updated   Last minute

Help renovate a traditional Malay house into unique cultural event space near Ipoh, Malaysia

Availability

  2026 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    Hi, I am Fifi and I live in a small town nearby Ipoh surrounded by trees. Years ago, I got really ill and my asthma got worse so I decided to start living a healthier lifestyle. I started planting a garden full of herbs/veggies. However, due to the amount of works I needed to maintain this garden (it's quite a large area and I am working DAY and NIGHT at a restaurant), it has been impossible to do it alone therefore I decided that I will need workawayers help.
    I had also been planning a lot of other projects listed in my profile so I will be very grateful if anyone could help me with it.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Help with Eco Projects
    Teaching
    Gardening
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Farmstay help
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    Hospitality/Tourism
    General Maintenance
  • Interests

    Interests

    Videography
    Technology
    Sustainability
    Self development
    Pets
    Movies & TV
    Farming
    Events & social
    Culture
    Charity work
    Outdoor activities
    Performing arts
    Writing
    Plant care
    Photography
    Music
    Languages
    History
    Gardening
    Drawing & painting
    DIY & crafts
    Cooking & food
    Carpentry
    Books
    Blogging
    Art & design
    Animals
    Nature
    Mountain
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    -TBH, my family is used to having my foreign friends staying at with us. They love to share their knowledge of Malay culture and treat everyone like a family. By the end of your stay, we hope you will be more familiar with Malay culture. You can also take this opportunity to tell us about your country and its culture.
    -If you love gardening and nature, you would be able to learn alot about it here, especially tropical plants.
    -Personally, I love learning languages. Right now, I'm learning Mandarin (self-study) and revising Korean/Japanese (studied them back in university days) so if I could get any extra help for these languages, that would be awesome! And of course, I can help with Malay language if you're up for it~ ;)

  • Projects involving children

    Projects involving children

    This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

  • Help

    Help

    1. The garden have been messy eversince I have been busy at my cafe for months. I would really appreciate any help for the gardening part for now, especially if you have experience or is really interested in gardening. This is the MAIN FOCUS for now actually.

    2. If you are able to teach English or even just interact with local kids for few hours (for cultural experiences), PLEASE SEND A REQUEST!😊 However, this help is not often needed so you might not need to do it at all while you are here.

    3. We have a traditional Malay house in need of repairing and decoration. We plan to open an event space for cultural exchange between the locals and workawayers. Recently, we had a photo gallery exhibition there. You can refer to photo.

    4. I need someone who are not shy to be on social media (tiktok) and manage our account (do live, for example). If you are up for this, you can stay longer and I will have different arrangements especially for you. 😉

    There are MORE projects!! :)
    If you do not have any skills we needed (as mentioned above), you still can message us and maybe we can try to find something else for you to do =)

    The help we needed vary from time to time, we will let you know when u arrived at our place.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    Malay: Fluent
    Japanese: Intermediate
    Korean: Intermediate

    This host offers a language exchange
    I am learning Japanese, Korean, Thai, Chinese so if you only can stay to teach languages, I wouldn't really mind

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    2026 UPDATE. PLEASE READ EVERYTHING CAREFULLY! ASK BEFORE COMING HERE!

    -There is 2 private rooms available in a shared house next to where I live.
    -Only long term workawayer can stay alone in their room. (Usually 2 or 3 people in one shared room)
    - In case there are no long term workawayers at the time you are staying at my place, then you are allowed to have personal room.
    -You will also share bathroom and living room with the other Workawayers. That house is only for workawayers so you will be responsible for the maintenance of the house as in always keep the house and its surrounding clean.
    - I only take maximum 4 person at one time, if you aren't comfortable with sleeping in the same space with other workawayers please discuss with me and come on the dates that doesn't have other workawayers.
    -ONLY lunch is provided and you will have it at the cafe in front of the house. As for BREAKFAST and DINNER (and also DAY OFF), you can buy it at cafe (it's food court style so there are many vendors) or anywhere nearby.
    - Incase you want breakfast/lunch/dinner provided (save you from cooking or going out for meals) then there is optional fee which can be discussed personally. This means you can just order any foods (menu is all up to you), we will prepare it according to your diet.
    -In case you have any food allergies, let us know preferably BEFORE arrival, especially if you're a vegan or vegetarian. However, please note that in case you want to cook for yourself using your own ingredients, you have to MAKE SURE it is Halal because we are a Malay Muslim family. (No pork, no alcohol etc).
    -There is a shared fridge at the outdoor kitchen for everyone to use, however, as mentioned, alcohol and non-halal foodstuff are stricly NOT ALLOWED both inside the fridge and also at the kitchen.

