Part 30: Thailand: Pampered in Paradise

One night on Phuket. One night too many. The next day our chauffeur arrived to drive us to the marina to meet our private speed boat to take us as far away from the mob of mouth breathing lobsters and Tescos-lined streets.

Where we were headed to would more than make up for a night on Phuket. Thanks to Chris sacrificing some honeymoon time to do some work, we were headed to a full complimentary stay at a divinely serene luxury boutique hotel on the island of Koh Yao Noi. As we boarded our chariot to transport us through the myriad of limestone islets rising out of the delicate misty veil drifting over the jade green sea, we were greeted by the hotel manager – a smart, rosy faced man bubbling with composed enthusiasm, and his beautiful wife. As we pulled up to the bay in the marine park and I looked across at the palm fringed white beach with discrete huts peeping out from the tropical foliage, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Dietrich Mateschitz’s seven star hotel in Fiji.

After receiving cold towels and a divine radioactive orange welcome drink I heard the words ‘now we will take you to your villa suite’. What glorious words those are! And what a glorious suite it was! Our thatched beach villa’s dressing room was larger than most hotel rooms we’ve stayed in. Huge glass doors opened out onto our private jacuzzi swimming pool and beach area a mere 20metres from the gentle lapping sea. A bottle of champagne sat on ice and the bed had been beautifully adorned with rose petals and palm leaves to welcome the honeymooners.

For one whole glorious week we lazed by our pool, ate divine food and drank mai tais. We kayaked around the islets, did yoga on the beach to the setting sun and were massaged and body scrubbed until we floated out of the spa. On our last night the manager arranged a romantic meal for us. We were led to a secluded patch of the beach lit by candles and flaming torches, an archway of flowers and palms framing the table. Our five course gourmet meal was the most deliciously imaginative vegetarian meal I have ever had. Every dish cooked by the manager himself, specially for us. We looked out over the sparkling silvery sea and enjoyed one of the most romantic evenings we’ve ever had.

Note ::: These articles were originally written by my wife Siobhan whilst we were travelling back in 2010 - 2011

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Part 30: Thailand: Pampered in Paradise - The Round The World Travel Journal

Part 30: Thailand: Pampered in Paradise