ENGLISH LAKEHOUSE TO THE FINE DETAILS

ENGLISH LAKEHOUSE TO THE FINE DETAILS
Putri Zanina

NO Dogs, No Children and No Asians Allowed! We would seethe if we see such a sign outside any hotel. Yet this "warning" was posted by an eccentric, snooty autocratic Englishman, retired army officer Colonel Stanley Jack Forster who built the Forster's Lakehouse in 1972.

Forster was so arrogant he would chase away Asians with a whip or cane! Yet, it was said he had discreet rendezvous with Chinese women and even married two of them in his lifetime!

After his demise in 1984, his wife sold the property, which is located in Ringlet, Cameron Highlands. Everyone was then welcome. Forster's Lakehouse became just the Lakehouse.

Today, it is managed by HPL Hotels and Resorts which also has under its wings nine hotels and resorts in the region including Concorde Hotels in Malaysia, Singapore and Australia, Casa del Mar in Langkawi and the Hard Rock Hotels in Bali and Pattaya.

The Lakehouse was not the only hotel built by Forster. His first "masterpiece" was the famed Ye Olde Smokehouse in Tanah Rata, which he later sold to a local Chinese.

He then bought the bigger property in Ringlet to build his "little England" in the "Malaysian Emerald Hills" where he would spend his golden years.

So particular was he in creating his very own "English home" that he painstakingly designed most of the furnishings which include four-poster beds and winged armchairs with floral upholstery and his eye-catching cast iron lamps with red shades adorned with white pom-poms.

The Lakehouse is like a grand old English cottage inn with typical Tudor-style architecture exemplified by solid black wooden beams juxtaposed to white concrete.

If you are looking for absolute peace and tranquility, the hotel at about 1,000m above sea level is simply perfect. It sits on top of a hill overlooking the Sultan Abu Bakar Lake.

With rolling hills and colourful blooms in well-manicured lawns as the backdrop, the place is a haven and a balm for the soul. You get doses of invigorating cool air especially in late evening and early morning.

Occasionally you hear birds chirping in the garden and in the woods nearby. Perhaps the only thing that mars the perfect setting is the murky lake which used to have dark green waters.

Uncontrolled development upstream has caused siltation that damaged the lake. But, according to hotel manager Krishna Badhur, work is underway to remove the silt and clear the lake.

Nevertheless, if you confine yourself to the compound of the hotel or take refuge indoors, you will be lulled into a dream world of your own.

Relaxation is easy with soft and soothing sounds of English classical music played in common areas of the hotel.

In the guestrooms, it's absolutely quiet. There is no television, radio and air conditioner. Once inside the room, you will bask in its luxury, including even in the bathroom.

Plush decor and antique furniture vie for your attention. Soft and cushy pillows make you feel immediately at home. Sleep comes easy and you'll wake up to the sound of birdsong.

Badhur keeps the place spick and span all the time. Badhur, a Malaysian Nepalese, speaks good English and exudes a polished manner when dealing with all the "Mat Sallehs" and local guests alike.

He says about 55 per cent of the guests come from European countries especially United Kingdom, Germany and Netherlands while the rest are mainly Malaysians and Singaporeans.

Many guests prefer to lounge about. To while away the time, nothing beats sitting around the fireplace in the common lounge on the lobby floor for quiet tete-a-tete. Or if you prefer something more "upbeat", go watch TV or play games in an adjacent hall.

The Cameron Bar is next to the lounge where you can have your drinks till late hours. However, most times, guests settle in their rooms before midnight.

Something else can also be interesting, that is simply to climb the creaking imposing staircases (which old Forster had scrupulously ensured they were built as such to exude a rustic character) or to gawk and to touch old paraphernalia, artifacts and curios from candelabra, porcelainware, horse saddle, spindle, bed warmers to imposing grandfather clock, all displayed at nooks and corners, on the walls and window sills.

The items are priceless, unique and still intact reflecting Forster's fastidious character.

Everything there is so "English" including the menu. Tops on the list are sumptuous scones, so soft and moist, served with dollops of strawberry jam and cream. They are very much like those which one can find in quaint little cafes in London.

At the Lakehouse, you can have them served in the outdoor Lakeview Terrace amidst colourful blooms luxuriating in the cool forested hill or by the fireplace in the Highlander Lounge or at the fine dining place simply called the Restaurant.

The Restaurant also serves time-tested dishes like roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, turkey ham, roast lamb rack, lamb medaillion, smoked or grilled salmon and sinful desserts from apple pie, cheese cake to crepes with ice cream, chilled mango, strawberries and whipped cream.

Now Asians will feel more at home too for the chefs also whip up local dishes like fried prawns with asparagus and lettuce with oyster sauce to go with rice. The menu changes daily.

Chef Edmund Ling takes pride in serving delightful dishes. He concocts some wonderful sauces to go with meat and seafood and high on his recommendation list are the rack of lamb with garlic mint sauce and butter, the lamb medallion, grilled salmon with infused lemongrass sauce, good old roast beef and of course those fluffy scones.

Now if you want to know how those scones are made, come on down to the Lakehouse and corner chef Ling for the secret.





GETTING THERE

Take the North-South Expressway and exit at Tapah in Perak. Follow the sign to Cameron Highlands. It takes about three hours to drive from Kuala Lumpur. The last one hour takes you up a winding road to the hill. Ringlet, the first of three districts of Cameron Highlands, is about 1,000m above sea level.





THE LAKEHOUSE

30th Mile, Ringlet. Tel: 05-4956152, fax: 05-4956213, email: info@lakehouse-cameron.com, website www.lakehouse-cameron.com. Has only 18 rooms, comprising family suites, junior suites and deluxe rooms. 15 are located in the main wing while three, including the Honeymoon suite, are in the more exclusive house wing. Each room has a four-poster bed, antique furnishings, attached bathroom, long bath and shower facilities. F&B outlets: The Restaurant for breakfast and ala carte dinner; Lakeview Terrace for light lunch and afternoon tea; and Cameron Bar for drinks till late night. Highlander lounge open for residents' use. Room service up till 11pm. Conference, meeting and catering facilities for groups up to 30 persons. Rates negotiable. Games room with board games, bar billiards and satellite TV. Published nett rates: Single, double/twin for 1 or 2 persons RM370; junior suite for up to 3 RM450; Family suite for up to 4 RM550; Master/Honeymoon suite for 1 or 2 RM650; Additional bed/rollaway RM50. Tours: Guided trekking in jungle behind hotel can be arranged. Highlands tour and local/outstation taxi transfer services available. Tanah Rata about 10km from Ringlet and popular tourist spots like flower, fruit and vegetable farms; cactus valley and tea plantations within easy reach. With the coming school holidays starting May 29, a good idea to join specialised eco-programme tours of the highland wilderness. Details, call Camping Holiday at 05-4915107 or Suresh at 019-5761076.