Lifestyle
@ Halal | JANUARY-FEBRUARY . 2023
Tanjung Rhu beach is a five-minute drive from Rouhi Retreats .
A retreat for the soul Rouhi Retreats is the perfect hideaway for those who want to experience the hidden gems in Northern Langkawi
BY FATIHAH MANAF
SOMETIMES what is most needed by a person is a short escape - a perfect getaway at a place which offers a peaceful ambience , far from the hustle and bustle of city life . Langkawi , one of Malaysia ’ s most beautiful islands , is among the top destinations for this kind of travel experience .
What is unknown to many is that the island has more than just chocolates and beaches .
Rouhi Retreats , located in the Tanjung Rhu area , provides its guests with some sense of peacefulness and local authenticity . It is where solo travellers and families alike can get closer to nature and experience the less explored side of Northern Langkawi .
This quiet part of Langkawi was love at first sight for Kuala Lumpur-based architect Sharifah Alawiyah Alhabshi , owner of Rouhi Retreats .
Sharifah Alawiyah Alhabshi
“ All these years , I ’ ve been an architect , doing individual homes and mostly property development , but I fell in love with Langkawi when I first came here ,” said Sharifah .
She bought a piece of land on the island when she was young and waited years , working and saving money to build Rouhi Retreats .
“ The dream is to create a place where certain people who come there will find peace and happiness . When they leave , they feel so relaxed and peaceful from the energy and vibration of Rouhi Retreats .”
NEAR TO THE WATERFALL AND LOCAL FOOD STALLS
Small villages surround Rouhi Retreats ; it is sheltered from Langkawi ’ s famous touristy area . However , despite the location , it only takes 15 minutes for people to reach the place from Langkawi International Airport by car .
Guests who stay there can easily find food stalls that serve varieties of cuisine - local to western food - along the main road near the villas . They can have the best chocolate pancakes for breakfast , delicious yet affordable grilled chicken rice for lunch and authentic tom yum soup for dinner . Not to mention the generous nasi campur and local dishes !
Rouhi Retreats is also near a few convenience stores , a government clinic and the famous Friday night market . Guests can take a stroll around the area and make themselves at home . It is also less than 10 minutes away from Durian Perangin waterfall and paddy fields . Similarly , guests can quickly drive to Tanjung Rhu to enjoy the beach or get on the Mangrove Tour nearby .
Emphasising authenticity , Sharifah found it essential for people to get back to nature and just let loose - experiencing the slow pace of life that their souls have been craving for years .
Like a reset button , Rouhi , which means ‘ Soul ’ in Arabic , serves as a medium for travellers who are up for this kind of soul-healing experience . It is like a retreat for the soul , Sharifah said .
“ After all these years as an architect , this is like my way of producing and creating something which makes people happy instead of just doing property investment - buying and selling houses as I did in KL .
“ For this place , I want people to come and spend three or five days feeling at peace . They can heal and destress . Nature can do that . That ’ s why I ’ ve got so much garden , and I want them to enjoy being there .”
She said guests would sit in the garden at night , enjoying the scenery and chatting .
“ It is about being out there and enjoying nature ,” she added .
VILLAS AT ROUHI RETREATS
Once people step into Rouhi Retreats , they ’ ll be greeted by warm scenery and beautiful villas . The area is like a small neighbourhood with outstanding greenery and a garden . It also has a swimming pool complemented by a barbeque area .
There are several types of villas at Rouhi Retreats . Each of them portrays unique architecture and different kinds of attractions . 1 . Cameron Cameron Villa combines traditional Malay and British elements , drawing inspiration from colonial architecture . The villa , which is
Casablanca Villa is inspired from Moroccan architecture . Kitchen area at Coral Villa .