LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA - Greg Pirkle remembers the day his Four Seasons bosses offered him the post of general manager at their recently opened property on this island of mountains and myths.

HANGZHOU, CHINA - Summer is such a special time in this ancient provincial capital which Italian explorer Marco Polo described as “the most charming city in all the world.”

BAA ATOLL, MALDIVES - Dr. Avinash Tiwari gently takes my hand in his and firmly presses his thumb against my pulse. The good doctor, whom I’d never met before, then instructs me to close my eyes, stay quiet and relax as he begins my examination, using Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine, to establish my physical and emotional well being.

Voted one of Conde Nast’s top 10 leisure hotels; Voted best new business hotel in Asia; Made Conde Nast’s 2002 Hot List – and many other awards.

A leading hotel of the world that was named Korea’s best hotel by Conde Nast Traveler magazine.

Travel magazines and organizations have bestowed many awards on all three Aman properties in Bali.

The resort has received high recognition for its food and spa services and its environmental projects, especially those related to reestablishing the reefs destroyed by a El Nino (1997 to 1998) to their previous brilliance is the stuff of legends. After one visit, TraveLife now ranks Landaa Giraavaru among its Top 5 resorts in the world.

The Four Seasons Kuda Huraa has been recognized for its fine dining and the property is always honoured by all the important travel magazines as one of the most beautiful resorts in the world. Travelife.ca ranks it among its Top 10 on the planet.

SINGAPORE – The shiny new Bentley that Vera Ming-Andersson – public relations manager extraordinaire – sent to fetch me at Changi International Airport rolls to a stop just short of the St. Regis Hotel’s opulent entrance. A German-made car with a flag attached to its left fender is preventing us from proceeding.