Breaking News - Simply Fabulicious Has Moved!

Thanks for being part of the SimplyFab community these last two years! In the Year of the Bunny, we're thrilled to have finally built a permanent home on our very own website at http://www.simplyfabulicious.com/ 

We're so excited about this, we've tied up with the great people at Club Med to start off our the Simply Fab website on a luscious note!

Here's your chance to pack your teeniest-tiniest red bikini and run away on a 3 DAY 2 NIGHT escapade to Club Med Cherating! (valid for a stay from 1 April to 30 September 2011).

All you have to do is log onto our new website and join our mailing list for free by 14 March 2011. To do that, look for the subscription window ('Be Fabulicious!') on the right hand side of our home page

 

The prize includes:

One twin-share accommodation in a Superior room

Daily sumptuous Buffet Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with free flow of red and white wine and beverages during Lunch and Dinner

Participation in all sports activities with instruction for adults and children to Mini Club Med (4 to 11 years old)

Terms:

• Travel must be completed by 31 October 2011 and no extension is allowed.
• Prize is non-transferable and non-refundable.
• This package excludes flights, land transfers, taxes and the compulsory Club Med membership of S$60 per adult.
• Room confirmation is subject to availability.
• Not valid for High Season
• This prize letter cannot be used in conjunction with other promotions or discounts.
• The original copy of the prize letter must be presented with your Singapore Identity Card or valid passport for verification when claiming your travel package. Restricted to Singapore residents only.

In the meantime....
We'll still be posting on blogger until March 14, after which this site will no longer be active. We hope you'd join us and all the other fabulicious readers in our new home at www.simplyfabulicious.com
If you need to contact us, please email us at elaine@simplyfabulicious.com or eewaun@simplyfabulicious.com
You can also follow us on our facebook page and twitter. Do drop us a note whenever you like to tell us what you want to see, your comments, thoughts, anything that hits you. 

Peace, Love and Cocktails!
The SimplyFab Team 

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Breakaway - Beach Bunny Travels Green at Club Med -Part 2

Speaking of natural, the whole resort (yes, all 80 hectares of it) is a preserved, natural site. And before I go on about the backend eco-initiatives, I have to say that I was quite impressed by the architecture here. Not only is it stunning, but also its eco-consciousness, even when this traditional kampong-styled lodging was built back in 1977!

Constructed with local materials, the architecture not just reduces its transportation and carbon footprint, but also blends in beautifully with its surroundings. Additionally, the amazing 850-metre structure is one of Asia’s longest wooden structures, and built on stilts to prevent flooding.

There many other behind-the-scenes eco-initiatives in place too, as I learnt from my walk with Mr Ary Dam, Regional Landscape Maintenance Manager. Mr Ary explained how Club Med Cherating won the Silver Green Globe Benchmark award, by meeting and exceeding the stringent guidelines of a sustainable policy and more.

For example, the resort places a strong emphasis on saving water and energy. Mr Ary took us to the Natural Waste Water Treatment (Lagoon System), which is a natural way to purify water via pre-treatment debris trap areas, as well as slow and gravitationally driven ponds.

The lagoon is a great spot for landscape and lotus photographs, by the way! (See the pictures!) This natural system also protects the flora and fauna as it easily integrates into the surroundings, and is an excellent way to eliminate micro-biotic pollution.

To save energy at the resort, Club Med Cherating recovers the energy from the air-conditioning system to heat your water! Instead of using a boiler or electric energy, water is warmed by a heat exchanger, which provides huge energy savings and avoids the release of carbon gas. How clever! And since Cherating Beach is so sunny, the resort uses solar energy for Rembulan Terrace Restaurant, too. That’s responsible eating….!

The Kitchen is in on the Green journey too, with a special waste management system and composting programme. Mr Ary said that the staff has to undergo training to ensure they understand and implement these eco-initiatives at all times, like biodegradable food waste separation. And while Club Med serves up great food for the hungry hoardes, don’t expect any sharks’ fins or endangered animal parts to be served here – that’s a strict no-no!

G.O Mobeen also shared a small clothes tag with me during one of our meals together; even the Club Med G.O outfits were made of 100% organic fair trade cotton. Hmmm… it seems that Club Med has really got it together to ensure an amazing experience while being ecologically responsible in every possible way… and all at its natural best! (Scroll down and see more random pictures of gorgeousness...)

Bottoms Up!

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Breakaway - Beach Bunny Travels Green at Club Med - Part 1

Here's more on our fave destination Club Med! This time, beach bunny Antoinette Tan who visited Club Med Cherating on Simply Fab's  behalf tells all about the green, eco-friendly things the resort does to protect Mother Earth! Reading this, it really surprised us the extent they have gone to do their bit. Now, we totally appreciate what responsible organisations like Club Med does....(which is waaay more than what we can say for slick corporations that talk a lot, profiteer even more and do absolutely zilch!) So read on and realise that travelling (to Club Med) can be so good for Gaia!

The next time you travel, go green and head to an enjoyable and earth-loving destination like Club Med Cherating.

The recent invitation to Club Med Cherating for a 5-day stay (thank you Club Med!) opened my eyes to both the obvious and behind-the-scenes work that go on to create the first Eco-Nature Club Med Resort. And I definitely had a great time discovering so. After all, who could one resist exciting and responsible eco-nature activities and Green explorations while being surrounded by 80 hectares of natural tropical forest, four kilometres of pristine white beaches, hammocks and spas?

Whether it was getting up-close to nature along the Jungle Walk, scaling the Natural Rock Wall or strolling on the Eco-Nature Discovery Walk, I got the chance to observe and soak up Mother Earth through indigenous flora and fauna like adorable monkeys, spongy mushrooms,

scary thorny plants, plus the majestic and endangered Hornbill Bird! I even jumped and squealed when I spotted a monitor lizard (everyone who knows me knows I’m terrified of lizards, big and small!).

