INSPIRED Magazine Vol 02 Issue 02

Why the Wai?
Your introduction to Thai Culture
Vintage Wheels of Phuket
Explore Phuket by bike - with a difference!
Holiday smarter, holiday fitter
Green Is the New Black
Holiday Inspiration for Absolute Members & Owners
vol. 02 issue 02
The Beach Samui latest
Vintage Wheels of Phuket

Contents
10
introduction to thai culture
learning to greet in thai
12
a unique local tour of phuket island
Vintage wheels
meet james stewart
absolute video producer
absolute social & video media
3824
patong’s ultimate poolside
dining experience
climax restaurant
quick beauty tips to keep you
looking good on the go
travel tips
44
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN 03
celebrating 15 years 04
croatia’s musical wonder 09
boy’s organic coffee 20
members cook up a storm 27
green is the new black 30
friday fitness activities 34
in other news 35
we’re waiting to welcome you 36
A FEAST OF DELIGHTS 40
best photo apps for smartphones 42
family travel safety tips 46
Inspired Magazine is published by the Absolute World Group 2013. All information is deemed correct at the time of going to press.
Our invitation to welcome The Beach
Fractional owners for an exclusive VIP tour
The latest from The Beach Samui
15
ALSO IN THIS EDITION:

And here it is, the second edition of your Inspired
Magazine, just in time perhaps for some Summer
poolside reading? I have just returned from my family
vacation in Europe: France, Spain, Greece…fantastic,
feeling totally refreshed and excited about the months
ahead. Holidays are the one of the most important
things we can gift ourselves, taking that time away
from the stresses of work boosts our creativity,
productivity and energy levels endlessly, as I found.
Spending time with my family is also one of the most
important things in my life, in research published in
January by Kelton on behalf of the Walt Disney Co.it was
found that quality time increases to 82% of time spent
with your children on vacation, as compared with half
of the time at home. Moreover, 97% of parents report
sharing something new about themselves with their
children while on vacation, and 54% say the whole
family is more affectionate, according to the
survey - how fantastic.
So my new found vitality is getting a good run as we
strive towards completion of our beautiful beachfront
resort The Beach Samui. We have had a small delay
whilst we get things perfect for you but we are delighted
to invite owners out for a special VIP preview ahead of
opening, which we very much anticipate to be before
the end of the year, not much longer to go now until
we finally deliver the beachfront resort you have been
waiting for.
In other news we have been busy making many
improvements and updates to our services, introducing
new menus, new resort developments, creating further
activities to make your holidays with us even more
memorable, from cooking demonstrations to Zumba
on the beach, there is always something for everyone
when staying with us. In order to ensure we strive to
deliver exactly the holiday you have always dreamed of,
each and every time you stay, we are really keen to hear
from you. So, we are going to be introducing a series
of Member Surveys over the next few months to really
allow you to open up to us: What types of facilities do
you see at our future resorts? How can we improve our
service to you? Are there any destinations you really
Happy reading,
Bryan Lunt, Chairman & CEO
A Letter from the Chairman
want to see as part of your membership that we
currently don’t feature? We are also keen for you to
interact with us more on our Social Media channels,
from Facebook to Instagram to Google+ to TripAdvsor.
As any business we want to encourage as many positive
reviews and as much great feedback as we can online,
please always leave your best comments, we will be
selecting our favourite reviews to receive a special
thank you each month!
As a final point we are keen to ensure we have your
correct and up to date contact information. Our Member
Services teams are ready to receive a call from you
anytime to make certain all is up to date, so you never
miss an update from us regarding our new resorts,
services and activities - or even just to say hi and
answer any questions you may have, I have listed all
contact numbers below for your convenience. Do get in
touch, we love to hear from you!
Well, I will let you get on with this latest edition and look
forward to hearing all about your upcoming holidays…
Bonnes vacances as they say!
Bryan Lunt, Chairman & CEO
AUSTRALIA +61 280 734452
China +86 400 8980 898
Finland +35 894 2704142
France +33 176 773993
Germany +49 692 222 1557
RUSSIA +7 499 795 7549
South Africa +27 2130 01943
THAILAND +66 762 92525
UK +44 203 6423203
USA +1 6465 645 654
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE OUR MEMBER SERVICES TEAMS CAN BE CONTACTED ON ANY OF THE FOLLOWING LOCAL RATE NUMBERS:

A very
personal
journey
Celebrating 15 Years of
Holiday Memories & Lifestyle Investment
The Beach Samui is
more than a strikingly
designed, boutique,
Private Residence Club. The
soon to open gem of the
Absolute World Group
collection of resorts
is in fact a monument, a
contemporary masterpiece
that speaks volumes
about what the Absolute
World Group has achieved
and where it’s headed.
On meeting Bryan Lunt it is
instantly visible that he is a
man with a great deal of active
energy, clearly, that liveliness
drives his enthusiasm.
Youth, energy, passion,
knowledge and a business
model accompanied Bryan as he
took the initiative to begin the
Absolute World Group and sell a
product he valued and had great
belief in - holidays.
Over the last 15 years, and from
a humble timeshare company
Bryan has strategically driven
the Absolute World Group to
sell the product he had such
faith in, and become one of
Asia’s leading Lifestyle Property
Developers with an eclectic
portfolio of self developed and
partnered boutique hotels
and resorts offering an ever
increasing choice of ways to own
your holidays.
Setting off from Spain all those
years ago Bryan headed to
Asia, and with his two Russian
business partners, the Absolute
World Group, having opened
several European branches,
made the leap to the Land of
Smiles. Thailand, and Pattaya
saw the opening of Absolute’s
first timeshare sales centre in
Asia which has subsequently
been partnered by a global
operating team in 27 countries,
speaking over 19 languages,
taking their lead from world
headquarters in Hong Kong
where Bryan is based with his
young family.
‘Absolute was not created to be
a simple timeshare company,’
explains Bryan. ‘It was the start,
a stepping-stone; everybody
has got to start somewhere. We
always had the vision to build
and operate our own resorts,
resorts where we can guarantee
the service, where every detail
could be addressed from the
stonework down to the very last
teaspoon.’
August 20134
celebrating 15 years

From that ‘somewhere’ to
owning nine award winning
resorts in the paradise settings
of Phuket, Pattaya and Koh
Samui, and a continuously
growing collection of self
developed, partner developed
and managed boutique hotels
and resorts, the Absolute World
Group has made some big
strides and covered a lot of
ground in 15 years.
Determined, Bryan’s inside
knowledge of the timeshare
world highlighted the failings
and he was aware that the
causes of the negative media
perception were due to lack
of customer care, low quality
resorts, and desperate need for
modernisation of the industry.
Sheraton, Ramada, Hilton,
Disney, Marriott the big and
the small names endured
the decay of the timeshare
world; the industry has been
disappointingly compromised
by greed and neglect. Yet people
still very much enjoy vacation
ownership, it is still very much
valued and continuing to gain
a following of holidaymakers
who enjoy the lifestyle offered
and the commitment to their
holidays, year after year.
From the start Bryan knew
that Absolute’s ambition was to
develop their own resorts and
take charge of how they are
managed and serviced. ‘It was
imperative that we took control
of what we were offering. I have
been in the vacation industry
for 28 years and my love of the
industry resides in the belief that
holidays and travel are one of
the most important aspects of
life and health,’ said Bryan, a
health and fitness enthusiast,
who wanted to deliver new, more
exciting and dynamic options
and be confident the company
could carry out their promise.
Headstrong, Absolute’s CEO
wanted to be as certain as
possible that every travel
experience with Absolute
is a happy experience, as
he claims the secret of the
company’s award winning
success is due to, ‘Having the
vision to make a change in an
industry that has been very
much misrepresented, build
our own resort, meet our own
clients and offer a much more
customer focused practice.’
Bryan left his hometown of
Liverpool at the age of 20 and
he discovered travel and say’s
it became part of his blood, he
loved it more than his treasured
Liverpool football Club, which is
hard for him to admit but the
way he speaks about his travels
and destinations and his love of
culture is poignant and very dear
to him, he explains.
‘ The world is a very beautiful
place and I have been fortunate
to see a great deal of it. Leaving
England as a young man I
thought I would return but I was
hooked, I adored travelling, the
thrills, the adventure, meeting
new people, being side by side
and up close to comprehend
cultures and social etiquettes
and the sense of freedom were
addictive. I couldn’t go back,
my life was not just in the travel
industry my life was the travel
industry. I had to be part of it to
sustain the euphoric feeling that
travelling offers.’
It was never going to be easy
to grow a small timeshare
company into a global player
that could not only influence
the game but also instigate the
changes much needed to the old
and establish a new structure
that would provide benefits for
everybody involved, especially,
the customer, but the challenge
was set.
August 2013 5

