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This Family's Move From The City To The Jungle In Malaysia Is A Therapeutic Reset

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Ili •  Aug 26, 2021

Living in a city comes with all sorts of advantages. From bustling shopping malls to yummy halal food and awesome staycations, there's plenty of things to keep yourself entertained. However, it goes without saying that it can be tiresome - especially when you're stuck in a routine of doing the same things over and over again.

This was particularly true for Allan and Irena who made the decision to escape Kuala Lumpur with their family and take on the monumental task of building a house surrounded by nature ?

Credit: @lahilirtinyhouse on Instagram

According to Says, the couple whose family previously lived in Petaling Jaya, shared that they wanted a simple yet more meaningful life. They felt trapped in a lifestyle that mainly revolved around their careers, visiting malls and making unnecessary purchases.

"Every weekend we'd go to our favourite mall and enjoy lunch or dinner and sometimes end up buying stuff we don't need, only with the false notion that it made us happy," shared Allan who is originally from Manila and has been living in Malaysia for the past 16 years. His wife, Irena, is a freelance makeup artist whose work has spanned across local and international clients.

Credit: @lahilirtinyhouse on Instagram

"We thought that our careers would bring us security and contentment, but as we rose through the ranks, so did our lifestyle, yet we were living from paycheck to paycheck." he adds.

It was a vicious cycle that no longer served them well, leading the family to take a leap of faith and pack up their life to move to Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.

Credit: @lahilirtinyhouse on Instagram

The family's house construction began early last year and slowly but surely, their DIY tiny house (we're talking 300sqft!) finally came to completion. You may think it's a tight space for five people to live in, but Allan and Irena make it work for everyone. The house features six separate spaces that allow for pretty much everything you can think of doing in a house - dining, praying, studying, watching TV, relaxing and sleeping.

But if they're living in the jungle, what becomes of things like grocery shopping, takeouts and such?

"Our place is just five minutes away from town and is close to shops, eateries, hospitals, grocers, and schools. We're blessed to have this location," Allan explained.

Credit: @lahilirtinyhouse on Instagram

As if their urban house in the middle of nature wasn't amazing enough, they've also built a glamping site on their private compound so that visitors can camp outdoors in comfort and style! Equipped with basic amenities like mattresses, pillows and a bathroom, their single tent sleeps up to 4 adults or a family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children).

There's even an outdoor cinema set up for you to watch your favourite films with your loved ones. Now if that isn't awesome, we don't know what is! While we patiently wait for travel restrictions to lift and the pandemic to be under control in Malaysia, we'll be dreaming of the day we get to visit La Hilir Tiny House for a unique glamping experience ❤️

P.S. They're adding a second glamping site at a small stream nearby! It'll be completed within the next 2 months - so follow their Instagram to get the latest updates.

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