The kiddies have a great time too at the nature-oriented Petit Club Med and Mini Club Med activities. Each child would get a “Rainforest Treasures” story booklet with an exciting discovery circuit to complete. Just like a treasure hunt, if they collected the different stamps and passed “tests” at each station, they could get an official Club Med Cherating Beach Kid and Friend of the Environment certificate!

If you have more time to spare, opt for excursions to the nearby Lake Chini and the Elephant Sanctuary. Else, you can do what I did and plop yourself down at the multimedia Eco Discovery Corner near the pool.

Here, adults and children alike can find a wealth of information about eco issues. Look out for the Rainforest Discovery booklet (printed on recycled paper, of course), which list all the plants and animals found on the resort, plus an accompanying map, so you can find them too! And the kids will love the turtle cartoon screening… even I did!

I was also thrilled to learn that endangered Green Turtles swim to Cherating Beach to lay their eggs… and that we might get a chance to watch the egg-laying in the middle of the night! Fingers crossed!

To do their part to protect and preserve this species (so we can enjoy such sightings), Club Med Cherating has collaborated with the nearby local Turtle Sanctuary to create awareness and prevent egg poaching. Plus, the resort boutique sells adorable merchandise with turtle designs (cute must-buy totes!), where 10% of the proceeds go to the turtle conservation programme.

Adding to the list of eco-activities, I noticed a number of easy ways that guests can recycle stuff during their stay. Only upon arrival are new water bottles sent to the room, where you can also find a recycling bin for plastic.

I also spotted a unique cylindrical shoe rack near my room at the Trapeze area, which a G.O told me was created using recycled plastics and other materials. There was also a recycling bin for batteries at the reception, which G.O Mei, Front Desk Manager, said came in handy for guests who wanted to get rid of the disposable batteries in their cameras.

Plus, did you know that even a soothing massage at the Mandara Spa is environmentally responsible? They use eco-friendly ingredients amidst a natural environment, in which you can relax and enjoy!

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Breakaway - Travel Club Med Cherating - Part 2

Day 3

Our outdoor morning yoga session with G.O Mobeen was nice and relaxing, with the soothing sea breeze, gentle waves and calming greenery....breathe in, breathe out…

Despite the serene start, the rest of the day was nothing but! There was the gladiator battle in the pool – Xena, Warrior Princess time!....

Another attempt at perfecting my trapeze swing…

We pottered over to the Turtle Sanctuary too. G.O Vincent from France, Sports and Entertainment Manager, shared how the turtles visit Cherating Beach to lay their eggs. These eggs are kept at the Turtle Sanctuary for several weeks to prevent egg poaching.

Before our scrumptious BBQ dinner at Rembulan Terrace Restaurant at Pantai Beach, we had the chance to release baby turtles into the arms of Gaia with waves and seabreeze for added ambience!

When we got back to the main gathering hub of the resort (ie. the bar), the Club Med team had transformed the entire pool into an elaborate performance space for the “Blue Moon” poolside G.O Show.

The act was complete with G.Os on stilts, a circus show whilst precariously dangling above the pool, and song and dance which got children and adults alike thoroughly uninhibited and joining in the action.

(Left: Pic of spa was taken in the day time)

And what better way to end the night than with a relaxing Balinese Massage at the Club Med Spa by Mandara?

Day 4

Today was another busy day, packed with activities amidst the lush greenery of the eco-resort and a gala night to celebrate Club Med’s 60th anniversary.

Launched this year were the Jungle Walk and Natural Rock Wall Climbing activities, good for eco-focused kids and grown-ups.

(Jungle hut from where we started the walk)

(See what we see?)

Not exactly spa, cocktails and Manolos, but the Jungle Walk was not as tedious as expected, though there were many thorny plants at the side and some thick logs to cross over. So proper attire is recommended.

A G.O was always around guide us along, and point out spectacular views and fascinating sights like hives (yikes!), vines and unique species of plants (and birds if you’re lucky!).

Sometimes, a “monkey” might also surprise you, which is G.O Maravilha atop a tree!

(Natural filtration reservoir)

Eco-warrior for the day, we also went for the Eco-Nature Discovery Walk, with Mr Ary Dam, Regional Landscape Maintenance Manager, who offered interesting insights to the eco-initiatives and hidden natural gems of the resort.

There were also adorable children’s stations along the way, for them to rest, read and fill in the information into their Rainforest Treasures booklet.

Coooee! We love you too Michael!

After all that exertion, it was good to potter back, shower and get set for chin-chins and dins. It was a “star-studded” red carpet night, with an appearance by “Michael Jackson”! Tonight’s “King of Pop” G.O Show was my favourite; there were so many talented G.Os who participated in all the songs and dances.

The gala night ended on a high note, with Ugo, “Michael” and Mr Olivier Horps, Managing Director Asia-Pacific popping the champagne to launch Club Med’s 60th anniversary celebrations. Drank lots of cocktails, partied with the G.Os and participated in Crazy Signs ‘til morning!

Day 5

It was so difficult to say goodbye today! And the hospitable and friendly G.Os and chefs – all sweeties! – made the departure even sadder because they had left such a deep impression. I will definitely recommend the Club Med Cherating Beach experience, simply because whether you are there with kids, with your partner or for a girlfriends-only gathering, the village experience here is as fun-filled and energy-driven as you want, or as relaxing and quiet as you prefer. Take your pick – it’s there for the asking.

Club Med Cherating, Malaysia
www.clubmed.com.sg

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