Cape crusader; Emma Gill goes in search of paradise and finds it in phu*ket. (2024)

AS I walk through Rawai Seafood Market in phu*ket with Wan VosaritIssara, the locals stop and ask for his photograph.

They're excited about him. It's a bit awkward because Ihad no idea that Wan was famous, or that he was a big deal. It turns outthat Wan is probably the biggest deal in phu*ket and he owns a Capethat's basically paradise.

Hours earlier, he was sitting on the floor, watching his staffcompete in their annual talent show to pick a rep for the resort. Hknowsevery single one of them and he laughs and jokes along with them.He's a down-to-earth guy.

Sri Panwa is Wan's empire and he has injected himself, hisdesire for luxury, high standards and, above all else, a sense of funinto every aspect of it.

I arrived late at night so the steep drive up the winding road tothe villa left everything shrouded in mystery.

When I woke up next morning, it was hands down one of the bestviews I've ever seen. Each villa has its own infinity pool andbeyond that is the sea. The bedroom doors from the villa open up to thepool and each one boasts magnificent views. Across the way from thebedroom is a living room area, with a kitchen and a bathroom and each iskept absolutely spotless.

The staff are impressive, too.

They respond to queries within minutes.

If you want a tuk-tuk to breakfast it's there as soon as youhang up the phone.

At one point at breakfast, a man looked around and said "Ihaven't got a..." And a fork literally appeared in his hand atthat moment. The service really is exceptional but, at the same time,Sri Panwa is a pretty private place.

If you wanted to arrive and be left alone for days, no-one wouldbother you. It's this laidback attitude that really makes for anenjoyable stay and that's probably what attracts celebrities likeSnoop Dogg and Rita Ora. The resort is made up of villas, threerestaurants, a nightclub and rooftop co*cktail bar - Baba Pool Club, BabaNest, Baba Soul Food and Baba88.

The word Baba in Thai means 'people of Chinese and Thaiheritage', much like its owner.

The first day of my stay here was dedicated to enjoying doingabsolutely nothing.

I took a trip to Baba Pool Club for breakfast which came both in ala carte and buffet form, with Thai food making up the bulk of thebuffet.

Baba Pool Club is the hub of Sri Panwa, with space to dine insideand out, and its own bar with entertainment in the evenings. Exploringthe site is an adventure in itself. It sits on a steep hill and thereare steps down to a secluded beach area with a long jetty that you canjump off into the warm sea, since the temperatures in early Novemberreach above 30degC. Head up towards the peak of the Cape Panwa andyou'll find Cool Spa.

Dubbed an 'oasis in the sky', the spa is exactly that.More infinity pools (Sri Panwa has no shortage of them) and panoramicviews of island and sea make it an unbelievable location, and thesetting makes the traditional Thai massage all the more enjoyable.

Upstairs is Baba Nest, a rooftop co*cktail bar with an extensivedrinks list and more views to never get bored of. This doubles up as themost amazing yoga venue on the planet during the day and, even thoughI'm inflexible at best, my yoga instructor catered for mybelow-novice yoga skills all the same.

A particular highlight was a cooking class in the same villa. SriPanwa's own cooks taught me how to cook some staple Thai dishes,and made it really simple. They were back in the kitchen at Baba PoolClub in time to rustle up some excellent Thai food in time for lunch.

The food on offer at Sri Panwa is fantastic, especially if you likeseafood. I don't actually eat anything oceanic and they were morethan accommodating - even if a little disbelieving - which is good toknow if you have specific dietary requirements.

The tradition is to get everything and share it with the table, andeating until you're absolutely stuffed, is not optional. There waseverything from ribs to traditional Thai curries and, weirdly, the mostamazing garlic mash I've ever tasted.

The hotel has its own boat to take guests island hopping andsnorkelling around the bay (not to be missed) as well as boxing classes.

Wan chooses every detail from the decor to an iPod playlist in thevillas and his standards are exceptionally high. He's truly createdhis own paradise on the tip of phu*ket - an unforgettable experience foreveryone who stays there.

factfile | STAYS at Sri Panwa start from PS186 per night. Thaiboxing is from PS66.50 per hour, and cooking classes from PS34 a head.

EVA V Air flies daily from Heathrow to Taipei, via Bangkok, withreturn fares from PS578 economy class including taxes. Seewww.evaair.com

CAPTION(S):

Relax after a long day's exploring at Baba Nest rooftopco*cktail bar

Sunset at Sri Panwa

in phu*ket, Thailand, left,has magnificent views of the ocean and,above, Cool Spa where traditional Thai massage is available