Meaningful ESCAPE

Connecting with nature was daunting for this city-dweller but it ended up being exactly what the doctor ordered

- HANAN HADDAD

The word "outdoors" has rarely been mentioned in a sentence containing my name. While I envied active people, going on hikes and embracing nature was never my modus operandi when it came to getaways. I tended to opt for city locations like Seoul and Tokyo, where shopping, nightlife and food take centre stage. Across the bridge, I gravitated towards short trips to Johor Bahru or Kuala Lumpur in hopes of scoring some great deals — the buzzy city lifestyle had always revitalised me. But as I grow older and mature, I have begun to crave something different. Something slower paced that would allow me to take a breath in the midst of the break-neck pace of life in Singapore.

When the opportunity came to explore a different side of Malaysia that I had never seen before, specifically Borneo in West Malaysia, I decided to take the plunge in hopes that its nature-rich landscape would invigorate me both spiritually and mentally. It was there that I truly understood the healing capabilities of simply being around nature, disconnecting from the world, and learning to take things slow at the idyllic Gaya Island Resort.

CONSCIOUS LUXURY

Gaya Island Resort, with its beachside villas peeking through gently sloping hills, is a luxurious experience and isn't exactly what one would call "roughing it out" in the wilderness. It's the exact opposite, in fact. Surrounded by the rainforest and protected mangroves, 121 picturesque villas each feature a plush King-sized bed, an office-area, a spacious bathroom with a massive bathtub and two sinks, as well as a veranda area to chill out and take in views of the sea.