1. BW11BIZWEEK, SATURDAY 11 AUGUST 2007 COVER FEATURE
In Branson’s private paradise
By ANITA GABRIEL
anita@thestar.com.my
T
HE West Indies' trade winds caress
me as I loll about in a rich burnt
orange-coloured day bed by the
soft white sand beach. The soothing
sounds of seagulls, splashing water, and
a woman trainer saying “one-two-three
and again ...” and intermittent chuckles
are my lullaby as I drift in and out of my
siesta.
It feels like a dream. But reality, this
time, doesn't bite. I'm chilling at Sir
Richard Branson's private paradise
Necker in the blue Caribbean sea of the
British Virgin Islands – his home, play-
ground and workplace all wrapped up in
one resplendent, magnificent Balinese
structure spanning 74 acres.
A masculine laughter gently nudges
me from my slumber; Branson is taking
a stab at aqua aerobics with a few
women staff in his beach pool. The
weather that sunny afternoon, like
everything else in Necker, is deliciously
warm.
A little later, he pulls himself out of
the pool and says: “A little bit more of
this (he lifts his arms over his head and
mimics a fish-swimming motion) and no
one's going to take me seriously ...”. We
laugh, concluding that aqua aerobics
may be too feminine a sport for him. He
trots off bare feet to play a game of ten-
nis with Pete and I'm off to freshen up
after an immensely rewarding two-hour
massage at his Bali Leha Spa, perched
atop a cliff and carved out of a hillside
overlooking the spectacular Caribbean
vistas. We promise to meet later for din-
ner at his beach pool's dining pavilion
with a small group of his staff – his
“extended family”.
Rollin' the dice with Branson
It's a cool night and true to the Virgin
Group's business ethos, I'm having so
much fun.
We have just finished a light salmon din-
ner, followed by the traditional English
strawberries and cream. Branson sug-
gests we play a game of Perudo or Liar's
Dice Game - a traditional Peruvian game
where each player has a cup and five dice,
which we shake and mix then flip over
the table using the cups as shield.
Simply put, players take turns in each
round to guess how many dice shows a
certain number and if they bid correct,
they gain a dice and vice versa. The object
is to be the last player with one or more
dice.
“Anita, go for two ones,” suggests
Branson. He is out of the game, having
lost all his dice after several rounds and is
now guiding me as it's my first shot at
this game.
A gentle breeze and the rhythmic sound
of lapping waves accompany us on this
lovely night. I follow my gut instincts
instead - “three ones” I holler, when it's
my turn to bid.
My wild stab in the dark is correct and it
earns me a look of praise from Branson.
“Good one. That was a good move,” he
smiles as he nods appreciatively.
As the game comes to a close, Pete
emerges winner but my elation is
stronger than ever. I've managed to out-
guess Branson, a sweet touch indeed to
my perfect Caribbean sojourn.
The day before
“I feel guilty that you've come all the
way just to interview me for an hour or
so,” he remarks, a day earlier after about
a two-hour long interview.
Branson is waiting for me, seated at
one corner of his great home when I
arrive. His home and the private island
retreat for celebrities (reported to cost a
whopping US$46,000 a night) appear to
be undergoing some renovation. He calls
this his “melting pot where we all take
stock of what is happening and get away
from everything apart from the fax
machine.”
Two or three of his staff are at a nook
in the centre of the grand home clad in
sun dresses or shorts, hair clammed or
scrunched up working away or sorting
through some papers.
I notice Branson has scribbled some
notes on his left hand – a reminder of
sorts. He ushers me to the main part of
the house, then leads me to a terrace
where a hammock is strung up against
one of the most picturesque views of the
turquoise sea.
He gestures towards a large wooden
day bed with a breathtaking view and
asks: “Is this spot okay with you?” as he
throws himself over and slides up the
bed. I choke in disbelief and wilfully
resist the urge to gawk. Instead, I pre-
tend as if it were perfectly normal to
conduct interviews in that manner.
“Sure, no problem at all, Richard” and I
slide next to him, separated only by a
functional wooden tray with chilled bev-
erage, to begin the interview, against the
ever-soothing rush of the waves.
In everything
you do, it’s
important to put
your whole heart
into it
– Branson
“
”