People

Hello There! I'm Nurul 

How it All Started

My love for travel and research began over 15 years ago.

My first project was arranging a relaxing, luxury anniversary getaway that began with an attendant welcoming the couple as they stepped off the airplane. They were accompanied through priority immigration, to a limousine that shuttled them off to a private villa where they were pampered by a dedicated driver, butler, a halal food chef, and housekeeping staff for 6 days of pure rejuvenating bliss in Jimbaran, Bali. Upon returning, the couple was overjoyed, very much in love and through their word of mouth, I landed my next assignment.

It was for a small group of ladies; old-friends approaching retirement, who were looking for an exciting independent travel experience. They spent a week in the south of Thailand, island hopping on longtail boats, driving through hamlets, indulging in the local food from roadside stalls and markets far away from other tourists. The highlights were the long picnics and massages on the beach, blanketed by a warm breeze, serenaded by the rhythm of the waves, catching up on old times; where the chords of memory, touched, swelled again.

I have since arranged a few getaways for this group, yet one of my most memorable project was a request for an emotional recuperation retreat for mother and daughter. It was a hide-away holiday in the South of Spain for 2 weeks, with a degree of solitude for reflection and recovery in an olive farmhouse. While nobody else spoke English, the duo who also can't speak Spanish, experienced harvesting olives with the farmhands, milling, and visiting the farmers' market a short drive away on weekends. The calm, slow pace allowed them to bond and experience a new perspective on life; and are closer today than ever before.

I have since planned numerous trips including hiking in national parks in Japan & Taiwan for a retired travel duo; Sakura viewing, ryokan stay and arranging a hanami picnic for another; a solo cycling trip through Seoul, South Korea for a young lady; a yoga and recharge vacation for a young couple in Bali; caving, hiking and mountain climbing in the Mulu Rainforest for cousins as well as a 3 month stay in Salamanca to learn Spanish in Spain. This is on top of many other road trips and railway vacations across Europe, Thailand and Malaysia.

Before Travelling

Before establishing Renchana, I had freelanced for friends, family, acquaintances and colleagues in designing and planning fun trips; lending my understanding in developing an authentic-bespoke vacation experience.

During these 15 years, I was employed in business consulting and financial services industry; where I had travelled extensively for work. On these business trips, I will usually spend what time I had for myself hitting places frequented by the locals - the fresh markets, neighborhood bathhouses, small eateries & food courts, walking in the small alleys and suburbs; apart from also making time for more ‘formal’ learning opportunities like visiting a Finca to learn about sustainable farming.

Yet my most unforgettable trips remain personal holidays when I was able to take things slow and fully immerse myself in the local culture; often by revisiting places I had travelled for work before.

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