How We Built a Wooden Paradise on a Cambodian Island

Building a Dream in the Wild

When I first arrived on Koh Ta Kiev, this hidden island off the southern coast of Cambodia, I didn’t start with an empty canvas. The foundation of what is now Kactus already existed — a few wooden bungalows, a small bar, and a basic art room. What I found wasn’t a business opportunity as much as a calling: a place where I could live close to nature, create with my hands, and build something that reflected my idea of paradise.

Over the years, I’ve worked step by step to turn that vision into reality. Rather than expanding endlessly, the goal has always been to refine, to improve, and to ground the space — making it more creative, more comfortable, and more connected to the land.

From Structure to Sanctuary

As an engineer turned island builder, I kept the original wooden soul of Kactus but slowly gave it new life. We added a music room, a yoga space, an art room, a sauna, and an ice bath — all hand-built with natural materials and love.

Each project grew from intuition and necessity. We reused what the island offered: driftwood, dead trees, rattan, and fast-growing local poles. Every renovation respected the balance between what was already here and what the place could become.

The goal wasn’t perfection — it was presence. Over time, Kactus became a place that feels alive, shaped by the people who have passed through it and by the elements themselves.

Living the Off-Grid Way

Kactus is more than a beach retreat — it’s an off-grid eco lodge powered by solar energy and the rhythm of the island. Electricity runs 24 hours a day, but life still follows the sun. Here, simplicity is comfort.

The structures are mostly wood, bamboo, and thatch roofs, designed to blend with the surroundings rather than stand apart from them. The sound of the waves replaces air conditioning. The sea breeze replaces walls.

This lifestyle isn’t about sacrifice — it’s about rediscovering what’s essential. Guests wake up with the ocean, eat food prepared with care, and reconnect with a natural flow that’s often lost in modern life.

Building Through Challenges

No project on a remote island is ever easy. The hardest part wasn’t the construction itself — it was surviving the years of uncertainty during COVID-19. With tourism gone, maintaining the resort and supporting the team became a test of faith.

There were moments when I wasn’t sure if Kactus could survive. But people believed in the vision — friends, guests, and supporters who offered help and even loans when hope seemed thin. When the world slowly reopened, they came back, reminding me why this project mattered.

Rebuilding after two silent years demanded more than money — it required trust, endurance, and love for the island. Every improvement since then feels like gratitude in physical form.

The Ongoing Work of Simplicity

Running an eco lodge off the mainland also comes with daily challenges. One of the most constant is cleanliness — balancing island limitations with the standards of international hospitality.

Our Khmer team works hard, and I’ve learned that patience and shared understanding go further than pressure. Building a culture of care takes time. Just like the wooden beams that hold our bungalows, it must be strengthened slowly, through trust.

A Paradise for the Senses

For me, paradise isn’t luxury. It’s having healthy, home-cooked food, space to breathe, and freedom to be yourself. It’s where guests and staff alike feel valued, respected, and part of something living.

Every addition — from the sauna to the chill areas scattered across the sand — was created to nurture both body and mind. Some come for yoga or sunrise swims; others come simply to rest. All leave with the same impression: it feels good to be here.

What Makes Kactus Unique

Kactus is not a resort trying to impress; it’s a home that welcomes. We describe it best as an off-grid paradise — a place to disconnect from noise and reconnect with yourself.

Guests often say it’s the most authentic place they’ve visited in Asia. They appreciate the calm rhythm, the balance of comfort and raw beauty, and the sense that nothing here is artificial. That, to me, is success.

I’m proud of what we’ve built — not because it’s perfect, but because it’s real.

The Heart of Kactus

Today, when I walk across the sand between the bungalows and the sea, I see the result of years of quiet work — wood meeting water, nature meeting human touch.

Kactus has grown into what I always hoped it would be: a home away from home in connection with nature.

A living example that simplicity, when done with care, can be more luxurious than any five-star hotel.

And though the structures may stand still, the story of Kactus keeps evolving — just like the tides that shape this island paradise.