The ocean calling

Just over 35 years ago, our parents, based in Bangkok, were shown a grainy photo of a traditional Thai teak house set just off a beautiful beach in Southern Thailand. 

Learning that it was for sale, they decided to buy it on the spot. Such was the pull of the house and the ocean. 

It was the beginning of a truly wild adventure, and as with all adventures, nothing was simple. Back then, travelling to Railay Beach involved a 13-hour bus ride from Bangkok, followed by an hour-long ride across the water on a wooden long-tail boat. 

When we visited for the holidays, we needed to carry everything with us for the duration of our stay. Food, drinks, clothes. We had no reliable power supply and no refrigerator, so every few days, we’d make the boat journey back to Krabi to buy 2-metre blocks of ice to preserve our food. 

Often we’d take boat trips to the nearby islands, occasionally stopping a small local fishing boat to buy fish from their catch.

A simpler living 

​Electricity in those days was from a diesel generator. We had power for 4 hours each evening, and since there were no phones, no televisions, no tech, it was a peaceful off-grid existence. 

We’d wake to the sounds of the gibbons and spend our days together swimming, climbing, sunbathing and enjoying some highly competitive games of volleyball. In the evenings, we relaxed with our neighbours, playing board games and sharing meals, as cicadas purred and the sun sank into the sea.

Growing the dream 

In the late 90s, our parents added a master bedroom to the original house, Baan Samarinda. In the years that followed, they bought the land next door, where our mother, Farida, designed and built a whole new house. 

This is the yellow house you see today, Baan Kintamani, showcasing wonderful architectural elements from her native Indonesia. Each carved door is utterly unique and deserves close attention, while her love of Balinese paintings – many by artists she got to know well – is a story told on every wall. Intricate carvings collected during her travels across Asia, and her beloved seashell collection, add to the charm. 

Although Baan Kintamani is an oasis of calm today, it took a Herculean effort to build. Materials were brought by barge and carried up the beach since there was no road. Seasonal weather and humidity added their own unique challenges. 

Yet, despite this, the house grew gradually, and our mother’s vision was realised. Today, it stands as a testament to her personality, creativity, and deep love of Asia and the ocean. 

Making your own memories here

Here, you have the freedom to do as much or as little as you like. Lie on the beach, scale the rocks that attract climbers from around the world, or dive and swim in the sparkling waters. 

Nearby Walking Street is a buzzy place to visit with its gently thrumming music, sizzling barbecues and authentic restaurants. Or enjoy our sheltered gardens where plush green lawns are framed by hibiscus, frangipani, and bird of paradise. 

Hornbill birds are daily visitors. Butterflies are abundant. The turquoise streak of a kingfisher will reward you for paying attention. And if you’re lucky, you might even see families of spectacled langur monkeys feasting on the sea almond trees. 

There is something here for everyone, of any age. It’s all on our doorstep waiting for you.