Australian couple Melita Koulmand Hunter and her husband, Rory, bought an island in Cambodia for $15,000. They instigated it's tranformation into a mecca of luxury with the constrcution of 27 villas surrounded by Turqoise waters.
The Australian couple together with their son Naryth moved to Cambodia in 2005 when husband Rory had a job offered in Phnom Penh.
The original plan was after Rory finished his job they will to move to New York in 2006. However in the year 2005 the couple got an offer from the locals to help them purvey a change in their environment by transforming an island . Mrs. Hunter was not reluctant to purchase the offered island and paid the Cambodians US$15,000.
Plans to build a resort on the island was on the running after the purchase and unfortunately, two years after owning the rights, Melita was diagnosed with cancer.
Despite the setback, the couple managed to bounce back, and built a 27-villa resort they called 'Song Saa'.
The island has an elegant bar and a cozy restaurant that serves Khmer cuisine. The bedrooms of the villas have sophisticated settings with a pool on the edge where you can view the ocean.
The rate for an over-night stay in the island is $869 while the island villas range from $600,000 to $1.75 million. The couple have spent millions in the resort development in a span of 10 years.
The couple employed locals during the development and has a local staff in the on-going operations of the resort. The couple however is very keen in the process and makes sure the island environment is preserved.
Astonishingly, Melita designed the whole resort. She made use of recycled materials like stone, driftwood, wood from old boats and scrap metal. The Australian pair has secured a 99-year lease with the national government of Cambodia.
You can ride a private boat or book a helicopter to get to the island
