Kroh Rest House - Pengkalan Hulu in Malaysia

The name of this destination is Pengkalan Hulu. So when you mention "Kroh", do not be surprised to get a blank look in return.

There enough signage in this little town to show you where the Rest house is located.

The Rest House was not difficult to find. Tuck away in a corner but in a scenic environment travelers like me found its hiding place. All said just a stone throw away from the town center. Like almost all Rest Houses, this one was clustered together with other administrative buildings of the government. There was the district information department . Its building just in front of the Rest House. All within and serviced by this looped road.

We were lucky to find at least one signage to remind visitors that this place was named "Kroh" once upon time.

They have forgotten to remove all traces of the old name.

At one of the gates, I presumed that this one then was the front gate, this Pengkalan Hulu Rest House sign was posted up.

A more attractive and contemporary looking sign board was in its place.

From the position of the gate, the Rest house was seen as a fairly new and modern 2 storey building. Tidily white washed. On the far end there were 4 more single storey detached chalets.

An artificial garden sat in the middle of the paved compound in front of the Rest House.

The access road to the Rest House follow a one way street. This led us in. In the exit, the road passed through the rear of the building. And out through the back gate.

A large lawn complimented the spacious compound in front

There was plenty of land reserved for this building.

This view from the other gate "rear" exit. Here you could see the covered car park as well the rear portion of the Rest House.

In front of the Rest House was the town's Lake garden.

Here the picture was taken from the opposite bank showing the Rest House and the low hill as backdrop.

The small building in front at the edge of the lake, was the local Lake View Restaurant

In fact, apart from the presence of care takers, it don't seem that the Rest House had been patronized for a long time.

Perhaps one of the reasons could be the fact that there was another better looking resort somewhere.

Guest, if any, were directed to the Hot spring resort completed recently and privatized.

What a pity and waste?

Many of you who have not venture that far to this corner of Malaysia would wonder how the place is like! I mean the immigration and the border check point where the Custom are!

Well, it was small border outpost with no residential building, just small offices for the immigration and custom officers.

Things had changed a few years ago.

Beyond this check point into the "No man's Land". In that small strip, was installed an upbeat "duty free" shopping complex. Operated and run by Malaysian.

Travelers and eligible Malaysians would be able to shop for duty free items before re-entering the country.

We were more interested with Rest Houses. Since the place was only 5 kilometers away, we dropped by.

This Rest Houses was operated under a new concept where the management had more autonomy as its running. Autonomy in the sense that you need not contact the district offices for your booking. You get your room like any other hotel. As a walk-in customer.

Like all Rest Houses, the operator managed the complex with the aim of providing Malaysian citizens a proper place to rest and relax, at an affordable price

The place was chosen because there was a hot spring. The government needed to develop this spot. There was already a fairly new Rest house in town.

Within all the concerns, this place came into being as a added resort. Near the border.

The warm water oozing out from the hot spring was kept in a trench formed in the shape of a "U" Walkways.

Benches and sun shade formed the rest of the trimmings to make an idealistic garden.

There were 2 types of Chalets in this huge complex.

First type consisting of 7 buildings, in contemporary design. then there were another 2 buildings in traditional wooden constructions.

But first this is the reception, administrative office and reservation counter.

These houses or chalets were available with 2/3 bedrooms. Air-condition units were also available. Suitable for families who wish to cook their own meals.

Depending on preference, this design was more popular due to its lower pricing and the locals too prefer the settings of the buildings.

The complex was fairly new and quite well known among the locals in upper Perak and Kedah states. At the time of our visit, all chalets were booked. The pricing upon enquiry were RM70 per chalet. Prices may vary after 1999.

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