Pimalai Weekly Bulletin
Monday, October 19th, 2009

Quote of the week:
"Life is as fleeting as a rainbow, a flash of lightening, a star at dawn. Knowing this, how can you spend time quarreling?" Buddha.

Happy Loy Krathong - Monday, November 02, 2009 "A time to pay gratitude to the rivers, a time to wish happiness and prosperity, a time for romance.. a time for wonder."
"Loy Krathong" is one of the most romantic full moon events in Thailand. The word "Loy" means to float and "Krathong" is a small boat-like receptacle, traditionally made from banana leaf that is used for holding food, flowers and other offerings. So, "Loy Krathong" simply means to float such vessels (filled with flowers, lit candles and joss sticks) on water. This is done as a thanksgiving offering to the Goddess of Water. The practice is recorded as being initiated, many centuries ago, by Noppamas, a lady of the Sukhotai Court, who made a shape of a lotus flower to present to the King. Since then, a "Loy Krathong" festival has been celebrated yearly throughout the country.
A special "Loy Krathong evening" will be held a the Seven Seas restaurant, on Monday, November 02, from 7.00/ 7.15pm onwards; please contact Baan Pimalai restaurant for more details.

YOGA!! Let's Relax & Meditate - Let's experience YOGA!!
Pimalai Resort and Spa is pleased to supply guests with a peaceful area for meditation, practicing yoga, tai chi or similar activities. The Yoga platform is situated south of the resort's pool bar, adjacent to Accommodation Bayfront Deluxe 404. Mats can be found at The Spa from 10.00am and we kindly ask you to return it before 7.00pm at the same place.
It is always extremely difficult to find a Yoga teacher on this island! .but luck seems to be on our side this time. We have secured the services of Yoga Teacher "Winney" from September 1st, and this till April 2010; Winney will now be on site 3 times a week on Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday, from 4.30 to 6.00pm.
So if you want to learn or practice YOGA under the coaching of Khun Winney, then please join us on one of these days, and this for the very modest price of B.750 net per person / cession of 1hr30mns. Please book the day before and by 7.00pm at the SPA.

Pimalai Spa; Rejuvenate!! MORNING SPA DISCOUNT!!! EVERY DAY!!
Enjoy a 15% discount on all spa treatments during the hours of 10.00 am to 3.00pm (last booking 2.00pm);
The Spa..an oasis of serenity; it opens daily from 10:00am to 8.00pm (last booking at 7.00pm). Try "The Cucumber Wrap" designed to soothe your body and re-hydrate your skin.To ensure space is available, we recommend you to book at the Spa well in advance! For bookings: Dial extension 2.

Must-try fruits of Thailand
One of the most wonderful things about being in Thailand is the dynamic variety and incredible tastes of all the tropical fruits rarely seen in the West. To add to that, fruit in Thailand is relatively cheap and each month brings new succulent delights to tantalize buds. Known here as the "king of fruits" the durian is a must - try. Although some people are put off by the "raw sewage" smell many find the sweet, buttery taste to be worthwhile. The fruit has a firm, yellow flesh covering large seeds. If you can't stand to eat it fresh, then try the lighter durian chips or the cooked, sticky from of durian called "durian kuan" Kaffir limes have almost no juice but the rind is very aromatic and is thus grated and used in many flavorful dishes. The lime's lemony fragrance is used to enhance soups as well as fish and chicken dishes. The leaves of the tree are often added to soups like tom yum, as well as to stir fries, curries and salads.

Coconut
is used in many, Thai dishes. Perhaps the most memorable place you will find it is as coconut mile in green chicken curry. Coconut milk is used in many desserts too, such as bananas cooked in sweetened coconut milk. Young, tender coconut flesh is also very popular in desserts.
Covered in a red skin, lychees offer a light, delightful white flesh covering a shiny brow seed. They are sweet with just a hint of sour and come in a variety of types. Much like the lychee in appearance and texture, the longan has a brown outer skin and a fruit that is sweeter and less juicy.
Covered in a beautiful deep purple skin mangosteens contain white, pink-veined flesh that is sweet and juicy. This fruit is a favorite of most people, and should definitely be experienced if you have not tried them before.
Jackfruit looks like durian on the outside although a little less spiky. However, the fruit inside is very different. It is described by some as cross between bananas and pineapples, and is sweet and has a rubbery texture. It's often served with ice cream or mixed in fruit salads.

