Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani, so much to do, so little time ... and its Tour packages

Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani is my best ever Homestay experience! Believe me ~ I have been and experienced the hospitality and activities at Homestay Pelegong, Homestay Kg Lonek, Homestay Gemas, Homestay F’Best and Homestay Laman Bangkinang (all in Negeri Sembilan State); Homestay Parit Penghulu, Homestay Seri Tanjung and Homestay Air Limau (all In Melaka State); Homestay Bukit Gantang and Homestay Gopeng (all in Perak State); Homestay Desa Murni, Temerloh, Pahang, Homestay Banghuris, Selangor, Homestay Pulau Tuba, Langkawi, Kedah. Homestay Kg Ujung Bukit Kangar, Perlis, Homestay Renok Baru in Gua Musang, Kelantan, Homestay Annah Rais, Padawan, Sarawak and Misompuru Homestay Kudat, Sabah. Each Homestay offers different lifetime experience for me.

Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani is located in the Sabak Bernam district. Address: Activity Center, Jalan Parit Dua, Sungai Haji Dorani, Sungai Besar, Selangor. 

Paddy fields at Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani

 The 2007 movie ‘Mukhsin’ by the famous and talented late Yasmin Ahmad and the 2012 video ‘Anak Kampung’ sung by Jimmy Palikat from the group One Nation Emcees was shot at Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani during the Planting and Harvesting Paddy season. Actually, this is the best time to come to this rice-bowl area of Sekinchan when it is green ~ soothing to the mind and soul ~ and breezy. Eventually the Paddy stalk will turn golden yellow when it ripens and is ready to be harvested. Hence, keep your calendar free from Mid-March until Mid-May and Mid-September until Mid-November. 

Me and my Indian group with our Scarecrow at Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani

I went to Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani four times, once to spend two nights with a group of Canadian High School Students and thrice for a Day Trip with a small group of 7 persons from Brunei and India. I did lots of things here like cycling, batik painting, pounding of rice grain using a wooden ‘Lesong Kaki’ or ‘Lesong Tangan’ and separating the husks from the rice grain using a big round sieve made of bamboo, hand fishing or 'menggagau' or 'menggoca', traditional fishing at the Irrigation Canals, kite making and flying, visit a Nata De Coco and Virgin Coconut Oil factory, traditional snack cottage industry and demonstration of 'kuih bahulu' and make Scarecrow. 

Traditional fishing at the Irrigation Canals at Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani

 During the Canadian High School Students trip, we were invited to a real Malay Wedding as their Guest of Honor. Sometimes, a Mock Wedding is being organized by the Homestay Committee whereby the Bride and Groom are the participants themselves. Otherwise, a ‘lucky’ Bride or Groom is ‘married off’ to a local young man or woman. In this instance, it is always fun to watch the blushing local Bride or Groom when the Host and villagers teased the ‘Newly-wed couple’ of the ‘marriage bliss’. 

Flying kite at Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani

That night, the students were entertained with 'Kuda Kepang' dance of the Javanese descent. 'Kuda Kepang' is usually made of wicker, which is like a horse with no legs. It is made of woven bamboo or animal skin colored to make it more attractive. I was made the co-Master of Ceremony-cum-Translator by the villagers and students because I had more zest than anyone present include the Dancers. I even got more souvenir and goodie bags from the villagers and students. 

Traditional baking of 'Kuih Bahulu' at Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani

During the Brunei group, I asked my amiable foster Mother to cook 'Nasi Ambeng', served in a large tray with a single serving which is actually made up of four portions of rice, fried noodles, chicken, serunding, tempe and many more on a tray lined with banana leaves which gives the said dish such a mouth-watering aroma. 

Visit Nata de Coco factory at Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani

Visit Banana Chips factory at Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani

Package price per person

Group Size	Day trip	2D1N	3D2N *
7 – 10 persons	RM 253.00	RM 461.00	RM 662.00
11 – 19 persons	RM 200.00	RM 365.00	RM 523.00
20 – 30 persons	RM 145.00	RM 265.00	RM 378.00
>40 persons	RM 108.00	RM 198.00	RM 286.00

Note * - For the 3D2N program, if the no of persons is less than 40 persons, there will an additional cost of RM 520.00 per performance for the ‘Kuda Kepang’ dance

The above package includes transportation from Kuala Lumpur with driver-cum guide or Malay / English speaking tour guide, meals and activities as per below but excludes the internal transportation within the Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani.

I would recommend the following activities for a typical Day Trip, 1 Night Stay or 2 Nights Stay.

