The White Gallery, which is one of Sentosa Janda Baik’s heritage attractions and also a space for exhibitions and arts events. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias
The beautiful Sentosa Janda Baik property in Bentong, Pahang, situated in a rural setting of tropical trees and picturesque ponds, has a certain welcoming calmness to it.
When you first arrive at this 1.6ha (4-acre) site, it immediately strikes you as less of a typical homestay and more of a wonderful oasis of art and culture, with an array of historical treasures collected over the decades.
Converted from what has been in the family of prominent statesman Tan Sri Kamarul Ariffin Mohamed Yassin for over 40 years, Sentosa Janda Baik's landscape includes a homestay (the original family home), three art galleries, a river, almost a dozen lotus ponds and plenty of flora and fauna.
Omar Ariff, the son of Kamarul Ariffin, now runs the property, and his first order of business was to transform the place to be a destination of art, culture and nature.
Two art gallery spaces – The Grandfather Gallery and The White Gallery – were upgraded by Omar, 57, and his team.
They also worked other parts of the property by themselves, making Sentosa Janda Baik a labour of love.
A look at the old world exhibits in The Grandfather’s Gallery. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias
“We did all the wiring and construction ourselves. There was no architect, interior designer or landscape artists working on the place. We did however work very closely with local and skilled craftsmen,” says Omar.
Family legacy
The first gallery at Sentosa Janda Baik is the Islamic Gallery which was first constructed in 1989 as a hall for both of Omar’s sisters weddings.
“The gallery houses a number of rare artefacts. For instance, we have a 200-year old Quran that is either from Madura or Java. It’s written on the bark of a mulberry tree,” says Omar.
“We also have 'rehals', which are book rests that are usually used when reading the Quran, some come all the way from Kelantan and are pretty old. My dad had a few of them since I was a kid so it’s been in our family for almost 55 years!” he adds.
An interior view of the White Gallery in the Kelantan House at Sentosa Janda Baik. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias
“It could be older, perhaps 80 or even 100 years old, we don’t know. You see, my father has been a collector all his life. In the art world, he is very well known as a collector. He was the chairman of the National Art Gallery for years, so this is a passion. A labour of love, certainly not something you can build tomorrow just like that.”
Many of the items have never been displayed publicly till now.
The Islamic Gallery also plays host to a variety of events and ceremonies for guests such as for akad nikah, cukur jambul, dinners and brunches. Recently, it hosted its first open mic poetry event, Pesta Puisi Sentosa which saw notable poets and artists gather for a sharing of the spoken word.
Glimpse of the past
The newest addition to the property but yet also the oldest structure is The Grandfather’s Gallery. This 100-year old traditional house was built by Omar’s great grandfather in Kerdau, Pahang by the Pahang river. In an effort to preserve family history, the house was dismantled by skilled craftsmen and rebuilt at Sentosa Janda Baik back in 2006.
A family-owned Quran, passed down the generations, is seen on display in the Islamic Gallery at Sentosa Janda Baik. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias
He shares that the gallery allows guests to go back in time while educating new generations about preserving their heritage.
“The house is a very typical Pahang home. There are many tools of my great grandparents that are on display. Various traditional tools, cooking utensils, furniture and even gardening equipment that are still intact and were pretty much left untouched for years. The gallery showcases what it was like living a hundred years ago,” says Omar.
“My great grandfather used to be a silk trader so there’s even the ruler he used to use for his trade. Back in the day fabric was measured by 1 hasta or an arm’s length, not like now in yards or metres. Each of these old things have a story to tell.”
As you explore further into Sentosa Janda Baik, you won’t want to miss the quaint gallery known as The White Gallery.
Originally an abandoned house from Kelantan, it was first discovered by Omar and his mum on one of their travels to the East Coast. The house was carefully dismantled before being rebuilt at Sentosa Janda Baik in the 1990s.
An installation resembling an ‘elephant’ is part of Sentosa Janda Baik’s art collection. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias
“This is currently our rotational gallery and it’s also for up and coming artists to showcase their work. Currently we have on display an exhibition on rare Orang Asli masks as well as a vast collection of mother and child artwork, made from just about any material you can think of,” says Omar.
Another standout interior element of the homestay is the display of Omar’s dad’s old book collection.
“It is very special to have what is really a fraction of dad’s very large collection here at the homestay,” says Omar.
“We wanted to create a bridge between the different generations, with history drawn from our own family’s legacy here at Sentosa Janda Baik.
"We wanted it to be a place that inspires curiosity and conversation about our history and heritage, but also as a paradise and a place of relaxation,” he concludes.
Guests can experience the Sentosa Janda Baik gallery tours by appointment. More info here.