Spirit Houses
Prior to Buddhism arriving in Thailand the common religion was that of Spirit Worship, or Animism, and today many of the old animistic beliefs and practices are intertwined with Buddhism. An example is the Spirit House. The Spirit House can be seen as an elaborate shrine at a prominent spot outside many business establishments, such as hotels, or as a simple structure mounted on a pedestal outside a family home or small business. The purpose of the Spirit House is to provide an appealing shelter for the spirits, or celestial beings, who would otherwise reside in the heavens. According to folklore, the spirits themselves are either good or evil, but most are just finicky and mischievous, demanding respect from humans and capable of disastrous interferences if they don't get their way. The Spirit of the Land, for example, expects to be informed when a human intends to start a business or engage in improvements to an existing business. If the spirit is not informed, and if the human does not respectfully request permission, the spirit can indeed cause the venture to fail. There are countless gods and other celestial beings in Thai folklore but there are nine primary Guardian Spirits offering different types of protection, for example, for the House, for the Land, for Gates and Stairwells, for Rice Fields, for Animals, etc. The Spirit House at Pimalai is set into the hillside near the fountain at the reception lobby. The house is decorated with statues, small figures, flowers, candles and incense holders. Every day a Buddhist staff member visits the Spirit House to offer fruit, burn incense and give a short prayer. You are invited to visit the Spirit House but please be respectful and remove your shoes if you enter. Another symbol of Spirit worship is the decoration of symbolic trees with colored ribbons.

String, Superstitions and Beliefs
In Thailand string is involved in a number of rites and rituals. You may see string attached to the outside of a new building this is to ward off devious spirits that may wish to enter the premises and cause problems. You will sometimes see string tied around people's wrists especially after Buddhist ceremonies in which the strings have been blessed by the monks so as to invoke protection to the wearer. The string should be worn until it falls off thus bringing good fortune and good luck. Receiving such a string is a symbol of friendship. Finally, during Buddhist religious ceremonies held in the Wat, when the monks are chanting, a long string may be held by the monks and the worshippers with the idea that communal merit will flow through the string to benefit all the participants.. Also, it is said facetiously, if a worshipper starts to doze off during the chanting then a friendly tug on the string will act as a "wake-up call" and bring the sleeper back to the real world. The little white string that you will see running all around Pimalai estate is part of a blessing ceremony that was performed by 9 monks last week to celebrate Pimalai's official 7th anniversary and to bring for the next 12 months, good fortune to our business and to the 380 staffs who work at Pimalai.

Monks robe
Thai Buddhist monks once dyed their own colors extracted from turmeric and the heartwood and leaves from jackfruit trees; now most robes come chemically dyed.

Thailand Trivia: Do you know.?
The area of Thailand (513,115 sq km) is slightly smaller than France. The population of Thailand (62,000,000 (1999)) is about half that of Japan. The highest point in Thailand is Doi Inthanon at 2,576 m (8,500 feet). The national flower of Thailand is the lotus, the national animal is the elephant and the national bird is the Siamese Fireback Pheasant. Thailand's form of Government is that of a constitutional monarchy. Life expectancy for Thai males is 65.6 years and for females is 73.0 years. The tri-colored Thai flag was first introduced by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) in 1917; the red represents nation, the white evokes religion and the blue symbolizes the monarchy.

Thai numbers
You may already know that the name of the cluster of islands straight off shore from this resort is Koh Ha. "koh" is island and "ha" means five. So what are the other Thai numbers? Our staff can help you to master the tone and pronunciation.

Now that you have mastered counting from zero to ten, what is your room number?

Thai Language
Here are some Thai language phrases you may wish to practice. Our staff will be pleased to help you with the tone and pronunciation. The same expression may be used for hello and goodbye.
Hello - "sa-wat-dee kha" said by a lady and "sa-wat-dee krup" said by a man
Thank you - "kawp-koon kha" said by a lady and "kawp-koon krup" said by a man
I like it not spicy - "chawp mai phet" delicious - "a-roy" beautiful - "suay"
If you would like to sign your postcards and letters using the Thai script for your name then our staff will readily assist you.

KHRAP AND KHA.
You should end your sentences with "khrap" if you are a man and "kha" if you are a woman: this is the polite way of addressing people in Thailand. Both words are also used to say "yes".

Article Losing Face
Thais are known to be patient and calm; being "jai yen" (cool-hearted) is highly admired in Thai culture. Any impulsive reactions that may show annoyance (i.e. raising your voice) are considered unseemly, counterproductive and can make you 'lose face' Losing your temper should be avoided; things will work themselves out much better if you remain calm Practice the words "mai pen rai" (meaning"never mind").

The Cicadas & their weird noise.,
you can hear them at precise times of the day, usually early morning (about 6.30 a.m.), midday and evening (about 6.30 p.m.); they surely make a very different noise than the ones you would find in the Mediterranean area but they remind us every day that we are so lucky to live so close to nature! As the weather gets hotter, their noise gets louder.

