VIVO BENE
29 September 2016

VIVO BENE
Commissioned by NZZ

Tropical senile dementia resort in strong headwinds. The Swiss run luxury nursing home “Vivo Bene”, in Chiang Mai, Thailand is almost empty.

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Hotel Bungalows - The complex is built on a 36’000 square meters green terrain. Six pavilions with 12 rooms each should host Alzheimer and senile dementia patients. Four luxurious bungalows with two rooms each can host short-term guests. Sadly today there are only two patients here. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.901392,99.140033&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Hotel Bungalows)</A>

Hotel Bungalows – The complex is built on a 36’000 square meters green terrain. Six pavilions with 12 rooms each should host Alzheimer and senile dementia patients. Four luxurious bungalows with two rooms each can host short-term guests. Sadly today there are only two patients here.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Hotel Bungalows)

At the swimming pool - Paul, 85, enjoys the swimming pool. Built specially for handicapped people, the pool is only 80 cm deep and has a wheelchair ramp.  Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.899512,99.140322&z=16" target="_blank">(Map At the swimming pool)</A>

At the swimming pool – Paul, 85, enjoys the swimming pool. Built specially for handicapped people, the pool is only 80 cm deep and has a wheelchair ramp.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map At the swimming pool)

Lobby - The monumental lobby remains empty. For now the “Vivo bene village” hosts only two patients.  Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.899308,99.140522&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Lobby)</A>

Lobby – The monumental lobby remains empty. For now the “Vivo bene village” hosts only two patients.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Lobby)

Paul and Sassinee - Paul, 85, and Sassinee, 58, on their way to the Rössli restaurant. Paul is here since 2 months. As an indefatigable globetrotter, he first came to Thailand in the 60ties and has travelled in 65 countries. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.899308,99.140522&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Paul and Sassinee)</A>

Paul and Sassinee – Paul, 85, and Sassinee, 58, on their way to the Rössli restaurant. Paul is here since 2 months. As an indefatigable globetrotter, he first came to Thailand in the 60ties and has travelled in 65 countries.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Paul and Sassinee)

Massage salon - Inside of the nursing pavilion. The pavilion has a beauty parlour, a massage room and a fitness room. Sadly, these rooms remain unused and empty of guests.  Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.901378,99.140537&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Massage salon)</A>

Massage salon – Inside of the nursing pavilion. The pavilion has a beauty parlour, a massage room and a fitness room. Sadly, these rooms remain unused and empty of guests.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Massage salon)

Paul and Tip - At 85, Paul did not lose his sense of humor. He jokes: “Elle va me démonter” while Tip, 27, is stretching his arms.  Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.900833,99.140555&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Paul and Tip)</A>

Paul and Tip – At 85, Paul did not lose his sense of humor. He jokes: “Elle va me démonter” while Tip, 27, is stretching his arms.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Paul and Tip)

Paul - At 85, Paul’s mind is still very sharp. He remembers his globetrotting life and wrote a tri-lingual book about it: “Le Livre de Paul”. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.900753,99.14067&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Paul)</A>

Paul – At 85, Paul’s mind is still very sharp. He remembers his globetrotting life and wrote a tri-lingual book about it: “Le Livre de Paul”.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Paul)

Guest room - Interior of a room for Alzheimer or senile dementia patients. The pavilions have 12 rooms, 3 in each corner. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.90075,99.14042&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Guest room)</A>

Guest room – Interior of a room for Alzheimer or senile dementia patients. The pavilions have 12 rooms, 3 in each corner.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Guest room)

Dining Room - The dining hall of the Rössli restaurant. Most of the tables, if not all remain empty of guests.  Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.899308,99.140522&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Dining Room)</A>

Dining Room – The dining hall of the Rössli restaurant. Most of the tables, if not all remain empty of guests.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Dining Room)

Breads - Breads made fresh daily. Hans Ueli Wismer, the kitchen and bakery chef is saddened. “Most of the breads, croissants and buns we bake remain unsold. We have no other choice but to give them to the staff to take home”. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.899308,99.140522&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Breads)</A>

Breads – Breads made fresh daily. Hans Ueli Wismer, the kitchen and bakery chef is saddened. “Most of the breads, croissants and buns we bake remain unsold. We have no other choice but to give them to the staff to take home”.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Breads)

Marc Dumur - Marc Dumur, 57, honorary consul of Switzerland and general manager of the “Vivo bene village” has been living in Thailand for the past 27 years. He worked as a hotel manager before joining the board members of the “Vivo bene village” one and a half year ago. Today’s situation worries him. The village will soon offer retreats for people having burnouts, seeking wellness holidays, or any other medical tourist that needs a quiet place to relax. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.89915,99.14055&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Marc Dumur)</A>

Marc Dumur – Marc Dumur, 57, honorary consul of Switzerland and general manager of the “Vivo bene village” has been living in Thailand for the past 27 years. He worked as a hotel manager before joining the board members of the “Vivo bene village” one and a half year ago. Today’s situation worries him. The village will soon offer retreats for people having burnouts, seeking wellness holidays, or any other medical tourist that needs a quiet place to relax.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Marc Dumur)

Plastic wrapping - Only one of the six pavilions is completed. Protective plastic wrap up the furniture in all other pavilions.  Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.900812,99.140155&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Plastic wrapping)</A>

Plastic wrapping – Only one of the six pavilions is completed. Protective plastic wrap up the furniture in all other pavilions.
Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Plastic wrapping)

Paul and Sassinee - Paul, 85, and Sassinee, 58, on their way to the main building. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. - Copyright © © S. Borcard - N. Metraux - Doi Saket - Chiang Mai - Thailand - <A href="https://maps.google.com/?ll=18.90072,99.140313&z=16" target="_blank">(Map Paul and Sassinee)</A>

Paul and Sassinee – Paul, 85, and Sassinee, 58, on their way to the main building. Doi Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2015. – Copyright © © S. Borcard – N. Metraux – Doi Saket – Chiang Mai – Thailand – (Map Paul and Sassinee)

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