Timeshare originated around 60 years ago,
starting in Switzerland, it’s an industry that
continues to evolve, offering timeshare travellers
a world full of destinations and many exciting
rewards and privileges.
Born in the German part of Switzerland, in a
small town called Baar. The founders of a holiday
company called Hapimag wanted to explore a new
holiday concept, so they invested in real estate and
used the apartments within an ecologically and
economically sustainable holiday model. Hapimag
members were offered shares, enabling them
to book holiday accommodation using a points
system and such was the appeal of this new way of
holidaying in France and the Alps that Hapimag’s
membership quadrupled and the Multi Billion
Dollar timeshare Industry was set in motion.
By 1990 there were almost 2,500 timeshare
resorts around the world; over 40 million
timeshare members were experiencing a new
way to holiday. The nineties also saw the opening
of resorts in Eastern Europe and Asia, as the
airline industry developed, the globe became
small, and exotic destinations became
accessible and affordable.
Timeshare entered and left the 1990s suffering
from a bad reputation, poorly understood and
with little regulation, the image of timeshare was
tarnished by aggressive marketing practices—
unsuspecting vacationers were hounded by
salesmen offering free drinks and other perks if
they would agree to sit through high-pressure
sales presentations, bad management and shady
characters plagued the industry.
Moreover, many consumers who bought from
legitimate developers often got tired with the
same places every year and saw that year’s
investment disappear if they weren’t able to
use their allotted week. There were limited or no
options or choices and standards were falling.
The millennium dawned a new era for the
timeshare industry. A classic timeshare, usually
part of a two, three or four star resort or hotel
provides an allotted time of ownership in a year. If
for example a customer purchases just one week,
there can be as many as 51 other owners of that
same property who own all the other weeks.
Millions enjoyed the benefits of returning to the
same location year after year, meeting friends
and creating long lasting relationships with local
people. Other benefits of timeshares included
guaranteed and larger living accommodation,
better facilities, provides more to the local
economy and community, value for money and
higher standards than a normal hotel room.
The business model was sound, but the industry
image and how the product was sold needed to be
revised and this revision took the original concept
based on a fixed-week and turned this to a floating
week, giving people flexibility.
Following this many fixed week timeshare
companies created floating time holiday clubs,
in place of the traditional fixed week, to fulfil the
need for even more flexibility.
Absolute’s Partner Resort Network is a
portfolio of partner and self owned, developed
and cared for properties, a growing index
of luxurious hotels, resorts and locations
worldwide waiting to welcome and host
Absolute Destinations Members.
August 20136

With Absolute Destinations you
buy your time up-front and have
the option to choose from a
network of properties, annually.
The attraction is less about a
specific location than about a
diversity of locations. Unlike
with timeshares and fractional
residences, members of a
destination club are buying not a
specific property but the right to
use any of a portfolio of resorts
and facilities.
A membership fee and a modest
yearly management charge is
a business model that Absolute
have researched in depth, Bryan
says, and findings along with
industry analysis and growing
numbers of members tell the
story of success that has been
developed wisely and helped
to finance the development of
Absolute’s own Resorts.
‘The introduction of Absolute
World Group’s new breed
of Vacation Club, Absolute
Destinations, amongst others
have transformed a simple
and ridged timeshare product
that was becoming tarnished
and flawed by a minority of
unscrupulous practices. As an
industry we had to move on and
deliver on our promises and
we had to invest for the future,’
explains Bryan.
Absolute’s comprehension of
the market predicted the need
for change. Modification to
the storyline was a proactive
initiative that has propelled
the Absolute World Group, its
Destination Club and Fractional
and Whole ownership properties
in a direction that the industry
has realised it needs to follow.
‘Listening to our customers it
was apparent that cost effective
options, honesty, flexibility, fun,
more choice and luxurious living
needed to be strategized and
written into the development of
Absolute’s story.
As part of taking active
responsibility for the correct
practice of the Fractional
Ownership and Timeshare
industries in Asia, the Absolute
World Group have, among
many other initiatives, founded
the Alternative Ownership
Conference Asia Pacific in
2009, and this year welcoming
almost 200 delegates to the Ritz
Carlton in Hong Kong for the
fifth annual conference. www.
aocap.org
Further developments to the
products birthed an ultra-
modern lifestyle investment,
fractional ownership, now a
resolute player in the property
industry - a bricks-and-mortar
investment in a stunning
second home that can be passed
on to family.
Fractionals are becoming a
highly-sought-after product that
is having a profound influence
on how people buy holidays,
second homes and make their
August 2013 7

lifestyle investments.
These higher end products
reward owners with exclusive
benefits like the use of local
captained speedboats and the
best golf equipment, spa access
and airport transfers.
‘Like I said from the beginning,’
continued Bryan, ‘the Absolute
World Group did not set out to
be a simple timeshare company.
We were about offering many
different products and creating
a brand that is synonymous with
holiday happiness and lifestyle
investment and you can only
do that by giving people what
they want. Having delivered
on our promise of new resorts,
opening a number of resort this
year alone, we are stepping up
our game with our owners and
members and through a hugely
increased interaction are able to
listen to exactly what they want
and make it all happen.’
Lifestyle investments are now
a popular currency as we get
busier and busier and it is clear
from the rising sales figures and
the big investment that is going
into accommodating investors
that this market is immense.
World-class designers, über
chic interiors and fantastic
hospitality come at a cost and
developers are paying these
costs to offer product that meet
this new demand. Absolute
World Group is a product of
Bryan Lunt, the visionary who
can be seen as much on the
construction site digging in as
with the development teams at
the Architect’s drawing board
and is in touch with every aspect
of a development. Serving in
the bar of one of his hotels he
would go unrecognised, as he
often does, as he wants to be up
close and personal to both enjoy
and inspect that satisfaction is
being observed.
As much as the company is a
product of Bryan its success
and strengths are in his teams
ability to predict future growth
and demand, they are at the
forefront of their game and
keep up with and cater for
the customers’ requirements.
Alongside this Absolute has a
discerning talent for forging
partnerships and alliances
with leading designers,
architects and vacation brands,
collaborating to create unique
and desirable developments
that add value and prestige
to the Absolute World Groups
brand.
Like the striking design of The
Beach Samui, Absolute is a
monumental brand that has
been planned, designed and
courageously constructed by
a group of visionaries who will
continue to craft the Absolute
World brand and for the benefit
of it’s owners and members for
further decades to come.
August 20138

CROATIA’S MUSICAL WONDER
Off the Beaten Path
As the waves gently lap
at the shores of Zadar,
Croatia a magical sound
can be heard, the sounds
of the Zadar Sea Organ,
an architectural wonder
and experimental musical
instrument. The Sea Organ
plays music by way of sea
waves and tubes located
underneath a set of large
marble steps.
The Sea Organ was born out of
chaos; Zadar suffered immense
devastation during the Second
World War that turned most of
the sea front into an unbroken
cement wall. Architect Nikola
Basic was commissioned to
create The Sea Organ as a
project to redesign the new
city coast. The Sea Organ was
unveiled to the public on 15
April 2005.
The Sea Organ is situated near
the new cruiser port and can
be observed as a differently
shaped part of the coast, which
consists of several stairs that
descend into the sea. The stairs
extend for about 70 meters
along the coast, under them,
at the lowest sea-tide level,
35 pipes of different length,
diameter and tilts were built in
vertically to the coast and they
raise aslant until the paved part
of the shore and end in a canal.
On the pipes there are whistles,
which play 7 chords of 5 tones.
Above the canal, there are
perforated stone stairs through
which the sound comes out.
The waves create some very
interesting and rather random
harmonic sounds. The Sea
Organ has become a favourite
of both tourists and locals.
The site has become a place
for relaxation, conversation
and quiet meditation. The Sea
Organ plays an endless concert
of mystic harmonies that has
become tagged the “Orchestra
of Nature.”
In 2006, the architect was
awarded the European Prize for
Urban Public Space. The prize
was awarded in Barcelona, and
The Sea Organ was chosen the
best among 207 candidate
projects from across Europe.
Definitely off the beaten path,
The Sea Organ in Zadar is
a beautiful place to enjoy a
sunset, the balmy night air and
a unique melody to enhance
your holiday memories.Waves & Sounds
Tupungato / Shutterstock.com
Milosz_M / Shutterstock.com
August 2013 9

INTRODUCTION TO thai culture
Introduction
to Thai Culture
Learning to
greet in Thai
August 201310 August 201310