Jet lag - some tips
Hot milk: milk helps to relax everyone, from babies to adults. It also soothes the stomach after those in-flight drinks Hot Chocolate: another popular way to prepare the body for sleep and surprisingly healthy too as hot chocolate is full of anti-oxidants. Chamomile tea; a gentle sleeping aid which relaxes the body naturally as it contains no caffeine and is a great herbal drink before going to bed. For me personally, a nice glass of red wine will do the trick!

Water Reservoir; I get asked what is the big lake for just across the resort?? So here is the answer:
As you can imagine, a resort the size of Pimalai uses vast quantities of water in the accommodation units, in the pools, in the kitchens and for watering the grounds. Although there is a large supply of good quality well water available, where possible we prefer to use surface water and conserve the well water for use as a backup supply during dry periods. The large reservoir that is now completed on the left of the road going up to Pimalai Pool Villas has a capacity of 12,000 cubic meters and will be the main storage basin for runoff water collected during the few periods of intense rainfall - the green season. We have a second reservoir of 8000 cubic meters. The area around this reservoir is now landscaped and has been also developed for outdoor recreational pursuits including: tennis courts, a jogging track, petanque court, basket ball, badminton court, etc.Should you be a tennis player and are looking for a hitting partner (or a tennis knocker), please be aware that there are a few Pimalai staffs who will be happy to play tennis with you.

NO Monkey business here! Thks
Monkeys may be cute or amusing to look at but guests should be cautious when in the vicinity of these animals, whether they are wild monkeys in the forest or so-called "tame" monkeys that some Thais keep as pets. It is best that you keep your distance from all monkeys and be particularly careful if you are carrying food. Monkeys can be quite aggressive and have been known to scratch and bite unsuspecting visitors. The wounds inflicted may require professional medical help for cleansing the wound as well as an anti-tetanus inoculation At the resort, if you encounter monkeys, please DO NOT FEED them & CHASE Them away. Do not leave anything at night on your room balcony neither. Make sure also that your balcony sliding windows are firmly double locked as the monkeys are able to slide them open. Thank you.

Monkeys & Other wildlife
Guest at the resort estate can catch a glimpse of animals that freely roam the lust vegetation such monitor lizards, egrets, eagles.etc.. One may also spot two kind of monkeys; the macaque, firstly, that hide behind the trees, waiting to pounce on left over fruits or biscuits, and that can be aggressive.. And the Dusky Langur (it has white color rings around the eyes), a shy, polite and much more friendly monkey. You can spot some of these Dusky Langur monkeys, very regularly eating fruits from the trees towering above the waterfall stream at the resort (wooden bridge linking the lobby bar to the restaurant below).

That cute cat may not be quite so cute.
On occasion homeless cats stray onto the resort property. They may look cute but some of them may scratch or bite when approached, or may be covered in fleas, or have intestinal ailments. If you come across a cat in the vicinity of your accommodation please do not feed it or encourage it. If you let our staff know, we can have the cat captured and taken to a Buddhist temple on the other side of the island or on the mainland. Buddhists believe that all living forms should be protected as they may contain the soul of long deceased ancestors. So, the cats that we leave at the temple will be treated well.

English Communication
Regrettably there is sometimes a breakdown in communication between our staff and the guests. This can occur especially when a guest speaks English with an accent that our staff member may not have experience with. In Thailand, it is embarrassing to lose face by saying, "I do not understand" so, rather than using this expression a Thai may guess at what is asked of him/her and then give a completely irrelevant answer. We ask you to be patient with our staff if this occurs. You may wish to repeat the question slowly or rephrase the question. If you still have a problem we suggest that you ask to speak with a supervisor. Thank you for your consideration

The GYM; please note that the GYM is nowadays located at the Pool Villa Estate and offers now a much larger space available for your enjoyment.
To access to the gym; please walk across the resort up to the main road; cross carefully the road and take the nice stoned walkway located on the right hand side just after the entrance arch to the Pool Villa estate. You will arrive first to an art gallery; keep on going one more floor and you will arrive then at the GYM. A nice walk..and a great way to start your daily exercise!!!

Water Sport Equipment at the Beach
As a service to our guests we supply, free of charge, a variety of non-motorized water equipments for their use. We do insist all year around, however, that guests using these equipments, at all times wear an appropriately fitted life vest. Children must be accompanied by an adult supervisor.

