36 Hours in Kanda Residences – Beautiful Beach Resort in Koh Samui

Ready for some sunshine and sand in Koh Samui? When I want a break from writing, I escape to the beach. It’s always nice to start my day enjoying the ocean and eat delicious food.

Located on the north-east coast of Koh Samui in Bophut, Kanda Residences is a block from the ocean and just minutes from Cheongmon’s family friendly beaches and the action and nightlife of Chaweng. When the folks from Kanda Residences invited us over for a weekend, it’s hard to reject.

LOCATION

For those arriving from the Koh Samui Airport, there’s no need to endure a lengthy transfer as Kanda Residences is just a ten-minute drive away. The villa is both close to the action and removed enough to give us breathing room. Such perfect location to provide seclusion and privacy while allowing easy access to all Samui has to offer.

Of course, for those looking for a lively evening out or an excursion to one of the island’s many attractions, Kanda Residences isn’t too far from the action. Only minutes from the hustle-and-bustle of Chaweng, Kanda Residences’ location allows guests to enjoy various facets of Koh Samui life in equal measure.

VILLA

Style, elegance, comfort and privacy are just a few of the great features of the villas at Kanda Residences. The villas are available with 1, 2, 3 or 4-bedrooms, giving us ample space to enjoy a range of optional personalized services including in-villa cooking class or barbeque, babysitter services, kid’s activities and private party arrangements.

OUR ROOM

We checked in to pool villa which offers an ocean view from the 2nd floor master bedroom. On the lower level, there is a spacious living room with dining and in-villa kitchen facilities. Outside, a large private pool furnished with sun loungers as well as a gazebo gave us the chance to relax in comfort while enjoying the tropical beauty of Koh Samui and the sea beyond. Air conditioned en suite bathrooms are complete with double vanity, rain showers, large bathtubs and full amenities. A standout feature in the bed which made for a night of blissful sleep.

BREAKFAST AT ROCKPOOL

Kanda Residences only had one restaurant – Rockpool. Perfectly situated just a few feet from the sea, the restaurant’s perfect setting is great for a romantic dinner, afternoon cocktails or simply a tea or coffee break. The open plan of the decked terrace offers an unparalleled view and proximity to the ocean and coastline to make the overall experience of a visit to Rockpool truly unforgettable.

Combining the best of east and west in a setting that is nothing short of breathtaking, you can start your breakfast at the restaurant if the weather is not too hot. They serve a small menu of egg benedict to Thai food. Because of its magical location, I think Kanda is also a great location for picture perfect beach-side weddings.

IN-ROOM DINING

If you prefer to enjoy your breakfast in the comfort of your villa, go ahead to give them a call and tell them what you would like to eat. They have a mix of western and Thai dishes for you to choose from. Since we had western breakfast at Rockpool already, we decided to go for Thai menu. It was a good choice. The tangy, crunchy, slightly sweet Pad Thai (THB270) are irresistible.

COOKING CLASS

There are loads of indoor and outdoor activites to do in the villa. Besides the activities planned for children, Kanda also offer executive personal trainer services for adults. We of course, opted for cooking class (THB2000, minimum 2 people)! These fun, hands-on cooking classes are taught by chefs from Rockpool who introduce us to Thai culture and traditions through food.

Choose from different menus and let the Chef guide you through the recipes. We get to learn the dishes we want to learn from four different categories – Salad, Soup, Stir-Fried and Curry. The chefs will prepare the ingredients with us and at the end of it, we will be eating our homecooked food for lunch! All these happened in our villa’s kitchen. So convenient, I don’t even have to step out. So here’s sharing 2 recipes I learnt from the session.

Yam Neau Yang

Author: Maureen

One of the more popular appetizers in Thailand, beef salad had a perfect balance of sweet, sour, savoury and spicy flavours in this dish.

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Ingredients

• 200 g beef tenderloin
• 50 g tomato
• 30 g cucumber
• 20 g Thai celery
• 20 g white onion
• 20 g spring onion
• 2 g mint leaves
• 10 g peanuts
• 2 dried chilli
• 5 ml fish sauce
• 5 g palm sugar
• 2 g red chillies chopped
• 2 g garlic chopped

Instructions

1. Grill the beef to your desired temperature and set aside to cool.
2. Place all vegetables and herbs in a bowl and add the fish sauce, lime juice and palm sugar to taste.
3. Slice the beef and add to the salad. Finish with peanuts and garnish with dried chillies.

Tom Yam Goong

Author: Maureen

In Thailand, tom yam is usually made with prawns, chicken, fish or mushrooms. The soup is characterised by its distinct hot and soup flavours, with fragrant herbs generously used. The basic broth is made of stock and fresh ingredients such as lemon grass, kaffire lime leaves, galangal, lim juice, fish sauce, crushed chilli peppers and more. The soup is often topped with coriander leaves.

