Meanwhile, the folks got their chance to being pampered. The staff graciously arranged for two masseuses to come over to the villa to provide them personalised downtime in the: comforts of their room, no doubt. Downstairs, the kidswi given plenty of snacks to keep them happy. And then, with huge umbrellas in hand, we explored the lily pond outside the form as they danced on their tiny palms. We could really fee!
Villa Tassana subtly working its way into our bones.
On those days when we could finally tear ourselves away, manager helped craft our sightseeing itinerary, Sitting at the dining table, with the floor-to-ceiling doors open to let the sea breeze in, we would pour over the day’s programme.
Gaining from her wealth of local knowledge, we escaped with our personaldriver to places that wereless traversed by the usual tourists, and ended up having wonderful time. Least of which was the Bang Mud Floating restaurant seafood place on the water near Coconut Island, where it’s pleasant 5-minute ride on local longtail boat. And there were only locals around!
The next day, the villa manager local wet market. Actingas
accompanied us to the translator, she helped us get the
best bargains for homemade curry pastes, sambal (chill paste) and hor mok talay (Thai fish souffle). After that, it was hopping from one streetside stall to another in search of the best local delicacies, such as fried bananas, banana rotis, coconut rice dumplings and pumpkin custards. We would not have found the best of them all had we not had insider knowledge and help!
Even on our outings, the staff remained dedicated to our wellbeing. We’d be sent off with bagfuls of snacks for the kids, flip-flops for our beach outings, plenty of water to hydrate and even thermos of home-brewed ginger tea en they found out some of us were feeling bit under the weather.
Most evenings we were happy to enjoy them cocooned in the comfort of our raoms. The two
master bedrooms were simply luxurious. One has cut stone terrace facing the sea, the other pens up to the 15-metre, chiorine-free, infinity pool. Both had huge bathrooms with his and hers vanity area and marble bath tub for indulgent soaks. The two
each with sliding view while one sits tropical valley, And put us to sleep, it cricketsthat created
facade that reveals the ocean next to quaint pocket of lush when the lull of the waves didn’t was the chirpingof the frogs and relaxing cacophony
Staying atVilla Tassanacould be described as One of its mostdefining moments, however, has to be the willingness of the staff in obliging us with our halal dietary requirements. Care and thought were extended to us even before we left for Phuket, with
the team communicating with us daily, ironing out issues that could be potential hurdles to our stay. if you ever tire out of the colourful sunset views or lazing bythe pool, the staff can arrange for trip to its sister property, The Surin. This sophisticated resort has quiet beach, an amazing spa, pool. fitness centre, library and other amenities that
can be shared with guests of Villa Tassana,
There are few places in Phuket that could present you with more unforgettable stay. Or that which is more remote. As took one last midnight dip in the pool, beneath the expansive skies and an almost star-less night, finally understood why we seek out the exquisite, Because at Villa Tassana, the notorious Phuket gets reimagined for an unrivalled island with possibilities. Royal Brunei Airines flies Bangkok 8x weekly for connections to Phuket
“KOPITIAM: THE FIRST
The core menu is basic: coffee, toast and half-boiled eggs. It’s
spread easily whipped up in minutes at home. Yet for many Malaysians. the satisfaction isn’t in the meal. It’s in the experience.
Kopitiam is major pull for breakfast, tea or whenever.
The origins of kopitiam can be traced back to early 20th century with the Hainanese, who first came to Malaya to work as cooks or domestic helpers for British expats As economic times changed, and the need for domestic helpers decreased, these Hainanese began opening coffeeshops, tapping into their culinary skills, and calling these shops ‘kopitiam’ The word ‘kopitiam’ simply means ‘coffeeshop’. ‘Kopi’ is Malay for ‘coffee’ and ‘tiam’ is Hokkian for ‘shop’. Much like the word itself that reflects the country’s polyglot culture, the kopitiam represents the melting pot that defines Malaysia Staple favourites offered were Hainanese take on what was normally served in the British/ European household. Roti bakar (toast) with kaya (coconut jam) and butter and half-boiled eggs are hybridised versions British/ Western breakfast. Others, like the
JULYAUGUST 2014. S7
Source: MUHIBAH, the Royal Brunei Airlines in-flight magazine, 2014 Jul-Aug, pages 54-59. Text recovered from the scanned page by OCR and lightly corrected; spelling may differ from the printed edition.
