Let’s Blog About Villas

The most striking feature of Casa de Quarti Octavio (also known as the home of Loreius Tiburtinus) is your garden. Remodeled after the earthquake in 62AD, the peristyle garden are usually found in houses does not exist. In contrast, a column viridarium opens out into a raised terrace with a channel, outside dining area and pergolas, with a view to a large patch of garden that stretches to the south. In general, the features of the garden are more common in a country villa. Although there are notable innovations in a domus urban, but also communicate a lot about the position and aspirations of the owners.
The garden terrace

Instead of opening up to a tablinium peristyle and closed at other Pompeian houses, the atrium ends in a small, three-sided colonnade surrounding a viridarium. From here, the view opened out into a long terrace running the length of the building. The shade and surrounded by rooms of entertainment, it is an intermediary zone between the house and the garden itself.

Raised above the garden itself, pergolas vines hung with ivy and has been run along its entire length. It was full of “village” features, designed to act as focal points and improve the owners stand. Frescoes of mythological scenes were painted along the walls. The intention of showing the owner’s knowledge of mythology, the result is quite confusing as disconnected images of Orpheus and the Pyramus and Thisbe standing next to Venus Marina.

Along with statues lining the terrace at the edge with the garden, the overall effect would have been quite messy and confusing. The owner clearly wanted to emulate aristocratic villas and wealth had to do it. However, the declaration of the social position falls short because of an imperfect understanding of culture and visual language in question.

Athletics at the center of the terrace is the first of the villa features: a small euripus or water channel that runs from east to west. The western and eastern ends finished in two of the domus unique entertainment rooms: The room of Isis and Biclinium. Located in the center of the terrace and overlooking the junction between the terrace and the garden was the proper Grand triclinium.
The Board of Isis, the Biclinium and the Grand triclinium

The Board of Isis, which dominates the western end of the channel may have functioned as a home shrine to the goddess. 4th decorated in style, its south wall is a priest of the cult who may have been the house’s owner. The position of the sanctuary near the canal is interesting. In town gardens, for example, channels symbolic representations of the River Nile.

Exactly the opposite end of the canal was an outdoor dining or biclinium therefore urged the two coaches set of stone facing each other. Under the shade of the pergola, a small shrine or nymphaeum ignored the coaches who were separated by a small stretch of water where the meals were afloat.

The final room of the sequence was great, as indicated by its position and views. Decorated in style 4, the Grand triclinium was placed in the center of the terrace. His more immediate focus is on a nymphaeum more to Diana, who served as a bridge between the center of the terrace and the longest canal, a large channel that runs perpendicular to it along the garden itself.
The Garden.

The garden below the terrace is wide, taking the rest of the southern tip of the insula. Statues scope lined with large euripus reducing its length, marked in the center of a new nymphaeum, fountain and fish pond or swimming pool.

Archaeologists have been able to identify many of Pompeii’s garden of flowers and plants preserved remains. In the garden of Octavio Quartier, casts of tree roots remained petrified on the floor that indicated the aircraft, cyrpus, Bay, acanthus and various fruit trees were planted along the canal which was flanked by covered walks in a manner similar to the terrace.

More and more people today seek fulfilling holidays at cheaper rates. The days of booking holidays at a local travel agent and disappearing on a package tour are dwindling, as vacationers turn to the Internet to seek alternatives.

Renting a private house is becoming more and more common as visitors seek Authenticity, privacy, independence, originality and whilst on holiday. And if such a stay also offers the possibility of direct interaction with the locals and costs less than a hotel stay, the attractions are manifold.

In Thailand, more and more properties are now available for rent direct from their owners on a daily or weekly basis. Thailand’s real estate boom has helped develop the number of villas and holiday homes available. It is in general a Pity that these properties still tended to be Huddle together in the mass tourism markets of Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui, which somewhat defeats the original attractions of an independent holiday home.

However, looking more closely, it is not difficult to narrow down one’s search to locate and private properties for rent at highly attractive rates in original destinations. And in accordance with the Thais’ legendary hospitality, these villas are even occasionally rent out more as if friends - rather than paying guests - were being accommodated: meals are cooked for you, transport arranged, and invitations made to local festivals or ceremonies. In short, the Thais have realized that, whilst some guests may prefer privacy, others seek a genuine interaction at the local level with the country’s inhabitants, as they seek a memorable experience instead of locally manufactured to stay.

