Coverage Amazing Editions -07
Text: Maria Björklund
Photo: Christer Olausson
ALL RESPECTS TO TOURISM, ECO TOURISM, HEALTH-TOURISM AND EXPERIENCE-TOURISM…THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. THE MIX OF ALL THESE DESIGNATIONS CHARACTERISES MY STAY ON THE ISLAND OF KOH SAMUI, WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO CALL, IN ONE WORD, “FREEDOM-TOURISM”. QUITE SIMPLY, THIS IS “LA DOLCE VITA” – THE SWEET LIFE.
This exclusive resort opened in June 2004 in its idyllic location, farthest out on the island of Samui’s north-most headland, among 20 acres of natural vegetation, with an astoundingly beautiful panoramic view over the sea and the islands off the coast. Despite its remote location, the resort is only 10 minutes from the airport. Koh Samui lies to the south of Bangkok and to the east of Phuket in the Gulf of Thailand. The island is 21 km wide and 25 km long and has its own airport with regular flights to and from Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Singapore. Six Senses also has Evason Hideaways in Phuket and Hua Hin in Thailand, as well as other places around the world. Having visited various other complexes, I think that Koh Samui is one of the resorts that suits my taste very well. All the resorts, however, have their own charms, design and feelings of freedom.
Sila Evason Hideaway & Spa on Samui consists of 66 uniquely designed villas with split floor levels. We became aware of the spaciousness when we checked in at Reception in the arrival area. This was heaven-sent, as the cool sea breeze could blow in freely and cool us off while the sun was high in the sky and incredibly hot. We were greeted most courteously and were given a cold towel each to dry ourselves with, then transported by golf buggy through the complex to our own pool villa of 300 square metres.
When I opened the door to our villa, I was speechless. I took a step inside and and asked myself whether or not I was dreaming? I looked around the room with its different levels and its fantastic feeling of space thanks to its openness right up to the roof ridge. It was clad in the finest of wooden panels and the large panoramic windows gave the most beautiful view imaginable. The ocean sparkled and I was slightly dazzled by the sun’s reflection on the waves. Once again, I was in paradise. I walked around the villa barefoot to take in the enormous feelings it gave me. There was a relaxation corner on the left with a large bed-like sofa and enormous pillows, a small mahogany-coloured low table at its foot. On it was a beautiful serving tray with a selection of exotic fruits, a plate each, an ice-cold welcome drink and, in front of all of that, a TV and DVD player. To the left of this, another door led into the bathroom with a separate shower, toilet and wardrobe with various conveniences which we were free to use.
Our large comfortable bed stood in the middle of the room with a writing desk and two high chairs in natural wood and rope laces behind the headboard. I sat down on the edge of the bed, looked out of the large window and thoroughly enjoyed the moment. The attractive bedside lamps gave a pleasantly relaxing soft yellow light and the fine bed canopy gave a wonderful feeling of well-being. I carried on down the three steps to the master bathroom, where I found a smaller sofa and a walk-in wardrobe to the right, with a safe. The sunken bath had adjustable window blinds around it which allowed us to enjoy the wonderful view while the wind caressed our faces. It was an extremely relaxing and wonderful experience which gave me even more reason to call this freedom-toursim. Furthermore, there were two superb hand-basins with brass-like colour nuances with old-fashioned iron taps, a toilet, an outdoor shower with two shower units in bamboo screens and a half roof which later was completely open to the clear blue sky. The silence which lay over the resort when we stood there at night and took a cold shower, with only the sound of the waves breaking on the rocks and the sweet sound of birdsong is not possible to describe in words.
“the huge public pool with its magnificent walled road sloping down from the mountain towards the sea”
From the large balcony, steps led down to a large outdoor terrace with a dining table and four chairs, two collapsible sun chairs and our own private pool. We took a siesta out here once a day, in our sun chairs in front of the pool where we lay and just looked out to the horizon and enjoyed the magnificent view. Christer and I often fell asleep for a while to the sound of the waves on the rocks and the noise of the sea. It was both very peaceful and gently silent at the same time. Had it been my first visit here, I would not have left the villa for many minutes. But, we knew the resort had much to offer, like the huge public pool with its magnificent walled road sloping down from the mountain towards the sea and its shower cabins of heavy cloth and bamboo canes, the Spa section with its plateau-built rooms and panorama windows, the gym with its super-modern equipment, the library for privacy, the business room for those who have taken their work with them, and first and foremost, the wonderful restaurant, all of which were not to be missed.