Sawasdee Ka - Hello
Kop Kun Ka - Thank you
The Thai greeting, referred
to as the wai, consists of a
slight bow, with the palms
pressed together in a prayer-
like fashion. For Thai people,
the wai is used as a greeting,
to show respect, to make an
apology and also as a way
of expressing gratitude
and thanks.
The wai is a simple bow with the
hands clasped palm to palm. The
Thai Wai is a culturally engrained
symbol of ranking, social standing,
leadership and hierarchy and is
customarily performed as a figure of
acknowledgment of one’s place and
socio-cultural identity.
The wai is so important that the
Cultural Ministry of Thailand deems
it part of the country’s National
Heritage, stating, “The practice of
the wai of the Thai people has been
preserved as a heritage for future
generations to express themselves
in paying respect and thanking
others. This has to be observed in
an appropriate manner for the
occasion at the time. This is an
identity of culture of the kingdom
that foreigners worldwide know is
uniquely Thai.”
The higher the hands are placed
in the wai indicates reverence and
proclaims humility and respect.
When giving a wai to a monk or
Buddha image, the palms would be
placed together and raised so the
tips of the thumbs are touching
the hairline. At the same time,
a deep bow from the waist should
be performed.
Leaders, family members and those
who are older or higher in rank or
social status would be given a wai by
positioning the palms of the hands
together with the tips of the thumbs
at eye level. The accompanying bow
would be determined on the level of
status or respect offered.
When giving a wai to an equal, the
palms are lower again. This time
they are placed with the thumb tips
placed under the chin and index
fingers at the base of the nose. A
bow of the head generally goes
together with this wai.
The wai is usually instigated by the
person of lower status, and in reply
the response to the wai would be
determined by the higher status of
the recipient. It could be returned as
equal, or positioned lower down so
the palms are held together at the
level of the heart with no bow given.
It is good to remember that Thai
culture and social etiquettes are
customs and behaviours that
are seamlessly stitched into the
common fabric of Thai traditions
and a symbol of national heritage.
As a tourist, if you decide to wai, do
it with joy. Do not worry about the
complex protocol; as a tourist and
a guest you will be excused if you
do it incorrectly. The best advice is
to smile and simply wai your best
wai, nothing to lose, just try. It is
clear for the Thai people to see and
understand you are simply giving
thanks and showing respect to
both the recipient and the national
heritage of the illustrious Kingdom.
August 2013 11August 2013 11

Vintage Wheels
A Spirit of Phuket Tour
A local woman has come up
with a unique way to experience
the historical sights of Phuket.
Chutikarn “Karn” Thanadechaparn
is a Phuket native. Born and
bred on the island, she has been
involved in hospitality & tourism
for many years. Previously
working as a Marketing/Media
Liaison, Khun Karn decided
to strike out on her own as a
freelance tour guide.
Successfully leading walking
tours and local food tasting
tours around Phuket Old Town,
it was a documentary about
Amsterdam that inspired a
new tour idea. Teaming up with
her friends, Rassarin “Ooy”
Banlangpho and Panida “Nida”
Siriwan, the Vintage Wheels:
A Spirit of Phuket Tour was
born. The tour effectively uses
colourful motorised bicycles
that are made of steel, have a
fuel tank and a 49cc engine.
Although the bicycles have a
vintage feel, they are newly
made. Khun Karn thinks that
Phuket is the perfect place
for this sort of tour as she
prides the island in having a
lot of flavor. She says that the
uniqueness of the tour and
Phuket comes from the people
you come into contact with
which includes the local Thais,
the indigenous Sea Gypsies, the
Thai-Chinese, Muslims, and all
of the international tourists.
Khun Karn explains that while
on the tour, everyone is curious
as to who you are and why you
are riding a bicycle, thus, it’s
easy to strike up a conversation
with people on the street. Khun
Karn stresses that the tour is a
good way to see a big piece of
Phuket in a short time, and an
environmentally friendly way to
do it.
The idea of using the bikes
came from Nida, and Karn
designed the route and delved
into her family’s secret recipes
for the cooking part of the tour.
Ooy is the IT Master. She follows
the bicyclists participating
on the tour with her scooter,
effectively blocking traffic
August 201312
OFF THE BEATEN PATH

and taking photos. She handles
much of the social media for
Vintage Wheels: A Spirit of
Phuket Tour. The three friends
giggle in amusement while
telling stories of some of their
clients. They all agree that
the women who come on the
tour are very apprehensive at
first to ride the bicycles, and
for the men, the riding of the
motorised bicycle is like second
nature. The three friends
explain that the reason the
bicycle tour works is because
you are able to see more than
if you are on foot, and because
you are taking in the scenery
and sights at a slower pace,
it’s better than just passing
by in a car. Khun Karn says it
makes her happy while the tour
is in progress and people are
surprised at the sights or ask a
lot of questions. Meeting new
people, making new friends and
showing off the island that she
loves so much are the rewards
of her efforts.
Phuket Tour offers three very
unique bicycle tours, and it
should be mentioned that all
tours include stopping off at
a local café to sample a real
Phuket breakfast.
The Just Rollin’ Tour does just
that. This tour cruises around
the sights of Phuket. The two
other tours, Wok n’ Roll and
Wonderful Siray also include
a cooking class. Using her
family’s secret recipes, you will
learn to make Hokkien Mee,
which are traditional Phuket
Chinese noodles. This is truly
the special treat of the tour,
as Khun Karn invites you into
her family’s home where you
will be greeted by her mother,
her niece and various other
relatives who are happy to
share cooking tips with you.
Phuket Tour is a fantastic and
quite unique way to spend a day
on the island of Phuket. Let the
locals show you their sights;
you’ll have a whole different
view of Phuket when you leave.
Why not enquire ahead of your
next holiday in Phuket to make
your visit extra unforgettable?
For more information or to
book, please visit
www.vintagewheels.in.th
Vintage Wheels:
A Spirit of Phuket Tour
offers a 10% discount to all
Absolute Adventurers!
August 201314
OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Stunning furniture prototypes
are arriving
Our model unit taking shapeand receiving adjustments
Architect David Archer on site discussing
design enhancements with CEO Bryan Lunt
A sneak peek
at The Beach Samui in progress
On the southernmost tip
of the island of Koh Samui
lies our stunning new
boutique The Beach Samui
and as many owners eagerly
await our impending
opening we wanted to
bring you just a taste of
what we have been up to
in the run up to the final
stages of development.
We have been delayed just slightly
aswewant to deliveryou the most
exquisite Private Residence Club
and so following a visit from our
development team back inJune
we decided to make some further
enhancements to ensure we
deliver you just that. Our model
suite has been created and is now
being updated to provide aworking
example for our development
team to seewhat needed adjusting,
and of course once complete
we look forward to sharing
with you. Prototype furniture
has started to arrive and space
planning has ensured you will
get the maximum comfort
from your stay - and of course
those uninterrupted views from
your bed and hot tub - just
breathtaking! On a recent trip,
CEO Bryan Lunt led our design
team around some incredible
Thai craft markets to inspire and
acquire those important touches
whichwe are sureyouwill appreciate
when you enjoy your stay.
August 2013 15
The Beach Samui Owner Offer
Exclusive
Preview
Offer
for THE
Beach Samui
Owners

Final floors are being prepared - what a view!
The team take to the floor to
polish the Black Granite
August 201316
The Beach Samui Owner Offer

A sneak peak at our modelapartment in development
Resoration of the beach has begun
The Beach Samui Architect
and Brand Development Director
during a recent site visit
The first prototypes of furniture
and styling materials arrive
Stunning Thai antique finds
wil really complete the resort
AUSTRALIA +61 280 734452
China +86 400 8980 898
Finland +35 894 2704142
France +33 176 773993
Germany +49 692 222 1557
RUSSIA +7 499 795 7549
THAILAND +66 762 92525
UK +44 203 6423203
USA +1 6465 645 654
We understand the delay is
upsetting for many new owners
and we want to assure you we
are delivering on our promise of
one of our most fantastic resorts
yet, please just bear with us a
little longer. With this in mind
we would like to extend to all
Fractional Owners of The Beach
Samui an invitation for two to
visit Koh Samui anytime from
November 1st untilJanuary
31st (of course excluding
those all important Christmas
and New Year dates) to enjoy
7 nights accommodation,
including transfers, at our
partner resort KC Resort & Spa.
We would also like to offer you
a meal and spa treat for two
and of course a VIP trip to see
your new apartment in its final
stages of development.
If you would like to book please
contact Giselle Dean in our
Customer Care Team direct by
emailing giselle@absolute-
destinations.com or contacting
her on your most convenient
local rate number below.
We really look forward to showing
you around the development and
to welcoming you for your first
stay once we are ready.
In the meantime we will
endeavour to keep you up to
date on our Social Media
channels and on the Resort’s
website thebeachsamui.com
or please feel free to contact our
team in Samui should you have
any questions, Manager Brian
Makai will be happy to help on
+66 (0)87 892 5566.
FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE OUR MEMBER SERVICES TEAMS CAN BE CONTACTED ON
ANY OF THE FOLLOWING LOCAL RATE NUMBERS:
August 2013 17

OWNING A PIECE OF PARADISE
HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER
Starting from 1.54M THB
To arrange a private viewing please contact
Brian makai, Sales manager
Tel: +66 (0) 87 892 5566
O
PEN
IN
G
LATE
2013

Designed by Developed by
THEBEACHSAMUI.COM
Follow The Beach Samui
story as it unfolds…
Experience ultimate luxury of
owning a designer Private Residence
Club retreat on the stunning island
of Koh Samui, Thailand.
Five-star concierge service, well-being spa,
private transfers, courtesy powerboat, the
latest golf equipment,
private dining, all as standard.
The price… incredibly
down to earth.
The Beach Samui is a multi award winning
and consciously developed five star boutique
resort nestled on one of Asia’s most idyllic
beaches in the tiny fishing village of Thong
Krut, southern Koh Samui, Thailand.
Designed by the world renowned Yoo team,
brought to you by the Absolute World
Group and now proudly part of the
prestigious Design Hotels worldwide
collective. A limited number of The Beach
Samui’s one and two bedroom suites
are available to own, ahead of the much
anticipated resort opening later this year.

