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At 40 years old, and from a privileged Peranakan background, she would pass for 30 but even more astounding is that her metabolic age – an accurate gauge of physical wellbeing – is a staggeringly low 15 years.

She attributes much of this fitness to one of her less public passions - long-distance running. Phuket, with its triathlons, marathons, fun runs and trail runs, is a hub for these activities. Never one to shirk a challenge, Kiranee decided to embrace this arduous sport. With commendable marathons and ultra-marathon runs, she then graduated to even greater distances - completing 66km south-to-north and 100km circuit of the island. She has also tackled sections of the Great Wall of China, New York City Marathon, Vietnam Mountain 70km and Madrid 'Corre por Madrid 10,000'.

As if that's not enough, Kiranee is an enthusiast of 'trail running', where participants run and hike, usually off road, through natural terrain. Support comes from Kiranee's husband who, as a 'sky runner' confronts a different kind of challenge - in rarified Pyrenean airs and elsewhere. Running gives her, she says, an opportunity for meditation. It also means she can pass on her knowledge to other athletes via a few blogs aimed at the running community in Thailand.

Secluded, quiet and mellow, Koh Lanta is a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of the busy, party prone 'greater Phuket' area.

Pristine sandy beaches on the west coast, with tropical vegetation covering the relatively flat area of the island and the more mountainous tree hugging region to the south, the natural beauty of the island is mesmerising.

Couple it with the fact that the island is home to only a small year-round population, with an influx of visitors during high season from November to April, and the island is truly a Shangri-la for those seeking a place to chill.

Imagine you're a guest in a private home owned by a Thai aristocrat with royal connections and exquisite tastes in everything from fine wines and food to rare objets d'art. To complete the picture, the property nestles in a uniquely dramatic seaside location - amid landscaped tropical gardens, sculpted pools and koi carp ponds - perched on a rocky promontory above the Andaman Sea.

No idle pipe-dream this such a hideaway actually exists. Villa Royale was created by celebrated Thai artist and architect Mom Luang Tridothsyuth Devakul ('Mom Tri' to his friends), and a descendant of King Rama IV. Originally created as his summer residence - a single-storey thatched villa - it now offers, as the name implies, a 'truly royal experience' for those fortunate to enjoy its lavish and diverse charms. Unsurprisingly, Villa Royale has won many global awards as one of the world's leading small luxury hotels.

Villa Royale is small no more. Since its conception, it has been expanded to 42 suites in 12 distinctive styles. All boast spacious living areas, plus balconies and terraces which enable each and every guest to appreciate the panoramic views across Kata Noi Bay. The use of natural materials is in evidence everywhere: wood ceilings and floors, bamboo tiles and screens, rattan furniture. Outside, the terraces and linking pathways feature unglazed terracotta tiles inset with brown pebbles. The overall effect is one of mellow warmth.