Humble Hobbit Home

Picture this: you’re hiking through the countryside of West Sabah and suddenly you stumble upon…a hobbit home? Yes, you read that right! We’re talking about a full-on liveable hideyhole which accommodates five hobbits people, complete with a circle door, rustic cottage-core interiors and a breathtaking view of rolling hills and the idyllic emerald green countryside. Fairuz Kang, owner and designer, is surprisingly not a diehard fan of Tolkien but a big enough fan of the Shire’s aesthetics to attempt replicating a hobbit home by hand, armed with nothing but vision and ambition. Wanting it to blend in seamlessly with its natural surroundings, the home was constructed using natural building materials readily available on site such as rocks, whole tree trunks and wood—making it sustainable, cost-saving and aesthetically-pleasing. Absolutely visionary! As part of the B-Inspired Abode homestay group, Kang says he dreams of creating an entire Hobbit village and immersing guests into a Middle Earth-like environment, complete with the experience of “toiling at a nearby vegetable farm (optional) and enjoying a rustic feast in the outdoor communal gathering during sunset”. But for now, we’ll have to be satisfied with the Humble Hobbit Home and the Honeymoon Hobbit Chalet (a smaller version of the former, cosily made just for two). Thou shall not pass up this quirky homestay opportunity! •• Kg Sinisian, 89308 Kundasang, Sabah, Malaysia Tel: 6012-8223605 FB: Humble Hobbit Home

When we hear of handmade soaps and candles, tranquil illusions of long bubble baths with a book in hand comes to mind or basking in a musk-scented room in a cosy cable-knit sweater on a mound of fluffy pillows. But behind those lovely scenarios, lies a journey of waxy trials and crumbly tribulations, according to soap and candle maker Lilian. Having undergone a lengthy period of testing the waters with her capabilities and the fruits of her labour since 2019, even having a run-in with the first Covid lockdown leaving hundreds of unattended soaps damaged over time and then dealing with the doubt that comes with launching your own business, Lilian pulled through regardless, “I’ve always told myself not to give up easily if I’ve yet to give it my very best shot”.

Today, she runs a full-fledged soap and candle business on her own to the delight of her scent-loving customers. Aside from catering to her imagination by incorporating whimsical designs into her products, she also caters to the needs of her customers by using only natural and skin-safe ingredients in her soaps making it free of SLS, parabens and preservatives, perfect for people who suffer from sensitive skin, eczema, psoriasis (she also crowns the Mexican Mint soap from her herbal soap series as her bestseller for its anti-inflammatory and regenerative qualities). Lilian’s cleanburning candles made from natural soy wax are also fun additions to have in your self-care trunk with an array of eclectic and fully-customizable designs to feast your eyes on. After all, as Lilian simply puts it “A beautiful item’s appearance is just as important as its quality”.

You can find her products at Salt x Paper Stationery & Gift store or drop her a DM on social media to fully customize your orders.

•• IG: @4sishandmade FB: @4sishandmadesoap