Boy’s
Organic Coffee
August 201320
DESTINATION THONG KRUT, VILLAGE HOME OF THE BEACH SAMUIDESTINATION THONG KRUT, VILLAGE HOME OF THE BEACH SAMUI

After many years, numerous
worldwide locations, a variety
of hosts and drinking excessive
amounts of coffee, the question
arose: does Mr. Boy have a
formula for the perfect coffee
drinking experience? And how
lucky are we that he has opened
right next to The Beach Samui!
Mr. Boy’s coffee will rank alongside the
best you have ever tasted; it may even
surpass your bench-mark and elevate
your best to a new standard, as happens
daily at Boy’s Organic Coffee Shop.
For first timers and his regular coffee
aficionados, the allure of Thong Krut’s
Arabica aroma is captivating.
Originating from Chiang Mai,
Mr. Boy travelled to Koh Samui for
many years to visit family and friends
before deciding to lay down his cat and
his hat and call it home. As much as he
loves and often misses his native soil,
the allure of Thong Krut and Village life
beside the sea on the Paradise Island
of Koh Samui, was too strong to resist.
Any reluctance to move to Koh Samui
departed when the decision was made
to create his own Koh Samui-Chiang
Mai connection. Mr. Boy hit on the idea
of remaining true to his home soil by
sourcing some of the best organically
grown coffee, teas and various other
products like dried organic fruits,
honey and cane sugar and creating a
market for them in Samui.
That market is now known and
cherished by thousands of Islanders and
many people around theworld as, Boy’s
OrganicCoffeeShop, inThong Krut.
Smiling, Mr. Boy explained how his
coffee shop is an extension of his
artistic spirit and his love of nature
and enthusiasm for the abundance of
organically grown products from his
home soil in the North.
It is common practice for Thai people
to create a life that allows one to live
for what the heart desires and earn
the daily bread around, or at the same
time, as living the dream. Mr. Boy is a
musician by heart and accepts that his
creative spirit is of such importance
that earning a living has to either
be related or allow for the spirit to
be expressed, caging the spirit and
not allowing his musical passion to
breathe would be like “Stopping
me breathing,” expresses, Mr. Boy.
“Many Thai people follow their heart,
we have to. If we don’t we go crazy.
If your heart says you have to work
outside. You cannot work inside. If your
heart says you play music you have
to play music. We have to find a way
to follow the heart. I found my way by
finding the best coffee, bringing it to
Koh Samui and the best village on the
island, Thong Krut, and sharing it with
people from all over the world. At the
same time I follow my heart, live my
dream and play music.”
Throughout the day, Mr. Boy has
adequate time to tinker with his
artistic expression and is at liberty
to write and play music, serve the
finest coffee on the island and
occupy himself
being a perfect host to The Beach
Samui international development
August 2013 21

team that adore his coffee as
much as his welcoming spirit.
The simple, smooth and bare
walls mirror Mr. Boy’s easy, open
and soft yet solid nature. Colorful
with a sense of flow and union
the art and décor personifies
Mr. Boy’s creative spirit and his
heart can often be heard when
he is strumming his guitar
and singing a song. His passion
is captured when he speaks
about his natural and ethically
produced products.
Playing his guitar Mr. Boy sings
sweet songs about what he calls
‘nature’s garden’, the bountiful
soil of Northern Thailand, the
source and supply of the coffee
beans, not just any coffee beans,
Boy’s beans are Thailand’s
Premium Organic, Arabica
Coffee Beans. Coffee Beans Mr.
Boy has traveled to the Thai
Highlands to source and choose,
using years of experience,
family connections and local
knowledge, Mr. Boy says, “I can
always find the best of the best
coffee beans.”
So we have clearly defined
that Mr. Boy’s coffee is the finest in
Thailand and maybe beyond. And
that Mr. Boy himself, his simple
yet highly defined design, his
tranquil and artistic flare and his
musical creativity and expression
are perfectly charming and,
most certainly, contribute to the
formula for the perfect coffee
drinking experience.
So for the final element, the
touch that is as vital as the
coffee, the host, and the shop,
nevertheless, often overlooked
when assessing the perfect
coffee drinking experience. The
place is of vast importance, the
best coffee in the world will not
taste as such if the ambiance
and surrounding external
environment is not conducive
and out of kilter with the coffee,
the shop and staff.
Mr. Boy’s coffee shop is to Thong
Krut what the Opera House is
to Sydney. Scaled down a tad,
of course, but it is and has been
a central part of Village life for
almost fiveyears and continually
gives tourist the opportunity
to stop for a while and sense
the essence of everything and
nothingness that Thong Krut
can oblige.
Unassuming, one of the central
ingredients of the coffee drinking
experience is the surrounding
August 201322
DESTINATION THONG KRUT, VILLAGE HOME OF THE BEACH SAMUIDESTINATION THONG KRUT, VILLAGE HOME OF THE BEACH SAMUI

environment. Very few coffee
shops offer a vista like Mr. Boy’s.
To the left, the panorama - white
sand, stirring skies, coconut
palms, blue water and a green
horizon; a long tail boat hosting
two silhouettes fishing. Tourists
laugh as they embark on an
island tour. Local women with
wide rimed hats fix fishing nets
and break from their chatter to
smile for the tourist’s camera.
To the right, the drama - the
view of the street; a different
story. The 7-11, the mini mart,
villagers going about their daily
chores. A barefoot monk holds
up an umbrella, coconuts weigh
down trucks, vegetables hang
from the purpose built side car of
a motorbike, a fabricated mobile
market stall. Across the street
a motor bike fashioned into a
mobile food court scents the air
with barbequed sausages and
satay to entice taste buds.
Village life is tranquil and the
serene essence of the community
is a noticeable ingredient that
is essential to the perfect coffee
drinking experience.
Sitting handsomely, between
Thong Krut Tour’s & Restaurant
and The Beach Samui, Mr
Boy’s Organic Coffee Shop is
absolutely at home. On one side
a traditional and very hospitable,
Thai family owned and run
concern business, earthy and
rustic, serving excellent Thai
food and freshly caught sea
food and managing the island’s
favoured island tour and fishing
operation, with great success.
On the other side a modern,
welcoming and soon to open
Private Residence Club, a
stunning yoo award winning
design owned and run by the
Absolute World Group, colonial
and sophisticated, which will
be serving the finest cuisine,
fresh, organic, locally procured,
expertly prepared and served
with an amazingly generous
side order of luxury living.
“My shop is like me,” says Mr.
Boy laughing, “I’m stuck in the
middle, half of me ... I love the
modern, I like it very much. The
design is very beautiful. And half
of me, I love the traditional, Thai
style. But I think it is very good,
like my music I don’t just play
jazz, blues, country or Thai folk
songs… I like to play them all.
The best sound is from fusion
and mixing things together,
variety, when you bring different
things together, like a guitar,
saxophone, drum, piano and
many, many instruments, all
different sounds… but
they come together to make
beautiful music.
“Same, same in Thong Krut, we
have many different restaurants
and small businesses from
Thai people and now we have
The Beach Hotel, and many
westerners who live in this area,
this is very nice. We can work
and enjoy together and drink
good coffee, together, every day.”
As we can see, to create the
perfect coffee drinking experience
one needs a little more than good
coffee. One needs a little of
Mr. Boy’s magic and flair, a
certain location and a joyful
heart to create the perfect
formula. It just so happens that
Mr. Boy is open from 9-5, daily,
wake up head for Thong Krut
and smell the coffee. See for
yourself how the formula works.
August 2013 23

Fresh Garden Salad
Baja Style Tiger Prawns
Climax Restaurant
Patong’s Ultimate
Poolside Dining Experience
Simon Armstrong, the manager
at Climax Restaurant, loves to
entertain. That is obvious from
the beaming smile, nod of the
head and friendly hello you’ll
receive uponwalking in to Patong’s
Ultimate Poolside Dining
Experience, Climax Restaurant.
With years of restaurant service
under his belt, Simon promises
a unique dining experience
to accompany the chic and
sophisticated atmosphere of
the establishment. Located on
the 5th floor of Absolute Bangla
Suites, Climax Restaurant is a
poolside safe haven from the
hustle and bustle of Patong.
Offering an extensive Western
and Thai fusion menu prepared
from fresh, local ingredients
and a variety of exotic, signature
cocktails at exceptionally low
and reasonable prices Climax
Restaurant truly is a gem in the
middle of Patong’s Bangla Road.
The staff at Climax Restaurant
are dedicated, and their
attitude for perfection is what
makes such a unique and
attractive dining experience.
David Cruikshank, assistant
restaurant manager, prides
the staff for making Climax
Restaurant as successful as it is.
David’s vision for Climax
Restaurant is for the establishment
to turn into the first choice
restaurant for expats, and he
believes that with all of the hard
work the staff continue to put
in, Climax Restaurant has the
potential to become the No 1
restaurant in all of Phuket.
For the warmest and hippest
atmosphere on the island; along
with some of the friendliest
service you have ever experienced,
allow Climax to tantalize your
senses with delicious appetisers,
succulent seafood, fresh and
flavourful Thai food and creative
cocktails. Simon, Dave and the
rest of the staff are waiting to
welcome you.
August 201324
climax restaurant

