The car pulled in passing what looked like a ten feet tall Moroccan-influenced castle wall in deep purple hue. As the car stopped, we stepped out into a grand open-air Thai pavilion that literally sits on water and to make it more surreal, we were surrounded by 2000 candles that are all fully lit up. Each step we take walking from one stone to another is like walking on water; at the end the full hospitality team of Ritz Carlton awaits to give us a personal warm welcome to the property. “Welcome to Ritz Carlton Phulay Bay” where the mountain meets the sea, the voice echoed as the beautifully handmade flower garland made fresh purple orchid is being gently into our wrists. Then our butler quickly escorted us to our stunning Royal Andaman Sea Villa. Welcome to our home for the next 3 nights; come with us this way!
Words just really cannot do justice to the magnificence of this awe-inspiring paradise with unparalleled comforts of classically romanticized Safari Ambiance but we will do our best. Just because it is Safari does not mean it has to be in Africa. With only 15 jaw dropping luxurious tents that surpassed any expectation and any benchmark of world’s best safari lodges, Four Seasons Tent Camp Golden Triangle is not your average upscale camping ground. A maximum capacity of 30 guests pledged pure intimacy, privacy, exclusivity, and superb personalized service. Perched on the edge of the world bearing exotic allure of the precious golden land where three countries, Thailand, Laos, and Burma, seamlessly merged into one, pure romance and true beauty of a bygone age are undoubtedly a guarantee. The design of Four Seasons Tent Camp Golden Triangle is also meant to stretch the boundaries of what a tent can be by taking it to a complete next level. Being one of the world’s best luxury resorts, Four Seasons Tent Camp Golden Triangle has been long overdue on our bucket list. So what could be a better excuse than going there to celebrate our 5th Anniversary? Being there was just like traveling through time to the classic 1940’s era of Safari Fantasies with its majestic scenery of mountains and rivers looming dramatically as the backdrop (if you are extra luck you will also get to see a herd of wild buffalo joyfully splashing water and bathing in the river bank during sunset hour), one-of-a-kind handcrafted furniture ranging from vividly patterned tribal fabrics, to double mirror and sink for his-and-her-bathroom, to the hand-beaten copper bathtub made for two, to graceful wood furnishing and floor, to traditional thatched roofs, to King-Size Bed in exquisite white linen atop with fantastically stylish see-through white mosquito net, to rich Wooden Jacuzzi with hot bubbly water, luxury outdoor rain shower, and to the 19th century exploration decorations. Simply put, it was like we were on the movie set of Indiana Jones and The Jungle Book combined (crowned with sense of outré opulent). Here we also have the friendliest residents and our dearest friends (they are our Baloo and Bageera of The Jungle Book), The Elephants, who were rescued from being abused and mistreated and are now living happily under the protection of Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. Armed with compasses, zoom lenses, binoculars, and Moeva London Swimsuits we are going to see the world of mesmerizing nature at its rawest format.
A truly true five-star journey always begins with an airport pick-up and Park Hyatt Saigon did nothing but constantly exceeding our expectations; starting with our chauffeur, Mr. M.Y. welcoming us on board to our private black S-Class Mercedes. Park Hyatt Saigon rises nine stories above District 1, city’s most expensive address, flanked by top designer boutiques including Christian Dior, Versace, Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta, Jimmy Choo, and Christian Louboutin and just few steps from Saigon’s main tourist attractions and iconic landmarks such as the Saigon Opera House, the Central Post office, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Reunification Palace, the Fine Arts Museum, and Ben Thanh market. Built with elegant French-Grand-Colonial-Era-Ambiance making Park Hyatt Saigon blended in perfectly with its historical landmark neighbors as if it has always been there. Park Hyatt Saigon is undoubtedly the ultimate luxurious hotel in Ho Chi Minh City with the afternoon high teas under sparking crystal chandeliers and soaring ceiling of the elegant Park Lounge, a soothing escape in the beautiful outdoor swimming pool tucked away from the city’s bustle and hustle in a spacious landscaped garden, world class spa treatment at Xuan, Italian Alfresco Dining at Opera, and tasty signature cocktails at this Tres Chic bar and Saigon’s nightlife hotspot “2 Lam Son Bar”.
As soon as the boat pulls up to the balcony of our ultra-luxe 250 square meters’ overwater villa home “Crusoe Residence No.5”, we wanted to jump out into this endless crystal clear turquoise water and blue lagoons, plant both of our feet in the sand, then swim out to our private overwater hammock along with incredible underwater wildlife friends, and lay there from sunrise to sunset. Then stay right there without moving as we watch the stars coming out at night, each one of them blazing out so brightly across the sky, like nothing we’ve ever seen before. Yes, our overwater villa home can only be accessed by boat, that is how exclusive this paradise is. This is by far the best overwater villa we have ever stayed in here in Maldives. Gili Lankanfushi or the formerly known as Soneva Gili Lankanfushi runs with one rule and one rule only “no news, no shoes”. Making it feel so damn good leaving the rest of the world behind as this place leaves us breathless and makes us believe we can walk on water, an ultimate barefoot luxury. Not only that they are a home to the world’s Overwater Villas (Yes! All of those you now see in Bora Bora is the imitation of this) but they also are a home of The World’s Largest Overwater Villa “The Private Reserve” 1,700 Square Meters. It is not often you found yourself in a place that its real life beauty surpasses that of magazines and advertisement you have ever seen. Gili Lankanfushi is a resort beyond any words and expectation. Something truly to be experienced by oneself.
We have been yearning for a journey across the expanse of the sea that stretched infinitely before us, the time of fantasy that reaches beyond the waves to the waters where the dolphins play. Soneva in Aqua is all that. It is the fantasy that has turned into reality and a perfect dream come true. Having the entire Yacht only for you as The Ultra Top-Notch Luxurious Overwater Floating Villa Suite in Maldives and Six Crew Members Dedicatedly Serving You Around The Clock (As if being in Maldives wasn’t enough already :)) One of those crew members is Six Senses Spa Therapist so you can have the treatment anytime and anywhere you like whether on private sandbank or onboard in the bedroom, in the living room, or on the main deck feeling the ocean breeze, the warmth of the Sunday against your skin while listening to the beautiful sound of the waves. Your personal chef is also on board, so all of your favorite mouthwatering dishes will be made available, the sky is the limit. The yacht also takes you wherever you want to go, the sea is at your command. On board there are two Jacuzzis one outdoor and one in the master bedroom with sunken glass tub revealing underwater world beneath it and the ocean is your playground. Undoubtedly This is The Ultimate Barefoot Luxury, The Wildest Dream, and The Best of The Best of Any Bucket List. Once you have stepped on board there is no going back. Have we died and gone to heaven already?
Our jaws drop as our longtail boat cruising closer to Koh Kradan and the ocean started turning into crazy shades of vivid turquoise blue. No wonder why our resort is called “Sevenseas Resort”. The water is crystal clear we can see white sand underneath the ocean’s floor. As professional island hoppers we are not afraid to say that this is most definitely one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand. We got asked by many of our followers where the under radar, non-touristic, and secluded tropical paradises are? Koh Kradan just made it to that list.
