Ravishing Reethi Rah...

Since May 2005 when One&Only Reethi Rah opened, it has grown more beautiful year by year. Money is lovingly lavished on this property. Constant upkeep holds back the wear and tear of the tropics, while the gardens have flourished, including the organic garden...

Organic gardening is one of the many little secrets behind the stunning fusion food at Reethi Rah, especially vital in this restaurant: 

Chef's Garden organic restaurant

Breakfast starts the day perfectly, before our wonderful activities.

Breakfast at Reethi Rah

A fantastic buffet breakfast

Continuing with an excursion...

... to the reef
and nearby sandbank

We saw eight turtles

 

Picnic after snorkelling -  the white
area above is sand!

More water. Afternoon surprise by
the butler Linsley

Petals floating in the bath

Reethi Rah activity is not all about water. For those like me who love tennis…there is another reason to call this paradise:

 

Wonderful tennis courts! Super quality and
lovely colour

   Getting out and about is also quite heavenly...

Reethi Rah has a big fleet of beautiful boats, here are  a few

And now after all that activity time for some sensual pampering in one of the world’s top hotel spas. One&Only Spa by ESPA not only has wonderful therapists, it also has sophisticated equipment: swirling vitality pools, crystal steam rooms, saunas and ice fountains. In case the sun is getting you down, the Lifestyle showers offer a refreshing burst of tropical rain. Then we could hang on a while here to enjoy exotic spa cuisine, tropical juices and relaxation in a beautiful pavilion.

With Spa manager Sabrina

I had a great spa treatment, and am now looking into the possibility of introducing one of their treatments to the Select spa. You will certainly hear more if this happens.

Some vital statistics of this marvellous climate

One&Only Reethi Rah offers 13 wonderful beaches, partly due to land reclamation. So the spacious beach and water villas all enjoy an unusual amount of privacy. See my last blog about One&Only Reethi Rah.

Perfection in Paradise...

How do you create worldly perfection in paradise? One&Only Reethi Rah has done just that. This is a truly amazing place…

Sailing to Reethi Rah sets the mood: carefree, chic and warmly welcoming.  I sat on the deck of the elegant boat the whole journey in a lovely breeze, comfortable on a bean bag.

Lovely sailing in perfect comfort

A warm welcome from Scott le Roi, Sales & Marketing
Director, and Swedish Fredrik Persson, Bar manager 

 

 

And then we were shown more perfection:

The island is large enough to offer the activities and dining choices that you expect from a master of hospitality like One&Only. Evening is a time for island chic, for cool flowing elegance, and the service is warm and refined. The whole property is perfectly manicured. Yet all around you nature flourishes, beautiful and enchanting. The villas, built on the beach or over the turquoise lagoon, have the space, comfort and charm of unsurpassed luxury.

 

We stayed in villa 171 on Sunset Beach.
Our own pool and beach in paradise.

 

The cuisine at Reethi Rah is another part of the perfection. Beef shipped in from Japan, fresh vegetables from the resort’s own garden, today’s fish from the pure seas of the Maldives, and its own unforgettable Reethi Rah fusion cuisine, blending magically together the best of the Middle East, Asia and Mediterranean. Here are some  of my iPhone snapshots from dining havens.

Starting with late lunch at the stunning main
restaurant Reethi in front of the famous pool

 

At Earth Restaurant you can enjoy
Signature dish Wagyu Beef served on a
hot Himalayan salt brick

 

Great! Tapasake Japanese restaurant

 

Tapasake restaurant

Victor - Restaurant Fanditha Chef de Cuisine
Fanditha is exotic and casual with carpets
in the sand

 

No-one is forgotten – not the kids, and certainly not the teenagers. I was really amazed by the Teens Beach Club. 

Many great activities at the teens club
including billards and chill out

 

Teens!!!

A few days here and we are blissed out by paradise. I realize once again why our customers return and return, booking their next holiday as soon as they get back home – if not before. Soon leaving, but cannot wait to get back…

 

Thank you Reethi Rah!

 

Soneva secrets...

A few heavenly days to remember at Soneva Fushi, with the Soneva team and founders Eva and Sonu.

Fresh food creatively spiced tastes even better in good
company - here with the team from Soneva Fushi

Ewa - a glowing inspiration for healthy, fresh
yet delectable cuisine at Soneva Fushi
with Fredrik & Lars from Select Collection

From the wonders of sizzling locally sourced food, we went on to discover the flavours of cocktails and mocktails mixed from freshly picked organic fruit, sipped over water.

Then we went underground to discover more about wine.  The Soneva Fushi wine cellar has 7000 bottles of great wines including champagnes, vintage cognacs and organic and biodynamic wines. Guided by the sommelier, we tasted our way to new secrets.  I discovered Burgundy, which is now hot on the heels of Bordeaux as THE red to enjoy....

Jasper Kok, Food & Beverage Manager
in the wine cellar



Jasper explains a little about his favourite Burgundies and recent top vintages: 2002, 2005, 2009, (2008) 2010

His top list of producers of the red are:

Beaune: Domaine Joseph Drouhin and its Clos de Mouches

Volnay for its elegance: Domaine de la Pousse d'Or, Nicolas Rossignol, Comtes Lafon

Vosne-Romanee for power with feminine edge: Domaine Anne Gros, Domaine de Eugenie 

Musigny for longevity and texture: Comte George de Vogue

Antony Paton Managing Director of Soneva Group
with my Friday and Guest Relations
A fond goodbye to the lovely people at Soneva Fushi

THE CRAYFISH TRADITION

The water has warmed up and its a great time to be on or by the sea. It is also crayfish season in the Nordic area and a good reason for celebration. You don't just eat these lobster-like creatures...you make a ritual of it.

Arriving to the beautiful island of Espskär...

...together with the young generation, that did an excellent job serving and singing

Finns and Norwegians

Ready to sing and enjoy

All set up for a traditional crayfish party

Christian and me - Long term friendship and working relations

Even at a party my deputy managing director
is working via his iPhone

Crayfish ritual in action

A fine example of Finnish freshwater
crayfish (Finsk flodkräfta)

Thank you to Erik and Camilla

Hermitage Bay

Last day in Antigua at the beautiful Hermitage Bay. We are now off to Jumby Bay for villa inspection before catching the LIAT flight to Anguilla.

View from Pool villa 26

View from the launch at lunch time where we enjoyed a tasteful meal

Meeting with Rachel, the GM who is a lovely person

Chatting with Alex in the bar

Hermitage Bay is an all inclusive resort. Here you can see what wines and champagne are included. If you want a Boillinger Special Cuvee Brut, it costs 128 USD

View from the Spa 

After spa treatment

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

B Inspired!

Last night I attended an event at the restaurant Esperanza in Stockholm.
It was to launch the summer issue of the B Inpired Magazine

The magazine looks exciting and holds high quality

Isabel Lantz, the Art Director together with her husband, the Project Manager Karl Gracian Danielson

Tina, the owner of Ajas with her friend getting inspired.

Julia and myself having a good time.

-- Post From My iPhone

Snapshots from ITB

Image of the Princess from Thailand during a press conference

Our quick working lunch ...

Thai specialities