Kuala Lumpur - From enjoying the relaxing mood of a rustic French village, to watching sunsets at a Japanese tea house, travellers to a little known Malaysian resort are treated to an internationally-flavoured holiday. Crisp, cool air and soaring, colourful flags are some of the first things to greet visitors at Bukit Tinggi - directly translated to mean Tall Hill - which is located about 100 kilometres north of, or a 45-minute drive from, the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Nestled within the lush 150-million-year-old tropical rainforests in the central Pahang state, the resort is still very much undiscovered, despite its smorgasbord of worldwide themed attractions.
Its crowd-puller is the Colmar Tropicale, a French-inspired resort complete with quaint French delis, cobblestone walkways paved with gaily-coloured flags and even an imposing castle complete with a moat and live geese.
Inspired by the 16th-century Colmar Village in Alsace, France, the resort brings an almost-authentic French ambience with a gorgeous view of the sprawling hills, lush greenery, crisp air and enchanting medieval architecture.
On weekends, a flea market fills the lanes and alleys with a carnival-like atmosphere with stalls selling anything from trinkets and food items to tourist keepsakes. Colmar also boasts a 12-lane bowling alley, a karaoke joint, a wine and cigar lounge and numerous restaurants.
However, it is the peace, quiet and tranquility that keeps the visitors coming back, said operations head Muhammad Fazil Ahmad.
"We provide different types of entertainment for people of all ages, but ultimately, Bukit Tinggi is about a relaxing holiday where you can imagine you are in different parts of the world, all at the same time," he said.
From "France," travellers take a 15-minute ride further uphill to the Japanese village, which comprises a single, large suite able to comfortably accommodate more than 10 guests.
The suite is surrounded by a lush Japanese garden, which is breathtaking in its detail, being designed by Japanese architect Kaio Ariizumi and built by a team of 22 craftsmen flown in from Japan.
The Japanese village also boasts a spa centre, which offers clients a chance to get a foot therapy or traditional massage surrounded by the beauty of the rainforest and the stillness of being 3,500 feet above sea-level.
"Many visitors choose to stay at the French village, then spend a day here at the Japanese garden," said Muhammad Fazil. "This place transports you to a totally different place, without having to bust your budget or spend long hours travelling."
And after a wholly relaxing and rejuvenating trip to Bukit Tinggi, visitors can look forward to another lure of this one-of-a-kind holiday destination - delicious, authentically Malaysian food.
Just at the foot of the hill lies several restaurants serving affordable ethnic Chinese food, as well as fruit stalls with an array of fresh produce. It has become a sort of norm for local travellers to complete their visit to Bukit Tinggi with a belly-warming meal as a welcome reminder that while they were enjoying their faux-foreign holiday, they were always truly in Malaysia.
