There have been a few changes since we stayed at Villa Radha two and a half years ago, with the addition of two new villas to the enclave, a children’s playground, a gym and a spa. Staying at Villa Radha now means you have the choice of two spas on your doorstep. We decided, however, that we preferred the bygone era ambiance of the totally private wooden spa building within Villa Radha’s magical garden. Like the villa itself, the spa is another antique building so it is more in keeping with the overall character and charm. We noticed that with a total of five villas on the estate there is a now a little bit of hustle and bustle (and dare we say modernity) outside of Radha’s garden walls, but tucked away in our own private paradise – the gardens have grown and are even more beautiful than we remembered – we were able to completely relax and enjoy the wonderful service of the staff, and the great food. If you’re into sleek contemporary design the ethnic, rustic style of Villa Radha may not to be to your taste, but it is nevertheless immaculate and very comfortable, with all the trappings of the 21st century. There is no sitting room as such, but we enjoyed relaxing on the veranda, and were also very comfortable watching TV and movies in the air conditioned bedroom. As for the garden, well this is a landscaping triumph: forget any ideas of a modern Zen-like space, this garden will bewitch you with its tropical abundance of giant taro leaves, spiky pandanus, fan, parlour and travellers palms, bird’s nest ferns, heliconia, flowering frangipani, and rare fruit trees. It will make you wonder how it can be so full (almost to the point of being overgrown) and yet so meticulously maintained. At first we thought it was a little bit expensive for a one-bedroom villa, but when you consider the uniqueness of the property, the space, the facilities, the butler service, the pool, spa and gorgeous garden, you’ll probably agree that it’s extremely good value for money.