A hill retreat should be a getaway, surrounded by lush greenery, stillness and space. Misty Mountain is just that. You find yourself in an open space with a deck varandah at the far end, surrounded by the forest all around you. Have a cup of tea or coffee and put your feet up because that’s how homely it feels.
Amongst the durian and rambutan trees of this dusun, the sounds of crickets and birds fill the silence. The owners cottage at the other end, blends into the forest and appears to be protected by trees. During clearing of the area, large tall trees were preserved and treated and now whole tree trunks wrap around the exterior dwelling walls. A clever and creative idea by the Mrs of the house.
I was impressed by the attention to detail put into the decor. No timber was wasted. The living edge dinning table, coffee and side tables, doors, pantry working surfaces were crafted from timber of the property. Small braches trimmed for door handles and such. The use of resin to fill knots and gaps of timber panels to be transformed into a functional door was technical finesse. I jokingly told the owners, they could now hold furniture crafting workshops for enthusiasts like me.
The beauty of the design of this property is that the accommodation is not immediately visible to the visitor. A short hike up the rise leads you to a stone flagged path where you will discover a hideout built over a small revine. Delightfully furnished, the rooms are cosy and have large forest facing windows. I envisage waking up to early morning mist with a hot coffee…a signature Misty Mountain view.
Moving away upwards the next rise, you enter the fantasy hobbit village of four hobbit rooms built into the hillside. The curved awnings jutting out from the slopes are picturesque indeed. Meticulously painted in pastel pinks, browns and beige you almost expect to see a hobbit or two greeting you. Each door was crafted in a different style. As you enter the hobbit room and you feel the mountain coolness. The room space was created by digging into the hill slope. That wall was then cemented and textured with plaster and painted to look like a cave wall. A cosy bed, blankets, country curtains and a stuffed rabbit is all you need to complete the aura of hobbit land. The kids would be over the moon.
A multipurpose pantry and leisure room provides basic kitchen utilities for making coffee, tea, cup noodles and supper snacks next to the suite of hobbit rooms.
Food and beverage can be ordered in advance for eating in. There’s space for kids to run around and explore. Nearby rivers and trekking trails will keep you busy during the day. This is advertised as a Farm Stay. In addition to the flora, fauna of chicken, goats, ducks and an aviary draw the attention of the children. Being Kayelites, many have not seen a live chicken, let a lone a billy goat.
Misty Mountain would be excellent for a 2 day yoga retreat. A painting/sketching/ writing group would find it charming and inspiring. Ideal for quiet family bonding too.
Kudos to the owners for thinking out of the box and creating something so special. This project was borne out of the woes of the pandemic in 2021. The challenges were many. Navigating Covid 19 restrictions was not easy. The hilly terrain tucked next to the mountain made big machinery impossible and everything had to be done by hand. The passion and creativity poured into Misty Mountain will surely make it a magical staycation.