    -If you need to buy something, there is a 7-Eleven and other grocery stores nearby (5 minutes walk). A 24-hours laundry service shop is also available plus various chinese/malay/indian restaurants within walking distance. On every Friday's night, there is a night market right outside the 7-Eleven shoplot. There is a shopping mall (Econsave) which is just about 4 minutes walk from the house too.
    -PLEASE please make sure you bring/wear decent/properly covered clothes while staying here because this area is still a village and most people here are Muslims!!!
    - We have many cats and 1 dog at the garden; during daytime the dog will not be around but at night they roams free (if u have allergy towards animals, it might be a little difficult. The pets are NOT ALLOWED in the house by the way, they are just outside the house)
    - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASEEEEEE bring earplugs if you are very sensitive towards sounds at nights. Also, birds and all nature sounds one can expect from a large garden.
    - Weatherwise, it is hot and humid daytime meanwhile nighttime u can expect cooler weather. We will let you know the current weather for the time u are expected to come.
    - If there are anything you aren't sure about, please ask us beforehand.
    - When you send a request, do mention that you read all these.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    -We can explore Ipoh together IF I have free time. Please take note though that lately I have been VERY busy so it depends on the timing of your stay if I could accompany you around. Please DO NOT expect that I could be with you 24 hours because I work nearly everyday😭
    -My younger brother is especially good with nature hunting (he had explored many places in Perak; hills, mountains, cave, waterfalls etc). He is also interested in learning about outdoor/environmental related stuff so it will be nice if you can share your experiences/knowledge and maybe learn from each other.
    -If you like river/waterfall, there is 2 nearby our place (bout 10min car drive). (picnic n family-friendly, not for rafting)
    -The main bus terminal of Ipoh (Amanjaya) is 8km away. You can use bus (every one hour) and Grab to get around. Ipoh is famous for its cave temples, white coffee, oldtown and local foods. ;)
    -In case you want to buy things that aren't available at the nearby shops, there is a shopping mall about 3 minute walk from our place. There are other malls (Sentra Mall) which is around 10 min by car.
    -You can reach Penang and KL by bus/train in few hours and spend your day off there too. Cameron Highlands is another popular tourist spot nearby.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    More than two

  • My animals / pets

    My animals / pets

Host ref number: 661935968491

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Photos

The image depicts a woman standing on the porch of a wooden house with a red roof, surrounded by lush greenery and trees.
The image depicts a woman standing in an art gallery, surrounded by artwork on display, with a wooden floor and walls, and a metal frame structure in the foreground.
The image depicts a serene scene of a road lined with trees, featuring a body of water in the background, with a few buildings visible in the distance. The sky is clear and blue.
The image depicts a spacious outdoor dining area with a corrugated metal roof, featuring wooden tables and chairs, and a gravel floor, surrounded by a serene natural setting.
The image depicts a table with a variety of dishes, including rice, vegetables, and a glass of purple liquid, arranged on a wooden surface.
The image depicts a serene garden scene, featuring a large tree with vibrant red flowers, lush greenery, and potted plants, surrounded by a wooden fence and trellises.
A woman wearing a red checkered shirt and blue gloves is gardening on a brick-lined path, surrounded by lush green plants and flowering bushes outdoors.
The image depicts a rustic, overgrown building with a dirt path leading to it, surrounded by lush greenery and a blue sky with white clouds.
The image depicts three individuals in a garden, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with a greenhouse and a wheelbarrow visible in the foreground.
Two individuals are working in a garden, utilizing tools to cultivate the land. The scene is set in a rural area, with a focus on gardening and outdoor activities.
A woman sits in a garden, surrounded by plants and a rake, holding a small red object, with a serene and peaceful atmosphere.
A woman stands behind a wooden fence, holding a bunch of rambutan fruit and pruning shears, with a pile of rambutans in the foreground.
A woman is painting a wooden table white with a paintbrush, sitting on a chair in a garden setting on a sunny day.

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Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)

Cultural exchange:
(4.8)

Communication:
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