Fantasy island
From five-star resorts to bargain hunting, Phuket has all the ingredients to make a perfect honeymoon spot.
WHEN asked about the perfect honeymoon spot, many would opt for destinations such as the Swiss Alps or the Caribbean.
The tables have turned and over the last few years, SouthEast Asia has been hailed as the “new kid in town”, entertaining more and more honeymooners from around the world. Why, I ask myself, do we still choose to fly thousands of miles away when paradise may just be on our doorstep?
We sent our London-based writer, Sylvia Tan-jong to the beautiful island of Phuket to find out how you can still have a blissful honeymoon without having to cash in your air-miles.
Paradise awaits
Thailand’s largest and most famous paradise island is completely nestled by the warm Andaman Sea and blessed with tropical sun all year round. It is no wonder this gem of an island attracts the glitterati set from Kate Moss to Kevin Spacey year after year. Once a mining city, Phuket remains unspoilt and untouched by the modern world. About 70% of the island is still covered by luscious rainforest while remnants of the 19th century Sino-portuguese architecture left behind by European settlers is still discernible.
Relax and unwind
The minute I stepped foot onto Phuket after a 14-hour flight, I felt the warm sea breeze caress my face as I let out a sigh of relief and left the hustle and bustle of London behind. This air of relaxation resonates around the island and we were greeted by gracious smiles and warm hospitality the Thais are famous for.
As I lay surrounded by white sandy beaches, a Mai Tai in one hand and a novel in the other, I thought to myself, “Breathe, relax and unwind, that isn’t going to be so hard on this island!”
You can do as much or as little as you like in Phuket. There is a vast choice for relaxation with at least 17 beaches for you to stretch your limbs and bask in the sun. But if relaxation means having a Thai massage or doing yoga by the sea, then Phuket boasts at least 200 spas to tailor to your needs. The more adventurous type will have plenty to fill their time with activities such as snorkelling, scuba-diving or sailing. Island-hopping, however, remains on everyone’s to-do list, especially the famous Phi Phi Island for diving or James Bond Island for snorkelling.
Island of the natives
Thailand is rich in cultural diversity and Phuket shows this off brilliantly. Visit Wat Chalong Buddhist temple which houses a fragment of bone from the Lord Buddha and witness daily praying rituals where worshippers come to place gold leaves on their revered monk. Take a stroll down old Phuket and observe the sleepy provincial town once home to the island’s wealthy tin barons. Pick up precious souvenirs such as amulets, jades and Thai silk from the local traders.
Night owls will find evening entertainment everywhere on this island especially in the touristy part of Patong Beach. Bargain hunt in the night markets, watch Thai boxing or see the Simon Cabaret, the biggest transvestite show in town. The highlight for me was definitely Ka Jok See, Phuket’s best kept secret. It may seem a cosy diner, but after 10pm, the waiters become professional dancers as tables are pushed aside, cocktails start flowing and dancing begins. The rest… is a surprise which we won’t spoil! Be sure to call ahead because it’s always fully booked.
Worth staying in bed for
As much as Phuket kept me busy, it was extremely hard for me to pry myself out of my cosy cocoon in Sri Panwa every morning. Surrounded by 18ha of lush tropical surroundings and perched at the tip of Cape Panwa, this resort boasts 52 private villas, each offering an uninterrupted panoramic view of the Andaman Sea. Each suite is surrounded by an infinity pool, cleverly hidden away to ensure honeymooners get complete seclusion from prying eyes.
Managed and run by 31-yearold Vorasit Wan Issara, I could see this young man’s vision of creating an escapade akin to a rich man’s private country club. I experienced what every fivestar hotel would provide; the cool-chic interior, the thousand thread-count linen, the Nespresso machine and a personal villa assistant.
What made Sri Panwa different was the careful attention given to every minute detail. If an ipod docking system with speakers in each room wasn’t enough, each ipod also had pre-loaded music to suit your mood. Iced lollies were cleverly placed in our freezer for that after-sun swim and evening mosquitoes were kept away by Sri Panwa’s own mixture of organic insect repellent. The never-ending free minibar service was there to ensure you never go hungry and they even had their own recipe for “the drink of the day”; my favourite being the lemongrass concoction, a recipe from Wan’s mother.
Condé Nast has called Sri Panwa “seriously stylish”. For me, Sri Panwa wasn’t a hotel or a resort, instead it felt more like a personal invitation into someone’s home, to share and experience their lifestyle, language and culture. And that was what made it stand out from all the other five-star hotels around.
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