“the Spa section with its plateau-built rooms and panorama windows”
The main restaurant is Dining on the Hill with yet another pool in front of a stage where the local people perform in the evenings in spectacularly coloured national costume; something that was thrilling both culturally and culinarily. The restaurant serves Thai food and exiting dishes from the Mediterranean cuisine. The pub called Drinks on a Hill lies next to the restaurant and is the place to enjoy a cocktail before dinner, or to sit with a good drink in the evening and relax, talk to other people or just enjoy the view. Dining on the Rocks is the name of the second restaurant which has been built on different levels and with great imagination at the top of the mountain. This is the place to take in the 270 degree view while enjoying an outstanding culinary journey within the Asiatic cuisine.
We also had time for an excursion to the shopping centre at Chaweng, 15 minutes from the resort. It is the island’s biggest centre for shopping, restaurants and entertainment with energetic nightlife open seven days a week. Don’t miss the enormous statue of Buddha which looks as if it’s made of gold and sits, 5 minutes from the resort, on the edge of a high cliff overlooking the Gulf. The statue can be seen as you fly in to Samui’s airport. I had a totally wonderful feeling of well-being throughout my stay and I wished that we could have stayed much longer.
ADDRESS: Sila Evason Hideaway & Spa at Samui 9/10 Moo 5, Baan Plai Laem, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surathani 84320 Thailand
TEL: +66(0)77 245678
FAX: +66 (0)77 245671
E-POST: reservations-samui@evasonhideaways.com
INTERNET: http://www.sixsenses.com/hideaway-samui/
GENERAL MANAGER: Eric Hallin
SPA MANAGER: Sarinya Sripongpunkul (Kae)
PRICES: From 13.900 THB to 196.000 THB
CREDIT CARDS: American Express, Visa, Diners Club, Master Card
COMMUNICATIONS: 10 minutes by car from Koh Samui´s airport.
Outside, I see the palms swaying as I open my eyes, and the sun shines in because Christer has already opened the drapes to the large glass doors and stepped out onto our private veranda to breathe in the morning air. I amble out and say ‘good morning’ and find that his head is full of ideas about the adventures of the day. I quickly jump into the shower and we are soon out to make a round-trip of the resort and to eat a gorgeous breakfast outdoors. When we checked in the previous night, we were struck by the peace and tranquillity of the place. The reception staff are casually dressed in long, white, linen trousers and matching longer length jackets which gives a relaxed impression. Peaceful background music sub-consciously gives the body a peaceful sense of calm. The staff make sure right from the start that your stay will be a memorable one.
We near the pool area and the private beach having already passed a restaurant on our left-hand side. The resort has three different restaurants; ‘The Restaurant’ which serves an American breakfast, Thai cuisine, an à la carte menu and a shell-fish buffet, and ‘The Other Restaurant’ which offers a culinary journey through the Asian cuisine, where you can enjoy dinner in the open air on small ‘decks’ out on a lake, with the sent of water lilies in the tropical air. The large open restaurant down by the beach is called ‘The Beach Restaurant’ and serves exquisite dinners of the Mediterranean cuisine against a stunning sea view. The restaurant also has a wood-fuelled pizza oven and an open kitchen area in the middle where you can follow the whole of the cooking process. This is where we ate breakfast at the crack of dawn, overlooking the pool with the ocean to our backs, and saying to ourselves that we must take a dip and feel good during our time here. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun, so I would recommend at least a week’s stay to give body and soul the ultimate rejuvenation.
The company was bought in 1932 by the brothers, Charles and Jean Stern, and has since that time remained family-owned through four generations. Today, the company is headed by the president Philippe Stern and his son, the vice president, Thierry Stern. The headquarters, ‘Patek Philippe Salons’, located at Rue du Rhone 41 in Geneva, Switzerland, houses an exclusive showroom displaying the latest collections of watches and jewellery. This interesting building has six floors comprising a sales room, a showroom, an exhibition area and private showrooms. The building has been classified as a national monument and its modernisation reflects the company’s deep respect for heritage, creativity, long traditions, and spearhead technology. The ambition is that the building appeals to all our senses.
