Fah Thai Magazine Jan-Feb 2018

BILL BENSLEY
Bulldoze first, build later is
the convenient mantra of any
development, and Bensley sees
too many of that happening
and vows that his properties
are living proof that one can, in
fact, easily build within nature.
“It’s heartbreaking,” he says,
referring to the destruction of
some natural habitats. “Some
of those places must have been
there for thousands of years,
untouched by mankind.”
The Shinta Mani Wild sits in
a pristine estuary surrounded by
a rainforest-covered mountain
range southwest of Cambodia.
It is one of the few remaining
habitats for wild species of
Asian elephants, guar reptiles,
the southern serow (a species
of goat/antelope), hog deer,
tigers, bears and much more. The
tented accommodations there
are placed 500 rais (80 hectares)
apart from one another, and on
stilts over (water) rapids,“to allow
migration of smaller animals that
can go underneath and keep the
place safe from wild animals,”
Bensley points out. The National
Geographic Unique Lodges of
the World (that only features
a strictly curated collection
of extremely environmentally
sensitive and socially responsible
Top
Channeling the
island of Bali at the
Maia Luxury Resort
and Spa, Seychelles.
Right
Colours of royalty
for a room that’s
more than fit for a
king at The Royal
Istana.
Below Left & Right
Mimicking an
upside down
Vietnamese cone
hat, a dining
table sits right
at the edge,
InterContinental
Danang Sun
Peninsula Resort,
Vietnam.
DC Beach House,
Kamala Beach,
Phuket - with a
painting of Picasso’s
famous subjects
having fun on a
Phuket beach.
accommodations) is said to be
interested in featuring the Shinta
Mani Wild.
“I really want to make this
work,” says Bensley. “It’s about
saving that huge chunk of jungle
from the loggers and those animals
from poachers while creating new
and sustainable opportunities
for local people through the
management of the Shinta Mani
Foundation. But this would never
make up for the forests I have seen
cleared, cut – for new construction.
Nothing will ever make up for that.”
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