Background
Constructed nine years ago from a mixture of old and new solid teak in Ayuthaya, the former capital of old Siam, and the only place in Thailand where traditional wooden house-building techniques still survive, the main body of the house was transported to Koh Samui in kit form and painstakingly re-assembled over a period of two years. Tassana Pra thus incorporates key structural components from bygone days, and has now become an acknowledged symbol of Thai elegance on Koh Samui, occupying a spectacular location atop a hillside and enjoying magnificent views across Samui's northern coastline and beyond to the distant outer islands of the Angthong Marine National Park. The huge wall-height folding window panels open up to capture breezes from all directions, making the entire living area of Tassana Pra delightfully cool and comfortable at all times.
In the mid-foreground of the view is the famous Big Buddha Temple, the inspiration for the villa's name, which roughly translated means "Buddha View". Tassana Pra has been specifically conceived by the owner to be his principal home for much of the year and not just as a "rental villa". Those lucky enough to secure the limited rental time available are therefore guaranteed a unique holiday experience.
Arrival
On arrival the first thing to notice is a sense of grandeur and space upon driving through the imposing electronically-controlled double gates and along a stone driveway which winds its way to the main entrance. Villa Tassana Pra is set in nearly 3 rai (4,800 square meters) of verdant private gardens that are home to over 100 varieties of tropical plants, trees, fruit trees and flowers. An intricate network of ponds, streams and waterfalls surround much of the house, pleasing the eye as well as adding security and collecting valuable rainwater for the garden sprinkler system. The villa itself is accessed by an ornate covered walkway bridge that crosses a lily pond, leading to carved main doors adorned with paintings of Thai dancers.
Living Pavilion ('sala')
A spacious living area with an abundance of comfortable furniture (complete with satellite TV, DVD/CD player and iPod port) and an adjacent formal dining area occupy the central pavilion, or 'sala'. With a soaring Thai roof supported by ten antique wood columns, this is a truly wonderful room by day and by night. Beyond the main sala, and stretching along its entire width, is a huge covered wooden-floored terrace that often becomes the most frequently used part of the villa. It is ideal for casual dining and for simply doing nothing.
There is a choice of easy chairs, daybeds and tables and chairs for writing and games. The terrace offers spectacular and unobstructed 180-degree views of the mountains, the sea to both the west and the south, the coastline, the Big Buddha Temple and the swimming pool. A steward's kitchen, just off the dining area, services all the living areas. To the right of the terrace there is a diving platform right above the deepest part of the swimming pool. The spectacular stone-lined free-form pool boasts its own unique views from the infinity edge, which magically appears to merge with the Gulf of Thailand.
Bedrooms
On either side of the main sala are smaller salas containing 3 luxurious bedrooms (two doubles and one twin) complete with four-poster beds. The bedrooms combine traditional Thai style with modern western comforts and facilities. The carved panels, doors and genuine antique Burmese and Thai furniture are of solid teak and the fabrics are of the finest Thai silks and cottons. As would be expected individual air-conditioning and ceiling fans are installed in all the bedrooms.
The spacious en-suite bathrooms, made up of marble, slate and natural stone, have separate imported bathtubs and shower units as well as unique open-air features and views. The master bedroom has the benefit of a large dressing room with floor to ceiling wardrobes and the master bathroom has a Jacuzzi.
On the ground level there is a fourth guest bedroom (a double) with a more modern decor and en-suite facilities, ideal for children or younger members of the party.
Staff
Also on the ground floor can be found the staff quarters, a laundry and a fully equipped modern kitchen. Behind the scenes, Tassana Pra is equipped with state of the art electrical and security systems, a back up generator, and efficient water storage facilities.
Our Resident Manageress Khun Oy is in charge of a team of 6, and is herself a professional Thai cooking teacher who will happily introduce you to the subtleties of this wonderful cuisine. You can even assist her in preparing your meals, or you can just leave it up to the team to prepare your chosen dishes. She is also an expert at preparing western dishes, and for that very special occasion we can arrange for your dinner to be accompanied by traditional Thai dancers and musicians. Oy's husband Khun Wallop keeps a loving eye on the whole property and also takes care of Tassana Pra's guests magnificently.
Activities
Samui is famous for its variety of spas and your Thai holiday will not be complete without a Thai massage, which can be enjoyed on the terrace in the special massage area.
Whilst in Samui you can enjoy the superb cuisine of its many restaurants, the vibrant nightlife and the varied attractions the island has to offer. For fine dining beside the beach one night visit (Poppies Samui) on south Chaweng Beach, part owned by the owners of Tassana Pra.