It was like walking while holding a headstand pose. The floor was slightly tilted. I was off balance, off kilter. And everything was the wrong way around.

Furniture and fittings hung from the ceiling. Every detail in each room carefully thought out, but not the way it usually was. The double-storey house with a cool roof-top terrace was warm and welcoming, but it was not as it seemed. Everything was upside-down.

Upsidow is Langkawi’s latest quirky attraction. Pronounced ‘oops-ee-doe’, it is the island’s first upside-down house. Conceptualised by co-owner Alex Mark, who also runs Tubotel hostel and Tapaz restaurant on the island, Upsidow was first formulated when, two years ago, Mark visited an upside-down house in his Austrian hometown.

Housed in eleven custom-built recycled containers, Upsidow’s uniqueness lies in its sustainable approach. All the items in the house are sourced from used or discarded material. The spruced up, upcycled objects lend an air of responsibility to Malaysia’s largest – at more than 3,200 square feet – upside-down house. Naturally, every nook and corner is perfectly Instagram-able. Marked corners come with shots of picture-perfect poses for visitors to replicate.

Another unique feature at Upsidow, along the main road off Pemandangan Indah (Lookout Point), is its mini food court. Three stalls were already serving up when I first visited. Gorgeous burgers from a Bas Burger, perfect pastas and pizzas and authentic tacos. All very reasonably priced, delicious and designed by Mark, a renowned chef, on-site in a creatively crafted eating area.

Think old oil drums painted in cheeky, cheerful colours as seats and an upper deck that serve the purpose of observatory for a stunning sunset in progress. Mark has also started a small organic farm, beginning with sugar cane and banana trees. Bushes of lush lemon grass in old tyres help retain water along the terraced slopes.

Scattered around the landscape are re-purposed and painted bicycle rims and recycled bottles, adding variety to the scene. The old, abandoned quarry has been transformed into an interesting viewpoint, offering more than just upside-down furniture.

If I had my way, I’d crawl into the surfer teen’s room and go to sleep. If I could get it the right way around.

Entrance Fee:
Adults RM25, ticket only
RM30, including a selected meal
Children RM20, ticket only
RM25, including a child’s meal

Family Package (2 adults, 2 children):
RM80, tickets only
RM100, including 2 selected adult’s meals and 2 children’s meals

Open every day, from 11 am to 11 pm

www.upsidow.com
FB UpsidowLGK
Instagram @upsidow.langkawi

Photo credit: Professional interior shots – Juan Leonel