Koh Samui's Private Villa Beachfront Chai Talay Estate Unveils New Look and Enhanced Health and Wellness Experiences

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Chai Talay’s beach front private villas and 4,000 sq. ft. fitness centre now at the forefront of luxury on this idyllic tropical island

Koh Samui’s exceptional private villa estate ‘Chai Talay’, located on the island’s peaceful and stunningly picturesque Lipa Noi on the west coast, is ready to welcome back visitors following an extensive upgrade across all aspects of its luxury private villa experiences.

Baan Kilee is the larger (8 BR) of the two expansive villas which make up this exclusive 5-acre beachfront estate which, along with adjacent smaller villa Baan Ora Chon (5BR), has undergone extensive renovation of bedrooms and living areas giving them both a lighter and more natural contemporary look, using up-cycling and sustainable materials throughout.

One of Samui’s larger private villa resorts, Chai Talay is highly sought after for extended families and group of friends, corporate getaways, wellness retreats, and for glamorous beachfront weddings and events. 

Villas are fully staffed with a staff to guest ratio of 1:3 with resident chefs and private butlers on request, and offer a combined 12 deluxe bedrooms and suites which can sleep up to 30 people, and accommodate events of up to 150+ people. Villas can also be booked separately for smaller groups of 4+ with other 5 star villas nearby for weddings and events.

Chai Talay has also enhanced its position as Samui’s best private villa health and wellness venue, with extensive training grounds, a world class indoor – outdoor gym, new spa menus and bespoke fitness packages which are tailored to clients’ specific requirements, whether it’s a family holiday with a wellness orientation, a corporate group or specialized fitness retreat.

What sets Chai Talay Estate apart in Samui, is its world-class, fully-equipped indoor-outdoor 4,000 sq. ft. training gym which is set amid 3-acres of manicured yoga lawns, and organic gardens. Here, top wellbeing professionals conduct fitness groups, team training, yoga, Pilates and other activities.

A decade of hosting their own 2-3 annual fitness retreats has also enabled Chai Talay to perfect its popular programmes for up to 40 people - the only time the rooms are rented on an individual basis.

Chai Talay also enjoys a close relationship with nearby “Anahata Welless and Orion Retreat Centre” wherein guests can join yoga or mediation classes, juicing or healing retreats, or visit their specialist practitioners such as acupuncturists, or else book them to train In the privacy of their villa at Chai Talay.

The estate’s extensive lawns and gardens filled with tropical plants and fruit trees, lily ponds, and manicured lawns sloping gently down to the white sand beach, provide an exquisite backdrop to this exceptional health and wellness experience, and make a great playground for kids of all ages.

Two beachfront swimming pools, a 22m lapping pool, feature submerged sun loungers, kids pools, swim-up bars and an abundance of inviting spots to relax and enjoy the mesmerizing views of Five Islands or watch one of Samui’s spectacular sunsets, before enjoying a movie under the stars.

Health and well-being extends well beyond the gym at Chai Talay: its own abundant organic gardens now enable resident chefs to deliver delicious healthy, farm-to-table menus with more than 20 varieties of home-grown fruit and vegetables and to offer In-Villa cooking experiences for all ages.

As travellers turn their focus to health and safety, the villas of Chai Talay Estate promise a supremely peaceful, private and safe environment in which to embrace a healthy, outdoor lifestyle. The expansive private villa estate with its 50-metre absolute beachfront is self-contained, offering everything that a guest could want on site with little need to venture from the villa unless perhaps for a beach walk, bike ride or boating trip.

Both Chai Talay Villas have won SHA accreditation - and guests can determine the level of service they prefer. Upon arrival, staff ensure social distancing protocols and will sit with you to agree on the level of service with which you feel comfortable. Maids are dedicated to individual rooms and each villa has its own van and driver.

A strong commitment to sustainability is at the heart of everything that happens at Chai Talay Estate. From the outset, owners have sought to lead by example in ensuring a sustainable environment in Koh Samui. Efforts to reduce its negative footprint from early on, introduced a zero tolerance ‘single-use plastic’ free policy and guests are encouraged to bring their own reusable water bottles and be conscious of their environmental impact during their stay. Chai Talay Estate is a committed member of the local Samui community, working with many local charities involved in feeding the people of Samui during these difficult times, as well as supporting a number of ethical elephant sanctuaries suffering through the lack of tourists since Covid.