Climax Restaurant Menu Favorites
Coconut Grove
Yxaiio Cocktail
Local Blue Crab with Chili
and Spring Onion
The Coconut Grove Yxaiio
Cocktail is one of the best
selling cocktails on the
menu at Climax Restaurant.
Guests often comment on its
bright pink color. It’s a light,
deliciously refreshing cocktail
to be enjoyed by the pool on a
stunning Phuket day.
The Coconut Grove Yxaiio
Cocktail is served in a
Gibraltar Glass with ice.
• 30 ml Malibu Rum
• 50 ml Vodka
• 100 ml Pineapple Juice
• 100 ml Yxaiio
Garnish with pineapple and a
maraschino cherry and enjoy!
One of the best selling Thai
dishes on the new menu at
Climax Restaurant is the
eye-catching Local Blue Crab
with Chili and Spring Onion.
This is a fantastic addition
to the Climax menu, and the
freshness of the bold flavors is
a pleasant surprise.
• 2 medium fresh blue crabs
• 4 spring onions
• 2 large red chilis
• 1 small Thai red chili
• 1 tbs sweet chili sauce
• 50 cl fish stock
To make this dish, you must
grill the crab on both sides
until the meat in the legs is
opaque. For the sauce, reduce
the stock and add in half of
the spring onions and chili.
Once the crab is removed
from the grill, spoon the
remaining spring onions
and chili over the crab. Serve
immediately and enjoy!
A welcome addition to the
new menu at Climax
Restaurant, this exquisite dish
will send your taste buds into
overdrive. The Pan Seared
Duck Breast with a Port and
Red Currant Jus is perfect for a
romantic evening.
• 1 fresh duck breast
• 100 ml fresh duck stock
• 50 g fresh red currants
• 50 cl Ruby Port
• Salt and pepper to taste
To create this dish, pan sear
the duck breast skin side
down for 5 minutes, and then
transfer to an oven and cook
for 8 minutes. Reduce the
duck stock by 50%, add in the
red currants and cook for 2
minutes, then add in the port.
We believe this dish is best
served with creamed potatoes
and local market veggies.
Absolutely delicious!
Pan Seared Duck Breast with a
Port and Red Currant Jus
August 2013 25
RECIPES

Climax on Bangla @ClimaxRest @ClimaxRest @ClimaxRestaurant
Fresh Garden Salad Raspberry Martini Chicken Cordon Bleu
Vitalize your days,
Excite your Nights
An extensive selection of international dishes, Decadent cocktails AND Nutritional
juices & smoothies to enjoy poolside or to go
To book your table please call +66 (0) 81 979 6262, email reservations@climaxrestaurant.com
or for details on how to find us, our latest menus and happenings please visit our
new website climaxrestaurant.com
Climax Bar & Restaurant: Absolute Bangla Suites, 68/1 Soi Bangla, Patong Beach, Kathu, Phuket 83150 Tel: +66 (0) 763 43 612
introducing Wheat Grass Shots
Thank You for voting us No 1
on TripAdvisor earlier this year

David & Susan Streat
Noelene Usher &
JenniferAnderson
Vicky Birkett
Brett & Julie Carlyle
members cook up a storm
One of the best ways to
enjoy your holiday in
a foreign country is to
immerse yourself in the
culture. It’s no secret,
that in Thailand, the
food is as unique as it is
delicious. Recently, Group
Executive Chef, Anthony
Healy, introduced a
cooking course to the list
of activities we offer you
whilst in resort.
Chef Anthony and his kitchen
team offer a traditional Thai
cooking course, upon request,
in a friendly atmosphere.
The course is hands-on, informative
and most importantly, fun.
Our guests have expressed full
on excitement while learning
to prepare a variety of spicy,
authentic Thai dishes. Under
Chef Anthony’s excellent tutelage,
and with the help of his fantastic
kitchen team, you will learn to
master such Thai dishes as the
famous Tom Yum Goong (Spicy
Lemon Grass Soup with Shrimp),
the refreshing Yam Talay (Spicy
Seafood Salad) and the favorite
Krao Prao Gai (Minced Chicken
with Chili and Hot Basil Leaves).
The traditional Thai cooking
course has become an instant
hit. Make sure you book your spot
in this course the next time you
stay with us. Bring the taste of
Thailand home with you!
August 2013 27
FOCUS ON OUR MEMBERS

World Events and
Festivals Calendar
August 2013
Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Scotland (until 26 Aug)
Edinburgh International Festival
Scotland (until 01 Sep)
V Festival
England (until 18 Aug)
Full Moon Party
Koh Phangan,Thailand
Notting Hill Carnival
England (until 28 Aug)
La Tomatina Festival
Spain
September 2013
Bestival
Isle of Wight, UK (until the 08) 
New York Fashion Week
USA (until 13 Sept)
Full Moon Party
Oktoberfest
Munich,Germany (until 07Oct)
October 2013
Diwali - Festival of Lights;
Hindu communities
Full Moon Party - Koh Phangan,Thailand 
Tokyo International Film Festival
Tokyo (until 30Oct)
Norwich Beer Festival
England (until 28Oct)
Sao Paulo International Film festival
Sao Paulo, Brazil (until 3 Nov)
November 2013
Day of the Dead Festival - Mexico 
Melbourne Cup Day - Australia
Full Moon Party - Koh Phangan,Thailand 
Thanksgiving Day - USA
December 2013
Christmas Day; Full Moon Party
Rhythm and Vines Festival
NewZealand (until 01Jan 2014)
Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Festival
Scotland (until 01Jan 2014)
New Years Eve - Worldwide
Here’s a handy list of events for the remainder of 2013. Maybe some of these
fantastic events will be going on in your destination while you’re away!
9th
17th
21st
27th
28th
2nd
3rd
1st
25th
29th
30th
31st
5th
17th
28th
19th
22rd
24th
25th
5th
6th
19th
22nd
August 201328
A DATE FOR YOUR HOLIDAY DIARY

Vira Mylyan-Monastyrska / Shutterstock.com
Samui Latin and Jazz Week 2013
The Samui Latin and Jazz Week
is proud to present a broad
variety of artists from the
Latin Jazz scene, coming to
Koh Samui 29 September
6 October 2013.
Put on your dancing shoes and
expect Latin American rhythms with
electrifying percussion- this music
will make you dance! Dina Medina
from Cape Verde, Nando Vanin from
Columbia, Amik Guerra from Cuba
and Nils Fischer with Cabo CubaJazz
are just a few of the names who will
bring the “Latin Fever” to Koh Samui.
Uplifting, energetic danceable
Latin music, combinedwith relaxed
Jazz tunes and big voices: Taking
on the stage from the US is Deborah
Brown, one of the finest jazz vocalists
in the business, who will enchant
the audience as she sings from the
American Songbook with classics
of Duke Ellington, George Gershwin
and more.
Pure virtuosity, Saskia Laroo, a Dutch
jazz musician who has long been
dubbed the “Lady Miles Davis”, will
perform with her Quartet “Jazzkia”
a perfect fusion of jazz, funk and
dance – a truly unique and fun
listening experience.
Add to all of this the world class
jazz act Peter Beets, presenting
his newly released album “Portrait
of Peterson” and you can be sure
this music festival will be one to
remember.
Also coming: Nadia Basurto and
Miquel Rodriques from Spain, the
Dutch singerJudith Nijland , Rolf
Delfos from the Netherlands, the
French pianist and singer Fabio
Deldongo ,Thailand’s Saxophone
Star Koh Mr. Saxman and Changton
with the beautiful singer Buntita.
8 days ofworld-class music, 8 daysof
tropical lifestyle, exquisite cuisine
and stunning venues- we are happy
to welcome you to be part of it from
29 September -6 October 2013.
www.samuilatinandjazzweek.com
Program:
Sunday 29 Sept.:
Fair House Villas Spa | Maenam
20.00 Preview Concert Deborah Brown
21.00 Dina Medina Cabo CubaJazz
Monday 30 Sept.:
Rocky’s Boutique Resort | Lamai
20.00 Trio Peter Beets ‘Tribute to
Peterson’
21.00Judith Nijland the Beets
Brothers
Tuesday 1 Oct.:
The Drink Gallery | Chaweng
20.00-22.00 Saskia Laroo
with ‘Jazzkia’
Wednesday 2 Oct.:
The Passage Samui | Laem Yai
20.00-22.00 Miquel Rodriques feat.
Nadia Basurto
Thursday 3 Oct.:
Centara Grand Beach Resort | Chaweng
20.00-22.00 Salsa Night with
Nando Vanin
Concerts are with an entrance fee of
500 THB/ ticket. Tickets can be booked
at the venues, via the website or at
info@samuilatinandjazzweek.com
Specially created fine dining menus
will complete the experience at each
of these evenings.
Friday 4 Oct. + Saturday 5 Oct.
at Main Stage at the Beachfront of
Amari Palm Reef | Chaweng
2 days of free concerts starting at
18.30 until midnight.
Expect an exciting line-up and fun
evening with: Kho Mr. Saxman,
Buntita, Cabo CubaJazz, Koran
Daniels, Amik Guerra, Nils Fischer,
Fabio Deldongo, Rolf Delfos and
many more
Sunday 6 Oct.
at After Party at Secret Garden |
Bang Rak
18.00 Sunday Session with Fabio
Deldongo
A DATE FOR YOUR HOLIDAY DIARY

