The Hardest Part Was Leaing

Let me preface this review by saying this. Whilst in the pool at Mangosteen, I was chatting to some young Singaporean fellow in the pool. I asked him what he thought of Mangosteen. He replied to the effect that "...it's a bit old." How sad that a hotel has to be new in order for some people to like it. Surely the patina of age adds character?
So how was it? Our taxi driver turned into a small Soi (lane) marked by pot holes and gravel. Surely this can't be it I wondered? We turned into the sweeping driveway and pulled up at the foot of the stairs to heaven.
Check-in was seamless. The paperwork was already prepared and no, it wouldn't be necessary to see our Agoda vouchers. Within minutes we were in our rooms. But these are no ordinary rooms. These rooms are free-standing villas, each with it's own patio, outdoor furniture and hammock. Inside the cathedral ceilings are complimented by solid teak doors, gleaming dark parquet floors and inlaid terracotta tiles. Every design element looks handmade and is formed from natural materials.
The shower is an "outdoor" affair, which means that the shower room is covered by a thatched roof and naturally ventilated. So appropriate to the tropics.
I awoke to the sound of bird song and opened my eyes. Through the windows the Andaman Sea could be seen in the distance, the lights of the fishing boats bobbing in the distance.
Breakfast is truly sumptious. European tastes are catered for, but for the "do in Rome" traveller, there were Thai dishes, fruit platters and eggs cooked to order.
The pool is the coup de gras of this fine establishment. 24 hour use of the pool is "expressly permitted" and little wonder. It is magnificent day and night. Water spills from glass chutes into the moat surrounding the restaurant. Fountains of trumpeting elephants play water and bridges cross the pool to Reception and other parts of the hotel. Few pools exceed 1.8m deep, but this salt cleaning system (not chlorine) is a labyrinth of different dept