GREECE
Newlyweds Natasha Liok and Jonathan Quek give a personal account of their unforgettable honeymoon in Greece.
Married this July, Natasha Liok, director of Avana and Monticello, and husband Jonathan Quek, an architect, picked Greece for their honeymoon. “We live in a concrete jungle, so I wanted a place where I could feast on different cuisine, learn about a different culture and be exposed to different architecture. After all, my husband’s an architect!” Natasha adds.
History Lesson
First stop of the 10-day honeymoon – Athens. The couple wanted to get a sense of rich Greek history by visiting great historical landmarks. “The Acropolis is a must-see as it stands above the entire city. We hiked up to see The Parthenon, one of the main temple ruins, as well as a breathtaking view of Athens,” adds Natasha. The couple also visited the Panathenean Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were held, and The National Archeological Museum, famed as one of the world’s best museums.
“The Plaka, a pedestrian-only area where you can shop for unique souvenirs like lapis jewellery in Hellenic designs and eat at the many cafes, is a good place to visit,” advises Natasha. In Athens, the couple stayed at the majestic 133-year-old Hotel Grand Bretagne for two nights, a centrally-located hotel steeped in history, and at the uber-chic Semiramis Hotel, designed by famed industrial designer Karim Rashid, on their last night in Athens.
Island Hopping
The newlyweds took a ferry ride to Santorini on day three, which boasts two must-see villages – Fira and Oia. Santorini’s capital, Fira, is located on the west side of the island and has an exciting night life so it’s perfect for music and club lovers. Situated about 11km from Fira, Oia is a pretty sight of small, white houses built on the rim of a steep cliff. Best known for its magical sunsets, large crowds gather daily to watch it. The couple rented a zippy Smart car in Santorini, staying a night each at the Hotel Keti in Fira and Perivolas in Oia. “It was expensive but definitely worth the unique cave-like room, view and beautiful sunset!” Natasha recalls.
Hot sun, hotter bods
The last leg of the trip was Mykonos, reputed to have the most sophisticated nightlife and beautiful people. Renowned for beautiful golden sandy beaches and clear waters, the island is picturesque with little churches and windmills. The couple rented an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) to see the island and visited famed beach Super Paradise with hot bods to watch. “The nightlife is amazing here, outdoor club-on-a-cliff Cavo Paradiso at Paradise Beach is a great place to go after you’ve taken a nap from a late dinner because it only gets crowded at 4am, with people dancing into the wee hours only to catch the amazing sunrise after,” Natasha adds. The couple stayed a night each at cosy Semili Hotel first, followed by five-star Cavo Tagoo Hotel in Mykonos.
TEMBOK, BALI
The remote northeast coast of Bali offers honeymooners a blend of culture, spirituality, spa luxury and privacy.
Some travellers adore Bali for its art, spirituality and bustling party scene, but few have ventured far across to the remote northeastern village of Tembok, where the island’s pristine beauty is still very much intact.
Lush haven
Three hours’ drive from Denpasar airport, Tembok is a local seaside village situated at the foot of the island’s remote northern mountain range. Here lies the luxurious resort of Spa Village Tembok, which doesn’t just offer couples absolute quietness and romance, but also a slice of the real Bali.
You won’t not find any touristy strip, shop or restaurant here – just breathtaking views of terrace padi fields set against majestic volcanoes. Inside, the gentle spirit of Bali comes alive with the staff’s gracious hospitality, the estate’s gorgeous pool and manicured lawns, the daily cultural activities (such as yoga, painting, palm leaf weaving, and evening cruises on a traditional fishing boat) and the calming view of blue waves lapping an empty black sand beach.
This is the life...
There are only 31 rooms and every one of them, from a superior room to a sea-facing villa, is large and decorated Balinese-style. All is restful and intimate, and the resort makes sure of that with its no-children below 16, -smoking, -cell phone, and computer-free policy.
The best treats for couples are the resort’s unique spa treatments. One such therapy is the Segara Giri, a foot treatment where you bury your feet in a sunken pit of steaming black volcanic sand, then walk through a pool with water-sprouting gargoyles.