All five shop windows are decorated with different themes coming from the famous ‘Grand Théâtre’ in Geneva. An exhibition has been set up on the third and fourth floors of the newly-renovated building to celebrate its opening, and to emphasise their cultural co-operation with the famous opera house. The exhibition consists of some 160 paintings of Lake Geneva and its surroundings. Having viewed the exhibition, visitors reach the entrance to the historic ‘Salon Napoleon III’ room, where customers are able to discover the Patek Philippe collections. The room has been recreated in its original state from the year 1892 with leather details on the walls, crystal candelabras designed by the French craftsman Bagués, as well as beautifully-carved wooden wall panels.
When the young jeweller Marie-Étienne Nitot crossed the path of the then French Consul Napoleon Bonaparte he knew nothing of what it would lead to. He was just doing a good turn, as they say, and he just happened to be in the right place, at the right time to be able to stop and catch a runaway horse by its bridle. Nitot had no idea who the owner of the magnificent stallion was. Some years later, however, when Napoleon had been elected Emperor, he remembered the courage of the young man and showed his appreciation by appointing him as his official jeweller.
Tiaras, aigrettes and emblems of social status have characterised Chaumet’s journey towards the great success the company is today. Over the years many famous and less famous personalities have acquired wonderful creations by Chaumet, from duchesses and royalty to celebrities such as Richard Burton and Lauren Bacall. When Betty Hutton became a princess, she bought all her tiaras at Chaumet. Today Chaumet is one of the most highly-reputed jewellers in Paris where they retain their traditional values while introducing contemporary designs which suit the modern society of today.
The head office and their flagship store, the historic salons, the museum, the workshop and design studio are all housed at 12 Vendome in Paris, with a magnificent view of La Colonne Vendome, the beautiful tower which can be admired at the centre of square, the Place Vendome. The store was designed by Jean-Michael Wilmotte and preserves the soul and style. The exterior is from the nineteenth century and the interior features the colours cobalt-blue, brown and extra white. A glass lift takes you up to the second floor to the museum which has over 150 different tiaras on display. The new collection, Frisson, is designed with its inspiration taken from nature. It follows a line of poetry, tenderness and femininity. With pink diamonds and sapphires in white gold, pink tourmalines and pearls from Tahiti, the pieces follow the rhythm and movement of the body.
On 20th February 1876, Ulysse Nardin died only 53 years old. His well-established life’s work was now inherited by his 21 year-old son, Paul-David Nardin. With his enormous professionalism, he drove the business on with the same resolve and perfection as his father. The company continued to be rewarded with a number of awards and delivered its products to a large number of famous people around the world. After his death in 1920, his three sons Alfred, Gaston and Ernest Nardin were the ones who took over the responsibility for running the family business. The three of them, who really relished their work, lead the ambitious company to new markets and to new prizes and awards for many years. Shortly after the fourth generation took over in 1946, the trends which had been so good changed, and the weaker world economy began to make their situation more difficult. Towards the end of the 1970s, the company was badly affected by market conditions and in 1983, a group of strong investors, led by Rolf W. Schnyder, took over the company determined to save the business.
In his latest collection, “Limelight Party”, Piaget combines his technical and graphic experience with innovative expertise to add flamboyance to the party atmosphere. He takes his inspiration from the old vinyl records, capturing the pleasing harmony of the simple forms and clean lines of these discs in an elegant contrast of onyx and diamonds. A gentle flick of the fingers opens the watch to reveal the grooves of an LP record and the stylish dial with its 95 diamonds. Who would not want to dazzle in this exquisite creation of precious stones in the subdued light of the party scene? The scintillating sparkle from the more than 2,300 diamonds in the rope necklace is picked up by the spotlights. On a dance floor anywhere, the tasteful case will glitter and shift in a brilliant demonstration of Piaget’s renowned craftsmanship and inventiveness.
Who has a better claim than Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Piaget to have made a permanent impression in the history of ultra-thin mechanical timepieces? Half a century ago the House of Piaget designed and manufactured these ultra-thin watches, which are still the yardstick against which all other pieces of this kind are measured. The manual 9P was presented in 1957, followed by the self-winding 12P in 1960 which, at a wafer-thin 2.3mm, took Piaget straight into the Guinness Book of Records.
Luxy Lifestyle 