingly popular with people who want to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, thus providing a good opportunity for entrepreneurs to earn a higher income.
Among the guesthouses that offer a traditional style in this state is the ZJ Classic Homestay located in Penaga here which is surrounded by rice fields, coconut trees and a guesthouse with a traditional Malay wooden house concept that surely evokes the nostalgia of life in the village during childhood.
Zulhisyam Jamaluddin, 42, who started his career as a Penang professional football player from 2001 to 2018, had to think about other fields after quitting because he had to undergo knee surgery.
He said, his interest in running a traditional homestay in addition to the support of the people around him pushed him to open ZJ Classic Homestay which started operating in December last year.
“I also carved the wooden design for the inn by myself which took up to seven months to complete. I got inspiration and ideas from Facebook and YouTube for the designs and carvings of ancient patterns,” he told Bernama here recently. .
Zulhisyam, who currently works at the Penang Water Supply Corporation, said that the inn that he managed also provided antique bicycles for visitors to explore around the village, a barbecue area, a handmade swing and a bamboo platform for relaxing by the river.
“The public response is very encouraging, most of them come from cities like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan and Johor who choose to enjoy the village atmosphere here,” he said and added that the price for one night including weekends or public holidays is RM200 and can book through ZJ’s Classic Homestay Facebook page.
Meanwhile, Abdul Raof Razalli, 63, a retiree, said the high demand prompted him to open a traditional Kedah guesthouse called Permatang Rambai Homestay in Penaga.
“People from the city now prefer to stay in traditional houses because it gives them peace and tranquility. There are even children who have never experienced life in the village, never seen rice fields,” he said.
He said with the rising cost of living these days, people choose to vacation in traditional inns that offer cheaper prices and delicious village cuisine than modern inns.
“The price I offer is RM180 per night regardless of weekends, weekdays or public holidays. Visit our Instagram page and Google to make a reservation,” he said.