Every night, each guest gets a complimentary daily massage. Rates also include three daily meals, with lunch and dinner being three-course affairs. If you fear having to eat bland health-foods, you’ll be surprised by the light, clean yet scrumptious meals created by Chef Danny Lau, who used to work at the ultra-luxury Pangkor Laut resort in Malaysia.
Getting To Tembok
Garuda, Jetstar Asia and Lion Air have regular flights from Changi to Denpasar. Airport transfers are included in the package rates. Check out Spa Village Tembok at www.spavillage.com or call 6276-1381/ 9686-7668 for reservations or more information.
Must-Know Fact
There are plenty of great sightseeing spots in the area, so do plan at least one half-day trip. Must-visits include Bedugul, a scenic city-village that sits at 1,400m above sea level within the crater of an ancient volcano; the town of Penglipuran that is the epitome of old Bali; and Kintamani, the site of the earliest known Balinese kingdom dating back
to the 10th century.
Romance Tip
The rooms at Spa Village Tembok boast extremely spacious bathrooms, so remember to bring your favourite bath essences, perfumed candles and massage oils for your nightly romantic couple soak-and-snuggle time.
What To Pack
The resort provides each guest with a comfortable yoga outfit and straw slippers, so all you need are swimwear, some light clothing, sunscreen, and a good book.
MALDIVES
For couples who dream of being marooned on a tropical island paradise, which destination could be more perfect than Maldives?
If white sand, aquamarine waters and endless sunshine are your idea of heaven on earth, then Maldives has to be the place to head for after wrapping up your nuptials.
The kingdom nation right smack in the middle of the Indian Ocean, 700km south-west of Sri Lanka, is more a collection of close to 2,000 small islands – only 82 of which are resorts. And Kandooma, just 35km south of Male International Airport, is one of them. With a land area of only 13 hectares, the perimeter of which can be covered on a 20-minute stroll, the resort is as in-the-middle-of-nowhere as it can get.
Water world
Opened in the middle of this year, Kandooma is pure sand and palm trees surrounded by crystal-clear seawater, shallow lagoons and abundant marine life. This setting, plus its chic and spanking new Mediterranean-meets-the Bahamas-meets-Asia architecture and decor, makes a holiday here also a wonderful photo opportunity for honeymooners.
What it offers is a getaway that relaxes and refreshes at the same time. In addition to usual water sports like diving and snorkelling, there are also activities for the less active, such as night fishing, campfire storytelling, and even intimate castaway picnics, where they set up a white tent on a sand spit, provide a picnic basket, and leave you to enjoy it for a few hours.
Life’s a beach...
If these activities can’t take the post-wedding stress off you, then the pampering treatments at the world-renowned Como Shambhala Spa will. Or chill out to a cocktail during sunset at The Deck on the rooftop of the resort’s swanky wine restaurant The Kitchen, where you can adjourn for dinner on the beach after.
Out of the wide range of accommodation options, lovebirds will definitely like the water villas, which are large individual bungalows standing on beams over a waist-high lagoon with a romantic view of the sunset and the crashing waves afar. Whether you choose to spend your time jumping right off your private sundeck into the lagoon to explore the colourful variety of coral and marine life within, or lazing your afternoons away in the hammock suspended over the sea, you’ll return home recharged and totally blissed-out.
Singapore Airlines and SriLankan Airlines fly daily to Male. Roundtrip transfers via speedboat between Kandooma and the airport cost US$130 per adult. Go to www.kandooma.com or call 6235-2808 for reservations or enquiries.
Must-Know Fact
Maldives is an Islamic nation, so visitors are prohibited from bringing alcohol into the country. However, you are still able to consume alcoholic drinks in the resorts where they are readily available.
Romance Tip
The strong sunshine and balmy weather means you perspire a lot, so don’t forget to pack a scented deodorant to keep yourself smelling fresh and desirable.
What To Pack
Everything you need for a beach holiday, swim shoes, bikinis, shorts and tank tops and waterproof sunscreen. The resort provides slippers, snorkel mask, fins and a large cloth bag in every room so you can do without these.