Green Is the
New Black
A healthy lifestyle is vital and kick
starting your everyday regime with a
simple shot of beautiful, nutrient-rich
wheatgrass is fantastically beneficial for
your health and energy levels! Its not to
hard to find either, in Thailand, and with
warm weather all year round you will
discover fresh juices and natural vitamin
shots available on every corner and now
you will find wheatgrass right next to
your favourite breakfast juices on many
of our Phuket resort menus to give you
that extra holiday health boost!
Health experts suggest that drinking 1 shot
of wheatgrass is equivalent to eating 1kg of
vegetables. The benefits of drinking a daily shot
of wheatgrass are endless; from the treatment
of acne and eczema to dog bites and bruises to
cancer and infertility, research shows wheatgrass
truly is the medicine beneath our feet.
So what is wheatgrass? It’s a complete food grown
from the seed or kernel of the common wheat
plant. It is a member of the cereal grass family,
which includes barley grass, oat grass and rye
grass. Wheatgrass is at its most nutritional at its
young bright green leafy stage of growth, when it
looks similar to lawn grass. At its nutritional peak,
wheatgrass has an extremely high concentration
of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants,
living enzymes, chlorophyll, and phytonutrients.
Why does it work? Well it all comes down to
something called the ‘Juice Grass Factor’.
Scientists are still working to find out exactly what
it’s made up of. In cereal grasses, the Factor reaches
its highest concentration in the young grass
sprouts and diminishes as the plant ages.
The research shows wheatgrass facilitates the
body’s natural ability to heal itself and the Factor
has a powerful effect on the regeneration of
damaged skin and improvement of health in
August 201330
Holiday smarter, holiday fitter

general. Patients having wheatgrass treatment
were clearly showing signs that their immune
systems were being enhanced and strengthened.
Everyone has heard that chlorophyll is great for
you and might think it holds the secret healing
power in wheatgrass. However, since 1995, Dr.
Chris Reynolds, an Australian family physician,
has observed thousands of wheatgrass “healing
episodes” and was able to duplicate many of the
clinical results such as burn recovery, wound and
fracture healing and many other conditions,
but there was no chlorophyll in the extract he
was using. So what was actually causing these
phenomena? Dr. Reynolds’ guess-the Grass Juice
Factor. The Juice Factor influences Growth Factor
activity, this is what is responsible for cell growth,
recovery, repair and many other functions in our
bodies. Other research suggests that wheatgrass
influences gene expression by speeding up the
rate and levels of enzymes and other protein
production by the DNA in the cell nucleus.
Well that all sounds very technical, but the
bottom line is that there are so many cases
of people healing quickly and effectively from
serious illness like breast cancer and maintaining
good health through wheatgrass treatment that
it should not be taken lightly. When it comes to
the general upkeep of your health it’s cheap and
easy to have 1 shot of wheatgrass per day, you can
grow it at home, use supplement sachets or head
to most cafes, we now have Wheatgrass shots
on our menus at many of our Absolute Resorts in
Phuket to help support your newfound healthier
attitude and to give you an extra spring in your
step when on holiday!
August 2013 31

By: Kanokwan Homcha-aim
How To Reduce Your Foodprint
Off the Beaten Path in phuket
Did you celebrate World
Environment Day on June 5?
Started in 1972, World
Environment Day is an annual
event aiming to promote the
importance of the environment,
and motivate positive actions at
a global level.
Each year, the United Nations
Environment Programme
(UNEP) allocates a different
environmental theme that
challenges people to become
change agents and get together
to move the world forward to a
development basis that is more
sustainable and equitable.
This year’s campaign was
‘Think. Eat. Save Reduce
Your Foodprint.”
According to the UN Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO),
every year 1.3 billion tons of food
is wasted. This is equivalent to
the same amount produced in
the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
At the same time, 1 in every 7
people in the world go to bed
hungry and more than 20,000
children under the age of 5 die
every day from hunger.
The 2013 campaign “Think. Eat.
Save Reduce Your Foodprint”
was inspired by the situation
in Mongolia where economic
growth is expanding very quickly
and is likely to result in a food
crisis in the near future.
The main message from the
slogan “Think. Eat. Save.” is
to think before you eat, and
help save our environment. It
is aimed to motivate people to
be aware of the environmental
impact of leftover food.
In Phuket, many organisations
held activities to celebrate
World Environment Day. The
Regional Environment Office 15
Phuket (REO 15) together with
Phuket Provincial Administrative
Organisation, Vachira Phuket
Hospital, and Phuket Provincial
Office of Natural Resources and
Environment set up exhibitions
and drawing competitions under
this year’s campaign theme at
Vachira Phuket Hospital.
There were also events and
relevant courses held at the
Prince of Songkla University and
even at the shopping centre in
Jungceylon, where there was an
exhibition about food wastage.
The main message from the
slogan “Think. Eat. Save.” is
to think before you eat, and
help save our environment. It
is aimed to motivate people to
be aware of the environmental
impact of leftover food.
August 201332 August 201332
ABSOLUTE COMMUNITY

While the planet is struggling
to provide us with enough
resources to sustain its 7
billion people (growing to an
estimated 9 billion by 2050),
FAO estimates that a third
of global food production is
either wasted or lost. Food
waste is an enormous drain
on natural resources and
a contributor to negative
environmental impacts.
Food waste means that all
resources and inputs used
in food production such as
water, land, labour are also
lost. For example, to produce
1 litre of milk you use 1,000
litres of water.
In the United States, the
proportion of organic waste is
the second largest contributor
to landfills, and the largest
producer of methane gas. In
Thailand, organic waste is the
largest contributor to landfills.
The “Think. Eat. Save.” campaign
also promotes people to take
action at a household level.
Just start by making a smart
decision before buying food:
check the expiry date, select food
that has a low environmental
impact, such as organic foods
that do not use chemicals in
the production process. Buying
local food is also a good choice
because it means that foods are
not flown halfway across the
world and therefore result in
fewer CO2 emissions.
Rice is the staple diet for Thai
people. The process of rice
production is time consuming
and needs plenty of resources.
Moreover, to make streamed
rice, you need water to clean it
and lots of energy to cook it. If
after every meal 10 million Thais
left one spoon of rice (11 grams)
uneaten, and an unfinished glass
of water (20 ml), it would mean
wasting 200,000 litres of water,
15,000 kilowatts of electricity,
750 litres of gasoline, and 9
tons of minerals. It would also
release 200 tons of greenhouse
gases into the atmosphere, and
generate around 73 tons of
organic waste.
World Environment Day has
received remarkable support
from public, non-profit
organisations and governments
around the world. Here are
some examples of the various
awareness campaigns that have
been used throughout the years:
1985: Youth, Population and
Environment
1989: Global Warming
1994: One Earth, One Family
1999: Our Earth, Our Future…
Just Save It
2005: Green Cities Plan for
the Planet!
2010: Many Species One Planet
One Future
2013: Think. Eat. Save Reduce
Your Foodprint
Therefore, from now on, lets
all change our eating habits by
finishing our meals and drinks.

Friday Fitness Activities
In June, Absolute World
Group Staff in Phuket,
Thailand were introduced
to Friday Fitness Activities
as part of our ongoing
Corporate Social
Responsibility Initiative.
The aim of Friday Fitness
Activities is to kickstart the
health fitness levels of our
staff into high gear. Friday
Fitness Activities offerings
include Zumba, Yoga,
Aerobics, Beach Volleyball
and even a Running Club. The
Friday Fitness Activities have
become very successful, with
more and more staff joining
every Friday afternoon. It’s
fantastic to see so many of
our staff taking advantage of
this great initiative!
A recent session ofZumba on
the beachfront proved to be the
perfect end to a Friday afternoon
with perfect weather and an
absolutely stunning sunset
falling over Patong Beach.
And we are getting in as much
practice as we can, as we are
wanting to roll out this initiative
to you, our members and guests.
We look forward to you joining
us for aZumba class or two on
the beach soon…
August 201334
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR STAFF