For images of Chai Talay Estate:

Baan Kilee Dropbox

Baan Ora Chon Dropbox

Chai Talay Estate Dropbox



Booking Information | Rates | Offers | Contact Details:

Sample Rates 2021( with Max discounts applied)

Baan Kilee – USD1600 ( 4 BR – low season) up to USD 5,400 (8BR- high season) for 2 nights

Baan Ora Chon – USD800 ( 2 BR- low season) and USD2,400 for ( 5 BR-high season) for 2 nights

Chai Talay Estate – USD 2,400 ( 6 BR – low season) to USD7,800 ( 13 BR – high season) for 2 nights. Long stay deals apply.



Booking Chai Talay Estate

https://www.chaitalay.com/2021rates

Email: bookings@chaitalay.com



Chai Talay website

https://www.chaitalay.com

https://www.facebook.com/chaitalayestate



Weddings & Events

Weddings, private gatherings, events, and retreats start at USD 1,200 (subject to 7% tax) for up to 80 guests and USD 1,500 (subject to 7% tax) for up to 150 guests.

For more information, contact Chai Talay Estate.



Special Offers (Please enquire. Conditions apply)

First Right of Refusal – we don’t take your money until we know you can travel

30% off on all rates, for all bookings until 01 July 2021( conditions apply)

45% off for all last minute local bookings (within a month of travel)

Return Guests – we have free nights programmes for all return guests during this period.

Refer a Friend – Stay with us anytime until July 1, Refer a Friend, earn free nights.



Address: Lipa Noi, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84140, Thailand

Tel: +85290992016 | +85290992016




Contact: Tina Atkinson

tinajatkinson@gmail.com

Tel: +852 9099 2016 [Whatsapp]

Tugade leads DOTr team in inspections of seaports, airports over long weekend

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) took advantage of the long weekend - which ends on Monday with the marking of Bonifacio Day - to conduct a series of inspections of seaports and airports in Samar, Cebu, Aklan, Tacloban and Dumaguete.

On Saturday, 28 November, Team DOTr's first stop was Calbayog, Samar, where Secretary Arthur Tugade led the inspection of the Calbayog Airport to check on the progress of its construction. The construction of the new Calbayog Passenger Terminal Building, as well as the widening/expansion of its runway and apron shall be completed in December 2020.

After inspecting the Calbayog Airport, the transport chief and other DOTr officials proceeded to conduct an inspection of the Manguino-o Port, also in Calbayog, Samar.

“It is important that we inspect these airports and seaports, especially those that were in the path of the strong typhoons that recently barreled through the country. We must make sure that operations in these facilities will not be disrupted, and that these are safe for operators and passengers to use,” said Transportation Secretary Tugade.

The Manguino-o Port was previously damaged by Tropical Storm Tisoy, and will undergo rehabilitation starting December 2020.

Rehabilitation works will cover the construction of a continuous Ro-Ro (roll-on-roll-off) ramp and a new Port Operations Building. Partial operability is slated before the end of 2021.

After inspecting the Calbayog airport and Manguino-o port in Samar, Secretary Tugade, along with other DOTr officials, immediately proceeded to Leyte to check on the progress of the Tacloban Airport Development Project.

Upon arrival in Tacloban, Secretary Tugade met with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) project management office and the contractor of the New Tacloban Airport Development Project, for a more comprehensive update on the project’s timeline and deliverables.

During the meeting, it was disclosed by the contractor that the original contract duration for the construction of the new Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) of the Tacloban Airport is 540 calendar days, which means it will only become operational by the 2nd quarter of 2022.

Knowing that the project is of prime importance to the citizens of Leyte and nearby regions, Secretary Tugade directed the contractor to reduce the contract duration to 270 days, through the implementation of 24/7 work schedule. The contractor agreed and committed to submit a revised implementation and catch up plan to CAAP by next week.

With this development, the new passenger terminal building of the Tacloban Airport is expected to be operational by the third quarter of next year, instead of the second quarter of 2022.

