This post was written by Nick Atkinson.

NICK ATKINSON BOOKS THE ULTIMATE TREAT FOR HIS WIFE’S SPECIAL DAY AND THEN FINDS HIMSELF FALLING PREY TO THE CHARMS OF THE GREEN OPEN SPACES AND SELECTION OF ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE AT LEISURE FARM.

My wife’s birthday is usually an easy event to sort out. She takes a day off (if needed), has some pampering, meets with girlfriends for lunch, and does a bit of shopping. If I am lucky, the activities stretch all the way through dinner. My role is purely to remember the day, provide a card, and, although usually instructed not to bother with a gift, I know that it is more than my life’s worth to not make the effort!

This year was looking like more of the same until it was announced, a few weeks prior to the event, that she was “all mine” for her birthday; this called for some urgent planning. Thankfully, a solution presented itself in the form of Leisure Farm, where pampering needs could be catered for and we would both have the opportunity to indulge in some of our favourite activities.

LEISURE FARM

Situated just a few kilometers from Johor Bahru but wonderfully nestled in green pastures and forest, Leisure Farm offers the chance to get away from it all and experience some indoor luxury or the exhilaration of outdoor pursuits, depending on your preference. Those who fall in love with the place can purchase a villa of their own, and residents mingle with visitors to create a communal atmosphere within this charming environment.

Leisure Farm is well-positioned for Singaporeans looking to escape the frantic city life, while its proximity to the Iskandar region ensures that it is a short hop to many big new developments. The nearby Edu City, already hosting the University of Newcastle, with Marlborough College and the Universities of Southampton and Nottingham soon to welcome students as well, is something of a Little Britain, while Legoland recently opened its doors to families keen for some fun.

VILLA LIVING

But the thrills of Legoland were not for my wife and I and, upon arrival we were thrilled by the villa that would be ours for our weekend at Leisure Farm. The single-storey villa housed three bedrooms (all ensuite), a lovely open-plan kitchen, and plenty of seating for a relaxing in the evening with a glass of wine. Outside the windows sat a neatly manicured spacious garden and a small lap pool, the latter of which was hugely welcome after the drive from KL. The view from every window was green, and with such privacy, it was easy to feel completely isolated.

The area plays host to some lovely restaurants, and our first port of call, pun intended, was Danga Bay. This small port is perched a short distance from Puteri Harbour; a strip of water fast becoming the preferred location to moor one’s boat. The seafood on offer at Danga Bay included some of the freshest fish I have ever tried.

Within the resort itself, the Balé Club is open for breakfast and lunch, and was Award-winning Bayou Water Village our venue for our early meal the next morning. We ate, drank, and watchedthe sunlight playing over the rollinggreen that will soon be a polo field.The Club caters for all requirementsand the surrounding buildings provide the location for the numerous events that take place on a regular basis. The weekend we stopped by, the Club washosting a garden sale for the residents, and the “pot luck” dinners are also very popular; the sense of community issomething that the management takes a lot of pride in.

ACTIVITIES FOR MAN AND WIFE

Once breakfast was completed, the day was our own, and I was happy to be able to deposit my wife, who gets little opportunity to enjoy her horse-ridingpursuits in KL, at the Equestrian Centre, which caters for all ages and levels of experience. The staff on hand to assist the  riders live at the centre, thus they have established a bond with their steeds and developed a charming patience with all riders. With the addition of the polo field and other slated projects, this will truly become a wonderful lure to residents and visitors alike. Horses and I have never really got on, so I disappeared to sample the delights of the Porresia Golf Club.

With thirty-six holes to choose from, the golf course offers a challenge to even the lowest of handicaps while still being,aesthetically, a most endearing course; it is easy to understand why it gets busy. It is advisable to book in advance, particularly over the weekend, and for what is on offer at this impressive club, it is competitively priced.

After my work-out on the golf course, it was back to the villa for another treat for my wife: a massage for each of us by the skilled resident masseurs. After such a busy day, a quiet evening was just what was needed, and as we sat on the patio by the pool with a glass of wine, the sound of silence was the perfect end to the day.

SPOILT FOR CHOICE

Sunday morning started slightly late, but we awoke keen to see more of Leisure Farm. A good breakfast at a local restaurant (an amazing seafood kuey teow soup) could only be followed by a gentle stroll through the idyllic orchard that the management has created at the resort. The sun shone down as we ambled past the trees from which all types of fruit dangle in the morning air, and the ducks, geese, and rabbits will surely delight those with a love for cute and furry creatures.

With Leisure Farm having worked its healing magic on us, we began to enquire about what the resort can offer to people looking for a property, whether it be to retire to, live in, or just escape to for the weekend. Plots of land can be purchased in one-, half-, and third-acre sizes, and it was no surprise to see that some of the larger plots already housed stunning properties; one owner had even purchased the adjacent plot to serve as a personal orchard.

The latest completed development is the Bayou Water Village, where tropical hillside greenery sits along canal waterways to create a sense of idyllic, old world charm whilst maintaining modern comforts. Bungalows and semi-detached properties complete the picture, and stepping inside these abodes is dazzling. High ceilings and tall windows combine with an open-plan design to allow plenty of light to enter, and the prospect of sitting beside the canal as the sun sets makes these properties very tempting.

When my words fail me in describing the allure of this beautiful resort, I must revert to the promise that Leisure Farm makes. “Leisure Farm today is an exemplary eco-friendly residential development where innovative ideas, environmental values, and a steadfast commitment have won numerous accolades. It represents a living sanctuary where nature, people and development successfully co-exist in perfect harmony.” I couldn’t have said it better myself! The worry is, how am I going to top this for next year’s birthday?

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Visit www.leisurefarm.com.my for more details on purchasing property or booking a weekend break.

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Source: Senses of Malaysia Nov-Dec 2012

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