Ambassador and Thailand
Triathlete Champion,
Jaray Jearanai
Healthy Snacks
Carrying the ‘Share the
Dream’ message…
In Other News...
Our very own Absolute
World Group Sporting
Ambassador and Thailand
Triathlete Champion,Jaray
Jearanaijoined our CSRteam
for a visit to local Phuket
school the Bansainamyen
Municipality to host
a Sports Ambassador
Inspiration Visit on the 7
August 2013 from aimed at
inspiring local youngsters
to follow their dreams,
whatever they may be.
61 children in Grade 6 enjoyed
a fantastic presentation and
were inspired byJaray who spoke
to the children about his native
Phuket background, hailing
from Cherng Talay/Bangtao
Beach, and how he became
a professional triathlete and
inspired them to work hard and
follow their dreams.
The children were very excited
to touchJaray’s racing bike and
cycling gear which had traveled
all over the world this year as he
completes on the International
Triathon circuit.Jaray challenged
the children to a variety of sports
sessions at the school explaining
warm ups and a series of
exercises on the school’s own
track. This followed with a
cool down aided by the healthy
snacks prepared for them by
the Absolute Sea Pearl bakery:
homemade cookies alongside a
box of 100% orange juice.
August 2013 35

Warin Hengploy is the Bell
Captain at Absolute Bangla
Suites on Bangla Road in
Patong. A slight man with
a booming smile, Khun
Jeab originally comes from
Bangkok. He moved to Phuket
some years ago to find work,
and has been with Absolute
ever since. Khun Jeab’s face
lights up when he talks about
his job at Absolute Bangla
Suites; he loves being the Bell
Captain and coming face to
face with guests from so many
different countries. Khun Jeab
states that the best part of his
job is knowing that he’s helped
to make someone’s holiday
in Phuket happier. When
he’s not at work, Khun Jeab
enjoys going to the beach and
playing football. He’s waiting
to welcome you to Absolute
Bangla Suites.
Prisana Songnoei works in the
Housekeeping Department of
Absolute Nakalay Boutique
Resort. A sweet, bubbly girl
who passes her days as a Room
Attendant, Khun Nan is always
ready to assist our guests with
a smile. She enjoys making the
rooms neat and tidy, and is
always going out of her way to
make sure each guest has an
exceptional stay. She says she
enjoys the fact that everyone
works as a team at Nakalay
and is always happy when a
guest thanks her before the
end of their stay. In her spare
time, Khun Nan enjoys Phuket’s
beaches and collecting
earrings. She’s waiting to
welcome you to Absolute
Nakalay Boutique Resort.
Spotlight on Our Staff
AS MANY OF YOU WHO HAVE COME TO SPEND YOUR HOLIDAYS WITH US KNOW, WE HAVE
A WONDERFUL TEAM ON HAND TO LOOK AFTER YOUR EVERY NEED WHEN IN RESORT. ONE THING
WE KNOW FOR CERTAIN IS THAT OUR TEAMS ENJOY MEETING YOU, HELPING YOU AND INTERACTING
WITH YOU. RECENTLY, OUR RESORT MANAGERS HANDPICKED ONE OUTSTANDING STAFF MEMBER
FROM EACH RESORT IN PHUKET. WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUN TO HIGHLIGHT THESE FOUR
OUTSTANDING STAFF MEMBERS FROM OUR PHUKET RESORTS TO YOU, AND SHARE SOME
INFORMATION REGARDING THEIR WORK EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL LIFE.
We’re Waiting
to Welcome You
Jeab, Absolute Bangla Suites
Nan, Absolute Nakalay
Boutique Resort
August 201336

Sugunya Khamdech is a Guest
Service Agent at Absolute
Sea Pearl Beach Resort Spa.
Originally from Bangkok, she
came to Phuket to work in the
Hospitality Tourism Industry.
Always available with a Thai Wai
and smile, Khun A prides herself
on how good she is helping our
guests sort out any issues they
may have during their stay. For
Khun A, no issue is too big or
too small. She enjoys helping
guests, and goes out of her way
to do so. She expresses that the
best part of her job is knowing
she is giving good service to all
the guests who stay at Absolute
Sea Pearl Beach Resort Spa.
At the end of the day, receiving
a good comment from a guest
is what makes Khun A’s job
worthwhile. In her spare time,
Khun A enjoys perfecting her
English speaking skills and
reading books. She’s waiting to
welcome you to Absolute Sea
Pearl Beach Resort Spa.
Winit Dummusik works as
a Bellman at Absolute Twin
Sands Resort Spa. With
years of Hospitality Tourism
experience under his belt,
Khun Lek‘s quiet demeanor is
a welcome comfort to guests
staying at Absolute Twin Sands
Resort Spa. Khun Lek is quick
to help in any way that he can.
He feels that the success of
our newest resort is due to the
warm, inviting atmosphere.
A native of Krabi province,
Khun Lek says that guests who
spend a holiday in Phuket are
lucky because the local people
are very nice. When he’s not
working, Khun Lek can be found
on the beach reading a book. Be
sure to look for Khun Lek when
you stay at Absolute Twin Sands
Resort Spa. Chances are he’ll
greet you with a big smile and
say, “Welcome to Absolute Twin
Sands Resort Spa. Thank you
for visiting us.”
Lek, Absolute Twin Sands
A, Absolute Sea Pearl
August 2013 37

In-House Video Producer
MEET JAMES STEWART
ABSOLUTE VIDEO PRODUCER
ABSOLUTE SOCIAL VIDEO MEDIA
Social media is the new
norm, empowering
you to gain access to
meaningful information
about virtually anything,
and allowing you to
connect on a much more
interactive level with
the brands that matter
most to you. Through our
social media channels
you can become part of
our community, gaining
an insight into everyday
Absolute World life.
What is happening at our
resorts? What is new on
our menus? What is the
latest local activity you
experience on your next
holiday? It connects our
globally spread teams and
engages with you directly
and has become an
essential part of our day-
to-day activity and that of
all global businesses.
One of the biggest aspects of
social media is video, which has
become central to platforms
such as Instagram, Facebook
and Pinterest, and continues
to gain astronomical amounts
of users on a daily basis. We are
fortunate to have a fantastic,
dedicated in-house social
media team who are at the
very heart of everything we do,
ready to capture each moment.
Our social media channels
are robust and feature across
platforms from Facebook, to
Instagram, to Pinterest, to
Google+. Two hugely important
platforms however are Vimeo
and of course YouTube, and
under the direction of our
August 201338

Global Brand Development
Director is an incredibly
talented cameraman and
producer James Stewart,
based in Phuket, who carefully
films and edits each video
for your viewing pleasure
allowing you a real visual
insight into the brand we are
building around you.
James has had a long career
in the television and film
industry starting in London
in 1999 and his videos have
become an integral part of the
Absolute World Group social
media collection. From your
testimonials sharing holiday
ownership experiences, to
construction updates delivering
a realistic representation of
your newly awaited resorts in
progress, to highlights from
our openings and functions, to
our exercise Boot Camps, our
Corporate Social Responsibility
work and the soon to be
released Holiday Smarter,
Holiday Fitter health series,
James continues to provide
valuable insight into your
Absolute World.
James’ work takes him all over
Asia. Travelling affords the
opportunity to come face to
face with many of our owners
and members. “The locations
and the broad range of Absolute
members I meet from all over
the world makes every day
interesting and educational.
It’s always so uplifting to hear
the great holiday memories
being made and be part of
that.”commented James.
Video is essential and with ever
increasing Internet speeds, it
is now possible to upload high
definition videos and give you
a much better insight. We
encourage you to follow our
channels and engage with us.
We are always delighted for you
to share your holiday memories
so please send us your best
photos and videos from your
Absolute holidays, whether
you used your phone or your
camera! Any we use, we will be
giving you a 2,000 THB voucher
towards a lovely meal next
time you visit us in Thailand
as a thank you! You can send
these to us by uploading via
www.absoluteworld.wetransfer.
com and sending to producer@
absoluteworld.net, please also
tell us your Membership number
so we can thank and reward you!
Keep up to date with all your
latest Absolute World news at
www.absoluteworld.com/news
Julie and Elizabeth Deane, Australia
Holiday Smarter, Holiday Fitter
CSR Activity
Neil and Rennie Robinson, New Zealand
www.vimeo.com/
absoluteworldgroup
www.youtube.com/
absoluteworld
www.facebook.com/
absoluteworldgroup
August 2013 39

A feast of
delights awaits
with new menu
unveilings
August 201340
CULINARY FEATURE