A strong warning
The comfort and well-being of our guests is of paramount importance to us here at Pimalai Resort and Spa. With this in mind, we wish to warn you of the potential hazards of renting a motorcycle to tour Koh Lanta. Many of the roads on the island are of low quality and are narrow, winding and hilly. They also may have pot-holes, loose gravel (or sand), tree branches and other obstacles. They are especially dangerous when wet. Also, you may have noticed that the Thai "style" of driving is different to what you are used to at home. These factors together with rider inexperience increase the likelihood of an accident occurring. In the past some of our guests who have rented motorcycles have had their idyllic vacation spoiled due to minor motorcycle accidents which have resulted in their requiring medical treatment for cuts, scrapes, gravel rash and painful burns from the motorbike's tailpipe. Being careful is better than being sorry! You may find it safer to tour Koh Lanta in a 4 wheeled vehicle rather on a 2 wheeled one! One of our Guest Services Officers can assist you with that... even with a chauffeur driven car!

Walkway to the Hillside Pool Villa Facilities.
If you are staying at the resort, you may consider using the newly built walkway located, across the main road, on the right hand side just passed the entrance arch to the Pool Villa estate. Just follow the signs; these will lead you to the Banyan Caf? and the spectacular 50 meters long infinity pool.
If you are staying in one of the hillside Pool Villa (especially in rows 600 & 900), and wish to access the Spa, the Dive center or one of the 3 restaurants down the resort, across the resort, we also invite you to do so. Up & Down..a great way to exercise daily and staying fit!

The Resort Shop
A variety of boutique items, handicrafts, art pieces, books, magazines etc. are available at the Boutique located underneath the Lobby area. Check out our Jewels Pimalai Design - earrings, pendants, bracelets; perhaps a nice little souvenir for Madam to take home.

"Forest Walk"; 6 kms south of Pimalai at the Marine National Park in the Lanta Forest. Please be aware it is a very adventurous and bumpy road on the way to the National Park!
The walk is about 2 km. up and down, (also be aware that at some points it is very steep), and goes through a very dense forest with fabulous trees where the monkeys are usually there to welcome you. Wear good walking/ tennis shoes!

Elephant Riding. Did you know you can ride an elephant even on Koh Lanta?
Contact one of our Guest Services Officers who will help you in booking this adventurous activity. Alternatively, if you are looking for something more relaxing, book one hour of treatment at Pimalai Spa!

Scuba Diving @ Pimalai
The PADI Dive Center is now opened every day during the Green Season (August to Mid October) from 10.00am to 12.00pm; please feel free to walk down the Dive Center during that time where David & Gesine who runs the Dive Center will be happy to assist you.

The Dive Center is located nearby the beach, close to accommodation building 117-120. The Dive center offers Dive trips to local islands, such as Koh Haa and Koh Phi Phi; though this subject to weather and sea conditions.

Recognized with a PADI Excellence Award for outstanding customer services and professionalism, our experience Diving management team will make you feel very welcome. Call Ext: 7920 or alternatively ask one of our Guest Services Officer to call David or Gesine on 086-283-2426/ 084-846-3816.

NO SMOKING in Restaurants. SORRY Smokers., We are JUST APPLYING THE LAW!!!!!!!
The Thai government's on-going reinforcement of smoke-free zones in public areas has required us to forbid smoking in our restaurants, including outdoor restaurants. Therefore, please note that smoking is not permitted in Baan Pimalai, Rak Talay, Baan Pimalai and The Seven Seas restaurants; for the smokers, small outdoor areas have been allocated close to each of these restaurants. We would be most grateful if smokers would adhere to this smoking ban. Thank you for your understanding.

Energy Conservation
As a guest at Pimalai your comfort and wellbeing is of paramount importance to us and we do not wish to compromise this in any way. But, as global citizens with concerns for our environment, we also have a responsibility to ensure that we are not wasteful in the use of our available energy supply. To help us in practicing energy conservation we would appreciate if you would consider adopting the following measures: close all doors while the air conditioning is in operation; close the black-out curtains when the sun is beaming directly into your room (or when you leave the accommodation for an extended period); turn off unnecessary lighting (especially exterior lights - balcony - at night). Also, as a fire safety precaution, and as requested by out tour operator partners, we ask you to switch off air-conditioning units and electrical devices (e.g. the TV set) when you are out of your accommodation. Thank you.

Thai Cooking Class. Learn a few famous recipes that you can take back home. You will cook for yourself under the guidance of one of our Thai Chefs. In addition, you will also receive a recipe guide booklet, a souvenir Pimalai cooking apron to take home and, if you do really well, the Chef will hand you an official framed "Arroy Dee" cooking certificate!

