Went for a baking class ( with very lil baking experince), Bayan indah is sure a place you must visit as the class is organized in such a systematic and easy to follow even for newbies.:) Rohani is generous with her experinece (she and her team are warm and friendiy) which makes the class fun and you are sure to leave bayan indah feeling like a master chef. ...

This review covers the cooking class only, as I live 10 minutes away and didn't stay in the rooms. (My classmates who were staying there seemed to be enjoying it thoroughly, though.) The class I took was "Homestyle Malay," and it was probably one of the best classes I've taken, largely due to Rohani Jelani's personality. If you're the kind of traveler who wants a taste of what living in a particular country is like, not just seeing the sights, or if you're very interested in food, this is the place for you. Bayan Indah is Ms. Jelani's personal home and cooking studio, located in a little village nestled in the slopes of Bukit (mountain) Kiara. It's a residential area, but close enough to the jungle that monkeys occasionally visit (and wreak havoc on the garden). Many of the ingredients are plucked straight from the herb and vegetable garden.

The class itself is more like going over to your auntie's house (the one who's the best cook in the family, of course), if your auntie had a gleaming professional kitchen. All of the work is hands-on, with Rohani providing guidance as needed and answering questions ranging from "Is this pounded enough?" to how to pick out a good banana flower, to the workings of the public school system in Malaysia. After the class, you'll feast on the fruits of your labor in a shady, open dining room. Oh, and the food is pretty spectacular, too; I can't wait to try the recipes at home to see if I can replicate them.

One thing to note is that the format is fairly casual, so even though the class is listed as running from 9:30 to 1:30, it can take longer. (In our case, we sat around chatting until about 3.) If you're on a schedule, this is something to keep in mind. Otherwise, enjoy a day of cooking and eating and talking.

This tranquil retreat is a must do if you are visiting malaysia. only 20 minutes from Kl and 45 minutes from the airport. The lovely owner Rohani organised a taxi to meet us at the aiport which i was thankful for after a long flight!
Surrounded by rainforest this culinary retreat is thoughtfully designed with plenty of couches and an extensive library so once you are stuffed full of good food you can get horizontal.
On a more serious note this place, not only offers wonderful cooking classes some of which include an informative trip to the local market to buy ingredients but Rohani and her staff provide a fun and welcoming environment that a beginner cook would feel comfortable to have a try.
Bayan Indah also offers accomadation which is well worth it as it is such a relaxing environment.Breakfast is included and its practically a three course meal. Bayan Indah has been well thought through and has special touches such as great reading material, lovely interior design, home made drinks such as chilled lemon grass tea and fresh tropical fruits.
A must do i HIGHLY RECOMMEND BAYAN INDAH

Rohani and staff extend their personal touches to make this a very special place. We stayed 2 nights and took 2 cooking classes (Homestyle Malay & Fishy Business). The setting is stunning, situated in a valley of rainforest on the very edge of Kuala Lumpur. Daily village life with prayers (at the nearby mosque) and chickens and kids playing in the streets continues just outside the gates. We were greeted with a home cooked Malay dinner of tamarind fish, spiced chicken, raw vegetable salad with peanut sauce and rice followed by black sticky rice served warm with coconut cream. Breakfast was noodles with prawns and vegetables, fresh papaya, dragonfruit, longans and more. Cooking with Rohani is a treat, she has everything set out for your dishes and explains each recipe before you begin ( and then troubleshoots the inevitable stuff-ups), all is done with light, love and laughter...then...you eat...and eat...and eat...until you cant move! A trip to the local wet market started our "Fishy Business" cooking class, with advice on how to choose the fish species, freshness etc. We cooked at least 3 dishes (per couple) each day, and shared with the other students the amazing results of our first ever Malay cooking, I cant wait to get home and cook Malay for my family and friends.