The DOTr Team also visited the Tacloban Port in Leyte to check its status and the ongoing developments, giving Secretary Tugade an opportunity to interact with port employees. He conveyed his appreciation for their work and reminded them of the need to be take care of the vital facility and to serve the people well.

“Tulong ko, ituloy mo,” Secretary Tugade told the PPA employees, as he reminded them that his sacrifice, together with that of other DOTr officials who were working and inspecting projects even during long weekends, is his way of helping other Filipinos develop their respective communities.

The DOTr Secretary reminded PPA employees that as members of their own communities, they should also continue pursuing this cycle of helping one another by paying it forward.

After Tacloban, the Team flew to Bantayan Island in Cebu, for their last stop of the day, to inspect the construction works at the Bantayan Airport in Cebu, where Secretary Tugade noted that the airport’s runway is now 100% complete. The airport’s perimeter fence is also about 75% complete.

The transport chief said the total project is now about 85% complete, with the last stages of concreting the 1.2-kilometer runway extension estimated to be completed by the end of the year.

“We will finish before the end of the year," Secretary Tugade noted.

On the 2nd day of inspection, Team DOTr landed in Dumaguete to inspect and check on the progress of the Dumaguete Airport Development Project.

Secretary Tugade and his team of officials inspected the newly-completed expansion project of the airport’s Passenger Terminal Building, as well as the asphalt overlay and shoulder grade correction of its runway.

After inspecting the Dumaguete Airport, Team DOTr then conducted a flyover inspection of the New Siquijor Airport, whose Passenger Terminal Building, Powerhouse and Vehicular Parking Area were completed last 30 October 2020.

After the fly-over inspection of Siquijor Airport, and to cap off their hectic weekend work schedule, Team DOTr led by Secretary Tugade, inspected the progress of work being done on the Kalibo International Airport Development Project in Aklan.

The DOTr team underwent a walk-through of the Kalibo Airport work area, and inspected the site development works for a new apron, taxiway, Passenger Terminal Building, Vehicle Parking Area, and the Airport Access Road. This development project is expected to be completed by July 2021, with the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) improvement project now 98% complete, and will be ready for operability before the end of this year.

Although not included in their itinerary, Team DOTr decided to seize the opportunity to conduct a surprise inspection at nearby Roxas Airport in Capiz to check on the progress of the ongoing site acquisition.

Upon landing, the transport chief and Team DOTr were welcomed by Roxas City Mayor Ronnie Dadivas, Pueblo De Panay Inc. CEO Jose Neri Ong, and Roxas Airport Manager II Cynthia Aspera.

The Team made the rounds at the Roxas Airport facilities, and also checked the proposed site acquisition for expansion. The team also inspected the completed asphalting of the runway shoulders and strip grade correction. The initial phase of Roxas Airport Development project was completed last 2019.

Joining Sec. Tugade during the week-end inspection were DOTr Usec. for Finance Garry De Guzman, Office for Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Usec. Raul Del Rosario, DOTr Chief of Staff and Asec. for Procurement and Project Implementation Giovanni Lopez, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippine (CAAP) Director General Jim Sydiongco, and DOTr Asec for Aviation and Airports Jim Melo.

#BonifacioDay: A call for Filipinos to join the struggle for genuine independence

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"Love your country next to God, your honor, and most of all, yourself."

Today we commemorate the patriotism and bravery of one of our heroes. Mabuhay ang nag-iisang Supremo sa kanyang kaarawan ngayong araw.

Bonifacio founded the Katipunan, a secret society which led the uprising against the Spanish and laid the groundwork for the first Philippine Republic.

In 1896, Andres Bonifacio penned "Pag-Ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa" as a call for Filipinos to join the struggle for genuine independence from Spanish colonial rule. 

Also known as "The Father of the Philippine Revolution." he was among the Philippine heroes who richly contributed to the country’s colorful history. 

Bonifacio is a person of bravery and tenacity that has left his mark into the heart and minds of history, Our Supreme- Andres Bonifacio.

I really adore him after I read the Kartilya ng Katipunan, despite of what happened in the Tejeros Convention. We need more Andres in our country, and even in other countries.