The culinary dream
team at the beach-front
Absolute Sea Pearl
Resort has launched a
new menu of tempting
delights all created with
holiday bliss in mind. From
classic grill specialties
such as Australian Beef
Tenderloin to succulent
Thai curry delicacies
and an enticing array of
Global Tapas - Absolute
Sea Pearl Restaurant is out
to win hearts, minds and
stomachs!
World traveller, Irish-born Chef
Anthony’s culinary cred has
been honed in some of Europe’s
finest kitchens and he has
brought all of his experience
to our kitchens in creating a
menu of diverse, yet focused
international offerings. Even
the little ones are catered for
with a kid-enticing selection of
healthier crispy thin crust pizzas
and pastas.
You can dine alfresco
throughout the day in the
outdoor beach-side café -
watching the colourful crowd
laze by or while gazing at
another glorious Patong sunset
amidst the lullaby of breaking
waves. This is when you will
know that you are officially on
vacation on the paradise island
of Phuket!
Not to be outdone, Absolute
Nakalay Restaurant has been
included in the scope of exciting
changes and are now offering a
pool-side version of the menu,
heavy on fresh salads, gourmet
sandwiches NZ Beef burgers.
August 2013 41

travel tips
Camera+
Camera+ works well for taking
photos, and works even better
for editing them afterwards.
The “Clarity” effect alone is
wonderful for bringing out
dramatic detail in your pictures.
Platform:
Best Photo Apps
for Smartphones
Most people love photography, but often worry that their skills may not be up to par. The good news is that
it no longer matters! Thanks to the dozens of photography apps available, you can transform even the most
average looking snaps into works of art without needing to know a thing about image editing or having
to go through a desktop computer. The simple one-touch controls in most smartphone apps can have you
producing Photoshop-like effects in no time. With the following apps installed on your smartphone, you’ll be
able to replace the default camera app, apply basic and advanced adjustments, add fancy effects and even
replicate some of the features of a digital SLR. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular apps,
so what are you waiting for? Download them, and start shooting better photos today!
PicShop - Photo Editor
Photography apps are slim
pickings on BlackBerry 10, but
PicShop - Photo Editor is the best
of the small bunch thanks to
the full selection of editing tools
on offer. There are plenty of fun
features, too, such as novelty
stickers and a “meme maker.”
Platform:
Snapseed
The gesture-based controls take
a little getting used to, but once
you master the various vertical
and horizontal sliders for fine-
tuning each effect, the powerful
Snapseed will quickly become
your go-to app for enhancing
your smartphone snaps.
Platform:
Camera Zoom FX
If you only had space for one
photography app on your Android
device, make it CameraZoom FX.
On top of the standard features,
it comes with a load of cool extras
such as voice-activated shooting
and the ability to edit famous
people into your photos.
Platform:
August 201342

Instagram
t’s an oldie but a goodie thanks
to the huge user community and
great looking retro filters. Sharing
isn’t limited to the Instagram
network – you can also share your
snaps with Facebook, Twitter and
Tumblr.
Platform:
Photosynth
Take your panorama shots to
the next level with the Photosynth
app. As well as supporting the
standard left to right panoramas,
it can also incorporate the up
and down directions to create a
full sphere.
Platform:
Pro HDR
HDR may be a standard option
in iOS and certain Android
smartphones, but the effect is
subtle. Pro HDR delivers results
that are far more dramatic,
lifting out the highlights and
shadows to produce stunning
shots that rival those out of a
pro-level digital SLR.
Platform:
Pocketbooth
Why waste money on real photo
booths when you can reproduce
the same effects on your
smartphone? Pocketbooth’s
one-time fee gets you unlimited
photo strips that you can share
on social media sites. You can
even pay a little extra to have
them professionally printed.
Platform:
PhotoFunia
PhotoFunia is an entertaining
alternative to the serious image
editors, integrating faces into
more than 300 different scenes.
It’s not a strict cut and paste job,
either, as PhotoFunia edits and
adjusts each face to match the
scene perfectly.
Platform:
PicFrame
A picture may be worth a
thousand words, but a collection
of pictures tells the full story.
PicFrame makes it easy to group
up to nine photos together in
adjustable frames, with loads
of different shapes, corners and
backgrounds to choose from..
Platform:
travel tips
August 2013 43

Travel Makeup
Quick Beauty Tips to Keep You
Looking Good on the Go
Whether you’re traveling
on the ground or at 35,000
feet, here are eight fast
fixes to help you arrive
feeling refreshed.
Save The Heavy Stuff
For Later:
Keeping skin hydrated is key,
especially when you’re in the air,
but slathering on your heaviest
cream can leave your face
looking oily. Try a gel-based
moisturizer that absorbs and
dries quickly. To even your
complexion when you’re in a
hurry, apply a stripe of stick
concealer down the bridge of
your nose and across your
cheekbones, forehead and chin.
Then blend all over with a bit of
light lotion for sheer coverage.
Tone Down A Breakout
You know what a few squirts of
Visine can do after a red-eye, but
it also works on that blemish on
your forehead. Apply a couple of
drops to a cotton swab or hold
the tip of the bottle directly on
the pimple for a few seconds to
quickly cut redness. Then dab
the area with a tissue to absorb
residual moisture. If you still need
more coverage, apply a light
layer of concealer and gently
press with a clean tissue to set it.
Stick To Cream Makeup
If you’re putting on makeup in
a dim airplane bathroom, stick
with creams, which are more
difficult to overdo because they
melt into skin. Plus, you don’t
need an arsenal of brushes to
apply. If you can’t part with your
powder blush or bronzer, use a
smaller brush to give you more
control and prevent color from
splattering on your shirt collar.
Help Makeup Work Overtime
Long-wear lipsticks are particularly
enticing if you don’t have time
to constantly reapply, however,
these formulas leave little room
for mistakes and can often be
drying. To get staying power
without sacrificing hydration,
try this go-to trick: Apply a light
layer of foundation or concealer
to lips, fill them in with lip liner,
then swipe lipstick over the top.
Extend the life of your blush and
eyeshadow by dusting translucent
powder overyour face and lids first.
travel tips
August 201344

Hide Dark Circles In A Hurry
Neutralize blue tones by applying
an apricot colored concealer or
primer. And use a light eyeshadow
that won’t emphasize darkness
or highlight fine lines, like a
shimmer-free bone shade. But if
puffiness is your problem, putting
coverup on top can reflect light
and make your undereye area
look more pronounced. It’s better
to apply a concealer that matches
your skin tone to the inner corners
of your eyes and buff it out along
the sockets with your ring finger.
To look more awake, add a coat
of mascara to your top lashes
only, wiggling it into the roots
and rolling out to the ends.
Be careful not to pump the
wand in the tube as this causes
mascara to dry out more quickly.
Fix A Smudge - Fast
Applying a creamy concealer
with your finger will break down
the pigment and blend it out; so
much easier than washing off a
mascara flub and starting over.
Apply Liner On The Move
Add a swipe of eyeliner across
your upper lashes to define and
perk up tired eyes. For a steadier
hand and smoother line, rest your
pinkie on the tip of your nose.
Stop Static In Seconds
Friction caused by rubbing hair
against the headrest during
a flight or a lengthy commute
can wreak havoc on your
blow-out. To get frizz under
control, massage a pea-size drop
of hand cream into your palms
and lightly run them over your
hair. For extra holding power,
warm a bit of clear lip balm
between your fingertips and slick
it over any flyaways.
travel tips
August 2013 45

WE CARE ABOUT YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY’S SAFETY BEFORE
YOU TRAVEL. HERE ARE SOME
TIPS FOR TRAVELLING SAFELY
WITH YOUR FAMILY.
Before You Go
• Research basic information
about your destination
• Leave a copy of your itinerary
with a trusted family member
or friend
• Make a list of important
emergency information
• Go over basic safety
information, rules, and
procedures, such as what to
do if you get lost or sick
Getting Packed
• Travel light
• Pack essentials in your
carry-on bag
• Bring along a basic First Aid Kit
• Remember the rules for
what you can carry on and
what needs to be checked
when flying
On the Road
• Make sure that your
children are in approved
child safety seats
• If your children are too old for
child safety seats, do ensure
that they wear a seat belt
• Never leave your children
alone in your car
At the Airport and In the Air
• Explain safety security
procedures, rules
and instructions
• Instruct your children to
cooperate with airport
security officials
• Tell your children not to make
jokes or false threats about
airport security issues
• Check on requirements
forstrollers, diaper bags, and
other baby andchild equipment
travel tips
Family Travel
Safety Tips
Stick Together
Travel Light
August 201346

In Your Hotel
• Find the nearest fire exits, fire
alarms and fire extinguishers
to your room
• Teach your children basic
emergency procedures, such as
what to do in case of a fire
• Keep potentially hazardous
items, such as toiletries,
out of reach
• Supervise your children at
all times
Out and About
• Set ground rules for curfews
and safety rules
• Make sure your children cross
streets with your supervision
• If lost, instruct your children
to go to an agreed upon safe
place and stay there
• Dress your children in
distinctive or brightly
colored clothes to make them
more visible
• Write down your contact
information on an index
card and place it in your kids’
pockets to make contacting
you easier
• Tell your children not to take
anything from a stranger or
go anywhere with a stranger
And remember you can
always contact a member of
our Member Services team on
one of the local rate numbers
listed below before your trip if
you have any questions.
Beach Safety
Relax Enjoy
travel tips
AUSTRALIA +61 280 734452
China +86 400 8980 898
Finland +35 894 2704142
France +33 176 773993
Germany +49 692 222 1557
RUSSIA +7 499 795 7549
THAILAND +66 762 92525
UK +44 203 6423203
USA +1 6465 645 654
August 2013 47

Blue-Mango-Restaurant-in-Patong
Absolute Twin Sands Resort Spa, Thaweewong Rd, Tri Trang,
Ban PaTong, Phuket, Thailand 83150
Booking: 076 302 099 or email: info@bluemangoasia.com
www.bluemangoasia.com
A synergy of International flavours
that is sure to expand your dining experience
Come, discover Blue Mango
at the peaceful end of Patong
A
b
so
lu
te
g
u
ests
rec
eiv
e
15%
o
ff
th
eir
to
ta
l
b
ill

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