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Ingredients

• 1 river prawns
• 2 tsp chilli paste
• 5 g galangal
• 5 g lemongrass
• 2 pcs kaffire lime leaf
• 40 g shallots
• 3 pcs red thai chilli
• 50 g straw mushrooms
• 50 g cherry tomato
• 270 ml vegetable stock
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp evaporated milk
• coriander to garnish

Instructions

1. Pour all spices and vegetable stock in a pot and bring to simmer for about 3 minutes to release all the flavours.
2. Add straw mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and prawns. Simmer for another 2 minutes or until the prawn is fully cooked.
3. Lastly, add evaporated milk and then the fish sauce and lime juice to your preferred taste. Top with coriander and serve.

Chef uses a very simple Thai recipes, and it doesn’t take very long to prepare. All you have to do is to gather the ingredients and spices needed and it’s half the battle won. We got our scrumptious lunch all prepared in less than 2 hours (with photography).

All cooking lessons can be personalized on request, and they can cater for specific needs – be it dietary restrictions or preferences, requests for lessons appropriate for children, or closed groups and different levels of expertise.

MASSAGE

The best treat when you are on a getaway is … MASSAGE! Located within the villa, Kanda Residences Asian Wellness Centre focuses on Thai Wellness treatments using the methodology taught at the world famous Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok – that is to apply pressure along the muscular and nervous system.

There’s nothing better than slipping on a warm, fluffy robe right before a massage or scrub. Go for the Kanda Asian Wellness Signature Massage which is a unique massage combining traditional Thai techniques with an Aromatherapy relaxation method. The therapists are professional and have good skills, which helps to relieve my shoulder aches and induces a deep state of deep relaxation.

PRIVATE DINING BY THE BEACH

There are people who plan their vacations around restaurants, I am definitely one of them. Kanda’s private beach is a beautiful stretch of soft sand – perfect for strolling hand in hand or having a romantic beach dinner! Executive Chef Lucas Leonardi Varin brings his Michelin star training to the forefront with an interchanging special menu highlighting the freshest ingredients with an international array of flavors and fine dining technique.

Creating a well balanced menu which reflects the relaxed resort atmosphere with a casual all day dining menu, we were served a variety of Tapas platter including Rice Paper Rolls (THB 270) with sesame and yuzu sauce, crispy Fried Prawn Cake (THB290), Tuna Miang Kam with betal leaf (THB320) and Scallops in the shell with Thai seafood sauce (THB340). Combining east and west, Black Angus and Tiger Prawn Salad (THB440) features smoky and tender grilled Australian black angus beef with mixed leaves, spices and herbs.

For a heartier selection the grill kitchen flames local seafood and imported meats. Served in medium rare, Australian Beef Ribeye (THB850) is lightly rubbed with salt and pepper before grilling at controlled temperature. When sliced, it reveals a rosy pink shade and is served with chimichurri sauce made from a blend of parsley, mint & cilantro. I like the rich and robust flavour from the sauce which pairs beautifully with the marbled meat. For a lighter main, Whole Sea Bass (THB620) is a great option too.

This is incredibly romantic. Rockpool’s beautiful setting is as enchanting as the restaurant’s startlingly creative food by Executive Chef Lucas. The kitchens also regularly creates new featured dishes to provide guests with an ever-evolving selection of flavor combinations so you can look forward to something new each time you dine there. The villa also does private BBQ session (THB1,990/pax, minimum 2 persons) at your villa between 12pm to 10pm, make your reservations early.

SPECIAL OFFERS

Reserve your stay on full prepayment, non refundable terms and receive a 20% discount. Booking period: now till 31 October 2016. Valid until 22 December 2016.

Rate inclusive of breakfast, airport transfers, a bottle of sparkling wine, Wi-Fi access, daily shuttle service to Chaweng tourist area, non-motorized water sport and 10% discount in the restaurant and spa. Visit http://kandaresidences.com/special-offers for more great deals.

BOOK DIRECT TO RECEIVE…

For those looking for peace, tranquility and privacy – you’ll definitely find all of this in abundance at Kanda Residences. The resort is situated on a gently-sloping hillside in Bophut which tapers off to a secluded beachfront. This is what you will get when you book directly from them:

– Best Rate Guarantee – 15% discount on any lower rate under the same terms
– Complimentary return airport transfers
– Bedroom Oceanfront Pool Villa – instant confirmation.
– 10% Discount on Food and Beverage and Spa
– Complimentary bottle of sparkling wine on arrival