Glamping at Kota Tinggi: Canopy Tribes

Futsal is an important part of my life. I love doing team sports. I get a lot of satisfaction when I work out or do things in a team because, in truth, I am a homebody. I can stay in the whole day, have zero human interaction and be happy with my screens (Maybe this is why long distance relationships work for me, haha!). Futsal is my healthy escape. Playing futsal with different groups of people from different walks of life, I managed to develop many potential lifetime friendships. I don't know how it happened, from hanging out after futsal for drinks, meeting up outside futsal for coffee and chats. We started becoming close (a group of at least 15 people! It's a big group!). We have a travel bug in the group and she wanted to go on a staycation before she leaves for her big (second!) UK trip. I didn't think twice when she invited me. I wanted this trip to kick off my wanderlust! 

Kicking around with the futsal ball

Inside the tent. Those leopard print carpet <3

Setting up for our BBQ.

Solar lights 

Next day, packing up to leave the place

The whole gang (∆ = Canopy Tribes)

We had to cross this bridge to get to the camping site.

The only activity we did - swim at the Kota Tinggi Waterfall

On the way back to KL, we stopped by Melaka to check out the sand dunes.

Initially, we wanted to go up north to Penang but the place we wanted to go was fully booked. Instead, we went to a small town, south of Malaysia called Kota Tinggi, where we went glamping. It was a 3-hour drive down from Kuala Lumpur. The place we stayed is called Canopy Tribes. When we got there, we were disappointed. It wasn't the glamping we expected. We expected a beautiful lighted up, cool tent on manicured, flat ground with elevated floors. Instead, it was a fairly old tent that smelled damp, damp hard mattresses on the uneven ground and humid as hell. For the price we paid (RM120 for 10 people, Free and Easy package) it was expensive.

But whatever, we were already there, so we made the best of it! I believe that no matter what (unfortunate) travel circumstances you're in, as long as you are in great company, everything will okay! We swam in the waterfall, BBQ our dinner, played cards against humanity, ate/snacked like pregnant ladies and overall hung out with each other.  

If you're planning to go to Canopy Tribes, here are some city kids' tips on going glamping at Kota Tinggi:

1. Don't assume it's *glamping*

2. Bring insect repellent. I had to share my meals and bed with them.

3. Bring two towels. One for your clean showers. Another for when you do the water activities - waterfall, kayaking, etc.

4. Bring light. They provide you will solar lights that will die off after a few hours. Chances are you're going to stay up for hours, you will need the additional light.

5. Bring board and card games. There is nothing much to do at night, you'll need these to keep you entertained.

6. Bring a sweater or blanket. It's super humid like omg, I can't breathe in this humidity during the day, but really chilly at night.

7. There is no 3G at Kota Tinggi. So save and download music to your phone! Spotify and Apple music don't work there!

8. After downloading and saving music to your phone, bring a portable Bluetooth speakers. Nothing is more layan than listening to music in the dark with your best mates.

9. Forget all attempts to upload photos on Instagram until you get out to Kota Tinggi town because you can't. There is no 3G in the resort area!

10. HAVE FUN!!