One of our biggest passions is photography and thanks to this website we indulge it on a daily basis. Alongside our two websites, we’re regularly asked to photograph luxury brands and events, and to share the details on our social media platforms.
Chiva-Som London Showcase
At a recent London photography assignment, we were spoilt for choice with subject matter. Chiva-Som, the renowned Thai wellness retreat teamed up with Morpheus London and Rolls-Royce for a star-studded showcase over several days.
They were celebrating 21 years of success and are the only destination spa in the world to consistently appear in the top three of the Conde Nast Traveller (UK) Reader’s Travel Award. Located in the Royal City of Hua Hin, 185 kilometers from Bangkok, it’s a beachfront resort set in 7 acres of tropical gardens.
The Chiva-Som ethos is about appreciating every moment and by doing so, creating a personal path to health and wellness. Guests including Sir Ray Davies, formerly of The Kinks, designer Beau Han Xu and chef Raymond Blanc were welcomed by Chiva-Som Chairman Khun Krip Rojanastien. They enjoyed the full Chiva-Som experience with treatments by the resort’s wellness experts who had flown in especially for the occasion.
Fashion designer Stephen Williams brought his delighted dachshund along! Tia Graham of Vanity Fair and Susanna Abu Zalaf were looking suitably glamorous.
Everyone raved about the delicious Thai food prepared in front of us by Chiva-Som Executive Chef Paisarn Cheewinsiriwat.
Food is an integral element of the Chiva-Som philosophy and it was extremely tasty as well as healthy. I loved the Chiva-Som Cooking with Light book, full of hunger-inducing recipes and beautiful illustrations.
To accompany the dishes, guests were served Thomson & Scott Skinny Champagne Grand Cru Brut, with half the calories of regular champagne but a similar taste thanks to its carefully selected grapes.
The backdrop to all this was stunning Ashberg House in Chelsea, an ultra luxurious property designed by Morpheus London. They’re known for their exceptional homes and the attention to detail was second to none.
Some of our favorite design details are the retractable front gate and the floor to ceiling chandelier.
The sense of light and space over the 5 floors is impressive, with several terraces overlooking the charming garden and its outdoor log fireplace.
There’s a stylish swimming pool, changing rooms and well-equipped gym in the basement.
We enjoyed a mini physio session here, carried out by experts from Chiva-Som. It certainly eased the tension in my neck and upper back.
The guests were a fascinating mix of people. Bradley Theodore is a lovely man who is very much in demand for his colorful artworks inspired by the music world and his travels. He had decorated a Rolls-Royce Wraith with graffiti for one of his London-based collectors.
Another distinctive Rolls-Royce was the one designed by Sir Ray Davies, cleverly incorporating many elements of his songs. On one of the doors, lyrics from the song Shangri-La by the Kinks are inscribed:
You’ve reached your top and you just can’t get any higher. You’re in your place and you know where you are. In your Shangri-la…
There’s also an umbrella concealed in the dashboard, which is engraved with the lyrics from Sunny afternoon – When it’s raining on a sunny afternoon, in the summer time.
It’s part of a collection of 9 Wraith cars inspired by British music and designed with Roger Daltrey, Dame Shirley Bassey, Ronnie Wood and other famous artists. A proportion of each car’s value will be donated to charities such as Teenage Cancer Trust.
We’ve been fans of cars since very young, so we couldn’t resist poking our head under the bonnet.
There was also a superb orange Rolls-Royce which proved very popular with guests. Its wooden dashboard is a fine example of British craftsmanship.
It was an ingenious idea to showcase the delights of Chiva-Som wellness retreat in such chic surroundings and with the added bonus of beautiful cars transporting guests to the venue. Everyone we spoke to had a fantastic time and it certainly makes me want to visit Chiva-Som!
Have you ever visited Hua Hin?
that looks amazing!
It was a great event to photograph!
Oh wow, how fabulous. I’d love a Rolls-Royce, but I don’t think it’ll ever happen.
You never know, there’s always the lottery? I wouldn’t mind one myself 😉
Love the title of the blog and you have phenomenal pictures. Love it.
I’m very glad that you’re enjoying reading it! Have a great weekend
That looks so amazing from the architecture to the food. Love the pictures and all the information. I can see why you chose to feature it.
It was a fascinating couple of days, glad you enjoyed reading about it
Wow! Such wonderful sceneries! And the cars. I especially like the painted one.
The painted Rolls-Royce is my fave too, very original – great to meet the artist too
Thailand, super cars, champagne, Raymond Blanc….it doesn’t get much better 🙂
It was a pretty good combination, I must admit!
I look unique posts like this Suze – it looks like you had a wonderful day out! I need to try Skinny Champagne. I certainly wouldn’t mind having that swimming pool in my basement 🙂
I was working so didn’t try out the Skinny Champagne but I’ve had it before and it’s very nice indeed. The swimming pool was definite house goals!
This is not my scene at all, but you did a really great job capturing what a wonderful experience this was. Great pictures.
That’s very kind, I’m pleased you liked reading about it
What incredible opportunities you have! I am so far apart from the super luxury world, so it’s interesting to see it from your perspective.
I feel very lucky, although it’s not always quite as glamorous as it looks. For this assignment I had a really bad cold and lost my voice for several days but soldiered on with the photos! Glad you enjoyed reading about it
Looks like an incredible day! The worksmanship of the Rolls Royce is insane what a beautiful car
A lovely event and it was so nice seeing the Rolls Royce cars up close, as they’re real masterpieces
It was certainly a great combination! Loved the blend of cars, food and travel
What an opportunity, Suze. This seems to have been quite an event. I’d love to sit in a Rolls Royce at least once, maybe for a test drive (lol)!
Wow how beautiful and it’s amazing what they can do with Royals Royce now, very distinctive. The new spa sounds wonderful Lucy x (FoodieForce)