Malaysians as a people are reputed as being friendly, warm and welcoming of visitors. If however, you would like to know more about this legendary Malaysian hospitality, you might want to consider participating in a homestay program in Malaysia.
A homestay program is one which allows you spend a couple of days at the abode of a quintessential Malaysian family. Such a program gives you the chance to interact closely with its members as you participate in the family’s various economic and social activities. Innovative tour operators conceived and launched the Malaysia homestay program in 1995, in order to boost tourism to the country by way of offering visitors a chance to come and view first-hand the ‘real’ Malaysia, by living amongst its people.
The homestay program which was first launched in the town of Temerloh in Pahang state was a resounding success. It was then soon expanded to include destinations all over the country, as it received a seal of approval from the Ministry of Tourism. The program in its present form offers various homestays at carefully selected, trained and licensed dwellings in approximately 150 kampungs (villages) all over the country though the highest concentration of homestays are to be found in states like Sarawak and Sabah on Borneo and Johor, Pahang and Selangor on Peninsular Malaysia.
A homestay is much more than a simple lodging experience. By way of a homestay, a visitor has a chance to be a part of the everyday life of a typical Malaysian family. Moreover, these homestays also give visitors a chance to reside in typical Malaysian dwellings like a longhouse, a Melanau tall house or even a bumbung panjang (a classic Malaysian timber house which features a long, gable roof).
The homestay additionally enables visitors an opportunity to learn much about Malaysia and its people. For instance, it is likely that visitors during a homestay will be introduced to various native Malaysian crops and fruits like paddy, palm oil, cocoa, mangosteen, soursop, pandanaus, longan, durian and many more. Moreover, visitors as a part of a Malaysian family, will also be expected to sample various local dishes like Nasi Lemak, Rojak, Curry Ayam, Ikan Bakar and Asam Pedas as the price of homestay in Malaysia usually includes full board in addition to lodging.
During a homestay, visitors are also instructed on the diverse economic activities of their hosts, so guests may be invited along with the family’s bread-earners to learn how they earn their livelihood. So visitors may have the chance to participate in diverse economic activities of the village like breeding fish, tapping rubber, planting (or even husking) paddy, economic pursuits which are common in the Malaysian countryside.
Along with these economic activities, homestay visitors are also generally introduced to various native Malaysian arts and crafts produced by the people of the kampong. On display are various artistic endeavors like batik-painting, woodcarving, pandanaus leaf mat-weaving, ceramic making amongst others.
Further, Malaysian homestay visitors are typically feted by their hosts as they are invited to take part in traditional village past-times and activities like attending marriages and various other social gatherings(kenduris), playing congkak(a popular Malaysian indoor game) or Sepak Raja(a fun traditional ball game) and gasing (top spinning) or kite flying.
If the above has piqued your interest somewhat and you are curious about Malaysia and its people, then why not book a Malaysian homestay for your next trip and delight in the renowned Malaysian hospitality.
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