This week's Buffet from 7.00 p.m
Tuesday, August 18th; "Thai Buffet" @ Baan Pimalai restaurant.
Saturday, August 22th; "Seafood BBQ" @ Rak Talay Beach restaurant.

"Baan Pimalai" restaurant - Ext 7307; all day restaurant; offers essentially a western type of cuisine. Our Kitchen director is originated from Belgium; though a rather imposing guy, he is very approachable and will always be delighted to prepare something that you really like. Only a very limited selection of Thai specialties is available on that menu. Open till 10.30pm (last order).

"Rak Talay" beach restaurant - Ext 7306; open at Lunch & Dinner. Great Dips, Wraps, Snacks, Salads, Thai food are on offer daily. Fresh catches from the Andaman Sea are available at evening time. Don't miss the Seafood BBQ each Saturday evening - weather permitted.

The Seven Seas Restaurant - A must! - Ext 7311
What do you get if you combine a sea view that is unparalleled, an elegantly styled facility that is unbeatable and a menu that is unbelievable? There is only one correct answer on Koh Lanta. Yes, it is the "The Seven Seas" restaurant at the Pool Villas overlooking Ba Kan Tiang Bay. "The Seven Seas" offers a comprehensive "a la carte" fusion style dinner menu which means that superior ingredients from all over the globe are marinated, cooked and served together on the same plate - generating a symphony of flavors in perfect harmony. And of course there is a wide-ranging collection of international wines from which you can select an ideal accompaniment to your meal.
If you wish to experience fine dining then dinner at the "The Seven Seas" should be an essential component of your Pimalai vacation. Advance reservations may be made - Ext 7311- and complimentary transportation from the Pimalai Lobby to "The Seven Seas" restaurant can be arranged at the Pimalai reception desk in the Lobby. Open for Dinner from 6.30pm to 10.30 pm (last order). Though we recommend you to be there at 6.00pm for a pre-dinner drink whilst enjoying a usually spectacular sunset!
We also have a good selection of Wines by The Glass that you can enjoy at the Seven seas terrace, some 60 meters above sea level overlooking our magnificent bay! Cheers!

Upper swimming pool on the Hillside
At Pimalai we welcome a wide range of guests be they honeymooners, families, retired seniors, etc. At times there may be perceived conflicts between those who come here for peace and relaxation and those who are interested in more boisterous pursuits. This is especially noticeable when younger children play near water when their vocal volumes tend to increase! We would therefore ask that in the upper pool - the very large pool on the hillside - the younger children, those under 12 years old, only use the small pool adjacent to the larger swimming area; basically and when facing the bay, the area on the left side of the waterfall feature. Kids under 12, are not allowed in the larger pool area. We would like to remind that parental supervision of children in any of the pools is essential at all times.

Children in dining areas
Parents, we ask you for your co-operation in safeguarding your children when in the restaurants. At times our waiters and waitresses are carrying trays laden with hot foodstuffs and beverages and may not see a toddler that is running around...accidents can be prevented. During breakfast buffets the restaurants are quite busy as the guests move to and from their tables to the serving displays so, again, we would appreciate that the children remain seated at the tables at this time.

We try to keep our "Seven Seas restaurant" on the hillside as a tranquil dining setting and wish to advise that in order to preserve its peaceful atmosphere that this restaurant be reserved for "adults only" during the evening dinner time; therefore children under 12 are not allowed. Our other restaurants and room service will be available for families at this time.

Library Lounges
There are two Library Lounges located on the Pimalai property. One is at the resort, adjacent to the resort shop, and the second one is at the Pool Villa estate, next to the guest reception desk. In each you will find a large display of reading books and a variety of magazines available for your perusal. Also, for those interested in what is happening around the world, the daily "Bangkok Post" and "The Herald Tribune" are on display.
The Library lounges also offer free access to internet facilities should you wish to stay in touch with your family or search for information.

"RAK TALAY Bar" - Happy Hours!! Every day by the Beach!!
Our lay back platform at the beach restaurant are now completed; indulge in style and enjoy a good glass of wine, a tropical cocktail or a chilled beer whilst watching the beautiful sunsets! Daily Happy hours at the Beach from 5pm to 7pm.!

Wines of Thailand
Very good quality wines are now produced in the north of Thailand. Both vineyards have gained international recognition and their wines have won medals at various wine trade shows.
This week we would like to introduce Chateau de Loei vineyard from which we have listed the Chenin Blanc Extra Dry and the Red Shiraz.
Chenin Blanc; A medium sweet wine; deep color, golden, with mushrooms & fungus on the nose. Goes very well with Thai dishes.
Red Shiraz; soft and sweet with a light bitter after taste; also goes very well with spicy dishes.