Our exploration of Thailand’s holiday home rentals led us to several very different properties, and clearly, whilst the supply is not huge, the attractions of these homes, the hospitality of the Thais, the Zing of the delicious food and the promise of sun make all Marvelous these properties to alternative holiday.

We particularly enjoyed our stay at “Gecko Villa.” From the outset, their comprehensive website (http://www.geckovilla.com) gave full details of the property, with numerous photographs and an online availability checker. Our reservation email was responded to rapidly, and helpful suggestions made about getting to the destination.

Upon arrival we were met at the airport by the smiling owners and driven to the large house that was set in the middle of emerald rice paddies, sugar cane plantations and woodlands. The property was set on extensive grounds Guaranteeing privacy by our own pool, and the bedrooms and facilities all lived up to or surpassed what we had seen described on the internet. The kitchen showed up our own kitchen at home, garden and the shower in the master bedroom was a delightful touch.

When we said we loved Thai food, we were delighted to be taken off around the grounds to pick our own herbs and spices - including strange plants that we had never considered using in the pot - before being shown how to make genuine Thai dishes and Northeast . The owners seemed genuinely pleased to be able to impart their knowledge and love of food - and we were equally happy to have this cooking lesson provided at no cost!

The property was fully serviced and the rate we paid covered all our meals and even generous quantities of cool beer and fresh fruit juices. And as we were there in the mango season, we were encouraged to simply help ourselves to the fresh fruit straight from the trees …

It was rare to find a house deep in the Thai countryside, and truly off the beaten tourist track, that offered every comfort for a relaxing stay in the real Thailand. The Visitors’ Book was full of Glowing comments and the many repeat guests bore testimony to the visitors’ enjoyment of their stays, not only because of the property itself but because of the genuine welcome they received.

Tips on booking holiday homes:

• Try to book directly with the property site. Searches tended to list global villa rental sites that generally take a commission on your stay, making it more expensive, and in some cases try to prevent you from contacting the owners directly.

• Look for an individual property rather than a house in a village development. The latter are often managed by hotel groups and simply glorified hotel rooms - at hotel rates!

• Travel in the off season, but book early. Better rates can generally be found for travel out of the tourist seasons, but do make sure you book ahead, when as a standalone villa is booked, it is booked!

• Make sure the property you choose has a telephone and address listed.

• Travel somewhere new! Much of the fun of your own holiday house is the way it can take you out of the tourist centers to enjoy a more authentic holiday.

The villas in Napasai are on the seafront luxury resort on the north coast of the island of Koh Samui, Thailand in the southern province of Surat Thani. Koh Samui is accessible via Bangkok Airways, Bangkok, with flights taking about an hour (depending on aircraft or elected).

The appeal is part of Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises: as such, both the town and resort were managed professionally, and we have been able to choose from the kitchen of our own Thai food after a visit to local markets, or to simply walk to the resort’s excellent Thai restaurant in the evening.

The villas are themselves at one end of the property, sandwiched between a steep hillside behind our house and the sea in front. Each of the villas are at levels by the hillside to the sea. We stayed in a villa with two bedrooms, three bedrooms, but also available properties. Well beyond the two rooms, our property has a spacious living / dining room with its own kitchen, a room of the maid, and, at ground level, a private pool and “chill out” area. The main room is well furnished and has a DVD player, satellite TV, and charming balcony overlooking the sea, where we spent most of the afternoon.

The island of Koh Samui is a major center of international tourism and, as such, many activities are available for guests, from the exploration of waterfalls, elephant rides, paintball, water sports, scuba diving, fishing, golf etc. The hotel also offers boating activities, Thai cooking classes, tennis courts, a gym and a spa.

We booked online in the hotel’s own website, taking advantage of a special offer. Rates for a two bedrooms are seasonal and start to the U.S. around $ 850 per night including American breakfast complementary.

Napasai

65/10 Baan Tai, Maenam,

Koh Samui,

Surat Thani

84,330,

Thailand

Tel: (66-77) 42 92 00

Fax: (66-77) 42 92 01