Rustic Get Away

I am now sitting on my day bed in a rustic looking chalet looking out at sea ...the Straits of Malacca actually! The horizon stretches in the distance and if you carefully avert your eyes, you can avoid seeing anything else but the far horizon. This is Avillion, an award winning beach resort that won the Excellence Award for architecture in 2000.

The spa, which also won an award (for its unique architecture) is an interesting structure with full glass walls to let in the light and a unique stretch canvas-like material for its roof. I wait for a thunderstorm to see if it all holds up. I guess it must have to be still standing 11 years on.

Above the spa is the foot message area that forces you to look out at the sea, relax and get your feet rubbed. What luxury! The other half is the lounge.

I like best its round arm that stretches out to sea with a circle of curved seats that allows you to just sit and soak in the sounds and feel of the sea ... with a nice cold drink in your hand.

The water chalets stretch out into the sea and one has this sense of being at sea ... without the sea sick sensation of actually being out there. It is a beautiful sunny morning.

Avillion is in Port Dickson, a popular sea side get away for the urban Kuala Lumpur (KL) folks. The long stretch of beach is dotted with resorts and hotels on both sides of the road. It is an hour and a half from KL and a long 4 hour drive (keeping within speed limits) from Singapore on the north south highway.

Malaysian Resorts have the reputation of being run down after being in existence for a few years. It is always best to try and choose a relatively new resort. However, Avillion seems to be holding its own. Built to model an old world Malay fishing village, it fuses traditional culture with modern amenities. I must admit, other than the rather loud air conditioning, they have succeeded.

The sound of the waves lapping against the sandy beaches lulls you to sleep and the happy chirping of birds will wake you at the light of dawn. You just need to block out the sound of the !!@@** air con compressor unit! Yawnnn ... it is so easy to be lazy here. No one is in a rush and everything is at leisurely pace.

There are walks to be taken, jogging tracks to be jogged on, pets to be petted, sea and pools waiting to be swam in, gymnasium machines longing to be used ... ahhhh ... I think I shall just sit on my day bed and day dream. Maybe later I shall sit out on deck and imagine I am on the Titanic ... or visit the spa for a foot massage ... maybe. But for now I shall stretch and yawn and just waste some hours away. After all, that is why we come to resorts, no?

Avillion

3rd Mile Jalan Pantai

71000 Port Dickson

Malaysia

(606) 647 6688