Love Chalet

The houses here are built on stilts above the muddy mangrove shoreline in Pontian, Johor. For a city dweller, Kukup is a nice little getaway to experience life in a rural setting.

The boardwalks leading to the houses are part concrete, part wooden and the locals are seen confidently riding their motorcycles and bicycles along the narrow and path even when it’s pitch dark.

Tiew Kim Leong, also known as Little Brother among the locals, owns and manages the Love Chalet. Born and bred in Kukup, Tiew says the seven units of wooden cabins were built three years ago. The architectural design of the log cabins, which feature White Pine timber imported from Russia, was inspired by trips to Thailand and Cambodia.

Tiew said there are many attractions nearby that visitors can explore. Among them is a visit to an ancient Chinese temple, a boat ride to Pulau Kukup to see the mangrove forest, and there are also karaoke and fishing activities. The village also has lots of mudskippers and a variety of marine life.

Guests can choose rooms with Japanese-style tatami mats or log cabins that can accommodate up to four persons in a room. All the units have attached bathrooms, air-conditioners, television and WiFi.