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my place inside the macpherson family’s private villa
M MARKS THE SPOT
Australian couple Leslie and Neill Macpherson (right) bought their Koh Samui holiday home, Villa M (www.. villamsamui.com) in 2007 and began renting it out this year. Furnished with objet d’art, the whitewashed Fisherman’s Village bungalow is filled with pan-Asian touches. Owner and chief decorator Leslie describes their labour of love:
On Fisherman’s Village… It’s 15 minutes from the airport, 20 minutes from Chaweng, close to the golf course and remains the way many Thai villages were 50 years ago – it isn’t surrounded by large hotel chains and has no girly bars. While it’s right on the beach, it’s also close to good restaurants and many chic boutiques.
On Koh Samui… The island has strict building codes so no property can be above three storeys (just about the height of the coconut trees). We liked that idea of no high-rise buildings.
On decorating Villa M… We both grew up in Asia. Our parents had colonial homes in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines, and we have been influenced by old-world hotels like The Strand in Yangon and Th e Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok. We travel a lot, so could source furniture and antiques from all over the East.
On the decision to rent out Villa M… We were approached by a rental company after we finished construction and thought it would be a good way to keep the villa occupied while we’re back home in Sydney. We’ve since left the rental company and Villa M is now managed by a close friend who owns and runs Carpe Diem (www.. hotelcarpediemsamui.com), a boutique hotel just across the road.
On buying property in Thailand… Use a recognised, reputable real estate agency combined with qualified Thai-based lawyers and accountants. Be vigilant in checking titles.
On renting out your holiday home… Be a hands-on owner and actively look aft er your property. If any major repairs are required, you should inspect these yourself. Make sure you have good people taking care of the place, delegate eff ectively and stay well informed.
in the know news bites and insider tips for the jetset
NEW & NOTED
All the latest hotel news in…
BANGKOK: Hot on the heels of its stylish no-frills little sister Luxx, the 51-room Luxx XL ( tel +66 (0)2 684 1111, www.staywithluxx. com) on Langsuan Road delivers another designer-motel experience. The second Luxx is in a great spot, close to Skytrain stations and shopping malls.
SIEM REAP: Golden Banana Boutique Resort ( tel +855 (0)12 885366, www.golden-banana.com) is the second offering from the makers of the gay-friendly bed and breakfast of the same name. Rooms, made with eco-friendly sugar palm wood flooring, have an outdoor bathtub and overlook a landscaped saltwater pool.
MALDIVES: When it opens in August, Alila Villas Hadahaa (top, www.alilahotels.com) will populate Gaafu Alifu Atoll, a previously untouched islet in the country’s south. Stamped with the modern exotica look that’s unmistakably Alila, this new resort will be as green as it is grand – it has already been certified with the building, planning and design standard from Green Globe.
LUXURY DESTINATION OF THE YEAR: PHUKET
Run out of excuses to visit Phuket? Here’s one more – the Andaman isle was recently named Luxury Destination of the Year 2009 by the New York Times. In an article called “44 Places to visit in 2009”, the newspaper cited the ‘rebirth of Phuket’, saying hotels like Le Meridien Khao Lak (www.starwoodhotels.com/ lemeridien), and Philippe Starck’s The Yamu villas (below, www.. theyamu.com) ‘push luxury to new levels’.
FROM FIGHTER TO WRITER
Mastering Muay Thai Kick Boxing author Joe Harvey says martial arts is about avoiding fights, not picking them.
Why did you pick up Muay Thai?
I was doing MMA (mixed martial arts), and Muay Thai is a key component. I trained with a US Navy seal who told me that all successful martial arts programmes he’s seen contain elements of Muay Th ai.
What makes it different from other martial arts?
Muay Thai is often referred to as the art of eight weapons – the shins, knees, elbows and fists. It also incorporates a form of standing grappling which is very unusual.
You call Muay Thai a complete martial art. What do you mean by that?
It can be taught just as a sport, but you can involve its philosophies in every aspect of your life: how you carry yourself, your dignity, your focus, etc.
Have your skills in fighting ever come in handy in real life?
I’ve never used Muay Thai out of the ring and I’m very proud of that. Most people think a martial artist will always choose violence, but it’s often the opposite. You learn to fight but it changes how you look at hostile environments. If a situation does arise, you can defend yourself – though ultimately, the goal is to never have to use it.
Book by Tuttle Publishing. Available in all good bookstores.
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