World Class Meditation Retreat and Twin Boutique Hotels for Thal

Posted: 21 Sep 2009 | 9:07 am

Developer Klaus Hebben who is behind the luxury Malaiwana project and Phuket International Academy (PIA) is further expanding his integrated Thalang project which currently houses Phuket's newest international school to include a world class meditation retreat and two boutique hotels. With 135 rai the school is targeting 600 students within 3 years.

Next April the Mind Center which was conceived with a world famous expert B. Alan Wallace who has acted as an interpreter for the Dalai Lama and is considering a leading global authority on mind studies along with meditation. Later in 2010 a 38 key midscale range hotel targeting conferences, seminars and sports training, together with a second 38 key midscale hotel for the meditation retreat. With a total project cost if THB 1.5 billion the school and Mind Center have been set up as non profit institutions which as thephuketinsider spoke to Klaus he said " this is where I live and I'd like to put something back into the local community. I've spent my life making money and now its time to make it work for the good."

The existing school already has a 50 meter pool, synthetic outdoor court (the only one of its kind in Thailand) and plans are underway for an organic restaurant. Sports training make up a large portion of the project where a sport club will be open to local's back of membership and looks to have a base of about 500 members. A larger synthetic pitch is being built to attract football, rugby and cricket from all over the region.

Soon a performing arts center will start to rise which falls into PIA's mission of providing not only education but sports, arts and wellness. Certainly Klaus is raising the bar on what's on offer in Phuket and his vision is well on its way to completion back of our recent visit to the site.

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