Bonifacio is one of the heroes that youths look up to, an inspiration and an icon of change and leadership.

But apart from what we read in textbooks, what else do we really know about him? 

While we vividly remember him as one of our greatest heroes who led the Cry of Balintawak in Pugad Lawin, we barely knew that the supremo himself made his first declaration of independence inside Pamitinan Cave in Montalban, Morong (now known as Rodriguez, Rizal). This was over a year before the actual outbreak of the revolution.

It is said that those who write history are the current governing officials who may have commissioned authors or historians to write positively of them and of their allies, just as what is happening today where we are bombarded with fake news designed to manipulate our mindset, thinking and perception.

Nevertheless, let us give honor to the Father of the Philippine Revolution. May his life inspire us to be the change our country needs.

Today, we celebrate his 157th birthday. They national celebration of Bonifacio Day is a regular holiday. 

The National Historical Commission of the Philppines will lead the commemoration of at the Bonifacio national monument in Caloocan. Simultaneous flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremonies will be held in all prominent Bonifacio monuments to commemorate this historical event. 

Duterte and Robredo both call on Filipinos to emulate Andres Bonifacio's courage and determination amid the pandemic crisis. 

President Duterte delivers a taped message during the Bonifacio Day rites. Again, with only a taped presence? Is he still sleeping in his Davao home? Going only to Malacañang for special occasions?

'Today we honor Bonifacio's legacy of sparking the fires of a revolution that awakened our national consciousness and served as foundation of this Republic.

His love for country which aroused our ancestors to fight for our freedom and secure our rightful place in the community of nations is very vital.

Now more than ever as we overcome the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic, as we remember his life and deeds may the values he fought for inspire us all to become worthy heirs of a just and inclusive society that he envisioned more than a century ago.

Fueled by Bonifacio's extraordinary courage and determination, let surmount the many challenges ahead and secure a much better, brighter future for every Filipino. Mabuhay si Gat Andres Bonifacio at ating Inang Bayan."

Meanwhile, Robredo was available for an official statement. She noted that “what Bonifacio exemplifies is not the cosmetic courage of bluster, or power, or brute strength” but rather the “courage of compassion.”

If Andres Bonifacio had a Twitter account today, how would his tweets read? What would he say about the COVID-19 pandemic and the pressing issues hounding the nation? 

The abuse of power is still present in our country, only the oppressors have changed.

Would Bonifacio even dare remained seated infront of the computer and become among the keyboard warriors, or would he still physically raise arms against the oppressive government?

Maybe he'll be also actively swiping and finger tapping on his mobile phone, but still be going against the similar oppression.

This Bonifacio Day, let us remember the heroism of the masses as they fought together with Andres Bonifacio for national liberation. 

As we face this climate crisis, we should stand in solidarity with the Filipino people as we struggle for accountability from our government for their inaction - not just in fixing our climate policies, but also the criminal negligence during the times that our nation is devastated by typhoons.

Disaster risk reduction and management, relief and rescue operations, climate change adaptation and mitigation measures - these are just basic demands we are asking for from the government in these trying times. 

Yet even these basic measures to ensure the safety of their citizens have not been implemented at the scale and rate needed. 

How can we push for more ambitious actions when basic ones can't be met?

How can we ensure a safe and livable environment for the future generations when we have a leader, at a very critical time in the climate movement, who has little to no care about the actual implications of the climate crisis.

Aside from spewing hypocritical statements at international summits?

This is the time for a green new leadership, one that will act and face the climate crisis as it is - a crisis.

Join us in calling for a better response from the government. Demand accountability!

Various labor groups amplify their sector's grievances as they march to different significant spots around the Metro in commemoration of Bonifacio Day.

The Philippines is known to be a luxurious place to relax, but beforehand it was full of power. We were known for our Fierce people and how we fought off the multiple countries who tried to steal us. We celebrate a great leader who led us to freedom!

As we celebrate his heroism, may we also strive to embody the revolutionary Bonifacio’s unwavering love for country.

Let this day be a reminder that the birth of our nation was marred by in-fighting, politics and ambition. 

We should learn from their mistakes and do better.

 “Bear always in mind that the true love of God is love of country, love which is also true love of man” - Andrés Bonifacio