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It was a week to remember for 30 staff members of First Mallorca who travelled to Thailand to celebrate the New Year, a complimentary holiday offered by the company, as a ‘thank you’ to their employees, from executive managers to the much appreciated office cleaners.

Robert Maunder, the C.E.O of First Mallorca said the trip had surpassed his most optimistic expectations. He stated “It was an emotional experience to see staff from the various departments you are working alongside, bonding so brilliantly and clearly enjoying every moment of their Thailand visit.” “It was invigorating for Heidi Stadler, my co-director and myself, to enjoy a different environment with our First Mallorca team and to observe their obvious pleasure and enjoyment, a gratifying transformation from the more serious atmosphere necessary at times to maintain the momentum of a successful business. Bangkok, its energy electrifying the streets and the genuine smiles of its people, will leave a lasting impression on everyone. It was an ideal location. Robert Maunder stated “For several years I lived, worked and enjoyed the Thai philosophy of service and enthusiasm. Our team now understand where I came from ... and are now perhaps even more tolerant to my zest to maintain the high standard of professionalism and the special relationship we enjoy with our clients”.

 

The group arrived in Bangkok just after dawn on Sunday and following the transfer to their 5 star Peninsula Hotel, relaxing alongside the hotel’s riverside pool was a short prelude before several made a bee-line to the city centre to explore Bangkok’s largest shopping mall - The Paragon Centre-a massive 500,000 m2 of shopping and exciting food outlets, where you can purchase a designer pen to the extreme of a selection of Lamborghinis displayed in shop fronts like large toys. It would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to name a luxury gadget or luxury accessory manufacturer not represented there. But as any long stay visitor to Bangkok will know, the Paragon is just one of many such eye boggling shopping centres. The Sunday evening was free to explore Bangkok by night.

Next day, New Year’s Eve, a tour was arranged, by river boat leaving the hotel at 1 pm for the Grand Palace. A stunning collection of Temples clad in pure gold and inlaid with reflecting coloured glass and semi-precious stones. Following this fascinating visit, a photographer’s dream, the group sampled the delights of the close by local open-air market and food stalls. For the New Year’s Eve celebration, First Mallorca had chartered a beautifully converted and romantic teak rice barge for a dinner cruise with music, dancing and of course plenty of champagne. This evening was a terrific success and a few minutes before midnight the boat anchored-up to watch a magnificent fireworks display arranged in the centre of the River of Kings, the Choa Phraya, by the neighbouring world famous luxury hotels, the Oriental, Shanghai La, Royal Orchid Sheraton & Peninsula. This elegant evening of fun and dancing continued whilst cruising the river until 3.30 am.

 

The following day was at leisure - or rather, more shopping and exploring the city. In the evening the group boarded the legendary ‘Long Tailed’ boats for a fifteen minute fast ride down river to a famed open-air riverside Thai seafood restaurant. Next day was a bit more strenuous. An early start to the River Kwai. First by coach to a remote railway station, not far from the Burmese border, to catch an over-crowded train to ride the notorious Death Railway, built by allied prisoners and regional labourers during WW2 under the Japanese. This was followed by an elephant trip through the jungle and in and along the river. Followed by a more relaxed excursion, a First Mallorca flotilla of simple bamboo rafts which peacefully drifted down the river to enjoy the scenic beauty of the River Kwai Valley.