The Wedding Season is upon us again as June, July and August are always the favoured months to get hitched for some unfathomable reason though mind you, people do get married at other times.
The most important of course was the Wedding of the Century if not Third Millennium which was held on 29 April.
Prince William and Kate Middleton. now their HRH the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, flew to the Seychelles for their honeymoon and I sincerely believe what is good for them is good for us!
Romantic dinner for bride and groom by the seashore at Raffles Praslin Seychelles
The Raffles Praslin villa overlooks the Indian Ocean and has its own plunge pool so you can skip and hop off your bed and into the pool
Your private plunge pool in a villa blends seamlessly with sea and sky!
So if you are planning a honeymoon, I recommend the Seychelles, a cluster of islands 115 granite and coral islands from the east coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. This archipelago is around a 1,000 miles from the coast of Kenya. I have never been there but presumably it should be similar to Langkawi or Pangkor Laut or Perhentian, my favourite island when I was a kid growing up in Kota Baru.
Still, Seychelles has something we don 't---the incredible Coco de mer coconut which resembles the buttocks and private parts of a woman! Prince William was presented with one the size of 2 footballs (in fact it is a double coconut attached to each other) and had to be given a special permit by the British Government to bring it into United Kingdom since the palm tree is a protected species and is extremely rare these days.
Fortunately it grows only on Valle de Mai which happens to be on Praslin island where Raffles Praslin Seychelles is located! The Coco de Mer grows only in this valley for some strange reason so do not bother about creating a vast Coco de Mer plantation in Malaysia! It used to grow on other Seychelles islands like St Pierre and Round island but have since become extinct. Vallee de Mai has remained unchanged and intact since prehistoric times and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Even more incredible, this Coco de Mer comes as male and female trees and guess what, the male inflorescence is shaped exactly like a huge male organ! The flowers grow on what resemble a gigantic penis averaging 1 metre long! I have seen pictures of them and have to admit defeat!
In olden days, Coco de Mer was called Maldives coconut as they used to float from Seychelles to the shores of Maldives islands where they were collected and traded as valuable commodities. They were so huge, weighing up to 42 kg with each seed alone weighing up to 17 kg that many legends became so attached to them some still believe in these tales. For instance, until it was discovered to come from a tree on the Seychelles, it was assumed they came from a magical tree that grew from the seabed, hence the French name Coco de Mer which means 'Sea Coconut'!
Prince William and his bride stayed at North Island, an entire island of around 600 acres with only 11 luxurious villas which can be rented completely so you will never bump into another tourist or far worse, an inquisitive reporter and photographer! Once you book the whole island, it is yours and you can invite guests or stay alone. It is for this reason Buckingham Palace decided to book the whole of North Island for Prince William's honeymoon where he and his Duchess will be safe from prying eyes as North Island is privately owned. There is no dress code, no worries, no stress, nothing but brilliant blue sky and sea and nonstop pampering.
The entire North Island with its 11 villas, spa and amenities costs around RM 120,000 per day but Raffles Praslin is much cheaper since you only pay for your bedroom at a mere RM 4,500 per night.
Exclusivity, privacy and romance make the Seychelles the choice for a honeymoon and romantic destination. Other celebrities who have enjoyed a romantic holiday in the Seychelles include Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and David and Victoria Beckham.
The newly opened Raffles Praslin Seychelles, located on the stunning and private island of Praslin, is a 15-minute helicopter ride from the main island of Mahe, and is the ideal resort to celebrate a honeymoon.
Raffles Praslin Seychelles (www.raffles.com/praslin) features 86 villas including one and two bedroom villa suite options with stunning views of the Indian Ocean. All villas are accompanied by private plunge pools and feature the fabled butler service that draws on the Raffles tradition of delivering personalised and discreet service round-the-clock.
The Spa at Raffles Praslin features 13 treatment pavilions, six open-air, which are set among natural rock formations above the water and close to the ocean. Two luxurious spa suites feature steam showers, Japanese soaking tubs, and observation decks where residents may enjoy stunning vistas in privacy. Raffles Spa at Praslin has become known for its transformative Pure Pearl signature treatment which features therapeutic grade pearl powder blended with soothing tropical essences of organic ylang ylang and bergamot to exfoliate the skin.
To celebrate love and the recent “Royal Wedding,” Raffles Praslin Seychelles has introduced a new “Prince William and Kate Middleton” Honeymoon Package, designed to give newly married couples the “royal treatment.” The package starts at 980 Euros per night ($1,500 USD per night) and includes the following:
· Ocean View Pool villa with Private Plunge Pool
· Daily breakfast for two (in-villa or at Losean Restaurant)
· 90-minute couples spa treatment in an open-air room with views of the Indian Ocean
· Romantic dinner for two on the beach (3 course Dinner)
· Private guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Vallée de Mai.
· Welcome Amenity, Champagne on Arrival and a Drawn Bath
· Two-way transfer from Praslin airport to Resort
The package requires a three night minimum stay at the resort and is subject to availability. This offer is valid from the 13th of May to the 26th of December 2011. Rates exclude taxes and service charges. To book this package, please contact reservations: toll-free in the USA 1-800-768-9009; International 1-800-723-3537. Email: bookus.praslin@raffles.com
ABOUT RAFFLES HOTELS & RESORTS
Raffles Hotels & Resorts is an award-winning, luxury international hotel company with a history dating back to 1887 with the opening of Raffles Hotel, Singapore. The portfolio currently comprises nine luxurious properties, from secluded resorts to chic hotels in key locations around the world: in Singapore, Cambodia, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles and Paris. The company is embarking on a new phase of expansion, with openings in the Maldives, Indonesia, the Philippines, China and Turkey scheduled over the next two years.
Raffles Hotels & Resorts is owned by FRHI Holdings Ltd, a leading global hotel company with 98 hotels and resorts worldwide under the Raffles, Fairmont and Swissôtel brands. www.raffles.com
Thank you for the info. It sounds pretty user friendly. I guess I’ll pick one up for fun. thank u.
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