The Dusun

The views and peaceful surroundings made for a refreshing break, though the unusual heat meant I spent a lot of time trying to cool down. Tembusu House was spacious and charming, with a cosy deck, breeze, greenery and natural sounds. I read on the patio that it was the first house built on the property. The bedroom is upstairs and the kitchen and bathroom downstairs, linked by wooden stairs that give it an old kampung feel. The house sits higher on the hill, so getting to the main area, pools or parking meant walking down and back up each time. It wasn’t hard, but I felt the climb after a few trips. The path goes under the owner’s private residence; there’s a proper walkway so it didn’t feel intrusive, though the house partly blocks the hill view from some angles. It wasn’t a big issue for me. The kitchen had a good range of basics, including utensils, pans, a rice cooker, oil, sugar and salt. I knew nearby food choices were limited, so I brought ingredients and enjoyed cooking during my stay. I did find a couple of insects inside, including what I think was a millipede, but they ran off quickly and weren’t really a problem. The heat was the biggest challenge. The weather was extremely hot, and the open design let the afternoon sun blaze in. The warmth lingered into the evening and I could still feel it in bed at night. The ceiling fan is above the bed, but the mosquito net blocks some airflow, so I relied quite a bit on my portable hand fan. A standing fan could help in hotter periods. The water pressure was a little slow but manageable, and the water dipper helped. Management is only available during working hours. The gas ran out while I was cooking on the second night. I messaged straight away but got no reply then. Some staff happened to pass by and fixed it quickly, which I appreciated; management replied on WhatsApp the next day. Both pools were lovely and had great views. There are two: the lower one is larger and felt a bit more private, while the smaller upper pool has a better panorama from the main shared area. From what I saw, Berembun House could suit people wanting easier access and good views, since it’s right beside the main pool. It may be less private, though, as that’s where guests and staff tend to gather. The drive up is on a paved uphill road, and I had no trouble getting there by car. There’s a small parking area, and getting around the property was manageable. I’d have enjoyed the open spaces more if the weather hadn’t been so hot, but it was still a nice break.

The setting is well maintained and has a lot of potential, and the staff were friendly. The manager replied promptly too. But for what it costs, I expected more comfort and convenience. It felt more like a rental than a hotel or resort, so I rate the service one star. There’s no air conditioning, which would be a big plus since the place isn’t high up or cool enough to do without it. There’s no Wi-Fi either. No food or drink service is available onsite, and there are no restaurants within walking distance or within a 30-minute drive, which is halfway home. A caterer can provide meals, but communication was difficult and delivery only happens at certain times. You can’t order and expect food in an hour; a 4 p.m. order arrived at 7 p.m. Breakfast ordered the day before was cancelled very late at night, so we had to get up and leave to look for breakfast with no options nearby. We booked spontaneously and hadn’t prepared food, which turned into a headache. Bring your own food and drinks if you want to enjoy a BBQ and the natural surroundings.

Two cats kept us company in one of our rooms, and both rooms we stayed in were distinctive and furnished with care. The two pools were great for floating around. It felt like a little paradise in the jungle, and I was comfortable enough to switch off as soon as I arrived. We absolutely recommend it, a wonderful and unique experience. Many thanks to the Dusun team.

The fresh air made the visit memorable. The narrow stretch from the SAINS junction to the Dusun gate could use signs or a campaign encouraging safe, courteous driving. In the incident, every car, including mine, pulled aside as far as possible except FC709, the black mercedes. I raised my hand to thank the red car ahead of it for making room and started through slowly, but FC709 pushed past and forced me to stop halfway and reverse onto the verge so it could pass. Troll Drivers like that need educating.