Day trip (from 10.00am to 4.00pm, lunch and tea break) - Visit traditional snack and Nata De Coco factory, activities such as demonstration of ‘kuih bahulu’, Batik canting, pounding and separating rice grain, kite flying and hand fishing

2 Days 1 Night Stay (from 10.00am on 1st day to 11.00am the next day, welcome drink, breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Visit Mango orchards, traditional snack and Nata De Coco factory, activities such as demonstration of ‘kuih bahulu’, Batik canting, pounding and separating rice grain, kite flying, hand fishing and night walk

3 Days 2 Night Stay (from 4.00pm on 1st day to 2.00pm on last day, welcome drink, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner) - Visit Mango orchards, Paddy field, traditional snack, Nata De Coco factory and ‘Kuih Bahulu’ home industries, activities such as Batik canting, pounding and separating rice grain, kite flying, hand fishing, night walk and ‘Kuda Kepang’ dance performance.

Optional Costs

Meal / Activity / Village Stay	Rate	Remarks
Young Coconut drink	RM 5.00 per person	Minimum 4 persons
Tea Break	RM 4.00 per person	Minimum 4 persons
‘Nasi Kawah’ #	RM 12.00 per person	Minimum 10 persons
‘Nasi Ambeng’	RM 55.00 per serving	Minimum 4 persons ( 1 serving)
Fishing / Catching Eel	RM 12.00 per person	None
Finding Cockles / Shellfish	RM 12.00 per person	None
Fisherman for a Day	RM 270.00 per boat per trip	None
Making Scarecrow	RM 52.00 per scarecrow	None
Firefly watching at Sg Bernam	RM 17.00 per person	Minimum 4 persons
Welcome reception	RM 220.00 per activity	None
‘Silat’#	RM 220.00 per activity	None
‘Kuda Kepang’	RM 520.00 per activity	None
Traditional Malay dance	RM 670.00 per activity	None
‘Ghazal Paty’ (Arabic music)	RM 720.00 per activity	None
‘Gamelan’ # / ‘Wayang Kulit’ *#	RM 820.00 per activity	None
Mock Wedding	RM 1,550.00 per activity	None
Homestay room	RM 65.00  - RM 75.00	Per room per night, staying with the Foster family
Chalet	RM 85.00 – RM 130.00	Per unit per night, Facilities – Air-conditioned room, single bed, bathroom, water heater & TV.
Village Home	RM 170.00 – RM 220.00	Per unit per night. Facilities – 3 Bedrooms, air-conditioned, 2 bathroom, spacious living room, kitchen, BBQ set & TV
2D1N Free & Easy	RM 65.00 per person	Accommodation with 3 meals Minimum 4 persons

Note #

1)  ‘Nasi Kawah’ – Rice cooked in a huge pot over a steel stove. Usually, it is done during wedding and festive occasions. Sometimes, meat or chicken or mutton curry is cooked this way.

2) ‘Silat’ – Malay martial art which is usually perform during a wedding reception or part of a Show performance.

3) ‘Gamelan’ – A traditional musical instruments comprising of metallophones, xylophones, 'gendang' or drums and gongs, bamboo flutes and plucked strings.

4)  ‘Wayang Kulit’ – Shadow-puppet play performed by a Puppet Master behind a big cotton screen lighted by a halogen electric light, played all night long accompanied by a ‘gamelan’ orchestra.

A typical 3 Days 2 Night Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani

Day 1

At 4.00pm, meet and greet. Welcome drink will be served. Hand-over to foster family, Dinner at the foster family home. After dinner, Night Walk in the Paddy fields to observe and understand the flora and fauna especially crabs and also to enjoy the beauty and calmness of the Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani at night time.

Day 2

After breakfast at foster family home, proceed for activities of Batik canting, pounding and separating rice grain. Lunch at the Activity Center after which the activities kite flying and hand fishing will be carried. After dinner at Foster family home / Activity Center, the Kuda Kepang’ dance will be performed.

Day 3

After breakfast at foster family home, visit Mango orchards, Paddy field, traditional snack, Nata De Coco factory and ‘Kuih Bahulu’ home industries. Lunch at Activity Center before the Homestay program ends at 2.00pm for a trip back home

If you have any query regarding the above packages and any other special request regarding the Homestay Sungai Haji Dorani program in Selangor, please feel free to contact Miss Wan at 03-2260 2667 / 4667 or email leisureincentivetours@gmail.com 

There are more photos in our Company Facebook page - Leisure & Incentive Tours Sdn Bhd and more Tour packages in our website http://litourssb.com