My sense of joy and anticipation on arrival
no less diminished after 16 years of exploring
Thailand and her neighbouring countries.

On this occasion I was travelling with my
cat, Hooty and a suitcase of our combined
essentials while the remainder of our goods
and chattels followed by sea in a 40ft
container. Having made the decision to live
in Thailand and commissioned construction
of The Villa WaterOrchid 10 months earlier,
we were finally on our way to Chiang Mai
to take up residence in our new home.

Our ensuing adventures turning a building
site into a beautiful country house hotel
have been made truly delightful by the
warmth and hospitality of the Thai people,
an excellent construction company,
continuous encouragement by dear friends
and new chums, who would arrive with cold
beer on hot evenings to lend their invaluable
advice and support, undaunted by the lack
of chairs and an eccentric assortment of
drinking utensils!

Belinda Ali Khan is originally from Ireland. In 1980 she left to pursue her career overseas.
Working with Le Meridien, Hilton and Inter-Continental Hotels, Boeing Airplane Company,
DaimlerChrysler Corporation amongst others before setting up her own export company.
She has lived in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Far East.

An inherent hotelier and having long cherished an ambition to manage her own boutique
hotel but unable to find a suitable property, she set out to build one. The Villa WaterOrchid
is inspired both by the architecture of the countries she visited, and the unique character
of the properties where she stayed.