While 5 stars accommodation is preferred by many, Homestays all around Malaysia has much more to offer in terms of culture. By staying in homestays during your vacations or a short getaway, you not only get to experience how it is like to stay with a host family but you get to get to know and experience their culture first hand too.
There are a lot of homestays in Malaysia but here is one in particular that I would like to highlight, located in the busy state of Selangor:
Bagasta Bougainvillae Homestay, Sungai Kertas.
Bagasta Bouganvillae Homestay is located strategically between the forests of Ulu Yam and the well famed Batu Caves limestone temple. Bagasta Bouganvillae Homestay is particularly unique in it’s offering as they aim to allow guests experience their ethnic culture first hand. In case you are curious, here’s a little glimpse on what guests will be experiencing :
Sambutan Ulos upon your arrivals. Sambutan Ulos is a welcoming cultural ceremony by Mandailing group to people with higher status in a community.The Mandailing is a traditional cultural group in Southeast Asia. They are found mainly in the northern section of the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. They came under the influence of Kaum Padri who ruled the Minangkabau of Tanah Datar. As a result, the Mandailing were influenced by Muslim culture and converted to Islam.There are also a group of Mandailing in Malaysia, especially in the states of Selangor and Perak. They converted to Islam and intermarried with Minangkabau and the Malay peoples. Mandailing society is patriarchal, employing family names, or marga,. The well-known marga(s) in Mandailing clan are: Lubis, Nasution, Siregar, Hasibuan, Harahap, Dalimunthe (originally from Munthe), Matondang, Rangkuti, Parinduri, Pulungan, Rambe, Daulae(y), Pohan, Batubara (not to be confused with the Batu Bara people from the east coast of Sumatra), Barus and Hutajulu.
Part of the activities in this homestay is
hands on experience in making sambal tempe. Sambal tempe is a traditional Javanese dish found in almost every Malay food stalls in Malaysia.
Guests being introduced to of nasi upah, a popular Mandailing menu similar to nasi ambeng; where everything is placed on a huge tray and communal eating with hands is practiced.
This is the nasi upah. The eggs in nasi upah symbolises unity among the community. Fish brings the meaning of plunge into the hearts of the society while the prawn means pride and arrogance.
If you are looking for something cultural and educational during your holiday, this is a good place for you to stay.
Package price for the homestay per person is RM120++, inclusive of meals and room.
Address：
No 78, Jln KSK 4,
Kg Sungai Kertas,
68100 Batu Caves.
Contact:
Tn Hj Ruslan bin Ahmad 016-3920439/ 03-61885515