According to legend, a great mythological flood broke the islands of the Mergui Archipelago into 800 rocky islets, most of which continue uninhabited and pristine to this day. One such is Pila Island, located around 80km (or a 1.5 hour speedboat transfer) from Kawthaung, and home to the luxurious Awei Pila Resort. On arrival, guests are greeted by a 600m secluded white sand beach, surrounding by virgin forest, with views straight out into the open Andaman Sea. The centre of the resort is a semi open-air reception, bar, and restaurant area; this leads down to a beachfront infinity swimming pool, housing a bevy of lazy lounging spaces in which to enjoy a cocktails and light snacks. 24 villas and suites are dotted throughout the rainforest and along the beach, each well-appointed with large bedrooms and living areas, over-sized bathrooms, and private outside seating. All continue the theme of ‘seaside chic’: a light stylistic touch, matched with environmentally-friendly design, low-impact materials, and traditional construction techniques. Adjacent hills around the property are accessible by trails, allowing further exploration of the island’s unique flora and fauna; there is also access to a nearby fisherman’s village, providing guests a taste of the local sea-fairing culture.