ingredients can also be found incorporated into dishes at
the resort’s restaurant. A big attraction for Indian visitors to
Keemala is its Indian chef and extensive Indian menu. On
our second day of shooting it began to pour, and being eager
to show their talent in Indian cuisine, they rustled up brass
bowls full of crisp onion bhajjias.
Amidst the vegetable garden, we also met Keemala’s
three resident water buff alos. If you’re taking a cooking
class in this lovely setting, you can also learn about their
daily routine and their signifi cance to Thai culture. Born in
the province of Phattalung in southern Thailand, the trio
was rescued from the slaughterhouse and now make their
permanent home at the resort.
At Su-Tha restaurant, meals are served up inside
an interior that echoes the theme of the four clans,
although visually, you could mistake them for Maori
patterns. Fabrics have been created to represent each
tribe, and these have been used on the soft furnishings,
produced by ethnic minority groups in Thailand under
the Doi Tung Development Project, by the royal
patronage of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Walls are
crafted from wood, and feature elegant carvings and
relief patterns.
And when you have slept, swum, and eaten to your
heart’s content, the team at Mala Spa is available with
a range of treatments to help you de-stress and relax.
Keemala also has a steady fl ow of visiting holistic
practitioners who take up residency at certain times
in the year. These gurus of wellness are present to
conduct in-depth workshops designed for those who
are looking to focus on inner wellbeing, and include
sound healing, somato-experiencing and trauma
release, traditional Chinese medicine, Mayan traditional
massage, aromatherapy, vibrational attunement, and
Maori traditional healing. No matter what villa option
you choose, or the degustation or pampering, you can be
certain of a remarkable and unforgettable stay. ▪Clockwise: The Tree House pool villas are two-level villas, the
fi rst level is the bedroom with a balcony, a curved staircase takes
you down to the second level where there is a lounge and
outdoor pool; the Bird’s Nest pool villas come with rock-edged
pools that jut out from the side of the hill and offer amazing views
COURTESY OF KEEMALA, PHUKETof the sea; the Tree House pool villas from the outside.
THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE FOUR DIFFERENT VILLA TYPES REFLECTS
THE SKILLS AND WAY OF LIFE
OF EACH OF THE DIFFERENT FICTIONAL CLANS, AND
OFFERS GUESTS 38 INCREDIBLY DESIGNED
VILLAS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN INDIVIDUAL POOL AND QUITE
GLORIOUSLY INDULGENT OUTDOOR SHOWERS.
TRAVEL TRAVEL ++ L E I S U R E / M AY 2 0 1 7 LEISURE / MAY 2017 8385