Melissa exclaimed, "Hey, Megan is going to be a COMO kid!"...
That is after a meeting where it is decided that we needed Point Yamu kid's activity book to be launched before Xmas. Alas, what does that mean? It means that I have to hurry up and start drawing... Ah yes, your dearest tech service director is drawing the kid's activity book!!!
It all started with Maalifushi where I was the interior designer
(nth years ago) turned operator (
yth years ago) turned owner's rep
(now). Since I witnessed the beginning and am part of the end, I thought I might as well document the process with illustrations. Somehow that personal project evolved into a Point Yamu activity book!?! ... Well I am excited with the idea, but I know very little about Point Yamu and even less on the kid's activities provided there. So I decided on the spot that Megan is to go and try out this new resort.
Hence on very short notice, Ken, Megan, my in laws, Feli, Jay, Bruce and Ari flew up to Phuket. I was working on site for the villas, kid's club and our new Beach Resort 50mins away for three days when the gang suddenly arrived. That signals the start of my vacation too! Hurray!!!
Having worked on Point Yamu pre-opening, I know how stunning the resort is. But I was still surprised how fast everybody especially Megan settled into the rooms and everywhere immediately. "I love it, I love it!", she wandered down the corridor, lobby, restaurants, pool etc.
The pool was her favorite. The hot sun did not seem to bother her even when all the adults simply prefer lying on the daybeds enjoying happy hour beer and chicken wings. Swimming pools generally pose a problem for me. I hesitated, recalling the numerous "I saw you doing aqua aerobics at the pool this morning!" in Maldives early this year... Yes, thank you, that was the first time I swam in the pool having visited the property at least 20 times for the past XXX years. I somehow forgot that everyone from the GM to the contractors knows me and I was happily jumping up and down in my loose bikini. Great job YY!
This time will be even worse because I will be exposing my 5 months old baby bump with saggy thighs and very pronounced varicose veins to yet another group of people who knows me. Plus the pool is shallow. " Mummy come in and play!" Dang, I will never hear the end of it!
I think the favorite pool was very quickly replaced by the favorite bath. It is an awesome bathtub which can easily fit the whole family. But daddy is more interested in his monsoon shower than playing with bubbles in the tub. Oh well. BUBBLES!!!
But even that was quickly replaced by another favorite - she calls it "the auntie in the last room" - aka the lady staff in the kid's club. Darling, trust me, you will never leave the kid's club after it has been fully furnished but in the meantime both Ken and Jay gave the kid's club staff a huge thumb's up. Judging from Megan's constant "are we going to the auntie in the last room yet?", she approved the verdict.
COMO has always been known for their food so Yamu is no exception. Personally I prefer food in Como Maalifushi. Yeah Tim, I dig your cooking!!! Having said that the kid's menu in room service was par excellence! It was the first time I tried dining in with Megan and OMG, that is the best and most comfortable meal ever! Jay, you should have recommended in-room dining sooner...
Oh yes, let's not forget that I have a job at hand while vacationing! I have to try out the activities so that I can draw for the book! Egged Ken and the adults to go for taiji, yoga, pilates and biking around Yamu town. Yes Yes Yes, everyone was keen but either it is lazing in bed or "we have to get ready for breakfast", nothing materialised!!! Biking was a firm yes from Ken until he saw the slopes and decided that it is too strenuous for a chilled vacations....
In the end we only went for a trip to the beach. Megan was ultra excited as she loved beaches but this is the first time she is heading out to sea via a local longtail boat with a loud engine... She went stiff.
I am not a beach person, I don't see the importance of having a beach attached to a resort. The whole point of falling asleep under the blazing hot sun is bizarre and a total waste of vacation time. I can see the bummer Jay roll her eyeballs... But hey, let's try... I always see beach bums armed with a book, presumably to fill in the gaps of doing nothing... OK what do I have here? Fountain Head by Ann Ryan...
Even with grandpa engaging Megan with shell hunting, sand castle building and swings, I can't digest this objectivism architecture stuff... wrong book. Eventually, Megan and me gave in to the charms of just lying in the deck chairs staring out at sea, eating porky.
Family time of everyone in different stages of snoozing by the beach in silence... hmmm. Strange...
I could not figure out why kids are so attracted to Point Yamu. I never felt it was designed for kids. Megan literally do not want to leave and have begged to fly back numerous times. It was not until the following week when I was walking the property with the designer, Paola Navone did I scratch the surface of its appeal to children. As Paola passed by the lawn, she exclaimed "finally the trees and grass look happy, they did not look so happy when we planted them there"...
That's it! Paola designs with happy eyes and that has resulted in a design language like no other - full of colors, textures and fun. This place is so full of happy vibes, no wonder all the kids I see are laughing and having a great time. Everything here is approachable and not pretentious. It's a joy to be here.
I cannot resist doing a "find the pattern" project since there are so many patterns to be found everywhere. I printed 30 simple patterns onto paper and went on a pattern hunt with Megan. She absolutely loved the treasure hunt and insisted on leading the way around the property with the print outs in her hands. "I know where this is, I know!!!" and she jumped with triumph and joy when she matches the patterns with the actual. It was such a great educational tool for young ones to start opening their eyes to design. I am putting this game into the activity book!
As I settle into the big deep sofa on our last day. I contemplate how wonderful this vacation has been. And oh, how seriously comfortable this sofa is!!! It suddenly occur to me that I have never "see" Point Yamu in this perspective before. On work trips, I merely notice the quality of the shower, the size of the desk, speed of WIFI and how comfortable the bed is. Yes, sometimes I pause to inhale the spectacular view. But with family in tow, I have discovered a lot more depth to this place.
I count my blessings that I am living the life I am living. That I am always surrounded with beautiful things and great people.
Now Megan? Where do you want to go next?
